Stats & Training
The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Speed carry the offense, HP doesn't even come close. A Shadow Pokemon on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve, worth 3 Sp. Atk EVs per KO.
It hides in shadows. It is said that if Gengar is hiding, it cools the area by nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hiding in people’s shadows at night, it absorbs their heat. The chill it causes makes the victims shake.
Gengar Weakness
Type-wise, Gengar takes extra damage from Ground, Psychic, Ghost, and Dark. Normal and Fighting moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. At base 110 Speed, Gengar outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ground, Psychic, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Poison, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Normal, Fighting |
In X & Y, Slowbro deals 42-49% with Scald.
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySynchronize ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves View Mew builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemMiracleseed NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Breloom builds →Bullet Seed12-14% | ||
 SlowbroRecovers HP on switch via Regenerator, burns with Scald, threatens with Trick Room WaterPsychic | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Slowbro builds →Scald42-49% Ice Beam31-37% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemRocky Helmet NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Tangrowth builds →Knock Off 2x54-64% Giga Drain21-25% | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Quagsire builds →Scald30-35% Earthquake 2x109-129%KO | ||
X & Y Evolution
Getting Gengar requires a trade, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Gastly. Breed this form to get Gastly eggs (average hatch time). Sp.Def grew the most through evolution (+40 over Gastly), and Gengar peaks at 500 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Gengar to get Gastly eggs easily using 49 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Clear Smog, Disable and 10 more.
X & Y Gengar Best Moveset
the remaining moves gives Gengar answers even while choice-locked. Choice Specs provides boosted special damage with move lock, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs with Levitate mean every prediction that lands hits hard.
Best Build
Gengar best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Wave
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Protect
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Stall teams hate this. Gengar can spread damage across 10 types, with Dark and Psychic punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball keeps the pressure honest on everything else.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Gengar in X & Y
Gengar's 3-stage chain starts with Gastly, which appears in the wild in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
How to Obtain Gengar in X & Y
Gastly is your first catch on the way to Gengar. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 31-58 across 24 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Obtain Gastly
Step 2Catch or Evolve HaunterFrost Cavern - 1FXGrass Lv.38-40 IceUncommonLateFrost Cavern - 1FYGrass Lv.38-40 IceUncommonLateFrost Cavern - 2FXGrass Lv.38-40 IceUncommonLateFrost Cavern - 2FYGrass Lv.38-40 IceUncommonLateFrost Cavern - 3FYGrass Lv.38-40 IceUncommonLateFrost Cavern - 3FXGrass Lv.38-40 IceUncommonLateRoute 14YGrass Lv.31 RouteRareLateNear waterRoute 14YGrass Lv.31 RouteRareLateRoute 14XGrass Lv.31 RouteRareLateNear waterRoute 14XGrass Lv.31 RouteRareLateVictory Road - Cave 1YGrass Lv.58 CaveUncommonPostVictory Road - Cave 1XGrass Lv.58 CaveUncommonPostVictory Road - Cave 2YGrass Lv.58 CaveUncommonPostVictory Road - Cave 2XGrass Lv.58 CaveUncommonPostVictory Road - Cave 3YGrass Lv.58 CaveUncommonPostVictory Road - Cave 3XGrass Lv.58 CaveUncommonPostVictory Road - Cave 4XGrass Lv.58 CaveUncommonPostVictory Road - Cave 4YGrass Lv.58 CaveUncommonPostRoute 19YGrass Lv.47 RouteRarePostNear waterRoute 19YGrass Lv.47 RouteRarePostYellow FlowerRoute 19XGrass Lv.47 RouteRarePostNear waterRoute 19YGrass Lv.47 RouteRarePostPurple flowersRoute 19XGrass Lv.47 RouteRarePostYellow FlowerRoute 19XGrass Lv.47 RouteRarePostPurple flowersor evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
Step 3Gengar ✓
Gengar Guide
For X & Y, we rate Gengar B-Tier: a solid option in X & Y for the right team. At 500 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Shadow Ball with Choice Specs is the standard set.
In X & Y, Gengar can Mega Evolve into Mega Gengar. That's 600 BST, up from 500. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
In X & Y, Gengar's biggest threats include Golem (Ground), Starmie (Psychic), and Misdreavus (Ghost), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Dark-type attackers are also a problem. Gengar's base 110 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.
Cursed Body is the go-to ability for Gengar. It has a 30% chance of Disabling any move that hits the Pokémon. It's Gengar's only ability.
Base 110 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Gengar is leaning toward the special side (base 130 Sp. Atk). Best used as a sweeper.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Gengar has appeared in 22 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7 and a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves