For Yellow, we rate Gengar S-Tier: one of the best picks in the Yellow meta. At 555 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Hypnosis anchors the moveset.

Does Gengar mega evolve?

Mega Evolution isn't available in Yellow, but Gengar does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Gengar hits 655 BST.

What is Gengar weak to?

In Yellow, Gengar's biggest threats include Golem (Ground), Starmie (Psychic), and Misdreavus (Ghost), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

What role does Gengar play in battle?

Base 110 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Gengar is a physical attacker with base 65 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.

What counters Gengar?

In Yellow, the best way to handle Gengar: Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

Gengar - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Sweeper

STier

110Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

The stat budget goes to damage. Special and Speed carry the offense, HP doesn't even come close. A Shadow Pokemon on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve, worth 3 Special stat exp per KO.

Base Stats

High

HP60

Attack65

Defense60

Sp. Atk130

Sp. Def130

Speed110

Total555

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Slow1.06M XP

Height1.5 m

Weight40.5 kg

Base XP250

Abilities

Abilities were introduced in Generation III. Shown below for reference.

Cursed Body

Has a 30% chance of Disabling any move that hits the Pokémon.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe

Strong Special Attack training target

Pokedex Entries

A GENGAR is close by if you feel a sudden chill. It may be trying to lay a curse on you.

Yellow

Gengar Weakness

Type-wise, Gengar takes extra damage from Ground, Psychic, and Ghost. Normal and Fighting moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. Gengar's special bulk (base 130 Special) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Gengar Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Ground, Psychic, Ghost
0.5x (Resist)	Grass
0.25x (Resist)	Poison
0x (Immune)	Normal, Fighting

Type ChartGood

3Weak

2Resist

2Immune

Score+3

Gen I Type Chart

Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

½xResist

¼xResist

0xImmune

STAB (3)

How to Beat Gengar in Yellow (Best Counters)

Pinsir Bug	B
Recommended Build Moves Swords Dance Hyper Beam Submission Bind View Pinsir builds →
KinglerWalls physical sets Water	B
Recommended Build Moves Swords Dance CrabhammerSTAB Hyper Beam Body Slam Damage vs Gengar Crabhammer 20-23% View Kingler builds →
PersianImmune to Ghost, outspeeds Normal	B
Recommended Build Moves SlashSTAB Bubble Beam Hyper Beam Thunderbolt Damage vs Gengar Thunderbolt 14-17% View Persian builds →
BlastoiseThreatens with Earthquake Water	C
Recommended Build Moves Blizzard Hydro Pump Body Slam SurfSTAB Damage vs Gengar Blizzard 21-25% Hydro Pump 32-38% Surf 26-31% View Blastoise builds →
RaticateImmune to Ghost Normal	C
Recommended Build Moves Super Fang Hyper Beam Quick Attack Blizzard Damage vs Gengar Blizzard 14-17% View Raticate builds →

Yellow Evolution

Gastly's chain leads to Gengar (by trading). A Ghost/Poison type at 555 stats, sitting in the Undiscovered group. Special grew the most through evolution (+95 over Gastly), and Gengar peaks at 555 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms

#092Gastly

Level 25

#093Haunter

Trade

#094Gengar

Stat Comparison 3 Stages

Gastly

GhostPoison

Haunter

GhostPoison

Gengar

GhostPoison

45+15

60+15

ATK

50+15

65+15

DEF

45+15

60+15

SP.ATK

100

115+15

130+15

SP.DEF

55+20

75+20

SPE

95+15

110+15

BST

310C-Tier

405C-Tier+95

500A-Tier+95

ROLE

Attacker

Cannon

Sweeper

TYPE

Special

Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Yellow Gengar Best Moveset

Best Build

Recommended

Utility

Ability

Not in Gen 1

Item

Not in Gen 1

Nature

Not in Gen 1

Utility Moveset

HypnosisUtility
ExplosionCoverage
ThunderboltCoverage
PsychicCoverage

Recommended Teammates

TaurosGood

SnorlaxGood

ExeggutorGood

Moves

TMs carry this one. Gengar learns Lick and Night Shade naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Psychic and Normal and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Confuse Ray

B—10010Ghost

Lv 1

Lick

—2010030Ghost

Lv 1

Night Shade

A—10015Ghost

Lv 29

Hypnosis

S—6020Psychic

Lv 38

Dream Eater

—10010015Psychic

TM Moves

TM34

Bide+1

———10Normal

TM08

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

TM18

Counter-5

D—10020Fighting

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM10

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

TM42

Dream Eater

—10010015Psychic

TM47

Explosion

S2501005Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TM21

Mega Drain

D4010010Grass

TM05

Mega Kick

D120755Normal

TM01

Mega Punch

D808520Normal

TM35

Metronome

D——10Normal

TM31

Mimic

———10Normal

TM29

Psychic

S9010010Psychic

TM46

Psywave

——10015Psychic

TM20

Rage

—2010020Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM19

Seismic Toss

D—10020Fighting

TM36

Self-Destruct

B2001005Normal

TM40

Skull Bash

C10010010Normal

HM04

Strength

—8010015Normal

TM17

Submission

D808025Fighting

TM50

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM09

Take Down

—908520Normal

TM25

Thunder

C1107010Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

S9510015Electric

TM06

Toxic

C—9010Poison

Egg Moves

Gengar doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Gengar can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Gengar in Yellow

Gengar's 3-stage chain starts with Gastly, which appears at solid rates in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.

Trade Evolution Required — Requires trading with another player

How to Obtain Gengar in Yellow

Gastly is your first catch on the way to Gengar. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 18-29 across 10 total spots in the chain.

Step 1Catch Gastly
Pokémon Tower - 3F
Grass Lv.18-25 Building
95%Mid
Pokémon Tower - 4F
Grass Lv.18-25 Building
95%Mid
Pokémon Tower - 5F
Grass Lv.21-27 Building
90%Mid
Pokémon Tower - 6F
Grass Lv.21-27 Building
90%Mid
Pokémon Tower - 7F
Grass Lv.23-29 Building
90%Mid
Train until Level 25
Step 2Catch or Evolve Haunter
Pokémon Tower - 3F
Grass Lv.20-25 Building
5%Mid
Pokémon Tower - 4F
Grass Lv.20-25 Building
5%Mid
Pokémon Tower - 5F
Grass Lv.22-27 Building
5%Mid
Pokémon Tower - 6F
Grass Lv.22-27 Building
5%Mid
Pokémon Tower - 7F
Grass Lv.24-29 Building
5%Mid
or evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
Trade
Step 3Gengar ✓

Gengar Guide

For Yellow, we rate Gengar S-Tier: one of the best picks in the Yellow meta. At 555 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Hypnosis anchors the moveset.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Yellow, but Gengar does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Gengar hits 655 BST.
In Yellow, Gengar's biggest threats include Golem (Ground), Starmie (Psychic), and Misdreavus (Ghost), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.
Base 110 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Gengar is a physical attacker with base 65 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.
In Yellow, the best way to handle Gengar: Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

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

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