Mixed
Sweeper
500High
110Fast
STier

High risk, high reward with Gengar. The offense is outstanding but the bulk won't survive much — 60 base HP is the weak link. Normal and Fighting moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Shadow Pokemon.

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.

Base Stats
500High
HP60
C
Attack65
C
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk130
A
Sp. Def75
C
Speed110
B
Total500
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Gengar yields +3 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Details
Catch45Challenging•Medium Slow1.06M XP•1.5m / 4'11"•40.5kg / 89.3 lbs•250Base XP
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

Good

Type-wise, Gengar takes extra damage from Ground, Psychic, and Ghost. Normal and Fighting moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. At base 110 Speed, Gengar outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.

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
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
GroundPsychicGhost
½xResisti
Grass
¼xResisti
Poison
0xImmunei
NormalFighting
STAB (3)i
GhostGrassBug
3Weak
2Resist
2Immune
Scorei+3
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesAbsorbs on switch
Abilities
Cursed BodyHas a 30% chance of Disabling any move that hits the Pokémon.

Gastly's chain leads to Gengar (by trading). A Ghost/Poison type at 500 stats, sitting in the Undiscovered group. Sp.Def grew the most through evolution (+40 over Gastly), and Gengar peaks at 500 total stats.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Gastly
#092Gastly
25
Level 25
Haunter
#093Haunter
Trade
Gengar
#094Gengar
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Gastly
GhostPoison
Haunter
GhostPoison
Gengar
GhostPoison
HP
30
45+15
60+15
ATK
35
50+15
65+15
DEF
30
45+15
60+15
SP.ATK
100
115+15
130+15
SP.DEF
35
55+20
75+20
SPE
80
95+15
110+15
BST
310C-Tier
405C-Tier+95
500A-Tier+95
ROLE
Attacker
Cannon
Sweeper
TYPE
Special
Special
Special
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Normal, Electric, and Psychic coverage keeps opponents guessing about Gengar's real targets. An item provides extra utility while flexible EVs EVs and a nature nature handle the stat profile. An ability ties it together.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 1
Item
Not in Gen 1
Nature
Not in Gen 1

Best Gengar Moveset

  • HypnosisUtility
  • ExplosionCoverage
  • ThunderboltCoverage
  • PsychicCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Tauros
TaurosGood
Snorlax
SnorlaxGood
Exeggutor
ExeggutorGood

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
—10010Ghost
Lv 1
Lick
2010030Ghost
Lv 1
Night Shade
—10015Ghost
Lv 29
Hypnosis
—6020Psychic
Lv 38
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TM34
Bide+1
——10Normal
TM08
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM18
Counter-5
—10020Fighting
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM42
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM47
Explosion
2501005Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM21
Mega Drain
4010010Grass
TM05
Mega Kick
120755Normal
TM01
Mega Punch
808520Normal
TM35
Metronome
——10Normal
TM31
Mimic
——10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM46
Psywave
—10015Psychic
TM20
Rage
2010020Normal
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM19
Seismic Toss
—10020Fighting
TM36
Self-Destruct
2001005Normal
TM40
Skull Bash
10010010Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM17
Submission
808025Fighting
TM50
Substitute
——10Normal
TM09
Take Down
908520Normal
TM25
Thunder
1107010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison

Egg Moves

Gengar doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Gengar can't learn any Tutor moves

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.

  1. Gastly
    Step 1Catch Gastly
    Pokémon Tower - 3F
    GrassLv.18-25CommonMidBuilding
    EFFORTLESS
    Pokémon Tower - 4F
    GrassLv.18-25CommonMidBuilding
    EFFORTLESS
    Pokémon Tower - 5F
    GrassLv.21-27CommonMidBuilding
    EFFORTLESS
    Pokémon Tower - 6F
    GrassLv.21-27CommonMidBuilding
    EFFORTLESS
    Pokémon Tower - 7F
    GrassLv.23-29CommonMidBuilding
    EFFORTLESS
  2. Haunter
    Step 2Catch or Evolve Haunter
    Pokémon Tower - 3F
    GrassLv.20-25RareMidBuilding
    CHALLENGING
    Pokémon Tower - 4F
    GrassLv.20-25RareMidBuilding
    CHALLENGING
    Pokémon Tower - 5F
    GrassLv.22-27RareMidBuilding
    CHALLENGING
    Pokémon Tower - 6F
    GrassLv.22-27RareMidBuilding
    CHALLENGING
    Pokémon Tower - 7F
    GrassLv.24-29RareMidBuilding
    CHALLENGING
    or evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
  3. Gengar
    Step 3Gengar ✓

  • We rate Gengar S-Tier — one of the best competitive options available. At 500 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Base 130 Sp. Atk stands out.

  • Gengar's biggest threats include Golem (Ground), Starmie (Psychic), and Misdreavus (Ghost), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Gengar's base 110 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.

  • Haunter evolves into Gengar by trading. Gengar is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Gastly. At 500 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Base 110 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Gengar is a mixed attacker — base 65 Attack and 130 Sp. Atk. Best used as a sweeper.

  • Gengar appears in 22 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Gengar has appeared in 22 titles over 9 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.