Is Gengar Good in Platinum Playthrough?
Wild Gengar in Old Chateau at level 16 if any GBA game is in the DS slot. AbilityLevitate gives Ground immunity on top of Normal and Fighting immunities. Available before Fantina's third gym in Platinum. One of the strongest early-game catches in any Pokemon game.
Gastly trades roughly evenly with Roark's team.
Gastly trades roughly evenly with Gardenia's team.
Gastly trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Haunter has the type edge here and should clean up Maylene's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Crasher Wake's team.
Gengar trades roughly evenly with Byron's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Candice's team.
Gengar trades roughly evenly with Volkner's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Bertha's team.
Gengar trades roughly evenly with Flint's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Lucian's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Jupiter's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Mars's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Saturn's team.
Gengar trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Catch Gastly
Catch Gastly in Eterna Forest (walking, Lv 13, rare).
Recommended Moves
- After Fantina
- TM64NormalExplosionPower 250Accuracy 100%PP 5Won at the Veilstone Game Corner after playing ten bonus rounds in a row on the slots
- TM24ElectricThunderboltPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 15Veilstone Game Corner
- TM29PsychicPsychicPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 10Veilstone Game Corner
- LV 29GhostShadow BallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15
- After Maylene
- TUTORGhostOminous WindPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 5Route 212
- LV 33PsychicDream EaterPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15
- LV 36DarkDark PulsePower 80Accuracy 100%PP 15
- After Candice
- TM36PoisonSludge BombPower 135Accuracy 100%PP 10Item ball on B2F of the Team Galactic HQ in Veilstone City
- Post-Game
- TM53GrassEnergy BallPower 80Accuracy 100%PP 10Route 226
- TM42NormalFacadePower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20Survival Area
Evolve Gastly to Haunter
Gastly evolves into Haunter at Level 25. Your Gastly should hit Level 25 before you reach Maylene, at typical leveling pace.
Recommended Moves
- After Fantina
- TM65GhostShadow ClawPower 105Accuracy 100%PP 15Prize for defeating Fantina
- TM64NormalExplosionPower 250Accuracy 100%PP 5Won at the Veilstone Game Corner after playing ten bonus rounds in a row on the slots
- TM24ElectricThunderboltPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 15Veilstone Game Corner
- After Maylene
- TM06PoisonToxicPower —Accuracy 85%PP 10Route 212
- LV 33GhostShadow BallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15
- After Crasher Wake
- TM84PoisonPoison JabPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 20Route 212
- LV 39PsychicDream EaterPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15
- After Candice
- TM36PoisonSludge BombPower 135Accuracy 100%PP 10Item ball on B2F of the Team Galactic HQ in Veilstone City
- Post-Game
- TM53GrassEnergy BallPower 80Accuracy 100%PP 10Route 226
- TM42NormalFacadePower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20Survival Area
Evolve Haunter to Gengar
Haunter evolves into Gengar when traded. Most players are ready to trade before reaching Crasher Wake.
Recommended Moves
- After Fantina
- TM65GhostShadow ClawPower 105Accuracy 100%PP 15Prize for defeating Fantina
- TM64NormalExplosionPower 250Accuracy 100%PP 5Won at the Veilstone Game Corner after playing ten bonus rounds in a row on the slots
- TM68NormalGiga ImpactPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Game Corner
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Department Store
- LV 33GhostShadow BallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15
- After Crasher Wake
- TM84PoisonPoison JabPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 20Route 212
- After Byron
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 20Oreburgh Gate
- After Candice
- TM36PoisonSludge BombPower 135Accuracy 100%PP 10Item ball on B2F of the Team Galactic HQ in Veilstone City
- Post-Game
- TM53GrassEnergy BallPower 80Accuracy 100%PP 10Route 226
- TM42NormalFacadePower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20Survival Area
How to Get Gengar in Platinum
Gengar is rare in Platinum, haunting the Old Chateau at level 17 only with a Gen 3 cartridge slotted in. No dual-slot game means no wild Gengar, leaving the Haunter trade-evolution instead.
1 location to catch Gengar2 locations to catch Haunter
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Badge 2Catch Haunter at any of the 2 locations below, then trade it — it evolves into Gengar.
Badge 7
Badge 8Where To Catch Gengar in Pt
Gastly is your first catch on the way to Gengar. You'll find walking and trade encounters from Lv. 13-37 across 46 total spots in the chain.
- Step 1Catch GastlyOld ChateauLv.14-17GrassRate 100%Old Chateau - 2F Room 2Lv.14-17GrassRate 100%Old Chateau - 2F Room 4Lv.14-17GrassRate 100%Turnback Cave - Section 1Lv.15-17CaveRate 40%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 1Lv.15-17CaveRate 30%NightEterna ForestLv.13GrassRate 4%Lost Tower - 1FLv.17-20FloorRate 65%Morning/dayLost Tower - 2FLv.17-20FloorRate 65%Morning/dayLost Tower - 3FLv.18-21FloorRate 64%Morning/dayLost Tower - 4FLv.18-21FloorRate 60%Morning/dayLost Tower - 5FLv.19-22FloorRate 55%Morning/dayLost Tower - 1FLv.17-20FloorRate 45%NightLost Tower - 2FLv.17-20FloorRate 45%NightLost Tower - 3FLv.18-21FloorRate 44%NightLost Tower - 4FLv.18-21FloorRate 40%NightLost Tower - 5FLv.19-22FloorRate 35%NightLost Tower - 4FLv.21FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: RubyLost Tower - 4FLv.21FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: SapphireLost Tower - 4FLv.21FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldLost Tower - 4FLv.21FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedLost Tower - 4FLv.21FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreenLost Tower - 5FLv.22FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: RubyLost Tower - 5FLv.22FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: SapphireLost Tower - 5FLv.22FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldLost Tower - 5FLv.22FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedLost Tower - 5FLv.22FloorRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreen
- Step 2Catch or Evolve HaunterTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 1Lv.25-27CaveRate 40%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 2Lv.25-27CaveRate 40%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 3Lv.25-27CaveRate 40%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 4Lv.25-27CaveRate 40%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 5Lv.25-27CaveRate 40%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 6Lv.25-27CaveRate 40%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 1Lv.25-27CaveRate 30%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 2Lv.25-27CaveRate 30%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 3Lv.25-27CaveRate 30%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 4Lv.25-27CaveRate 30%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 5Lv.25-27CaveRate 30%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 6Lv.25-27CaveRate 30%NightTurnback Cave - Section 3Lv.35-37CaveRate 40%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 3Lv.35-37CaveRate 30%NightSnowpoint CityIn-game tradeLimitedTrade for (give Medicham)or evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Platinum for Gengar.
How to Get Shiny Gengar in Platinum
Gengar comes by trade, so chain a Gastly in Eterna Forest to 40 for a shiny, then raise it to Haunter and trade it. Compare Shiny Gengar odds across every game
Platinum Shiny Gengar Calculator
3 MethodsThe best route is PokeRadar Chain at full boosts, about 1 in 200 on each try. Tune it below.
PokeRadar Chain: Chain shaking-grass patches without breaking the combo. The rate peaks at a chain of 40.
Masuda Method: Breed with a parent from a different-language game. Works on any breedable line.
Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.
How many you have done, or plan to do.
| Chance | Encounters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10%lucky few | 22-- | -- |
| 25%one in four | 58-- | -- |
| 50%coin flip | 139-- | -- |
| 90%very likely | 460-- | -- |
Time assumes -- at your pace and does not change your shiny odds.
How is this calculated?
Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.
chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N, where p = 1 / odds per try
Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.
The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.
These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.
Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your Platinum shiny odds for Gengar.
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. Levitate grants an additional Ground immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. 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 |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Poison, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Normal, Fighting |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Gengar Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Gengar
 Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Gallade builds →Earthquake 2x99-117%KO Night Slash 2x69-83% Confusion 2x40-48% | ||
 Spiritomb GhostDark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 209 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Spiritomb builds →Dream Eater 2x65-77% Feint Attack 2x71-84% Ominous Wind 2x60-72% | ||
 Shiftry GrassDark | C | |
 Kadabra Psychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Kadabra builds →Psybeam 2x81-96% Thief 2x17-21% | ||
 Gliscor Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Gliscor builds →Earthquake 2x119-140%KO Feint Attack 2x49-59% | ||
 Lunatone RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Lunatone builds →Confusion 2x53-64% Earthquake 2x53-64% | ||
 Sandslash Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x125-148%KO Shadow Claw 2x59-69% Thief 2x36-43% | ||
 Gabite DragonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Gabite builds →Earthquake 2x115-136%KO Shadow Claw 2x53-64% | ||
 Bronzor SteelPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Bronzor builds →Extrasensory 2x37-44% Earthquake 2x33-40% | ||
Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Haunter builds →Shadow Claw 2x53-64% Sucker Punch 2x43-51% | ||
 Donphan Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x143-168%KO Knock Off 2x23-27% | ||
 Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Solrock builds →Earthquake 2x79-93% Confusion 2x37-44% | ||
 Cubone Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x77-92% Thief 2x23-27% | ||
 Larvitar RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gengar View Larvitar builds →Earthquake 2x91-108%KO Bite 2x37-45% | ||
Gengar Evolutions
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 31 partners from the Amorphous egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Explosion, Fire Punch and 7 more.
Pt Gengar Best Moveset
Ground immunity through AbilityLevitate removes the one weakness Poison typing normally creates, and the moveset exploits that with 130 Sp. Atk and 110 Speed. Ghost/Poison coverage at that speed leaves almost nothing switching in safely. One of the best special attackers available.
Best Build
Gengar best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Substitute
- Explosion
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breeding's the move. Astonish and Explosion give Gengar options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 8 types already covers a decent range on top of Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball. The egg moves push it further.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
46 of 49 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
The leer that floats in darkness belongs to a GENGAR delighting in casting curses on people.
Gengar Platinum Guide
Mega Evolution isn't available in Platinum, but Gengar does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Gengar hits 600 BST.
Gengar is obtained by trade-evolving Haunter. Catch or evolve a Haunter first, then trade.
In Platinum, Gengar plays as a sweeper. It outspeeds most threats, so it can pressure opponents before they move.
In Platinum, Timid is the go-to nature for Gengar. That's +Speed / -Attack. Pair it with 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the sweeper role.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Gengar has appeared in 22 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6 and a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7Let's Go
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves
Explore
Where to go next after Gengar.
Keep playing · PlatinumPlatinum Tier ListThe best Pokemon ranked tier by tierSee Platinum Tier List