Is Haunter Good in Black 2 & White 2 Playthrough?
Gastly evolves at level 25. Ghost/Poison with AbilityLevitate. Trade to evolve into Gengar. If imported, Haunter itself is usable with high Sp. Atk. Handles Shauntal and Marshal without needing the trade.
Gastly trades roughly evenly with Cheren's team.
Gastly trades roughly evenly with Roxie's team.
Gastly has the type edge here and should clean up Burgh's team.
Haunter has the type edge here and should clean up Elesa's team.
Clay's team hits Haunter's weaknesses hard.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Skyla's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Drayden's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Marlon's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Shauntal's team.
Gengar trades roughly evenly with Grimsley's team.
Gengar resists most of Caitlin's coverage and hits back hard.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Marshal's team.
Gengar trades roughly evenly with Iris's team.
Haunter cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 25.
Most players are ready to trade before reaching Skyla.
How to Get Haunter in Black 2 & White 2
No wild encounters for Haunter in Black 2 & White 2. Bring Gastly over from Red & Blue, Yellow, or FireRed & LeafGreen, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
How to Obtain Haunter in B2W2
Step 1Obtain GastlyLATER APPEARANCEfrom Red & BlueNot TradeableAppears in Red & Blue via Walking · Pokémon Tower. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom YellowNot TradeableAppears in Yellow via Walking · Pokémon Tower. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Walking · Sprout Tower. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Walking · Sprout Tower. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Walking · Pokémon Tower. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.- Step 2Haunter ✓
Step 3Evolve into Gengar
Haunter Weakness
Ground, Psychic, Ghost, and Dark moves hit Haunter for super-effective damage. The upside? Normal and Fighting-type moves can't touch it at all. Levitate grants an additional Ground immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Haunter leans toward special offense (base 115 Sp.Atk) instead of trying to wall anything.
| 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 Haunter Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Haunter
 Purrloin Dark | C | |
 Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter | ||
 Krokorok GroundDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Krokorok builds →Crunch 2x120-142%KO Dig 2x120-142%KO | ||
 Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Sigilyph builds →Psybeam 2x104-122%KO Thief 2x33-39% | ||
 Jellicent WaterGhost | B | |
 Liepard Dark | C | |
 Solosis Psychic | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Solosis builds →Future Sight 2x153-180%KO | ||
Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Sigilyph builds →Synchronoise 2x107-127%KO Thief 2x32-38% | ||
Krokorok GroundDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Krokorok builds →Crunch 2x116-138%KO Dig 2x116-138%KO | ||
Liepard Dark | C | |
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x215-253%KO Shadow Claw 2x100-119%KO | ||
 Duosion Psychic | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Duosion builds →Future Sight 2x177-209%KO | ||
Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Sigilyph builds →Synchronoise 2x108-128%KO Thief 2x31-38% | ||
Liepard Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Liepard builds →Snarl 2x74-88% Shadow Claw 2x71-83% | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x186-220%KO Dig 2x158-186%KO Shadow Claw 2x92-109%KO | ||
 Beheeyem Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Beheeyem builds →Psychic 2x162-191%KO Shadow Ball 2x97-114%KO Thief 2x38-45% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x222-261%KO Shadow Claw 2x103-122%KO | ||
 Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Absol builds →Night Slash 2x151-178%KO Shadow Claw 2x101-119%KO Future Sight 2x80-95% | ||
 Reuniclus Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Reuniclus builds →Future Sight 2x182-215%KO Shadow Ball 2x97-114%KO | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x188-221%KO Dig 2x158-187%KO Shadow Claw 2x93-110%KO | ||
Beheeyem Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Beheeyem builds →Psychic 2x165-194%KO Shadow Ball 2x98-115%KO Thief 2x37-44% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x223-263%KO Shadow Claw 2x104-123%KO | ||
 Drapion PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Drapion builds →Crunch 2x127-150%KO Dig 2x84-100%KO Shadow Ball 2x54-64% | ||
Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Absol builds →Night Slash 2x152-180%KO Psycho Cut 2x102-120%KO Shadow Claw 2x102-120%KO | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x181-213%KO Earthquake 2x150-177%KO Shadow Claw 2x105-124%KO | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Krookodile builds →Earthquake 2x201-236%KO Foul Play 2x191-225%KO Shadow Claw 2x94-111%KO | ||
 Bisharp DarkSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Bisharp builds →Night Slash 2x149-175%KO Dig 2x113-133%KO Shadow Claw 2x99-117%KO | ||
 Azelf Psychic | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 23 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Azelf builds →Future Sight 2x183-216%KO Shadow Ball 2x98-115%KO Payback 2x71-84% | ||
Reuniclus Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Reuniclus builds →Future Sight 2x183-216%KO Shadow Ball 2x98-115%KO | ||
In Black 2 & White 2, Garchomp can KO Haunter with Earthquake (264-310%). Alakazam threatens a KO with Psychic (213-251%). Tyranitar's Crunch also KOs at 211-248%.
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x264-310%KO Outrage158-186%KO | ||
 Alakazam Psychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Alakazam builds →Psychic 2x213-251%KO Shadow Ball 2x126-148%KO | ||
Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChopleberry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Tyranitar builds →Pursuit 2x106-125%KO Crunch 2x211-248%KO | ||
Gengar GhostPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Gengar builds →Shadow Ball 2x184-217%KO | ||
Haunter Evolutions
Haunter is partway through a three-stage line between Gastly and Gengar. The chain involves a trade, so it's not a straightforward grind. So far, Sp.Def got the biggest boost (+20 from Gastly). The final form adds another 95 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Haunter to get Gastly eggs easily using 45 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Clear Smog, Disable and 9 more.
B2W2 Haunter Best Moveset
115 Sp. Atk and 95 Speed behind Ghost/Poison TermStab already outperform many final evolutions, and AbilityLevitate adds Ground immunity. The moveset answers slower special targets and threatens with power that surprises opponents expecting a middle stage. Gengar adds Speed and coverage, but Haunter already demands respect.
Best Build
Haunter best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Destiny Bond
- Trick
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Without breeding, Haunter misses out on Astonish and Clear Smog. That's 12 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.
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
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
It likes to lurk in the dark and tap shoulders with a gaseous hand. Its touch causes endless shuddering.
Haunter Black 2 & White 2 Guide
In Black 2 & White 2, Haunter isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Gengar to unlock its full potential. At 405 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
In Black 2 & White 2, watch for Rhydon (Ground), Alakazam (Psychic), and Misdreavus (Ghost) when using Haunter. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Dark-type attackers are also a problem.
No. Haunter only evolves into Gengar through a real trade. There is no in-game alternative in Black 2 & White 2. Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Haunter to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required.
In Black 2 & White 2, Run Levitate on Haunter. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche.
In Black 2 & White 2, Haunter fills the pivot role. It's a special attacker with base 115 Sp. Atk. Base 95 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's fragile, can't afford to take many hits.
Game Availability
Haunter has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 22 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
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 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
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