Stats & Training
Haunter's built around special offense. Sp. Atk leads the charge, HP pays for it. Moderately hard to find, worth 2 Sp. Atk EVs. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
In total darkness, where nothing is visible, HAUNTER lurks, silently stalking its next victim.
Its tongue is made of gas. If licked, its victim starts shaking constantly until death eventually comes.
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)
 Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Whiscash builds →Zen Headbutt 2x76-90% Mud-Slap 2x34-41% | ||
 Gastly GhostPoison | C | |
 Meditite FightingPsychic | D | |
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Whiscash builds →Zen Headbutt 2x78-93% Mud Bomb 2x83-100%KO Mud-Slap 2x28-33% | ||
 Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Absol builds →Shadow Claw 2x100-119%KO Pursuit 2x89-106%KO | ||
 Bronzor SteelPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Bronzor builds →Extrasensory 2x52-61% Confusion 2x37-44% | ||
 Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Wooper builds →Mud Bomb 2x46-56% Mud Shot 2x41-50% | ||
 Spoink Psychic | D | |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Onix builds →Dig 2x82-97% Payback 2x35-43% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Bronzor SteelPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Bronzor builds →Extrasensory 2x51-60% Shadow Ball 2x34-40% Confusion 2x34-42% Payback 2x26-31% | ||
 Numel FireGround | D | |
 Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x112-134%KO Shadow Claw 2x68-80% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Onix builds →Dig 2x78-92% Payback 2x35-41% | ||
Bronzor SteelPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Bronzor builds →Extrasensory 2x49-58% Shadow Ball 2x32-38% Confusion 2x32-38% Payback 2x23-28% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x110-131%KO Shadow Claw 2x65-77% Sand Tomb 2x51-62% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x167-197%KO Dig 2x134-159%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Onix builds →Dig 2x78-93% Payback 2x34-41% | ||
Bronzor SteelPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Bronzor builds →Extrasensory 2x49-59% Shadow Ball 2x32-39% Confusion 2x32-38% Payback 2x23-28% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Numel builds →Earth Power 2x99-117%KO Dig 2x97-114%KO | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x114-134%KO Shadow Claw 2x66-78% Sand Tomb 2x52-62% | ||
 Girafarig NormalPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Girafarig builds →Shadow Ball 2x73-87% Psybeam 2x89-106%KO Assurance 2x58-68% Thief 2x58-68% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x161-191%KO Dig 2x128-152%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Onix builds →Dig 2x78-92% Payback 2x33-40% | ||
Bronzor SteelPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Bronzor builds →Extrasensory 2x47-56% Shadow Ball 2x32-38% Confusion 2x29-35% Payback 2x24-28% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Girafarig NormalPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Girafarig builds →Psychic 2x127-150%KO Shadow Ball 2x76-90% Psybeam 2x93-110%KO Assurance 2x60-71% | ||
 Gligar Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Gligar builds →Dig 2x111-132%KO Knock Off 2x60-71% Feint Attack 2x57-67% Thief 2x57-67% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x168-199%KO Dig 2x135-159%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Onix builds →Dig 2x78-92% Payback 2x35-41% | ||
Bronzor SteelPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Bronzor builds →Future Sight 2x69-83% Extrasensory 2x46-55% Shadow Ball 2x31-37% Confusion 2x31-37% | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Gengar can KO Haunter with Shadow Ball (238-280%). Flygon threatens a KO with Earthquake (222-261%).
 Gengar GhostPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Gengar builds →Shadow Ball 2x238-280%KO | ||
 Flygon GroundDragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Flygon builds →Earthquake 2x222-261%KO Outrage133-156%KO U Turn13-15% | ||
 Azelf Psychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Azelf builds →U Turn12-14% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Weavile builds →Ice Shard51-60% Pursuit 2x101-119%KO | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | C | |
Ground is super effective against HaunterView Garchomp → | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
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 31 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Disable, Explosion and 8 more.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Haunter Best Moveset
Timid nature gives Haunter the fast special lean it needs to trade hits effectively. Black Sludge adds Poison-type passive recovery, max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs split the difference, and utility options punishes anything trying to wall it.
Best Build
Haunter best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Attacker Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Toxic
- Destiny Bond
- Sludge Bomb
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Without breeding, Haunter misses out on Astonish and Disable. That's 11 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.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Haunter in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Haunter is available from mid-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 2 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.
Where To Catch Haunter in HeartGold & SoulSilver
To get Haunter, start by catching Gastly through walking encounters at Lv. 3-22. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch GastlySprout TowerHeartGoldGrass Lv.3-6 Building85%EarlyNightSprout TowerSoulSilverGrass Lv.3-6 Building85%EarlyNightBell Tower - 2F-10FHeartGoldGrass Lv.20-22 Building80%MidNightBell Tower - 2F-10FSoulSilverGrass Lv.20-22 Building80%MidNight
Step 2Haunter ✓Route 8SoulSilverGrass Lv.19 RouteCommonMidNightRoute 8HeartGoldGrass Lv.19 RouteCommonMidNightor evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
Haunter Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 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 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
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