Is Haunter Good in Diamond & Pearl Playthrough?
Haunter without trade evolution is still one of the best Ghosts available in Sinnoh. AbilityLevitate blocks Ground. Shadow Ball is now Special in Gen 4, which matches where Haunter's strength actually sits. Handles Maylene and Fantina.
Roark's team hits Gastly's weaknesses hard.
Gastly trades roughly evenly with Gardenia's team.
Haunter has the type edge here and should clean up Maylene's team.
Haunter has the type edge here and should clean up Crasher Wake's team.
Haunter has the type edge here and should clean up Fantina's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Byron's team.
Gengar resists most of Candice's coverage and hits back hard.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up 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 has the type edge here and should clean up 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 Mars's team.
Gengar has the type edge here and should clean up Jupiter's team.
Gengar resists most of Saturn's coverage and hits back hard.
Gengar trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Catch Gastly
Catch Gastly on Old Chateau (walking, Lv 12-16, common).
Recommended Moves
- After Gardenia
- TM64NormalExplosionPower 250Accuracy 100%PP 5Given by the coin clerk at the Veilstone Game Corner once you string together ten bonus rounds in a row on the slot machines
- TM24ElectricThunderboltPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 15Veilstone Game Corner
- TM29PsychicPsychicPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 10Veilstone Game Corner
- LV 29GhostShadow BallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15
- LV 33PsychicDream EaterPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15
- LV 36DarkDark PulsePower 80Accuracy 100%PP 15
- After Candice
- TM36PoisonSludge BombPower 135Accuracy 100%PP 10Galactic HQ B2F 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 Gardenia
- TM06PoisonToxicPower —Accuracy 85%PP 10Route 212
- TM64NormalExplosionPower 250Accuracy 100%PP 5Given by the coin clerk at the Veilstone Game Corner once you string together ten bonus rounds in a row on the slot machines
- TM24ElectricThunderboltPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 15Veilstone Game Corner
- LV 33GhostShadow BallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15
- After Fantina
- TM84PoisonPoison JabPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 20Route 212
- TM65GhostShadow ClawPower 105Accuracy 100%PP 15Prize for defeating Gym Leader Fantina at Hearthome City
- LV 39PsychicDream EaterPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15
- After Candice
- TM36PoisonSludge BombPower 135Accuracy 100%PP 10Galactic HQ B2F 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 Byron.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 36)
- LV 36GhostShadow BallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15
- After Gardenia
- TM64NormalExplosionPower 250Accuracy 100%PP 5Given by the coin clerk at the Veilstone Game Corner once you string together ten bonus rounds in a row on the slot machines
- TM68NormalGiga ImpactPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Game Corner
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Department Store
- After Fantina
- TM84PoisonPoison JabPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 20Route 212
- TM65GhostShadow ClawPower 105Accuracy 100%PP 15Prize for defeating Gym Leader Fantina at Hearthome City
- After Byron
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 20Oreburgh Gate
- After Candice
- TM36PoisonSludge BombPower 135Accuracy 100%PP 10Galactic HQ B2F in Veilstone City
- Post-Game
- TM53GrassEnergy BallPower 80Accuracy 100%PP 10Route 226
- TM42NormalFacadePower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20Survival Area
How to Get Haunter in Diamond & Pearl
You can trade for a Haunter in the deal tied to its line, but it also walks the Old Chateau and deeper caves up to level 66. The wild route gives you a Haunter without spending a trade.
3 locations to catch Haunter3 locations to catch Gastly
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8Catch Gastly at any of the 3 locations below, then level it up to 25 — it evolves into Haunter.
Badge 1 Badge 2Where To Catch Haunter in DP
Gastly is your first catch on the way to Haunter. You'll find walking and trade encounters from Lv. 12-66 across 72 total spots in the chain.
- Step 1Catch GastlyOld ChateauLv.12-16GrassRate 100%Old Chateau - 2F Room 2Lv.12-16GrassRate 100%Old Chateau - 2F Room 4Lv.12-16GrassRate 100%Lost Tower - 1FLv.16-18FloorRate 50%Morning/dayLost Tower - 2FLv.17-19FloorRate 50%Morning/dayLost Tower - 3FLv.18-20FloorRate 50%Morning/dayLost Tower - 4FLv.19-21FloorRate 50%Morning/dayLost Tower - 5FLv.20-22FloorRate 50%Morning/dayLost Tower - 1FLv.16-18FloorRate 40%NightLost Tower - 2FLv.17-19FloorRate 40%NightLost Tower - 3FLv.18-20FloorRate 40%NightLost Tower - 4FLv.19-21FloorRate 40%NightLost Tower - 5FLv.20-22FloorRate 40%NightRoute 209Lv.16GrassRate 10%Night
- Step 2Haunter ✓Old ChateauLv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: RubyOld ChateauLv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: SapphireOld ChateauLv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: EmeraldOld ChateauLv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: FireRedOld ChateauLv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: LeafGreenOld Chateau - 2F Room 2Lv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: RubyOld Chateau - 2F Room 2Lv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: SapphireOld Chateau - 2F Room 2Lv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: EmeraldOld Chateau - 2F Room 2Lv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: FireRedOld Chateau - 2F Room 2Lv.16GrassRate 8%Dual-slot: LeafGreenOld Chateau - 2F Room 4Lv.16GrassRate 4%Dual-slot: RubyOld Chateau - 2F Room 4Lv.16GrassRate 4%Dual-slot: SapphireOld Chateau - 2F Room 4Lv.16GrassRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldOld Chateau - 2F Room 4Lv.16GrassRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedOld Chateau - 2F Room 4Lv.16GrassRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreenTurnback CaveLv.44-66CaveRate 30%Snowpoint CityIn-game tradeRate 100%Trade for (give Medicham)or evolve from Gastly (Step 1)
To plan your throws, open the Diamond & Pearl catch rate calculator with Haunter preloaded.
How to Get Shiny Haunter in Diamond & Pearl
Haunter materializes in the Old Chateau, where a PokeRadar chain in those rooms brings its shiny right down. Compare Shiny Haunter odds across every game
Diamond & Pearl Shiny Haunter 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.
For time estimates and charm math, open the Diamond & Pearl shiny odds calculator with Haunter already selected.
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
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Exeggutor builds →Dream Eater 2x177-208%KO Thief 2x44-53% | ||
 Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Absol builds →Sucker Punch 2x170-201%KO Shadow Claw 2x99-117%KO Future Sight 2x93-110%KO | ||
 Drapion PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Drapion builds →Crunch 2x125-147%KO Earthquake 2x103-122%KO Shadow Ball 2x53-63% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Weavile builds →Night Slash 2x138-163%KO Dig 2x105-124%KO Shadow Claw 2x92-108%KO Dream Eater 2x54-64% | ||
 Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Skuntank builds →Night Slash 2x112-132%KO Dig 2x86-102%KO Shadow Claw 2x75-88% | ||
 Kadabra Psychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x205-242%KO Shadow Ball 2x92-108%KO Thief 2x23-27% | ||
 Spiritomb GhostDark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 209 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Spiritomb builds →Sucker Punch 2x127-150%KO Shadow Ball 2x110-130%KO Dream Eater 2x92-108%KO | ||
 Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Jynx builds →Dream Eater 2x164-193%KO Shadow Ball 2x87-103%KO Payback 2x34-41% | ||
 Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Torterra builds →Earthquake 2x183-216%KO Crunch 2x97-115%KO | ||
 Bronzong SteelPsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Bronzong builds →Future Sight 2x147-173%KO Earthquake 2x103-122%KO Shadow Ball 2x66-78% Payback 2x53-63% | ||
Gengar GhostPoison | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Gengar builds →Shadow Ball 2x147-173%KO Dream Eater 2x122-144%KO Dark Pulse 2x97-115%KO | ||
 Girafarig NormalPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Girafarig builds →Dream Eater 2x136-160%KO Earthquake 2x95-112%KO Shadow Ball 2x73-86% Crunch 2x76-90% | ||
 Grumpig Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Grumpig builds →Dream Eater 2x136-160%KO Shadow Ball 2x73-86% Payback 2x33-39% | ||
 Mr. Mime Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Mr. Mime builds →Dream Eater 2x147-173%KO Shadow Ball 2x79-93% Payback 2x33-39% | ||
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 31 partners from the Amorphous egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Explosion, Fire Punch and 7 more.
DP Haunter Best Moveset
115 Sp. Atk and 95 Speed are threatening for an unevolved Pokemon, and AbilityLevitate blocks Ground attacks. The moveset hits hard with special Ghost and Poison coverage, and Held ItemLife Orb pushes damage further. Trade-evolving to Gengar is better, but Haunter holds its own in lower tiers.
Best Build
Haunter best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Attacker Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Toxic
- Destiny Bond
- Sludge Bomb
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Without breeding, Haunter misses out on Astonish and Explosion. That's 10 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
37 of 40 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
It can slip through any obstacle. It lurks inside walls to keep an eye on its foes.
It licks with its gaseous tongue to steal the victim’s life force. It lurks in darkness for prey.
Haunter Diamond & Pearl Guide
No. Haunter only evolves into Gengar through a real trade. There is no in-game alternative in Diamond & Pearl.
NPC trade in Snowpoint City. Trade a Medicham to the woman in a house. Warning: the Haunter holds an Everstone, preventing evolution. The Haunter arrives at the same level as the Medicham you trade away. This is an NPC trade, so the Haunter you receive is yours immediately, no transfer cable needed.
In Diamond & Pearl, Haunter does the job early-game if you need a Ghost/Poison type on your team. Evolve it into Gengar before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
In Diamond & Pearl, use Haunter as a pivot. Special attacks are the main output. Speed is middling,
For Diamond & Pearl, run Timid on Haunter. +Speed is what matters, and the -Attack cut doesn't hurt this set. Fits the pivot role.
Game Availability
Haunter has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 22 titles across all 9 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 7Let's Go
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
Explore
Where to go next after Haunter.
Keep playing · Diamond & PearlDiamond & Pearl Tier ListThe best Pokemon ranked tier by tierSee Diamond & Pearl Tier List