Is Haunter Good in Platinum Playthrough?
Gastly evolves at level 25. An in-game trade in Snowpoint City gives Haunter for a Medicham. Trade evolution into Gengar is the goal, but Haunter handles Fantina and Maylene on its own.
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 Haunter in Platinum
A Snowpoint NPC trades a Haunter for your Medicham, an easy shortcut. Otherwise it appears wild around the Old Chateau, common to limited at levels 25 to 37 across a couple of spots.
2 locations to catch Haunter4 locations to catch Gastly
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Badge 7
Badge 8Catch Gastly at any of the 4 locations below, then level it up to 25 — it evolves into Haunter.
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6 Badge 7 Badge 8Where To Catch Haunter in Pt
Available earlier: catch Gastly (before Badge 2) and evolve it at Lv 25. Wild Haunter first appears at Snowpoint City (after Badge 6).
- 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 2Haunter ✓Turnback 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)
To plan your throws, open the Platinum catch rate calculator with Haunter preloaded.
How to Get Shiny Haunter in Platinum
Haunter lurks in the caves, so chain its base stage Gastly in Eterna Forest to 40 for a shiny and evolve it once. Compare Shiny Haunter odds across every game
Platinum 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 Platinum 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
 Giratina GhostDragon | S | |
Obtain MethodDistortion World Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Giratina builds →Shadow Force 2x211-249%KO Earthquake 2x117-138%KO Dream Eater 2x101-120%KO Dark Pulse 2x82-96% | ||
 Gardevoir Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x221-260%KO Shadow Ball 2x98-116%KO Thief 2x34-40% | ||
 Azelf Psychic | A | |
Obtain MethodLake Valor Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Azelf builds →Future Sight 2x221-260%KO Shadow Ball 2x98-116%KO Payback 2x71-84% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x182-214%KO Earthquake 2x151-178%KO Shadow Claw 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Kadabra Psychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x213-251%KO Shadow Ball 2x95-112%KO Thief 2x23-27% | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Exeggutor builds →Dream Eater 2x185-218%KO Thief 2x45-54% | ||
 Mesprit Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Mesprit builds →Future Sight 2x190-223%KO Shadow Ball 2x85-100%KO | ||
 Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Jynx builds →Dream Eater 2x171-201%KO Shadow Ball 2x92-109%KO Payback 2x35-41% | ||
 Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Absol builds →Sucker Punch 2x177-209%KO Psycho Cut 2x104-122%KO Shadow Claw 2x104-122%KO | ||
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Xatu builds →Future Sight 2x176-207%KO Shadow Ball 2x79-93% Thief 2x38-45% | ||
 Lunatone RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Lunatone builds →Future Sight 2x176-207%KO Shadow Ball 2x79-93% Earthquake 2x73-87% | ||
 Houndoom DarkFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Houndoom builds →Dark Pulse 2x132-155%KO Dream Eater 2x110-129%KO Shadow Ball 2x88-104%KO | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Weavile builds →Night Slash 2x145-170%KO Dig 2x110-129%KO Shadow Claw 2x96-113%KO Dream Eater 2x55-65% | ||
 Mr. Mime Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Haunter View Mr. Mime builds →Dream Eater 2x152-179%KO Shadow Ball 2x82-96% 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.
Pt Haunter Best Moveset
Without trade access, Haunter is where many players stop, and 115 Sp. Atk at 95 Speed makes it a legitimate special threat even stuck in this form. The moveset hits with Ghost and Poison attacks while AbilityLevitate blocks Ground. Gengar is stronger, but Haunter isn't weak.
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
Base Stats
It likes to lurk in the dark and tap shoulders with a gaseous hand. Its touch causes endless shuddering.
Haunter Platinum Guide
No. Haunter only evolves into Gengar through a real trade. There is no in-game alternative in Platinum.
Trade a Medicham to Mindy in Snowpoint City. Warning: the Haunter holds an Everstone and will not evolve into Gengar.. This is an NPC trade, so the Haunter you receive is yours immediately, no transfer cable needed.
In Platinum, 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 Platinum, use Haunter as a pivot. Special attacks are the main output. Speed is middling,
For Platinum, 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 · PlatinumPlatinum Tier ListThe best Pokemon ranked tier by tierSee Platinum Tier List