Pokemon

Gengar Pokémon (#0094) Stats, Moveset, Evolutions, Locations, Battle Strategies

Gengar is one of the most famous and iconic creatures in the world of Pokémon. It was created by Ken Sugimori and was one of the first Pokémon we got to see from Generation I of the series. 

Fans have loved the character since its debut due to its simple and unique design, mischievous nature, and impressive battle skills. It can also evolve into Mega Gengar and Gigantamax Gengar, which gives you added advantages in battle.

In this comprehensive blog, we will discuss all aspects of Gengar Pokémon, including origins, lore, biology, behavior, evolution, battle strategies, cultural impact, and much more. So, let’s get straight into the details.

About Gengar

Specification	Details
National Dex No.	#0094
Local No.	0094 (Yellow/Red/Blue) 0060 (Gold/Silver/Crystal) 0094 (FireRed/LeafGreen) 0071 (Diamond/Pearl) 0071 (Platinum) 0060 (HeartGold/SoulSilver) 0032 (X/Y — Mountain Kalos) 0063 (Sun/Moon — Alola dex) 0075 (U.Sun/U.Moon — Alola dex) 0094 (Let’s Go Pikachu/Let’s Go Eevee) 0143 (Sword/Shield) 0071 (Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl) 0138 (Legends: Arceus) 0070 (Scarlet/Violet) 0120 (The Teal Mask)
Name	Gengar
Name Origin	Derived from the German word ‘doppelgänger’, which means a person’s look-alike
Type	Ghost and Poison
Species	Shadow Pokémon
Abilities	Cursed BodyLevitate (hidden ability, before Generation VII)
Height	1.5 m (4′11″)
Weight	40.5 kg (89.3 lbs)
Catch Rate	45 (5.9% with PokéBall, full HP)
Base Friendship	50 (normal)
Base Exp	250
Growth Rate	Medium Slows
Egg Groups	Amorphous
Gender Ratio	50% male, 50% female
Egg Cycles	20 (4,884–5,140 steps)
Other Names	Japan: Gangar (ゲンガー) French: Ectoplasma German: Gengar French: Ectoplasma Italian: Gengar Spanish: Gengar Korean: 팬텀 (paenteom) Chinese (Simplified): 耿鬼 Chinese (Traditional): 耿鬼

Pokémon Gengar is a Ghost and Poison type that was introduced in Generation I with the original Pokémon Red and Blue games. Being listed in the Paldea Pokédex, it is a Shadow Pokémon and a fan favorite because of its evil and threatening features and ghostly skills.

Gengar Pokémon is a clever and fully evolved creature; it hides in the shadow of prey and discreetly waits for an opportunity to take the life of its target. Evolving into Mega Gengar and Gigantamax Gengar forms gives it some extraordinary powers.

Now, let’s take a look at the following table discussing Gengar Pokédex numbers in various series and regions across different generations.

Generation	Region	Series	Pokédex No.
I	Kanto	Red/Blue/Yellow	#094
II	Johto	Gold/Silver/Crystal	#060
III	Kanto	Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald	#094
IV	Sinnoh	Diamond/Pearl/Platinum	#071
V	Unova	Black 2/White 2	—
VI	Kalos	X/Y	#032
VII	Alola	Sun/Moon/Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon	#063, #075
VIII	Galar	Sword/Shield	#143
IX	PaldeaKitakami	Scarlet/VioletScarlet/Violet	#70#120

Gengar Origins and Lore

Gengar’s origin and design are heavily inspired by the German word ‘doppelgänger’ and the concept of a shadowy version of a person. Doppelgängers are seen as an indicator of bad luck in folklore. This fact also aligns with the mischievous and threatening nature of Pokémon Gengar.

In the Pokémon universe, it is known for hiding in the shadows, and its presence makes you feel a sudden chill in the air. This characteristic adds to the ghostly personality of the creature. As per some Gengar Pokédex entries, it also has the skills to completely merge with shadows, which makes it completely undetected while preying. 

Let’s take a look at the Gengar Pokédex entry across different games in various generations, which will further provide you with more information about the origins and characteristics of Gengar.

Generation	Game	Pokédex Entry Description
Generation I	Red	Gengar likes to imitate the shadows of people and laugh at their fear under a full moon.
	Blue	It enjoys impersonating people’s shadows and laughing at their fear.
	Yellow	If you get a sudden chill, there is a Gengar nearby. It might be attempting to curse you.
Generation II	Gold	It absorbs heat from the surrounding environment. You can be sure about its appearance if you suddenly get cold.
	Silver	It blends into its prey’s shadow and waits patiently for an opportunity to take its victim’s life.
	Crystal	It absorbs people’s heat by hiding in their shadows at night. The chilling effect causes the victims to shiver.
Generation III	Ruby	On a dark night, your shadow cast by a streetlight may unexpectedly overtake you. It is a Gengar running by you while posing as your shadow.
	Sapphire	Your shadow, which is actually a Gengar, may overtake you on a dimly lit night.
	FireRed	It appears out of the shadows to take the lives of people who get lost in the mountains.
	LeafGreen	There must be a Gengar if your shadows move and laugh on their own during a full moon night.
	Emerald	Late at night, your shadow may unexpectedly overtake you by a street lamp. The shadow is most probably a Gengar running past you.
Generation IV	Diamond	It lurks in the dark, and the area is said to cool by almost 10 degrees Fahrenheit when it is hidden.
	Pearl	It waits for opportunities to steal the life force of its prey by lurking in the dark corners of rooms.
	Platinum	The leer of Gengar floats during the night, and it enjoys cursing people.
	HeartGold	It absorbs heat from the surrounding environment. You can feel a sudden chill in the air when a Gengar appears.
	SoulSilver	It lurks in the shadow of its prey, waiting for a chance to steal its victim’s life.
Generation V	Black	The leer floating in the darkness is that of a Gengar who takes great pleasure in cursing people.
	White
	Black 2	The leering figure in the shadows is a Gengar who enjoys cursing people very much.
	White 2
Generation VI	X	It stays hidden in the dark. Gengar is said to cool the area by nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit when it hides.
	Y	It absorbs heat from people while hiding in their shadows at night. The chilling effect causes the victims to shiver.
	Omega Ruby	During late night, your shadow may unexpectedly overtake you by a street lamp. The shadow is most probably a Gengar running past you.
	Alpha Sapphire	On occasion, you may be startled when your shadow cast by a streetlight unexpectedly catches up with you on a dark night. It is a Gengar posing as your shadow as it runs past you.
Generation VII	Sun	A sudden chill that feels like an attack is a sign that a Gengar is approaching. You cannot escape now, just give up.
	Moon	It appears to wish for a travel companion. As it was human before, it tries to create one by killing other humans.
	Ultra Sun	There are stories all over the world about how mischievous children will receive a visit from Gengar.
	Ultra Moon	It is not safe even in your own house. Gengar will wait for its opportunity to attack its victim by hiding in any dimly lit corner of a room.
	Let’s Go Pikachu	If you feel a sudden chill, there is a Gengar nearby, and it could be trying to cast a curse on you.
	Let’s Go Eevee	A Gengar might be trying to curse you if you feel a sudden chill in the air.
Generation VIII	Sword	When shadows move and laugh on a full moon night, it is probably Gengar’s doing.
	Shield	It emerges from the shadows to claim the lives of those who become lost in the mountains.
	Brilliant Diamond	Gengar can hide in shadows. The temperature drops by 10 degrees Fahrenheit near this Pokémon.
	Shining Pearl	It lurks in the dark corners of rooms, waiting for an opportunity to steal its prey’s life force.
	Legends: Arceus	It tries to steal the lives of potential victims by possessing their shadows. Grab onto a protective charm right away if your shadow starts laughing.
Generation IX	Scarlet	It blends in with the shadow of its prey and waits patiently for an opportunity to take the victim’s life.
	Violet	It absorbs heat from people hiding in their shadows at night. Victims get anxious with the chill it causes.

Now, let’s explore the Pokédex entries of its Gengar Mega evolution and Gigantamax forms:

Gigantamax Gengar
Sword	Its enormous mouth is rumored to lead straight to the afterlife rather than into its body, which is said to be filled with cursed energy.
Shield	It sets traps in an attempt to take the lives of those it captures. You will hear the voices of your loved ones if you stand in front of its mouth.

Mega Gengar
Sun	Gengar has twisted relationships as it has zero interest in opponents except for the time when it perceives them as prey.
Moon	It submerges itself into another dimension, waiting patiently for the opportunity to attack.
Ultra Sun	It attempts to claim the lives of all people. It can also try to kill its trainer or master.
Ultra Moon	Mega Evolution has opened up new dimensions for Gengar to explore. There is strange power all over its body.
Let’s Go PikachuLet’s Go Eevee	It can appear anywhere and travel through different dimensions.

Biology and Behavior of Gengar 

Gengar is round and spiky, with a large grin and red glowing eyes. It seems to be floating or hovering, giving it a ghostly appearance. The body is made of a gaseous element, which allows it to move through walls and hide in thin air.

If we talk about its behavior, it is playful yet threatening. It loves to prank people and other Pokémon, mostly in a dark environment where it can easily hide and cause fear. 

It may look frightening, but it is not inherently evil. Gengar just loves to create chaos and do pranks. Let’s take a look at some more details about Pokémon Gengar.

Features and Description

Skin Color	Dark Purple
Body Shape	Round
Mouth	Wide mouth with a sinister grin
Back	Numerous spiked
Legs and Arms	Short with three digits
Tail	Stubby
Eyes	Red color
Ears	Large and pointed

Details for Starters

Catch Rate	45 (5.9% with PokéBall, full HP)
Growth Rate	Medium Slow
Base Exp. Points (Gen 1-4)	190
Base Exp. Points (Gen 5-7)	225
Base Exp. Points (Gen 8-9)	225
Base Friendship (Happiness)	50 (normal)
EV Yield	3 Sp. Atk

EV Yield Distribution

Stat	Yield
HP	0
Attack	0
Defense	0
Sp. Attack	3
Sp. Defense	0
Speed	0

Base Stats

Stat	Base	Range at Level 50		Range at Level 100
		Minimum	Maximum	Minimum	Maximum
HP	60	120	167	230	324
Attack	65	63	128	121	251
Defense	60	58	123	112	240
Sp. Atk	130	121	200	238	394
Sp. Def	75	72	139	139	273
Speed	110	103	178	202	350
Total	500	Other Pokémon with this total: Many
Min stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
Max stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
Gengar’s special base stat in Generation I was 130.

From the above-given Gengar base stats, it is clear that Gengar is a powerful attacker with good speed. However, it is relatively weak in Defence and HP. Overall, a base stat total of 500 is good for an offensive battle strategy due to its special attack of 130.

Gengar Evolutionary Line

Gengar’s evolutionary line is well-known in the Pokémon universe. The evolution starts with Gastly, which evolves into Haunter at level 25. When Haunter gets traded between other players, it evolves into a Gengar Pokémon. Unique methods of Gengar evolutions also encourage interaction between players. 

Gastly

Gastly is a Ghost and Poison-type Pokémon. It is basically a floating ball of gas, which wraps its opponent in its gaseous body. The gas slowly weakens the victim by spreading the poison through the skin.

Specification	Details
National Dex No.	#0092
Type	Ghost/Poison
Species	Gas Pokémon
Abilities	Levitate
Height	1.3 m (4′03″)
Weight	0.1 kg (0.2 lbs)
Catch Rate	190 (24.8% with PokéBall, full HP)
Base Friendship	50 (normal)
Base Exp	62
Growth Rate	Medium Slow

Haunter

Haunter is the evolved form of Gastly, which has a more defined shape and hands detached from its body. It enjoys roaming in the dark and tapping the shoulders of other people. The tap causes the victim to shiver endlessly.

Specification	Details
National Dex No.	#0093
Type	Ghost/Poison
Species	Gas Pokémon
Abilities	Levitate
Height	1.6 m (5′03″)
Weight	0.1 kg (0.2 lbs)
Catch Rate	90 (11.8% with PokéBall, full HP)
Base Friendship	50 (normal)
Base Exp	142
Growth Rate	Medium Slow

Now that you know about the Gengar Pokémon evolution, it is also crucial to know about special forms: Mega Gengar and Gigantamax Gengar.

Mega Gengar

Mega Gengar is a more powerful version with improved stats and a terrifying look. A Gengar Mega evolution takes place while holding a Gengarite. The shadow tag ability prevents other Pokémon from escaping, which makes it a strong opponent in battle. It can even move through different dimensions and go anywhere.

Gigantamax Gengar

Gengar gains the ability to become Gigantamax Gengar while holding a Dynamax Band. There are rumors that its gigantic mouth does not lead into its body, but it directly leads to the afterlife due to the cursed energy. It is the only Pokémon that is capable of using the G-Max Move G-Max Terror.

In-Game Availability

Since its debut in Generation I, Gengar has been there in most of the Pokémon series and side games. Players can find Gastly in ghostly locations such as the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town. Players can then obtain Gengar by following the evolution line. 

Let’s look at the specific locations or methods to get a Gengar in different game series.

Game Locations

Generation	Game	Location(s)
Generation I	Red	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Blue	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Yellow	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
Generation II	Gold	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Silver	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Crystal	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
Generation III	Ruby	Trade/migrate from another game
	Sapphire	Trade/migrate from another game
	FireRed	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	LeafGreen	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Emerald	Trade/migrate from another game
Generation IV	Diamond	Old Chateau
	Pearl	Old Chateau
	Platinum	Old Chateau
	HeartGold	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	SoulSilver	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
Generation V	Black	Trade/migrate from another game
	White	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Black 2	Trade/migrate from another game
	White 2	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
Generation VI	X	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Y	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Omega Ruby	Trade/migrate from another game
	Alpha Sapphire	Trade/migrate from another game
Generation VII	Sun	Thrifty Megamart
	Moon	Thrifty Megamart
	Ultra Sun	Thrifty Megamart
	Ultra Moon	Thrifty Megamart
	Let’s Go Pikachu	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Let’s Go Eevee	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
Generation VIII	Sword	Giant’s Cap (Wanderer)Giant’s Mirror, South Lake Miloch, Stony Wilderness (Max Raid Battle)
	Shield	Giant’s Cap (Wanderer)Giant’s Mirror, South Lake Miloch, Stony Wilderness (Max Raid Battle)Stony Wilderness (Max Raid Battle) (Gigantamax Factor)
	Brilliant Diamond	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Shining Pearl	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Legends: Arceus	Space-Time Distortion
Generation IX	Scarlet	Trade Pincurchin for Haunter in Levincia (evolves immediately)
	Violet	Trade Pincurchin for Haunter in Levincia (evolves immediately)

In Side Games

Generation	Game	Location
I	Pinball	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
II		It is not available in Generation II side games.
III	Channel	Located in Ruins of Truth
	Trozei!	Found in Endless Level 68, Forever Level 18, Pair Battle, Mr. Who’s Den
	MD Red/MD Blue	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Ranger	Found in Fiore Temple
IV	MD Time/MD Darkness	Found in Sky Stairway (30F-49F)
	MD Sky	Found in Sky Stairway (30F-49F)
	Ranger: SoA	Found in Hippowdon Temple, Altru Building, Altru Tower
	Rumble	Found in Eternal Tower (Both Modes A & S)
	PokéPark Wii	Located in Haunted Zone
	Ranger: GS	Found in Old Mansion, Fire Temple
V	Rumble Blast	Found in Hauntyard: Everspring Valley, World Axle – B1F
	PokéPark 2	Located in the Tech Area
	Conquest	Evolve Gastly/Haunter
	Rumble U	Toy Collection: Guided by Pichu (Boss)
VI	Battle Trozei	Found in Pitch-Black Cavern: Stage 3
	Rumble World	Found in Starlight Islands: Halloween Village (Back Boss)
	Picross	Located in Area 08: Stage 06
VII	Rumble Rush	Found in various seas: Dragonite Sea, Gengar Sea, Mimikyu Sea, Mewtwo Sea, Rowlet Sea, Buzzwole Sea, Bulbasaur Sea, Rayquaza Sea, Mimikyu Sea, Mewtwo SeaFinal, Rowlet Sea, Buzzwole Sea
VIII	MD DX	Found in Darknight Relic (12F-14F)
	New Snap	Found in Outaway Cave
Cross-Generation	Shuffle	Castle Noapte: Stage 125Prasino Woods: Stage 557Event: A Great Chance a Day! (Spooky)
	Café ReMix	Special Delivery Event (Mix), Complete Ribombee Chocolate Cake recipe (ReMix)March Goals premium pass: Level 30 (Flower Power)
	Masters EX	Sync pair scout: Agatha & Gengar (Mega Gengar), Allister & Gengar (Gigantamax)Variety sync pair scout: Plumeria & GengarEvolution: Scottie/Bettie & HaunterEgg
	Unite	Buy for 10,000 Aeos Coins/575 Aeos Gems

Sprites in Different Generations

Every Pokémon generation introduces new sprites, featuring both normal and shiny variants. So, let’s take a look at all the #0094 Gengar sprites used throughout the Pokémon games:

Generation	Type Normal	Type Shiny
Generation 1		–
Generation 2
Generation 3
Generation 4
Generation 5
Generation 6
Generation 7
Generation 8		–
Generation 9		–

Training and Battling — Type Effectiveness

As a dual-type (Ghost/Poison) Pokémon, Gengar has multiple battle strengths and weaknesses. We have discussed a lot about the strengths through Gengar Pokédex entries of different generations. However, it is essential to be aware of its weakness to perform better in games.

Type	Status	Effectiveness
Normal	Immune	0x
Fighting	Immune	0x
Grass	Weakly Resists	½x
Fairy	Weakly Resists	½x
Poison	Weakly Resists	¼×
Bug	Weakly Resists	¼×
Flying	Normally Affected	1x
Fire	Normally Affected	1x
Water	Normally Affected	1x
Rock	Normally Affected	1x
Electric	Normally Affected	1x
Ice	Normally Affected	1x
Steel	Normally Affected	1x
Dragon	Normally Affected	1x
Ground	Weak	2x
Ghost	Weak	2x
Psychic	Weak	2x
Dark	Weak	2x

* These stats are under normal battle conditions in Generation IX.

Let’s discuss some key points to consider:

• Gengar is completely immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves. It can effectively win battles against a normal Pokémon without breaking a sweat.

• If an opponent uses a Foresight or Odor Sleuth, or the opponent has scrappy, or Gengar is given a Ring Target, the effectiveness of Normal and Fighting-type moves will be 1x and 1/2x, respectively.

• Additionally, Mega Gengar is immune to the Telekinesis move.

• Trainers should take precautions against Ground, Ghost, Psychic, and Dark-type Pokémon.

Keeping Type Effectiveness in mind, trainers can easily make informed decisions on when to use Gengar and how to use it effectively against different opponents.

Gengar Moves and Abilities

Gengar has a wide variety of moves and skills, which makes it a suitable choice in battles. Some of the notable Gengar movesets are Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, Hypnosis, and Will-O-Wisp.

Gengar’s Abilities:

Cursed Body	There is a 30% chance that a Gengar will disable a move that hits it. This can help you disable even the most dangerous attack of the opponent.
Levitate	It also had the Levitate ability before Generation VII. This helped Gengar to be immune to Ground-type moves. However, it was replaced by Cursed Body in recent games.

Gengar has been a versatile moveset since its debut in Generation I. Let’s take a look at the different charts presenting the Gengar moveset in Generation IX.

Moves Learned by Level Up

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Gengar learns the following moves at the specified levels:

Lv.	Move	Type	Cat.	Power	Acc.
1	Confuse Ray	Ghost	Status	—	100
1	Hypnosis	Psychic	Status	—	60
1	Lick	Ghost	Physical	30	100
1	Mean Look	Normal	Status	—	—
1	Perish Song	Normal	Status	—	—
1	Reflect Type	Normal	Status	—	—
1	Shadow Punch	Ghost	Physical	60	∞
12	Payback	Dark	Physical	50	100
16	Spite	Ghost	Status	—	100
20	Curse	Ghost	Status	—	—
24	Hex	Ghost	Special	65	100
30	Night Shade	Ghost	Special	—	100
36	Sucker Punch	Dark	Physical	70	100
42	Dark Pulse	Dark	Special	80	100
48	Shadow Ball	Ghost	Special	80	100
54	Destiny Bond	Ghost	Status	—	—
60	Dream Eater	Psychic	Special	100	100

Moves Learned By TM

Gengar is compatible with the following Technical Machines in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet:

TM	Move	Type	Cat.	Power	Acc.
06	Scary Face	Normal	Status	—	100
07	Protect	Normal	Status	—	—
13	Acid Spray	Poison	Special	40	100
17	Confuse Ray	Ghost	Status	—	100
18	Thief	Dark	Physical	60	100
25	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100
29	Hex	Ghost	Special	65	100
34	Icy Wind	Ice	Special	55	95
42	Night Shade	Ghost	Special	—	100
43	Fling	Dark	Physical	—	100
45	Venoshock	Poison	Special	65	100
47	Endure	Normal	Status	—	—
49	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	—	—
50	Rain Dance	Water	Status	—	—
58	Brick Break	Fighting	Physical	75	100
61	Shadow Claw	Ghost	Physical	70	100
62	Foul Play	Dark	Physical	95	100
66	Body Slam	Normal	Physical	85	100
67	Fire Punch	Fire	Physical	75	100
68	Thunder Punch	Electric	Physical	75	100
69	Ice Punch	Ice	Physical	75	100
70	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	—	—
73	Drain Punch	Fighting	Physical	75	100
79	Dazzling Gleam	Fairy	Special	80	100
80	Metronome	Normal	Status	—	—
82	Thunder Wave	Electric	Status	—	90
83	Poison Jab	Poison	Physical	80	100
85	Rest	Psychic	Status	—	—
87	Taunt	Dark	Status	—	100
91	Toxic Spikes	Poison	Status	—	—
92	Imprison	Psychic	Status	—	—
94	Dark Pulse	Dark	Special	80	100
98	Skill Swap	Psychic	Status	—	—
102	Gunk Shot	Poison	Physical	120	80
103	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—
107	Will-O-Wisp	Fire	Status	—	85
109	Trick	Psychic	Status	—	100
111	Giga Drain	Grass	Special	75	100
114	Shadow Ball	Ghost	Special	80	100
119	Energy Ball	Grass	Special	90	100
120	Psychic	Psychic	Special	90	100
122	Encore	Normal	Status	—	100
126	Thunderbolt	Electric	Special	90	100
140	Nasty Plot	Dark	Status	—	—
148	Sludge Bomb	Poison	Special	90	100
151	Phantom Force	Ghost	Physical	90	100
152	Giga Impact	Normal	Physical	150	90
158	Focus Blast	Fighting	Special	120	70
161	Trick Room	Psychic	Status	—	—
163	Hyper Beam	Normal	Special	150	90
166	Thunder	Electric	Special	110	70
171	Tera Blast	Normal	Special	80	100

Moves Learned by Breeding (Egg Moves)

Gengar can learn the following moves through breeding or picnics in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet:

Move	Type	Cat.	Power	Acc.
Astonish	Ghost	Physical	30	100
Clear Smog	Poison	Special	50	—
Disable	Normal	Status	—	100
Haze	Ice	Status	—	—
Perish Song	Normal	Status	—	—
Reflect Type	Normal	Status	—	—
Smog	Poison	Special	30	70
Toxic	Poison	Status	—	90

Now, let’s take a look at each of the egg moves and their compatible parent’s information.

Astonish

Learnt by	Compatible Parents
Level up	Misdreavus, Shuppet, Duskull, Dusclops, Chimecho, Drifloon, Drifblim, Mismagius, Dusknoir, Litwick, Lampent, Chandelure, Phantump, Trevenant, Sandygast, Palossand, Mimikyu, Dreepy, Drakloak, Dragapult
Breeding	Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Solosis
Picnics	Any Pokémon that learns Astonish

Clear Smog

Learnt by	Compatible Parents
Level up	Koffing, Weezing, Galarian Weezing, Slugma, Magcargo
Breeding	Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Gulpin, Swalot, Shellos, Gastrodon, Drifloon, Drifblim, Litwick
Picnics	Any Pokémon that learns Clear Smog

Disable

Learnt by	Compatible Parents
Level up	Grimer, Alolan Grimer, Muk, Alolan Muk, Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir
Breeding	Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir, Shuppet, Banette, Drifloon, Drifblim, Spiritomb, Gallade, Phantump, Dreepy, Drakloak, Dragapult
Picnics	Any Pokémon that learns Disable

Haze

Learnt by	Compatible Parents
Level up	Koffing, Weezing, Galarian Weezing
TM	Koffing, Weezing, Galarian Weezing, Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir, Litwick, Lampent, Chandelure, Trevenant
Breeding	Grimer, Muk, Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Duskull, Drifloon, Drifblim, Litwick
Picnics	Any Pokémon that learns Haze

Perish Song

Learnt by	Compatible Parents
Level up	Gengar, Misdreavus
Breeding	Gastly, Haunter, Gengar
Picnics	Any Pokémon that learns Perish Song

Reflect type

Learnt by	Compatible Parents
Level up	Gengar
Breeding	Gastly, Haunter, Gengar
Picnics	Any Pokémon that learns Reflect Type

Smog

Learnt by	Compatible Parents
Level up	Koffing, Weezing, Galarian Weezing, Slugma, Magcargo, Litwick, Lampent, Chandelu
Breeding	Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Gulpin, Swalot
Picnics	Any Pokémon that learns Smog

Toxic

Learnt by	Compatible Parents
Level up	Grimer, Alolan Grimer, Muk, Alolan Muk, Koffing, Weezing, Galarian Weezing, Gulpin, Swalot
TM	Koffing, Weezing, Galarian Weezing, Trevenant
Breeding	Gastly, Haunter, Gengar
Picnics	Any Pokémon that learns Astonish

Competitive Usage and Strategies

Gengar is a versatile and dangerous Pokémon in competitive play. It is known for its high special attack and speed. It is also favorable due to the access to a diverse moveset.

Let’s take a look at some optimized Gengar movesets and hold item combinations for different generations to maximize Gengar’s potential in battles.

Generation	Moveset	Held Item	Nature	EVs
Black/White/Black 2/White 2	SubDisable Gengar	Black Sludge	Timid	4 HP, 252 Special Attack, 252 Speed
	Substitute
	Disable
	Shadow Ball
	Focus Blast
X/Y/Sun/Moon	Mega Gengar Trapper	Gengarite	Timid	4 Defense, 252 Special Attack, 252 Speed
	Shadow Ball
	Sludge Wave
	Focus Blast
	Taunt
Scarlet/Violet	Choice Specs Gengar	Choice Specs	Timid	4 Defense, 252 Special Attack, 252 Speed
	Shadow Ball
	Sludge Bomb
	Thunderbolt
	Dazzling Gleam

The ability to adapt to different roles makes Gengar a worthy asset in competitive battles for all generations. Trainers can utilize the disruptive SubDisable moveset and the dominating skills of Mega Gengar to turn the tables in a battle.

With the help of the right setup, Gengar can be your go-to versatile Pokémon for battles in any format and generation.

Gengar Role in the Pokémon World

Gengar has had a big role to play in the world of Pokémon, be it in the lore or across other forms of media. Among other Ghost/Poison-type Pokémon, it stands out for its unique type combination and cunning and playful character that makes it so memorable in the franchise.

Several notable trainers and characters have owned or encountered a Gengar. Here are the most notable ones:

• Ash Ketchum: Ash captures a Gengar in Pokémon Journeys that participated in many battles.

• Morty: Gengar was the ace Pokémon of the Ecruteak City Gym Leader from Johto in many series and games.

• Agatha: Elite Four Member in the Kanto region known for her team of Ghost-type Pokémon.

• Fantina: Hearthome City Gym Leader in Sinnoh, featuring Gengar in many episodes.

First Appearance

Game: Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)Anime: Episode 23 – “The Tower of Terror” (Japanese Version)

Plot

Gengar is introduced as one of the first Ghost-type Pokémon. It is shown as a playful yet threatening creature. The debut episode highlights the mischievous personality of Gengar and its ability to be both a friend and a prankster.

Other Appearances
Episode Number	Episode Name
Season 1 – Episode 23	“The Tower of Terror”
Season 2 – Episode 16	“The Ghost of Maiden’s Peak”
Season 5 – Episode 41	“Fear Factor Phony!”
Season 20 – Episode 15	“The Crystal-Clear Sleuthing!”
Season 23 – Episode 16	“A Chilling Curse!”

Since its release, Gengar has been one of the most popular Pokémon. With its shadowy persona, versatility in combat, and striking appearances, Gengar has found a place as the most beloved and enduring Pokémon-be it in games, anime, or other media.

Trivia and Fun Facts about Gengar

Till now, we have discussed a lot of details about the Gengar Pokémon. So, to end the article on a lighter note, let’s look at some interesting trivia and fun facts about Gengar:

• Gengar’s prototype name in the English Pokémon Red and Blue beta was ‘Phantom’, which is also its Korean name (팬텀 Phantom).

• It was the first Ghost-type Pokémon to be introduced, along with its pre-evolutions, Gastly and Haunter.

• Gengar is the favorite Pokémon of Ken Sugimori. He feels that it is the easiest Pokémon to draw.

• It was one of the first Pokémon to get a Gigantamax form in Pokémon Sword and Shield. It has a unique ability, G-Max Terror that prevents opponents from escaping.

• The base Special Attack stat of Mega Gengar is the highest among all Pokémon of the Ghost and Poison types.

So, we have now covered almost all the major details of Gengar Pokémon. Gengar’s personality of playful mischief and ghostly menace makes it a memorable Pokémon for fans and trainers alike. We hope you like it as much as we do.