Gengar

The Shadow Pokémon
#094 - Gengar
Pre-Evolve	Haunter
Debut	Pokémon: Red Version Pokémon: Green Version
Species Info
Type	+ +
Height	1.5 m (4'11")
Weight	40.5 kg (89.3 lbs.)
Color	Purple
Gender Ratio	1♂ : 1♀
Ability	Levitate
Hidden Ability
Egg Group	Indeterminate
Icon		Sprite
		File:094sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	60	Speed	110
Attack	65	Sp. Attack	130
Defense	60	Sp. Defense	75
Training Info
Catch Rate	45	Hatch Steps	5,120
Base Exp.	190	Effort Points	SpA
Happiness	70		SpA
To Lv.100	Slow		SpA

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 094 >	< 060 >		< 071 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #

Gengar is a shadowy ghost Pokémon that was introduced in the first generation games. It evolves from Haunter and is the third and final form of Gastly's evolutionary line.

Information

A Haunter becomes a Gengar when traded to another play. Gengar steals heat from its surroundings, which causes people nearby to feel chills. They hide in people's shadows and wait for opportunities to take their lives or put a curse on them. When someone appears to be overtaken by their own shadow on a dark night, it is really a Gengar running past, pretending to be that person's shadow. On nights with full moons, they mimic people's shadows and laugh at their fright.

They cool areas by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Gengar have also been said to emerge from the darkness to take the lives of those lost in the mountains, and they have also been known to lurk in the shadowy corners of rooms. Sometimes only its leer is seen, which is a sign that is delighted at the curses it is placing.

Appearances

Mainstream Games

In most games, it can only be obtained through trading/evolution. In Pokémon: Diamond, Pearl and Platinum Versions, Gengar will appear at the Old Gateau when any third generation game is present in the DS's GBA slot.

Other Games

In Pokémon Pinball, it was only obtained through evolution, and Gengar was also featured in a minigame where the player has to knock it out with a ball after defeating its prior forms. In Pokémon Trozei!, it could be found at Endless Level 68, Forever Level 18, Pair Battle and Mr. Who's Den. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Teams, Gengar could only be recruited by evolving a Haunter, although a non-playable Gengar played a strong story role as the leader of Team Meanies, who mostly opposed the player's team. It later turned out he was a human whom had been cured by Ninetales, and he later began helping the player out of remorse.

They appeared in Pokémon Ranger at Fiore Temple. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness, Gengar could be recruietd at Sky Stairway. In Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, it appeared at Hippowdon Temple, Altru Building and Altru Tower. In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, Gengar could be found at Oblivia Ruins and Dark Temple. Gengar also appeared in Pokémon Rumble at Eternal Tower. In PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, Gengar appeared at the Haunted Zone.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Gengar appeared as an Advanced-rank Support Spirit which had the effect of reducing damage taken from poison. When fought against in a Spirit battle, Gengar's Spirit would possess a purple-furred Donkey Kong in a battle with a slumber-inducing floor.

Other Media

• In the Pokémon anime, Gengar was initially shown in the first scene during a battle between Gengar and Nidorino which replicated the first generation games' opening sequence. A later episode featured a trio of a mischievous Gastly, Haunter and Gengar that befriended Ash during his temporary time as a ghost. An episode later in the Indigo League series featured an ancient Giant Genger that battled with a Giant Alakazam. Gengar was later used by the Orange Islands gym leader Drake, the Johto gym leader Morty, Agatha and the Sinnoh gym leader Fantina in later episodes throughout the anime. The Gengar of Team Meanies also appeared in the 'Pokémon Mystery Dungeon special.
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Agatha was shown to have multiple Gengar that she used during the Yellow arc. During her battle with Blue and Koga, she had Gengar drain Koga's life force from his shadow until Blue's Porygon defeated it after it had been distracted by Koga's Arbok.

Trivia

• Its name seems to be derived from "doppelganger", which refers to someone's double or shadow, relating to Gengar due to its tendency to pose as others' shadows.
• In the first generation games, the opening sequence consisted of a Nidorino battling with a Gengar, which technically makes them the first Pokémon shown in the games. This scene has been replicated in most media adaptations, as seen above.