Biology
Gengar is a dark purple, bipedal Pokémon with a roundish body. It has red eyes and a wide mouth that is usually curled into a sinister grin. Multiple spikes cover its back, and it has large pointed ears. Its arms and legs are short with three digits on both its hands and feet. It also has a stubby tail.
As Mega Gengar, a portion of its body sinks into the ground. The lower portions turn a more reddish purple, and a third eye appears on its forehead. This new unblinking eye is oval, yellow, and allows it to see into other dimensions.[1] The spikes on Mega Gengar's back are more numerous and pointed. Additionally, spikes appear on its hands and tail. Its ears are now considerably longer and project backward.
Gengar has the ability to hide perfectly in the shadow of any object, granting it exceptional stealth. However, Gengar's body acts as a heat sink. Its presence cools the temperature of the surrounding area by nearly 10°F, because it absorbs the warmth. In addition, Gengar possesses the ability to fly through the air, as demonstrated in the anime.
Gengar is very mischievous, and at times, malicious. It enjoys playing practical jokes and casting curses, such as pretending to be one's shadow, then behaving erratically. When the quarry notices, the Gengar takes delight in its victim's terror. However, Gengar has been known to be loyal to a Trainer who treats it well. Gengar lives in shadows of rooms, caves, and dark places where shadows form. It is especially fond of urban areas such as cities and back alleys, but only during the night.
In the anime
Major appearances
Gengar appeared under the ownership of Ecruteak City Gym Leader Morty in A Ghost Of A Chance, From Ghost to Ghost, and For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!.
Agatha used a Gengar to battle Ash's Pikachu in The Scheme Team. The Ghost Pokémon defeated Pikachu.
Gengar was the leader of "Team Meanies" in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate!.
Other
Ash first saw a Gengar in person in Lavender Town in The Tower of Terror while searching for a Ghost-type Pokémon to fight Sabrina with. Due to a close call, Ash got to spend some unexpected time with the ghostly trio, Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar. It, along with Haunter, seemed to have a fondness for Japanese stand-up, and attempt to (unsuccessfully) amuse Ash by acting as a pair of performers. It reappeared in a flashback in the following episode.
In The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis, a giant Gengar was awakened near the ancient city of Pokémopolis where it battled an equally large Alakazam.
Drake of the Orange Islands used a Gengar in his battle with Ash in Hello, Pummelo! and Enter The Dragonite. His Gengar managed to confuse Ash's Tauros before he returned it and instead tried with Ash's Lapras. In the collision between Night Shade and Ice Beam, both Lapras and Gengar fainted.
A Gengar appeared in PK15.
A Gengar under the ownership of Hearthome City's Gym Leader Fantina appeared in a flashback in Playing the Leveling Field!, and appeared in A Shield with a Twist where it was defeated by Ash's Buizel.
Three Gengar appeared in Celebrating the Hero's Comet!.
Lon owns a Gengar that appeared in Scary Hospitality!. It is used by Lon, alongside its Gastly and Haunter, to scare visitors of the "Scary House".
A Gengar was used by the ninja's that attacked the Ninja Village in A Festival of Decisions!.
A Shiny Gengar owned by Jarvis that can Mega Evolve will appear in M19.
Minor appearances
Gengar first appeared in the opening of the first episode, Pokémon - I Choose You!, where it and a Nidorino battled in a Colosseum on TV as a reference to the original Pokémon Red and Green games.
A group of Gengar, along with a group of Haunter, were creating illusions within a forest in Illusion Confusion!.
A Gengar appeared in Beauty and the Breeder where it participated in a Pokémon breeding competition.
A Gengar appeared in UnBEARable in Brock's thoughts.
A Gengar appeared under the ownership of a Trainer in Celebi: Voice of the Forest.
A Gengar was partnered with two Team Rocket trainees in Training Daze.
A Gengar appeared in Who's Flying Now?, in the Fortree City Feather Festival.
A Gengar appeared in Ghoul Daze! together with its pre-evolutions, Gastly and Haunter.
A Gengar appeared in One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!.
A Gengar appeared as a mask for the festival in Capacia Island UFO!.
A Gengar that can Mega Evolve into Mega Gengar appeared in Mega Evolution Special I.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP023
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Gengar
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Ash's Pokédex
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Gengar. No information available.
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EP072
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Gengar
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Ash's Pokédex
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Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon. The evolved form of Haunter. Details about this Pokémon are unknown.
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Original series entries continue below.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP182
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Gengar
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Ash's Pokédex
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Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon. The evolved form of Haunter. Details about Gengar are unknown.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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AG132
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Gengar
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Ash's Pokédex
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Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon. Gengar is the final evolved form of Gastly. It can absorb any surrounding heat, leaving a sudden chill.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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DP102
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Gengar
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon. Gengar hides in the shadows. If a Gengar is nearby, it is said to feel ten degrees colder than normal.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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XY072
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Gengar
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Serena's Pokédex
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Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon and the evolved form of Haunter. Gengar is happy when it scares people, smiling wickedly in the dark.
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In Pokémon Origins
Gengar in Pokémon Origins
Gengar appeared in File 1: Red battling a Nidorino.
Agatha used a Gengar against Red's Dodrio in File 4: Charizard and lost.
Red's Gengar
Red's Gengar evolved from a Haunter sometime before File 4: Charizard.
In the mangaIn the TCGOther appearances
Gengar in Pokkén Tournament
Gengar is a playable character in the arcade fighting game. Moves it can use include Shadow Ball, Hypnosis, Shadow Punch, and Curse. Upon entering Burst form, it Mega-Evolves and can use the Burst Attack Shadow Drop.
Game data
NPC appearances
- Pokémon Pinball: A Gengar appears in a bonus stage accessible from the Red Table. Once the player has knocked out the three Gastly and the pair of Haunter, a Gengar then appears and must be defeated to win.
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team: Gengar is the leader of Team Meanies. While often accompanied by Ekans and Medicham, Gengar will often act alone and spends much of the game causing trouble, even convincing the village to exile the hero, blaming him or her for the natural disasters. However, it is later revealed that he is the cursed human.
Pokédex entries
Generation I
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Red(ENG)
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Under a full moon, this Pokémon likes to mimic the shadows of people and laugh at their fright.
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Blue
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Yellow
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A Gengar is close by if you feel a sudden chill. It may be trying to lay a curse on you.
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Stadium
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Appears to attack people who get lost in the mountains. Said to be the culprit behind shadows that laugh in the moonlight.
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Generation II
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Gold
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It steals heat from its surroundings. If you feel a sudden chill, it is certain that a Gengar appeared.
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Silver
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To steal the life of its target, it slips into the prey's shadow and silently waits for an opportunity.
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Crystal
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Hiding in people's shadows at night, it absorbs their heat. The chill it causes makes the victims shake.
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Stadium 2
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It steals heat from its surroundings. If you feel a sudden chill, it is certain that a Gengar appeared.
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Generation III
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Ruby
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Sometimes, on a dark night, your shadow thrown by a streetlight will suddenly and startlingly overtake you. It is actually a Gengar running past you, pretending to be your shadow.
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Sapphire
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Emerald
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Deep in the night, your shadow cast by a streetlight may suddenly overtake you. It is actually a Gengar running past you, pretending to be your shadow.
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FireRed
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It is said to emerge from darkness to steal the lives of those who become lost in mountains.
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LeafGreen
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On the night of the full moon, if shadows move on their own and laugh, it must be Gengar's doing.
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Generation IV
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Diamond
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It hides in shadows. It is said that if Gengar is hiding, it cools the area by nearly 10 degrees F.
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Pearl
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Lurking in the shadowy corners of rooms, it awaits chances to steal its prey's life force.
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Platinum
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The leer that floats in darkness belongs to a Gengar delighting in casting curses on people.
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HeartGold
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It steals heat from its surroundings. If you feel a sudden chill, it is certain that a Gengar appeared.
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SoulSilver
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To steal the life of its target, it slips into the prey's shadow and silently waits for an opportunity.
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Generation V
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Black
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The leer that floats in darkness belongs to a Gengar delighting in casting curses on people.
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White
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Black 2
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The leer that floats in darkness belongs to a Gengar delighting in casting curses on people.
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White 2
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Generation VI
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X
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It hides in shadows. It is said that if Gengar is hiding, it cools the area by nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Y
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Hiding in people's shadows at night, it absorbs their heat. The chill it causes makes the victims shake.
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Omega Ruby
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Sometimes, on a dark night, your shadow thrown by a streetlight will suddenly and startlingly overtake you. It is actually a Gengar running past you, pretending to be your shadow.
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Alpha Sapphire
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Game locations
In side games
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Generation II
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This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation II side games.
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In events
Games
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Event
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Region
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Location
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Level
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Distribution period
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XY
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Pokémon Center Gengar
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All
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Japan
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25
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February 1 to 28, 2014
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XY
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Pokémon Center Battle Championship Gengar
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All
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Japan
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50
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June 2 to 8, 2014; July 7 to 21, 2014
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XY
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Halloween Gengar
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All
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Japan
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25
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September 13 to October 14, 2014
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XY
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October 2014 Gengar
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American region
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the Americas
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25
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October 9, 2014 to February 5, 2015
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XY
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October 2014 Gengar
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PAL region
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Europe, Australia, and South Africa
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25
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October 9, 2014 to February 5, 2015
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XY
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Pre-ordering player Gengar
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Korean region
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South Korea
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25
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October 11 to December 7, 2014
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XY
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XY Gengar
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Japanese region
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Singapore
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25
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October 24 to 31, 2014
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XY
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XY Gengar
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American region
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Singapore
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25
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October 24 to 31, 2014
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ORAS
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Pokémon Center Hiroshima Gengar
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All
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Japan
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25
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March 1 to 31, 2016
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Held items
Stats
Base stats
Gengar
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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60
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120 - 167
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230 - 324
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65
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63 - 128
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121 - 251
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60
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58 - 123
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112 - 240
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130
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121 - 200
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238 - 394
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75
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72 - 139
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139 - 273
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110
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103 - 178
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202 - 350
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Total: 500
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
- This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 130.
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Mega Gengar
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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60
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120 - 167
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230 - 324
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65
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63 - 128
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121 - 251
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80
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76 - 145
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148 - 284
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170
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157 - 244
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310 - 482
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95
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90 - 161
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175 - 317
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130
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121 - 200
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238 - 394
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Total: 600
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
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Pokéathlon stats
Type effectiveness
Gengar
Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Notes:
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- If Foresight or Odor Sleuth is used by an opponent, the opponent has Scrappy, or this Pokémon is given a Ring Target, the effectiveness of Normal-type moves is 1× and the effectiveness of Fighting-type moves is ½×.
- In Generations I and II, or if Gravity is in effect, this Pokémon is given an Iron Ball or affected by Smack Down or Ingrain, the opponent has the Ability Mold Breaker, Turboblaze or Teravolt, or this Pokémon is affected by Gastro Acid, or this Pokémon's Ability is replaced, the effectiveness of Ground-type moves is 2×.
- In Generation I, the effectiveness of Bug-type moves is 1×.
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Mega Gengar
Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Gengar
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Gengar
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Gengar
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Gengar
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Gengar in Generation VI
- Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
- Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Gengar in that game.
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Gengar
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Gengar
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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- A black or white abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Gengar can be tutored the move in that game
- A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Gengar cannot be tutored the move in that game
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Gengar
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Gengar
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Gengar
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Gengar
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see moves from other generations
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- A superscript level indicates that Gengar can learn this move normally in Generation VI
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Gengar
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Gengar
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see moves from other generations
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Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
Trivia
- Gengar could be seen as a counterpart to Alakazam. They are both the last stage of a three-part evolutionary family, which can only be achieved by trading the second stage, both are capable of Mega Evolution, Gengar is weak against Psychic-type moves and Alakazam weak against Ghost-type moves, thus being weak and at the same time strong against each other. They are the same size, and get smaller upon Mega Evolution, sharing a base friendship is the same at 70. In the anime episode The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis, a Gengar and an Alakazam are put against each other. Since Generation VI, they have a base stat total of 500, and are both weak to Ghost- and Dark-type moves.
- Gengar is the favorite Pokémon of Ken Sugimori.
- In the Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Gengar was originally known as "Phantom".
- Gengar, along with Nidorino, with whom it battles in the beginning of Pokémon Red, Blue, Green, FireRed, and LeafGreen, originate from the Capsule Monsters manga, the precursor to the Pokémon franchise.
- Mega Gengar has the highest base Special Attack stat of all Ghost- and Poison-type Pokémon. It also has the highest base Speed stat of all Ghost-type Pokémon.
- Mega Gengar has the highest base stat total of all non-legendary Ghost-type Pokémon.
- When being escorted through Mt. Freeze and Murky Cave in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Gengar knows Leer, Scratch, and Quick Attack, although it cannot learn those moves by any means in any generation.
- No other Pokémon has the same type combination as Gengar and its evolutionary relatives.
- Due to its unique type combination, Gengar and its evolutionary relatives are the only Ghost-type Pokémon that are weak against Psychic-type moves and also the only Poison-type Pokémon that are weak against Dark-type moves.
- When viewing Mega Gengar's Pokédex entry, the camera's view can only be moved sideways.
Origin
It seems to be simply based on general cartoonish ghosts, cats, or the Cheshire Cat and possibly on a distorted shadow of a human being like shadow people.
Name origin
Gengar and Gangar are possibly a shortening of doppelgänger, a double of a person, which is fitting for a Pokémon with a habit of pretending to be a person's shadow. The kanji 幻 maboroshi can also be read as gen and is used in words meaning phantom or illusion. There is also a striking pronunciation similarity to the Danish word genganger, a term for ghosts found in Scandinavian folklore.
In other languages
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More languages
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Hindi
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गेंगार Gengar
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Transcription of English name
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Related articlesExternal linksNotes
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
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