Gastly

General Overview of Gastly

Gastly, known in Japanese as ゴース, is a Pokémon of the Ghost and Poison type belonging to the first generation. This gaseous Pokémon appears in many games and remains one of the most popular choices for players wishing to include a Ghost type in their team. Its body composed entirely of toxic gas allows it to easily dodge physical attacks, which is very useful in battles during the early game. In the Pokédex, it is listed as #92 and is the first form of its evolutionary line before Haunter and then Gengar.

Type and Stats Information

Gastly has the dual Ghost and Poison type, which grants it several interesting resistances but also a few weaknesses, notably against Psychic, Ground and Ghost type attacks. In terms of stats, its Speed and Special Attack are good for a base Pokémon, while its defenses and HP remain low. This fragility makes it necessary to use its high Speed to strike first with special moves like Shadow Ball or Night Shade.

Its height is approximately 1.3 m with a weight of 0.1 kg, which reflects its status as a fully gaseous Pokémon. Players can invest EVs in Special Attack and Speed to maximize its potential in strategic battles.

Evolution and Key Levels

Gastly evolves into Haunter starting at level 25, then into Gengar exclusively by trading, which is important to know for completing the Pokédex or optimizing a team. Gengar is one of the most feared final forms in the games thanks to its Speed and attacking power, so raising Gastly to its final form is well worth the investment.

Players generally encounter Gastly in dark locations such as Pokémon Tower or the Old Chateau depending on the version. Capturing it is often straightforward thanks to its reasonable catch rate, especially if you use Balls suited for Ghost type Pokémon.

Move List and Useful Abilities

Gastly learns several Ghost moves from the early levels, notably Lick and Night Shade, very practical for weakening opponents. It can also learn Poison type moves like Sludge or Poison Gas as well as Psychic moves via TM, depending on the generation. In recent games, it also gains access to powerful moves focused on Special Attack like Shadow Ball.

Given its primarily offensive nature, it is advisable to choose a Nature that increases Speed or Special Attack. Players can also build a set based on wind moves, wave attacks or status moves to take advantage of its role as a poisoner or disruptor in battle.

Gastly in the Games and Appearances

In Pokémon GO, Gastly appears regularly during events linked to the Ghost type or during special periods like Halloween. It also has a Shiny form with a slightly different color, leaning toward blue-green. In the main games, it is often available early or mid-adventure, especially in Red, Blue, Diamond and Pearl.

For card collectors, Gastly appears in several expansions and continues to be appreciated for its illustrations highlighting its shadow and its purple ghost style. Its availability across many sets makes it easy to collect without too much difficulty.