Gastly (Pokémon)

← #091: Cloyster

Pokémon

#093: Haunter →

Gastly ゴース Ghos #092
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Ghost Poison Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Gas Pokémon
Ability Levitate Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,059,860
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #092 Johto #058 Hoenn #262 Sinnoh #069 Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 4'03" Imperial 1.3 m Metric 4'03"/1.3 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 0.2 lbs. Imperial 0.1 kg Metric 0.2 lbs./0.1 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Purple	Catch rate 190 (24.8%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Indeterminate group 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 1 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 95 Battle Exp.: 951*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Gastly (Japanese: ゴース Ghos) is a dual-type Ghost/Poison Pokémon.

It evolves into Haunter starting at level 25, who evolves into Gengar when traded.

Biology

Physiology

Gastly appears to be nothing more that a black ball of ghostly matter that is surrounded by a purple glow of smog. Gastly has big, white eyes and a mouth with a pair of fangs in it. Gastly's face is similar to Cloyster's, but the two Pokémon aren't related.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Due to having a body made of gas, Gastly can slip into any place it wants. However, Gastly's body will dwindle away when exposed to a strong wind (but it can probably regenerate itself later). A Gastly is capable of toppling an Indian Elephant within two seconds by enveloping it in poisonous gas.

Despite Gastly's evolutionary level, it is quite powerful at using special attacks such as Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Thunderbolt, and Energy Ball. Gastly can learn quite a few moves with all sorts of disruptive effects such as Will-O-Wisp, Confuse Ray, Hypnosis, Taunt, and Embargo.

There have been claims that on rare occasions, a Gastly can gain the ability to speak like a human and transform itself, but these rumors have yet to be proven true. However, it apparently can communicate with telepathy.

Behavior

As a Template:Type2 Pokémon, Gastly tend to be pranksters that go scaring people just for the fun of it. They are also proficient at sneaking up on unsuspecting prey and putting it to sleep or poisoning it through its skin. As Gastly's body is blown away by wind, groups of them shall gather under the eaves of houses to prevent being blown away.

Habitat

File:Cave.gif

Cave Pokémon

Gastly live in old, dilapidated buildings and can also be found at cemeteries.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

As the victims of Gastly's gas enveloping technique have been called prey, it can be presumed that it derives energy from them.

In the anime

File:TheGhostofMaidensPeak.gif

Gastly in the anime

Major appearances

Gastly first appeared in The Ghost of Maiden's Peak. This Gastly had the ability to talk and shape-shift. He kept posing himself as the spirit of the woman which legend said turned to stone after many years of waiting for her love to return to her. Gastly kept on toying with the minds of young men.

The first time a regular Gastly appeared was in The Tower of Terror. Ash and his friends went to Lavender Town in search of a Template:Type2 Pokémon to aid Ash in defeating Sabrina.

Morty used a Gastly to battle Ash in From Ghost to Ghost.

A pair of Gastly were among a group of Ghost Pokémon living in an abandoned mine in Fear Factor Phony. The Ghost Pokémon couldn't stand the partying Psychic Pokémon that lived in the nearby town, so they created a Haunter-like illusion to scare everyone away.

Minor appearances

File:Jenny Gastly.png

Officer Jenny's Gastly

An Officer Jenny owned a Gastly in Pikachu Re-volts. This Gastly appeared to be the only Pokémon not affected by the psychic wave caused by Butch & Cassidy's Drowzee.

A Gastly appeared in Ghoul Daze!.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP020 Gastly Ash's Pokédex Gastly, a Ghost Pokémon. It is usually invisible. Its specialty is Hypnosis. Original series entries continue below.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP095 Gastly Ash's Pokédex Gastly, the Gas Pokémon. Some researchers believe this Pokémon is a Multidimensional being.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry DP028 Gastly Dawn's Pokédex Gastly, the Gas Pokémon. Although it can sneak in anywhere with its gaseous body, it can also be blown away by wind.

In the manga

Gastly first appears in Volume 1 of Pokémon Adventures, possessing the corpses of dead Pokémon in Pokémon Tower. Red's Bulbasaur manages to defeat it by sucking up the surrounding air with its bulb, along with Gastly's gaseous form, and expelling it in a SolarBeam.

Gastly also forms as part of the Template:Type2 army Agatha sends out to attack the Gym Leaders.

The Masked Man also used a Gastly in his team to capture Celebi, due to its type advantage. It was purposed to possess intruders that entered the Ilex Forest. Later, during the fight at the Indigo Stadium, it took out Suicune using its Curse technique, locking Suicune and Misty inside Suicune's crystal wall. It was later defeated by Eusine's Haunter.

Gastly also appear in the Diamond & Pearl chapter.

In the TCG

Main article: Gastly (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Almost invisible, this gaseous Pokémon cloaks the target and puts it to sleep without notice. Blue Yellow Said to appear in decrepit, deserted buildings. It has no real shape as it appears to be made of a gas. Stadium Made of a thin, gas-like substance that induces fainting if you get enshrouded in it. Will not appear if it is very windy.
Generation II Gold With its gas-like body, it can sneak into any place it desires. However, it can be blown away by wind. Silver Its thin body is made of gas. It can envelop an opponent of any size and cause suffocation. Crystal It wraps its opponent in its gas-like body, slowly weakening its prey by poisoning it through the skin. Stadium 2 With its gas-like body, it can sneak into any place it desires. However, it can be blown away by wind.
Generation III Ruby Gastly is largely composed of gaseous matter. When exposed to a strong wind, the gaseous body quickly dwindles away. Groups of this Pokémon cluster under the eaves of houses to escape the ravages of wind. Sapphire Gastly is largely composed of gaseous matter. When exposed to a strong wind, the gaseous body quickly dwindles away. Groups of this Pokémon cluster under the eaves of houses to escape the ravages of wind. Emerald When exposed to a strong wind, a Gastly's gaseous body quickly dwindles away. They cluster under the eaves of houses to escape the ravages of wind. FireRed A being that exists as a thin gas. It can topple an Indian elephant by enveloping the prey in two seconds. LeafGreen Almost invisible, this gaseous Pokémon cloaks the target and puts it to sleep without notice.
Generation IV Diamond This Pokémon's body is 95% made up of gases, which are blown away by strong gusts of wind. Pearl A Pokémon born from poison gases. It defeats even the largest foes by enveloping them in gas. Platinum Born from gases, anyone would faint if engulfed by its gaseous body, which contains poison. HeartGold With its gas-like body, it can sneak into any place it desires. However, it can be blown away by wind. SoulSilver Its thin body is made of gas. It can envelop an opponent of any size and cause suffocation.
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue Common Pokémon Tower Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow Common Pokémon Tower
Generation II Gold Silver Common Tin Tower, Sprout Tower Crystal Common Routes 31, 32, and 36, Tin Tower, Sprout Tower
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald None Trade FireRed LeafGreen Common Pokémon Tower Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Many Route 209, Old Chateau, Lost Tower Platinum Common Route 209, Old Chateau, Eterna Forest, Lost Tower HeartGold SoulSilver Common Tin Tower, Sprout Tower, Safari Zone Pal Park Forest Pokéwalker Dark Cave, Scary Cave
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Trozei!	Phobosphere Endless Level 38 Trozei Battle Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Buried Relic (9F-14F) Darknight Relic (1F-6F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Sky Stairway (1F-49F)
Pokémon Ranger	Dusk Factory Sekra Mountain Range
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	Ranger School
Pokémon Rumble	Eternal Tower

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Red*	Blue*	Berry (100%)
Yellow*

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 30		90 - 137	170 - 264
Attack: 35		36 - 95	67 - 185
Defense: 30		31 - 90	58 - 174
Sp. Atk: 100		94 - 167	184 - 328
Sp. Def: 35		36 - 95	67 - 185
Speed: 80		76 - 145	148 - 284
Total: 310	Other Pokémon with this total
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 100.

Pokéthlon stats

Speed 4/4 ★★★★	Power 1/1 ★
Skill 4/4 ★★★★	Stamina 1/2 ★☆
Jump 3/4 ★★★☆	Total 13/15 ★★☆

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 0× Fighting 0× Flying 1× Poison ¼× Ground 0× Rock 1× Bug ¼× Ghost 2× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 2× None

Weak to: Normal 0× Fighting 0× Flying 1× Poison ¼× Ground 0× Rock 1× Bug ¼× Ghost 2× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 2× None

Immune to: Normal 0× Fighting 0× Flying 1× Poison ¼× Ground 0× Rock 1× Bug ¼× Ghost 2× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 2× None

Resistant to: Normal 0× Fighting 0× Flying 1× Poison ¼× Ground 0× Rock 1× Bug ¼× Ghost 2× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 2× None

Notes: 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 2×.

Learnset

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | ghost | style="background:#9141CB" |  poison 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Gastly | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By tutoring

|- style="background:#A284A2" | colspan="13" | Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an Evolution of this Pokémon
A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game,
while a colored background indicates that the move is available. |} |}

TCG-only moves

• Smog

Evolution

Unevolved Gastly  Ghost  Poison

Level 25 →

First Evolution Haunter  Ghost  Poison

Trade →

Second Evolution Gengar  Ghost  Poison

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Gastly images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Gastly's prototype name was "Spirit."
• Gastly and its evolution Haunter are the lightest Pokémon in existence.
• Although it has no visible hands, Gastly is able to learn all the elemental punches in Generation IV as egg moves from Dusclops or Dusknoir or as move tutor moves.
  • As shown in the anime episode The Tower of Terror, it is able to create hands out of its gas around the black matter.
• Gastly is the first Ghost Pokémon in National Pokédex order; its evolutionary line comprise the only Ghost-types present during Generation I.
• Despite all of them being Poison type, Gastly together with its evolutionary family are not able to learn Template:Type2 moves by leveling up.
• Gastly's evolution line is the only Ghost-type family that requires the Silph Scope to be seen. Therefore, they must be the only ones that are invisible normally while in the wild; and only in their native region of Kanto.
• The Gastly family is the only one of the original four trade-evolution families (its own, Geodude's, Abra's, and Machop's) which does not appear in all regional Pokédexes, being absent from Hoenn's.

Origin

It seems to be simply based on general cartoonish ghosts, or maybe a will o' the wisp. It may also have basis in the Japanese yōkai sōgen bi, the decapitated head of a monk whose head is doomed to wander the Earth, consumed by fire.

Name origin

Gastly's name origin may be a combination of gas and ghastly, dreadfully frightening or horrible. Its Japanese name Ghos (ゴース) is simply a shortened form of ghost and may also incorporate gas into its name. Its French name is a corrupt version of phantom.

In other languages

• German: Nebulak - Referring to Nebel (fog or mist) and nebula.
• French: Fantominus - From fantôme (ghost). The rest may come from minus, which is a pejorative expression, meaning useless, or waste of time.
• Korean: 고오스 Gooseu

Notes

← #091: Cloyster

Pokémon

#093: Haunter →

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.