Gastly is a dual-type Ghost/Poison Pokémon introduced in Generation I. This mysterious creature is composed almost entirely of poisonous gas, with 95% of its body being gaseous and the remaining 5% believed to contain the souls of those who perished from its toxic vapors. Despite its gaseous nature, Gastly consistently appears as a spherical black Pokémon surrounded by a purple haze, with a wide pink mouth and two visible fangs.
One of Gastly's most remarkable features is its ability to change size and shape due to its lack of a definite form. This allows it to envelop prey of any size, even as large as an Indian elephant, which it can take down in just two seconds. The poisonous gas emitted by Gastly can induce fainting and suffocation in its victims. Interestingly, Gastly is one of the lightest Pokémon in existence, weighing only 0.2 pounds (0.1 kg).
Gastly exhibits a playful yet sometimes mischievous personality, often frightening and playing pranks on people for fun. However, it has also been known to preserve or pass on the memories of departed humans. In the wild, Gastly can be found in caves, old buildings, and outdoors during nighttime. They tend to gather in groups under the eaves of houses to protect themselves from strong winds, which can cause their gaseous bodies to dissipate.
Pokédex Data
- National Pokédex Number: #092
- Type: Ghost/Poison
- Height: 4'3" (1.3m)
- Weight: 0.2 lbs (0.1 kg)
- Ability: Levitate
- Gender Ratio: 50% male, 50% female
Breeding
- Egg Group: Amorphous
- Egg Cycles: 20 (4,884–5,140 steps)
Pokédex Entries Across Versions
- Red/Blue: Almost invisible, this gaseous Pokémon cloaks the target and puts it to sleep without notice.
- Yellow: Said to appear in decrepit, deserted buildings. It has no real shape as it appears to be made of a gas.
- Gold: With its gas-like body, it can sneak into any place it desires. However, it can be blown away by wind.
- Ruby/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.
- Sword: Born from gases, anyone would faint if engulfed by its gaseous body, which contains poison.
- Shield: With its gas-like body, it can sneak into any place it desires. However, it can be blown away by wind.
Evolutions
Gastly evolves into Haunter at level 25, which then evolves into Gengar when traded. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Haunter can also evolve into Gengar when exposed to a Linking Cord.
Habits
Gastly is known to sleep while floating. A sleeping Gastly is said to give a sudden surprise should someone approach it. It may also cause flickering lights in abandoned houses. Gastly's gaseous form allows it to phase through solid objects and form tangible hands out of its gases.
Additions Across Generations
- In Generation I, Night Shade was Gastly's signature move.
- In Generations 1-4, Gastly had a base experience yield of 95.
- In Generations 2-7, Gastly had a base Friendship value of 70.
- In Pokémon GO, Gastly can be obtained by completing 1/4 of the Ticketed Special Research, "The Great Gastly".