From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

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

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

Biology

Gastly has no true form, due to 95% of its body being poisonous gas. However, it consistently appears as a black, spherical Pokémon surrounded by a purple haze. It has a wide, pink mouth with two visible fangs. Though its eyes seem to extend past its round body, visible eyelids surround them. It produces a faint, sweet smell. The toxic gas surrounding the main body can induce fainting and suffocation, and it is capable of enshrouding an enemy of any size. Its gaseous form makes it one of the lightest Pokémon tying with Haunter, Flabébé, Cosmog, and Kartana.

The anime suggests that Gastly has a playful personality, often frightening and playing pranks on people for fun. However, it has shown a willingness to preserve or pass on the memories of departed humans. It has further been shown changing form and creating illusions, and it is capable of phasing through solid objects and forming tangible hands out of its gasses. Gastly can be found in caves, but the anime has shown it living in old, dilapidated buildings, as well. Its gaseous body will dwindle away when exposed to strong winds, so they huddle together in decent-sized groups under house eaves to avoid the wind. It may also cause flickering lights in abandoned houses. In the past, Night Shade was its signature move.

In the anime

In the main series

Major appearances

In The Ghost of Maiden's Peak, a Gastly that had the ability to talk and shape-shift posed as the spirit of a woman which legend said turned to stone after 2,000 years of waiting for her love to return to her. Using this disguise, Gastly kept on toying with the minds of young men.

In The Tower of Terror, a Gastly focused on terrorizing Team Rocket. It reappeared in a flashback in the following episode.

In Pikachu Re-volts, an Officer Jenny used a Gastly since it was the only Pokémon unaffected by the Psychic wave caused by Butch and Cassidy's Drowzee. It was seen outside of its Poké Ball.

In A Shipful Of Shivers, a Gastly and a Haunter guarded the Orange League trophy of its deceased Trainer.

In From Ghost to Ghost, Morty used a Gastly during his Gym battle against Ash. It battled Noctowl, which used Foresight before being switched for Pikachu. Gastly was able to defeat Pikachu before being defeated by Cyndaquil. In the same episode, multiple Gastly hypnotized Team Rocket.

In Fear Factor Phony, two Gastly were residents of an abandoned mining colony. The Ghost Pokémon couldn't stand the partying Psychic Pokémon that lived nearby, so they created a Haunter-like illusion to scare everyone away.

In PK15, a Gastly was living in a spooky house.

In Scary Hospitality!, Lon used a Gastly with his Haunter and Gengar to scare visitors of the "Scary House". This included Ash, his friends, and later Team Rocket.

In A Haunted House for Everyone!, a Gastly played with Harper and Sarah at the Pokémon School. It also appeared in a dream that a Mismagius created.

Minor appearances

A Gastly appeared in the Japanese credits of Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.

In For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!, a Gastly was protecting the Tin Tower after Team Rocket stole the Crystal Bells on the top floor.

A Gastly appeared in PK13.

A Coordinator's Gastly appeared in Harley Rides Again.

A Gastly appeared in Dawn Of A New Era!.

In Drifloon On the Wind!, four Gastly were leaving the Pokémon Center.

A Gastly appeared in James's fantasy in Tag! We're It...!.

A Gastly made a brief cameo in Giratina and the Sky Warrior.

A Gastly appeared in Ghoul Daze!.

In Loading the Dex!, a Gastly appeared with its evolutionary relatives during a fantasy that Meowth had after an encounter with a Mimikyu. They pretended to be a Lopunny, Glaceon, and Gardevoir.

A Gastly appeared in I Choose You!.

In Alola, Kanto!, Rotom took a photo of a Gastly.

A Trainer's Gastly appeared in Love at First Twirl!.

In Securing the Future!, a Trainer's Gastly joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.

Pokédex entries

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

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.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry XY072 Gastly Ash's Pokédex Gastly, the Gas Pokémon. By enveloping larger opponents with gas, Gastly is able to defeat them.

In Pokémon: Twilight Wings

A Gastly appeared in Assistant, under the ownership of Allister. It reappeared in Moonlight and Sky.

In the manga

In the Ash & Pikachu manga

A Gastly appeared in Let's Save The Lugia!, under the ownership of a Team Rocket Scientist.

In the Pocket Monsters DP manga

A Gastly appeared in PMDP03.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Gastly debuted in That Awful Arbok!, under the ownership of Koga, possessing the corpses of dead Pokémon in Pokémon Tower. Red's Bulbasaur managed to defeat it by sucking up the surrounding air with its bulb, along with Gastly's gaseous form, and expelling it in a Solar Beam. In the process, the two also freed Red's rival Blue, who was under its ghostly possession.

In As Gastly as Before, a Gastly was part of the Ghost-type army Agatha sent out to attack the Gym Leaders. She also has a Gastly as a member of her main team.

The Masked Man used a Gastly, which first appeared in You Ain't Nothin' but a Houndour. It was in his team to capture Celebi, chosen 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 impaired Suicune using its Curse technique, locking it and Misty inside Suicune's crystal wall. It was later defeated by Eusine's Haunter.

Morty has a Gastly, which was used along with Misdreavus to battle Suicune in Misdreavus Misgivings.

In The Last Battle XIII, a Gastly was sent to participate in the fight in Ilex Forest.

A Gastly briefly appeared in A Vicious Cycle of Possibilities, under the ownership of a Biker whose gang attempted to ransack Three Island.

Multiple Gastly appeared in Robust Rotom when Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum spend the night in the Old Chateau.

A Gastly appeared in Double Trouble with Dialga and Palkia V.

In Softening Up Kakuna, a Gastly was used by a Trainer that was challenging the Battle Factory.

Multiple Gastly appeared in Unplugging Rotom (Heat, Wash, Mow, Fan, Frost).

A Gastly appeared in Out-Odding Oddish, under the ownership of a Pokéathlon participant.

A Gastly appeared in A Photoshoot and the Abandoned Thrifty Megamart, where it was seen inside the Thrifty Megamart.

In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga

Black owns a Haunter, which evolved from a Gastly.

A Gastly appeared in Let's Fight! The Mini Pokémon Tournament.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

In Get Rid of The Ghost Pokémon!!, while Red, Clefairy, and Pikachu were in Blue's mansion, they stumbled across a Gastly that Clefairy ended up battling. However, since Blue didn't officially control it, it is unknown if it belongs to him.

A Gastly appeared in Which One is the Real Clefairy!? while Red had a confrontation with Giovanni and his twin brother.

A Gastly appeared in Fierce Competition at the Pokémon Baseball Tournament!, where it was one of the Pokémon that took part in a baseball match.

A Gastly appeared in Red VS Green?!.

A Gastly was with Green when he was having a soccer competition with Red.

Giovanni was revealed to have a Gastly in Squirtle, the Crybaby Pokémon, where it was seen battling a Squirtle of his.

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

A Gastly appeared in PZ05.

In the TCG

Other appearances

Gastly appears in the 3DS version as an enemy in Smash Run mode, as well as a trophy. It is immune to melee attacks.

Trophy information

NA: This Ghost/Poison-type Pokémon is made up of several toxic gases—touching it would be really unpleasant. Instead, try to take it out with projectiles. It's not the fastest enemy in Smash Run, but occasionally it may try to chase down a fighter, so be careful around this gaseous foe.

PAL: In Smash Run, these Ghost- and Poison-type Pokémon tend to move slowly, and then, without warning, chase after you at high speed. You'll get hurt if they so much as come into contact with you, so be on your guard. As ghosts, they're immune to direct attacks. The only way to defeat them is to hit them with projectiles or items.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokémon Pinball: Three Gastly appear in a bonus stage accessible from the Red Table. Once the player knocks them out, they must then proceed to defeat the subsequent pair of Haunter and the Gengar that appears.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII Game Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Sw Sh IoA Corrosive Gas Poison Status — 100% 40 Sw Sh IoA Poltergeist Ghost Physical 110 90% 5 Sw Sh IoA Skitter Smack Bug Physical 70 90% 10 Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Gastly

indicates a move that gets when used by Gastly Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Gastly

indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Gastly Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

Side game data

Evolution

Sprites

Trivia

Origin

Gastly seems to be based on general ghosts and spirits as depicted by cartoons, or even a will-o'-the-wisp. It may also have been based on the Japanese yōkai sōgen bi, the decapitated head of a monk whose head is doomed to wander the Earth, consumed by fire. Its Poison type is most likely a reference to poisonous or polluted gases.

Name origin

Gastly may be a combination of gas and ghastly (like a ghost; dreadfully frightening).

Ghos is a shortened form of ghost and may also incorporate gas into its name.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ゴース Ghos From the English ghost French Fantominus From fantôme and minus, a pejorative term meaning both "small" and "weak" Spanish Gastly Same as English name German Nebulak From Nebel , nebula, and ach Italian Gastly Same as English name Korean 고오스 Goohs Transliteration of Japanese name Cantonese Chinese 鬼斯 Gwáisī Transliteration of Japanese name. Also from 鬼 and 瓦斯 . Mandarin Chinese 鬼斯 Guǐsī Transliteration of Japanese name. Also from 鬼 and 瓦斯 . More languages Hindi गॅसली Gastly Transcription of English name Russian Гастли Gastli Transcription of English name Thai โกส Ghos Transcription of trademarked Japanese name







