Gengar Pokemon GO — Max CP 3,254, Base Stats & Moveset

Q: What is the best moveset for Gengar in Pokemon GO?

Gengar's best moveset is Lick with Shadow Ball, worth 24.9 DPS as a Ghost-type raid attacker. Lick is a legacy move: a regular TM never rolls it, so it takes an Elite TM or the event that brings it back.

Q: What is Gengar's max CP in Pokemon GO?

Gengar reaches 3,254 CP at level 50 and 2,878 CP at level 40, both with 15/15/15 IVs.

Q: What CP is a 100% IV Gengar?

A 15/15/15 Gengar shows 1,644 CP from a raid or egg (level 20) and 2,055 CP from a weather-boosted raid (level 25). From a research encounter (level 15) it is 1,233 CP.

Best moveset

Raids & gyms: Lick Shadow Ball 24.9 DPS

Same-type attack bonus on both moves. Lick is an Elite TM move. Shadow Ball costs 50 energy for 100 power.

Type effectiveness

Damage Gengar takes from each attacking type

Weak to

Dark1.6× Ghost1.6× Ground1.6× Psychic1.6×

Resists

Fighting0.39× Bug0.39× Normal0.39× Poison0.39× Fairy0.625× Grass0.625×

Base stats

Attack 261

Defense 149

Stamina 155

Stat total: 565
Buddy distance: 3.0 km per candy
Second charged move: 50,000 Dust + 50 Candy
Mega Energy (buddy): 15 per km
100% IV at Lv 20: 1,644 CP

Editor's notes

Gengar has five legacy moves, and the ones people ask about are Lick and Shadow Punch. For raids, Shadow Claw with Shadow Ball is the standard Ghost set and needs no Elite TM; Lick is a small upgrade, not a requirement.

It is the definition of a glass cannon: very high Attack, almost no bulk. A trade evolution from Haunter costs no Candy, and Mega Gengar is the form that turns this into a top attacker.

Toni Ramón

Founder & lead editor · Reviewed September 2026

PvP at a glance

Gengar is not ranked in any GO Battle League.

Gengar moves

4 fast · 8 charged

Fast moves

Move	Type	PWR	EN	DUR	DPS	EPS
Hex STAB	Ghost	8	13	1.0s	8	13
Shadow Claw STAB	Ghost	6	4	0.5s	12	8
Sucker Punch	Dark	5	6	0.5s	10	12
Lick Best STAB Elite	Ghost	5	6	0.5s	10	12

Charged moves

Move	Type	PWR	EN	DUR	DPS	DPE
Drain Punch	Fighting	50	33	2.5s	20	1.52
Focus Blast	Fighting	140	100	3.5s	40	1.40
Shadow Ball Best STAB	Ghost	100	50	3.0s	33.3	2.00
Sludge Bomb STAB	Poison	85	50	2.5s	34	1.70
Dark Pulse Elite	Dark	80	50	3.0s	26.7	1.60
Psychic Elite	Psychic	95	50	3.0s	31.7	1.90
Shadow Punch STAB Elite	Ghost	35	33	1.5s	23.3	1.06
Sludge Wave STAB Elite	Poison	105	100	3.0s	35	1.05

Fast moves

Move	Type	PWR	EN	Turns	DPT	EPT
Hex	Ghost	7	13	2	3.50	6.50
Shadow Claw	Ghost	6	8	1	6.00	8.00
Sucker Punch	Dark	8	7	1	8.00	7.00
Lick	Ghost	3	3	—	—	—

Charged moves

Move	Type	PWR	EN	DPE	Effect
Drain Punch	Fighting	40	40	1.00	Buff / debuff
Focus Blast	Fighting	150	75	2.00	—
Shadow Ball	Ghost	100	50	2.00	—
Sludge Bomb	Poison	80	50	1.60	—
Dark Pulse	Dark	80	50	1.60	—
Psychic	Psychic	75	55	1.36	Buff / debuff
Shadow Punch	Ghost	55	35	1.57	—
Sludge Wave	Poison	110	65	1.69	—

Moveset analysis

For raids and gyms, Gengar runs Lick with Shadow Ball — 24.9 DPS and 406 TDO as a Ghost-type attacker. It also covers the Poison slot with Hex and Sludge Bomb.

The highest-damage fast move is Shadow Claw (12 DPS); Hex builds energy fastest (13 EPS). Dark Pulse, Psychic, Shadow Punch, Sludge Wave are Elite TM moves and cannot be taught with a regular Charged TM.

Rankings

Where Gengar places in raids and PvP

Raid attacker

Type	Rank	Tier	DPS	TDO	Moveset
Ghost	#14	B	24.9	406	Lick Shadow Ball
Poison	#21	C	20.6	335	Hex Sludge Bomb

Evolution

Gastly 25 Candy

Haunter 100 Candy

Gengar

Mega Evolution

Gengar

200 Mega Energy First time; cheaper as Mega Level rises

Mega Gengar

Family

Gastly

Haunter

Gengar This page

Mega Gengar Mega

Shadow forms Shadow Gastly Shadow Haunter Shadow Gengar

Raids

Not in raids

Status: Gengar is not in the current raid rotation

Best counters against Gengar

1

Shadow MewtwoShadow ConfusionPsystrike 47.2DPS 618TDO 2

Mega AlakazamMega ConfusionPsychic 45.0DPS 547TDO 3

Mega GengarMega LickShadow Ball 44.4DPS 551TDO 4

Primal GroudonMega Mud ShotPrecipice Blades 44.4DPS 1,046TDO 5

Shadow DarkraiShadow SnarlShadow Ball 40.6DPS 462TDO 6

Shadow GroudonShadow Mud ShotPrecipice Blades 40.4DPS 635TDO

Counters carrying Dark, Ghost, Ground, Psychic moves deal the most damage.

Use Gengar against

Raid bosses where it ranks as a top counter

Meowstic Tier 5 #2rank

Meowstic (Female) Tier 5 #2rank

Musharna Tier 5 #2rank

Alakazam Tier 5 #2rank

Cofagrigus Tier 5 #3rank

Mesprit Tier 5 #3rank

Drowzee Tier 5 #3rank

Mew Tier 5 #3rank

Duskull Tier 5 #3rank

Deoxys Tier 5 #3rank

How to get Gengar

Evolve from: Haunter · 100 Candy
Team GO Rocket: Shadow Gengar arrives with Frustration, removable only during Rocket Takeover events
Purification: 3,000 Dust + 3 Candy → Return
Mega Gengar: 200 Mega Energy for the first evolution

Catch CP

Source	Level	Min CP	Max CP (100% IV)
Wild Catch	Lv 1–30	72	2,487
Wild (Weather Boost)	Lv 1–35	72	2,693
Raid Catch	Lv 20	1,605	1,685
Raid (Weather Boost)	Lv 25	1,997	2,097
Egg Hatch	Lv 20	1,605	1,685
Research Encounter	Lv 15	1,214	1,274
GO Battle League	Lv 20	1,605	1,685

Gengar in events

Most recent first

All events

Event	Date	Role	Shiny
Pokémon Night Out 2026 - London	10 Nov 2026	Raid boss	Yes

Is Gengar good in Pokemon GO?

Situational

Power up	Stardust	Candy	XL Candy
Lv 20 → 40	135,000	15	—

Tier B: #14 among Ghost-type raid attackers at 24.9 DPS. Worth building if your Ghost team is thin, not ahead of the Tier S and A names above it.

CP by level

Maximum CP with perfect 15/15/15 IVs at every level

Level	Max CP
Lv 1	40
Lv 2	127
Lv 3	214
Lv 4	301
Lv 5	388
Lv 6	475
Lv 7	561
Lv 8	648
Lv 9	735
Lv 10	822
Lv 11	904
Lv 12	987
Lv 13	1,069

Level	Max CP
Lv 14	1,151
Lv 15	1,233
Lv 16	1,315
Lv 17	1,398
Lv 18	1,480
Lv 19	1,562
Lv 20	1,644
Lv 21	1,726
Lv 22	1,809
Lv 23	1,891
Lv 24	1,973
Lv 25	2,055
Lv 26	2,138

Level	Max CP
Lv 27	2,220
Lv 28	2,302
Lv 29	2,385
Lv 30	2,467
Lv 31	2,508
Lv 32	2,549
Lv 33	2,590
Lv 34	2,631
Lv 35	2,672
Lv 36	2,713
Lv 37	2,755
Lv 38	2,796
Lv 39	2,837

Level	Max CP
Lv 40	2,878
Lv 41	2,914
Lv 42	2,951
Lv 43	2,988
Lv 44	3,025
Lv 45	3,063
Lv 46	3,100
Lv 47	3,138
Lv 48	3,177
Lv 49	3,215
Lv 50	3,254

Pokedex info

Pokedex number: #0094
Height: 1.50 m
Weight: 40.50 kg
Buddy size: Big
Family forms: 7 released forms
Game ID: V0094_POKEMON_GENGAR

FAQ

What is the best moveset for Gengar in Pokemon GO?

Gengar's best moveset is Lick with Shadow Ball, worth 24.9 DPS as a Ghost-type raid attacker. Lick is a legacy move: a regular TM never rolls it, so it takes an Elite TM or the event that brings it back.

What are Gengar's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?

Gengar takes super effective damage from Dark, Ghost, Ground, Psychic. It resists Fairy, Grass. Fighting, Bug, Normal, Poison damage is double resisted (0.39×).

What is Gengar's max CP in Pokemon GO?

Gengar reaches 3,254 CP at level 50 and 2,878 CP at level 40, both with 15/15/15 IVs.

What CP is a 100% IV Gengar?

A 15/15/15 Gengar shows 1,644 CP from a raid or egg (level 20) and 2,055 CP from a weather-boosted raid (level 25). From a research encounter (level 15) it is 1,233 CP.

Is Shadow Gengar better than regular Gengar?

In raids, yes: Shadow Gengar deals 29.5 DPS (#3 Ghost) against 24.9 DPS (#14 Ghost) for the regular form. It pays for that with 20% more damage taken, so it faints sooner. See Shadow Gengar.

How do you get Gengar in Pokemon GO?

Evolve Haunter (100 Candy). Its most recent event was Pokémon Night Out 2026 - London (November 2026).

Can Gengar be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Yes, shiny Gengar is in the game. It could be shiny in Pokémon Night Out 2026 - London (November 2026).

Explore more

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