Shadow Gengar Pokemon GO — #5 Poison Attacker, Sludge Bomb 17.1 DPS

Q: Is Shadow Gengar good in Pokemon GO?

Shadow Gengar is a Tier A Poison-type attacker in Pokemon GO, ranked #5 at 17.1 DPS — worth the Stardust for raids. Power it to level 40 first; XL Candy to 50 only matters once you have a full team of six.

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

Shadow Gengar's best moveset in Pokemon GO is Hex and Sludge Bomb. This combination provides the highest damage output for raids and gym battles. Use a Charged TM or Fast TM to get the optimal moves.

Q: What are Shadow Gengar's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?

Shadow Gengar is a Ghost/Poison-type Pokemon weak to Dark, Ghost, Ground, Psychic-type moves in Pokemon GO. When battling against Shadow Gengar, use attackers with these move types for super effective damage. On the other hand, Shadow Gengar resists Fighting, Bug, Normal, Poison, Fairy, Grass-type moves.

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

Shadow Gengar's maximum CP is 3,254 at level 50 (requires XL Candy), or 2,878 at level 40. Its base stats are 261 Attack, 149 Defense, and 155 Stamina, giving it a total stat product of 565. Power up costs from level 20 to 50 total approximately 135,000 Stardust.

Q: What CP is a 100% IV Shadow Gengar?

A perfect 15/15/15 IV Shadow Gengar has 1644 CP at level 20 (from raids or eggs), 2055 CP at level 25 (weather boosted catch), and 3,254 CP at level 50 fully powered up. If you catch a Shadow Gengar showing 1644 CP from a raid, it has perfect IVs — definitely keep it and invest.

Q: How do you get Shadow Gengar in Pokemon GO?

Shadow Gengar can be obtained in Pokemon GO through several methods: wild encounters, rescuing Shadow Shadow Gengar from Team GO Rocket, and trading with other trainers. Walking Shadow Gengar as your buddy earns 1 candy every 3.0 km.

Q: Can Shadow Gengar be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Shiny Shadow Gengar availability in Pokemon GO depends on whether Niantic has released its shiny form. Check the current events page for any boosted shiny rates during special events.

Best moveset

Raids & gyms: Hex Sludge Bomb 17.1 DPS

Same-type attack bonus on both moves. Sludge Bomb costs 50 energy for 85 power.

Type effectiveness

Damage Shadow 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
100% IV at Lv 20: 1,644 CP

Editor's notes

Among Ghost/Poison-type Pokémon, Shadow Gengar it's a top-5 Poison-type attacker, so it earns a real slot in your raid roster. Its 261/149/155 base stats give it an offensive, glass-cannon build — high Attack, thin bulk.

Toni Ramón

Founder & lead editor

PvP at a glance

Shadow Gengar is not ranked in any GO Battle League.

Shadow Gengar moves

4 fast · 8 charged

Fast moves

Move	Type	PWR	EN	DUR	DPS	EPS
Hex Best 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 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 STAB	Ghost	100	50	3.0s	33.3	2.00
Sludge Bomb Best 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, Shadow Gengar runs Hex with Sludge Bomb — 17.1 DPS and 278 TDO as a Poison-type attacker. It also covers the Ghost slot with Lick and Shadow Ball.

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 Shadow Gengar places in raids and PvP

Raid attacker

Type	Rank	Tier	DPS	TDO	Moveset
Poison	#5	A	17.1	278	Hex Sludge Bomb
Ghost	#8	A	18.4	299	Lick Shadow Ball
Fighting	#30	C	16.2	263	Lick Focus Blast

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

Mega Gengar Mega

Shadow forms Shadow Gastly Shadow Haunter Shadow Gengar

How to get Shadow Gengar

Wild: Spawns in the wild — rarity depends on biome and active events
Team GO Rocket: Shadow Shadow Gengar knows Frustration — swap it with a Charged TM
Purification: 3,000 Dust + 3 Candy → Return

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

Is Shadow Gengar good in Pokemon GO?

Worth powering up

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

Shadow Gengar is a Tier A Poison-type attacker at rank #5, so the Stardust pays for itself in raid damage. Take it to level 40 first; XL Candy to 50 only matters once you already have a full team of six.

Attack is its highest stat (261), so it hits harder than it survives — a glass-cannon raid slot rather than a gym defender.
A second charged move costs 50,000 Dust and 50 Candy, and with 8 charged moves to pick from it is the single biggest PvP upgrade you can buy.
Its moves get a damage boost in Fog and Cloudy weather — worth timing raids around.

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
Form: Shadow
Height: 1.50 m
Weight: 40.50 kg
Buddy size: Big
Family forms: 7 released forms
Game ID: V0094_POKEMON_GENGAR_SHADOW

FAQ

What is the best moveset for Shadow Gengar in Pokemon GO?

Shadow Gengar's best moveset is Hex (fast) with Sludge Bomb (charged), worth 17.1 DPS as a Poison-type attacker. Use a Fast TM or Charged TM to reroll onto it.

What are Shadow Gengar's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?

Shadow Gengar takes super effective damage from Dark, Ghost, Ground, Psychic-type moves. It resists Fighting, Bug, Normal, Poison, Fairy, Grass, so avoid those types against it.

What is Shadow Gengar's max CP in Pokemon GO?

Shadow Gengar reaches 3,254 CP at level 50 with XL Candy, or 2,878 CP at level 40. Level 50 needs XL Candy, which only unlocks at Trainer Level 31 and comes from catching, hatching, transferring and walking.

What CP is a 100% IV Shadow Gengar?

A perfect 15/15/15 Shadow Gengar shows 1,644 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches) and 2,055 CP at level 25 (weather boosted). Seeing that exact number on the catch screen means it is a hundo — favourite it before you transfer anything.

How do you get Shadow Gengar in Pokemon GO?

Shadow Gengar spawns in the wild, though how often depends on your biome and the active event.

Can Shadow Gengar be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Shiny Shadow Gengar depends on whether Niantic has released the form. Check the events page for Community Days and event weekends, which is when shiny rates are boosted.

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