Haunter evolves into Gengar in Pokemon Legends Z-A only by being traded to another player, with no held item required. There is no Linking Cord or other item that replaces the trade, so you send Haunter to a friend through Link Trade, it arrives as Gengar, and they trade it back. Below we cover where to find Gastly and Haunter, the trade steps, the ways to get a Gengar if you play alone, and how to unlock Mega Gengar.
This covers Pokemon Legends Z-A on Nintendo Switch and in the Switch 2 Edition, verified against the official patch notes through version 2.0.2. Haunter works exactly like Kadabra here, so if you have read our guide on how to evolve Kadabra, the trade section will look familiar.
Where to Find Gastly and Haunter
Ghost types are easy to come by in Lumiose. Per the community wiki’s spawn data:
| Pokemon | Where | Opens | Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gastly | Wild Zone 4 (Rouge District) | Main Mission 5 | 9 to 10 |
| Gastly | Wild Zone 7 | Main Mission 10 | 19 to 21 |
| Gastly | Many city sectors in every district, plus the Sewers | Varies | Varies |
| Haunter | Wild Zone 15 (Jaune District), at night only | Main Mission 20 | 40 to 41 |
| Haunter | Magenta Sectors 1 and 6, Rouge Sector 8, Jaune Sectors 2, 4 and 9, and the Sewers | Varies | Varies |
Gastly evolves into Haunter at level 25. Evolution in Z-A is manual: when Gastly is ready, an arrow shows on its party icon, and you select it and choose Evolve. If you would rather skip the grind, catching a Haunter directly saves time: the ones in Wild Zone 15 and the Sewers are already well past level 25.
Wild Zone 15’s Haunter only spawns at night. Sit on any bench to skip ahead to the start of the next night cycle, but remember that night also brings the Z-A Royale Battle Zones to the city streets, so heal before you set out.
How to Trade Haunter Into Gengar
Both players need Pokemon Legends Z-A, and Link Play unlocks early in the story.
| Step | What to press or select |
|---|---|
| Open the menu | X |
| Open online features | Link Play |
| Start a trade | Link Trade |
| Pick a connection | Nearby Players (local wireless) or Faraway Players (online) |
| Match with your partner | Both enter the same 8-digit Link Code |
| Send Haunter | Offer Haunter and confirm |
When the trade goes through, Haunter evolves into Gengar on your partner’s side. They offer it back in the same session and you get your Gengar.
- Online trading needs Nintendo Switch Online. Faraway Players requires a subscription; Nearby Players over local wireless does not.
- Trade two evolutions at once. If your partner has a Kadabra or a Machoke to evolve, swap them simultaneously so both of you benefit.
- Strangers are a gamble. Community-agreed trade codes exist for trade evolutions, but the game cannot force anyone to send your Pokemon back.
- No waiting period. Per player guides, a Haunter can be traded as soon as it evolves from Gastly.
Getting a Gengar Without Trading
Solo players have three options, none of which evolve your own Haunter:
- Wild Zone 20. Per the community wiki, Gengar appears as an alpha in Wild Zone 20 in Centrico Plaza at around level 63 to 64. The zone opens at Main Mission 39, after the credits.
- Hyperspace Lumiose (Mega Dimension DLC). Per the community wiki, Gengar shows up in 4-star Ghost-type hyperspace wild zones. The DLC’s story requires finishing the main game first.
- Pokemon HOME. Since HOME connected to Z-A in April 2026, you can move a Gengar in from another game. Transfers into Z-A are one-way relative to older titles, so read our HOME transfer guide before moving anything you care about.
Wild Zone 20 is packed with high-level alphas. Our guide on how to heal in Pokemon Legends Z-A covers the cafe trick and item cooldowns that help there, and the same post-game period is when you can go after Mewtwo.
Mega Gengar
Gengar can Mega Evolve in Z-A. Per the community wiki’s shop listings, Gengarite is sold at the Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue for 50,000, alongside evolution stones and other Mega Stones. Give it to Gengar to hold, build Mega Power by landing attacks, and it can Mega Evolve mid-battle. If you plan to take Mega Gengar into online play, check the season rules first; our Ranked Battles Season 17 guide covers the current one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you evolve Haunter without trading in Pokemon Legends Z-A? No. Haunter only evolves through a trade. Solo players can catch an alpha Gengar in Wild Zone 20 after the story, find one in Hyperspace Lumiose with the DLC, or transfer one in through Pokemon HOME.
Does Haunter need to hold an item to evolve? No. A plain trade is enough. The held-item trades in Z-A are for other Pokemon, such as Scyther with a Metal Coat.
What level does Gastly evolve into Haunter? Level 25. Select Gastly in your party and choose Evolve once the arrow appears on its icon.
Where is the best place to catch Haunter? Wild Zone 15 at night, where Haunter spawns around level 40, or the Sewers and several city sectors listed above.
Do you need Nintendo Switch Online to trade Haunter? Only for Faraway Players. Nearby Players over local wireless works without a subscription.