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Haunter(JP) is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a dual-type Ghost/Poison Pokémon that made its first appearance in the first generation games Red and Blue. It evolves from Gastly and involves into Gengar when traded or holding a Linking Cord (Pokémon Legends: Arceus only).
Physiology and Behaviour[]
Haunter is a purple Pokémon with a gaseous body. It has a round head flanked by three large, spiked protrusions on either side. It has triangular eyes with small pupils and a mouth with a long, pink tongue. The gases composing its head curve into its mouth to form several pointed teeth. Disembodied hands with three clawed fingers each float in front of its body. Its body tapers into a jagged tail. Haunter's gaseous form makes it one of the lightest Pokémon in existence.
Haunter hides in very dark places, such as caves, and is afraid of light. If a human or a Pokémon comes near Haunter, it will stalk the victim while floating and beckon it to come closer. Once approached it will then lick the victim with its gaseous tongue, inflicting convulsions in the victim that last until death. It can also float through walls. It has been shown in the anime that it can control its hands from far away and can control any Pokémon that it touches with its hands. Despite its predatory nature, it has been known to entertain and prank people. Additionally, it has even been shown to feel intense loyalty to a deceased Trainer.
Appearances[]
Main Pokémon games[]
Other Pokémon games[]
Pokémon Pinball: Two Haunter appear in a bonus stage accessible from the Red Table. Once the player knocks out the three Gastly, the pair of Haunter appear, and upon knocking them out, the player must then proceed to defeat the Gengar that appears.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky: Haunter is the main antagonist in the Special Episode Today's "Oh My Gosh", where it is later revealed there are three Haunter working together.
Super Smash Bros. series[]
Trophy descriptions[]
In the anime[]
Haunter with Ash Ketchum and Pikachu
In The Tower of Terror, Ash Ketchum befriended a Haunter. He then attempted to use it to battle Sabrina in the hopes of freeing his friends, who were captured by Sabrina, but Haunter decided to goof off instead. Eventually, at the end of Haunter versus Kadabra, Haunter helps Ash succeed in his endeavor and decides to stay with Sabrina.
In Pokémon Origins, Red used a Haunter against Sabrina's Alakazam and won. It evolved into Gengar sometime before the final episode.
In Pokémon Generations, an illusory Haunter tormented Cheryl and her Chansey.
Allister owns a Haunter in Pokémon: Twilight Wings.
Origin and inspiration[]
Haunter appears to be based on a generic sort of cartoonish ghost. Like Gengar, Haunter may also be based on the Cheshire Cat, as it possesses what may be pointed ears; a large, toothy grin; and the ability to vanish at will. While many Japanese yōkai - ghosts and ghouls - are depicted with long tongues, Haunter's vampiric licking may have come specifically from the Dila, a Philippine spirit that licked the life energy of sick people until they died.
Haunter may be derived from haunt and the agentive suffix -er or possibly hunter.
Ghost is literally ghost.
In-game information[]
Pokédex entries[]
| Title | Entry |
|---|---|
| First Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Red and Blue | Because of its ability to slip through block walls, it is said to be from another dimension. |
| Pokémon Yellow | By licking, it saps the victim's life. It causes shaking that won't stop until the victim's demise. |
| Pokémon Stadium | If you trip and fall for no apparent reason or hear a sound when no one is around, it may be a Haunter. |
| Second Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Gold | In total darkness, where nothing is visible, Haunter lurks, silently stalking its next victim. |
| Pokémon Silver | Its tongue is made of gas. If licked, its victim starts shaking constantly until death eventually comes. |
| Pokémon Crystal | It hides in the dark, planning to take the life of the next living thing that wanders close by. |
| Third Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Ruby | Haunter is a dangerous Pokémon. If one beckons you while floating in darkness, you must never approach it. This Pokémon will try to lick you with its tongue and steal your life away. |
| Pokémon Sapphire | Haunter is a dangerous Pokémon. If one beckons you while floating in darkness, you must never approach it. This Pokémon will try to lick you with its tongue and steal your life away. |
| Pokémon Emerald | If a Haunter beckons you while it is floating in darkness, don't approach it. This Pokémon will try to lick you with its tongue and steal your life away. |
| Pokémon FireRed | If you get the feeling of being watched in darkness when nobody is around, Haunter is there. |
| Pokémon LeafGreen | Because of its ability to slip through block walls, it is said to be from another dimension. |
| Fourth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Diamond | It can slip through any obstacle. It lurks inside walls to keep an eye on its foes. |
| Pokémon Pearl | It licks with its gaseous tongue to steal the victim's life force. It lurks in darkness for prey. |
| Pokémon Platinum | It likes to lurk in the dark and tap shoulders with a gaseous hand. Its touch causes endless shuddering. |
| Pokémon HeartGold | In total darkness, where nothing is visible, Haunter lurks, silently stalking its next victim. |
| Pokémon SoulSilver | Its tongue is made of gas. If licked, its victim starts shaking constantly until death eventually comes. |
| Fifth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Black | It likes to lurk in the dark and tap shoulders with a gaseous hand. Its touch causes endless shuddering. |
| Pokémon White | It likes to lurk in the dark and tap shoulders with a gaseous hand. Its touch causes endless shuddering. |
| Pokémon Black 2 | It likes to lurk in the dark and tap shoulders with a gaseous hand. Its touch causes endless shuddering. |
| Pokémon White 2 | It likes to lurk in the dark and tap shoulders with a gaseous hand. Its touch causes endless shuddering. |
| Sixth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon X | If you get the feeling of being watched in darkness when nobody is around, Haunter is there. |
| Pokémon Y | It licks with its gaseous tongue to steal the victim's life force. It lurks in darkness for prey. |
| Pokémon Omega Ruby | Haunter is a dangerous Pokémon. If one beckons you while floating in darkness, you must never approach it. This Pokémon will try to lick you with its tongue and steal your life away. |
| Pokémon Alpha Sapphire | Haunter is a dangerous Pokémon. If one beckons you while floating in darkness, you must never approach it. This Pokémon will try to lick you with its tongue and steal your life away. |
| Seventh Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Sun | It strikes at humans from total darkness. Those licked by its cold tongue grow weaker with each passing day until they die. |
| Pokémon Moon | It fears the light and revels in the dark. It may be on the verge of extinction in cities that stay brightly lit at night. |
| Pokémon Ultra Sun | On moonless nights, Haunter searches for someone to curse, so it's best not to go out walking around. |
| Pokémon Ultra Moon | It's dangerous to go outside alone on nights when you're feeling sad. Haunter will catch you, and you won't be able to go back home. |
| Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu |
By licking, it saps the victim's life. It causes shaking that won't stop until the victim's demise. |
| Pokémon Let's Go Eevee |
By licking, it saps the victim's life. It causes shaking that won't stop until the victim's demise. |
| Eighth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Sword | Its tongue is made of gas. If licked, its victim starts shaking constantly until death eventually comes. |
| Pokémon Shield | If you get the feeling of being watched in darkness when nobody is around, Haunter is there. |
| Pokémon Brilliant Diamond | It can slip through any obstacle. It lurks inside walls to keep an eye on its foes. |
| Pokémon Shining Pearl | It licks with its gaseous tongue to steal its victim's life-force. It lurks in darkness, waiting for prey. |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | This frightful, malevolent spirit can glide through walls, appearing wherever it likes. According to rumor, victims of a Haunter's lick will wither to death day by day. |
| Ninth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Scarlet | It likes to lurk in the dark and tap shoulders with a gaseous hand. Its touch causes endless shuddering. |
| Pokémon Violet | In total darkness, where nothing is visible, Haunter lurks, silently stalking its next victim. |
Game locations[]
| Title | Location(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Red and Blue | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Yellow | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Gold | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Silver | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Crystal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Ruby | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon FireRed | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon LeafGreen | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Diamond | Trade Medicham in Snowpoint City* Old Chateau (Any Gen III game) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Pearl | Trade Medicham in Snowpoint City* Old Chateau (Any Gen III game) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Platinum | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon HeartGold | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon SoulSilver | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fifth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Black | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon White | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sixth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seventh Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Moon | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Ultra Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Ultra Moon | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu |
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| Pokémon Let's Go Eevee |
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| Eighth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Sword | Rolling Fields, Watchtower Ruins (Wanderer) Giant's Cap, Giant's Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills, Motostoke Riverbank, South Lake Miloch, Stony Wilderness, Watchtower Ruins (Max Raid Battle) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Shield | Rolling Fields, Watchtower Ruins (Wanderer) Giant's Cap, Giant's Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills, Motostoke Riverbank, South Lake Miloch, Stony Wilderness, Watchtower Ruins (Max Raid Battle) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Brilliant Diamond | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Shining Pearl | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ninth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Scarlet | North Province: Area One, Dalizapa Passage, Glaseado Mountain Tera Raid Battles (3★) Trade Pincurchin in Levincia Mossfell Confluence, Oni Mountain | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Violet | North Province: Area One, Dalizapa Passage, Glaseado Mountain Tera Raid Battles (3★) Trade Pincurchin in Levincia Mossfell Confluence, Oni Mountain | |||||||||||||||||||||
Evolution[]
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Base Stats[]
| HP | 45 |
| Attack | 50 |
| Defense | 45 |
| Sp. Attack | 115 |
| Sp. Defense | 55 |
| Speed | 95 |
| Total | 405 |
Moveset[]
Gallery[]
Sprites[]
Trivia[]
- In the Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Haunter's prototype name was Spectre.
- Page 19 of the Pokémon Trainer's Survival Guide erroneously references Haunter by this name.
- Haunter and Gastly are the lightest Poison-type Pokémon. They are also tied with Roaming Form Gimmighoul for the lightest Ghost-type Pokémon.
- Haunter is the only Pokémon that weighs exactly the same as its pre-evolution.
- Haunter is the only Ghost-type Pokémon featured in Pokémon Snap.
- Haunter's Japanese name, ゴースト Ghost, is exactly the same as the Japanese name for the Ghost type.
Reception[]
Haunter has received a primarily positive response since its debut, being highlighted for its design and appearance. Its appearance in the manga Electric Tale of Pikachu has been highlighted for its unique take on Haunter and on Ghost-typed Pokémon as a whole.
External links[]
- Haunter (Pokémon) at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia