You're stalking through the neon-lit streets of Lumiose City, or maybe you're out in the wilds of the Kalos region's past, and you finally catch that Gastly. You level it up. It hits level 25. Now you have a Haunter. But then, the dread sets in. If you've played Pokémon since the Red and Blue days, you know the drill: Haunter only evolves through trading.
It’s a mechanic that has ruined friendships for decades.
Wait.
Legends ZA is different. Following the massive shift in gameplay we saw in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Game Freak realized that forcing people to find a friend with a Link Cable (or a stable Wi-Fi connection) doesn't really fit the "solo researcher" vibe of the Legends series. If you want to know how to evolve Haunter Legends ZA style, you need to throw out everything you remember about the old-school trade-evolution grind. You aren't looking for a trade partner anymore. You're looking for an item.
The Death of the Trade Evolution
Trade evolutions were originally designed to sell more Game Boys. It's a social feature, sure, but for most of us, it was just a barrier. In the urban redevelopment setting of Lumiose City, the developers have kept the quality-of-life improvements that made the previous Legends title so refreshing.
Basically, you don't need another person.
The core method involves an item called the Linking Cord. Think of it as a physical manifestation of that old gray cable from 1998. In Legends: Arceus, this was a consumable item. You’d find it, use it on your Haunter, and boom—Gengar. In Legends: ZA, while the setting has shifted to a massive urban project in Kalos, the mechanic remains a staple for those who prefer playing offline.
Getting your hands on one isn't always straightforward. You'll likely find them at specific item exchanges or as rare rewards for completing high-tier construction requests within the city. If you’re tired of waiting for a random drop, keep an eye on the "Merit Point" equivalent in Lumiose. In the previous game, you earned these by returning lost satchels. In ZA, the system is tied to the urban renewal missions. Help the city, get the points, buy the cord. It’s a fair trade.
Is There Another Way?
Sometimes you don't want to hunt for a Linking Cord. Honestly, they can be a bit of a pain to track down early in the game.
There's a shortcut.
Keep an eye on the Wild Areas or the "redeveloped" zones. Pokémon Legends: ZA features shifting landscapes as the city is built. In certain high-level districts or during specific environmental "glitches," Gengar can actually appear as a wild spawn. This completely bypasses the need to figure out how to evolve Haunter Legends ZA through items. It’s rarer, yeah. But catching a level 45 Gengar in the wild feels way more rewarding than clicking "Use Item" in a menu.
The Role of Mega Evolution
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Mega Evolution is back. This is huge.
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If you’re evolving your Haunter specifically because you want that powerhouse Gengar, you’re likely eyeing that Mega Stone. In the original X and Y, Gengarite was a late-game luxury. In Legends: ZA, the bond between trainer and Pokémon is centered around the urban integration of the Kalos region. This means your Gengar isn't just a heavy hitter; it’s a tool for the city’s transformation.
Don't rush the evolution if you aren't ready. Haunter, with an Eviolite (if you can find one in the rubble), actually holds its own quite well due to its speed and decent Special Attack. But let’s be real. You want the big purple ghost.
Where to Find the Materials
So, you’re committed. You want the Linking Cord. Where do you actually go?
- The Construction Hub: This is your central base. Check the trade stalls every time you complete a major story beat. The inventory rotates.
- Request Rewards: Look for NPCs with white speech bubbles. If a construction worker lost his shovel in a Haunter-infested alley, help him out. These "side quests" are the most consistent way to get evolution stones and cords without spending currency.
- Hidden Dig Sites: Use your mount Pokémon to sniff out buried treasure. The Kalos region is literally being dug up in this game. Linking Cords are often found in the "discarded tech" piles scattered around the construction zones.
It’s worth noting that Legends: ZA focuses heavily on the verticality of Lumiose City. A lot of people miss items because they don't look up. Check the scaffolding. Check the rooftops.
Why This Matters for Your Team
Gengar remains one of the most versatile Ghost/Poison types in the history of the franchise. Its movepool in the Legends-style combat—where speed and "Style" (Strong vs. Agile) dictate the flow—is devastating. A Gengar using an Agile-style Shadow Ball can often lap slower opponents, getting two hits in before the enemy can even blink.
When you finally figure out how to evolve Haunter Legends ZA, focus on its Effort Levels immediately. In this game, traditional EVs (Effort Values) are replaced by Grit items. Dump your Grit Dust and Grit Gravel into Speed and Special Attack. A glass cannon Gengar is the only way to play. If you try to build it for defense, you’re going to have a bad time.
Common Misconceptions
People keep asking if you can still trade to evolve.
Yes.
If you have a friend and you both have a copy of the game, the old-school method still works. You go to the communications hub, start a trade, send the Haunter over, and watch it transform. But why bother? The Linking Cord is right there. It saves you the anxiety of wondering if your "friend" is actually going to send your Gengar back or if they’re going to ghost you (pun intended).
Another myth is that Haunter needs to be at a certain happiness level. Nope. Haunter doesn't care if you love it. It just needs that cord or a trade.
Steps to Success
Stop waiting for a miracle. Go to the central Lumiose plaza. Check the Request Board. Find a mission that offers "Evolutionary Items" as a reward. Usually, these involve catching a specific number of Ghost-types or documenting Haunter's behavior at night near the construction sites.
Once you have the Linking Cord:
- Open your satchel.
- Navigate to the "Items" tab.
- Select the Linking Cord.
- Hover over Haunter (it will say "Compatible").
- Confirm.
- Enjoy your new Gengar.
The process is instant. There’s no leveling up required after using the item. It’s clean, it’s efficient, and it respects your time.
The transition of Lumiose City is a massive undertaking, and having a Gengar on your squad makes the tougher "Alpha-style" encounters significantly easier. Its ability to inflict status conditions like Hypnosis or Confuse Ray can buy you the precious seconds you need to lob a Poké Ball at a rampaging boss.
Get out there and start scavenging. That Linking Cord isn't going to find itself, and that Haunter isn't getting any younger. The city is waiting.
Actionable Next Steps
- Farm Merit/Construction Points: Prioritize the "lost and found" or "urban cleanup" missions in Lumiose City immediately to build up the currency needed for a Linking Cord.
- Check the Trading Post Daily: The inventory in Legends: ZA shifts based on in-game time; if the Linking Cord isn't there now, go rest at your camp and check back.
- Save Your Grit Items: Don't waste Speed-boosting Grit on early-game Pokémon; save them specifically for your Gengar to maximize its "Agile Style" potential in the new turn-order system.
- Scout for Wild Gengar: Before spending rare currency, head to the darker, "abandoned" districts of the city at night to see if a wild Gengar spawns, saving you the trouble of the evolution process entirely.