Quick Answer
Gastly spawns at night in caves, the deep dark, and other dark enclosed areas in Cobblemon. It's uncommon rather than rare, so you should find one within a reasonable amount of searching — as long as you're in the right place at the right time. Haunter spawns in the same locations at higher levels.
To get Gengar, you don't need to trade — use a Linking Cord on Haunter to evolve it directly.
Where Gastly & Haunter Spawn
Both Gastly and Haunter share similar spawn conditions. The key requirements are darkness and night-time. Underground caves are the most consistent spot, but there are a few surface options too once the sun goes down.
Caves (Underground)
The most reliable spot. Any cave system — stone, deepslate, dripstone — counts. Gastly spawns here at night regardless of what's happening at the surface. Levels 15–35.
Deep Dark Biome
The deep dark generates below Y=-40 and is permanently dark, making it one of the few places Gastly can spawn at any time of day. Higher-level spawns (25–45) and also where you'll find Haunter more often.
Surface at Night
Gastly has a rare surface spawn that activates at night — particularly in swamp biomes and near graveyards or dark oak forests. Much less reliable than underground hunting but possible.
Full Evolution Chain
The Gastly line has three stages. The first two evolve by level, but Haunter's evolution into Gengar requires a special held item — not a trade.
How to Get Gengar — No Trade Required
In mainline Pokémon games, Haunter evolves into Gengar by trading. In Cobblemon, the trade requirement is replaced by a Linking Cord — a craftable held item that you use on Haunter to evolve it directly, no second player needed.
Best Route for Finding Gastly
Wait for night or go underground
Surface spawns don't happen until it's dark. Either wait for sunset, sleep through to night-time, or go straight into a cave — cave spawns are night-gated too, so you need it to be night above ground as well unless you're in the deep dark.
Head into a cave or the deep dark
Any cave biome works. Dig down or find an existing cave entrance and explore inward. The deep dark (below Y=-40) bypasses the night requirement entirely and tends to have higher-level spawns.
Don't over-light the area
Gastly requires darkness to spawn. If you've placed torches everywhere, you're blocking the spawns. Explore with night vision potions or a single torch rather than lighting the whole cave to keep conditions right.
Catch Haunter if you can
If you're aiming for Gengar, catching a Haunter directly saves you levelling time. Haunter spawns in the same locations as Gastly, just less frequently — check caves and the deep dark at levels 25–45.
Why Gengar Is Worth the Effort
Gengar is one of the strongest Ghost-types in Cobblemon and a staple of competitive teams. Its high Special Attack and Speed make it a reliable offensive threat.
One of the highest Special Attack stats in the game. Gengar hits extremely hard with Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb.
Fast enough to outspeed most threats. Pairs well with Nasty Plot for a setup sweeper role.
Only weak to Ground, Ghost, Dark, and Psychic. Immune to Normal and Fighting, which is extremely useful defensively.
FAQ
What level does Gastly evolve into Haunter?
Gastly evolves into Haunter at level 25. No special conditions — just level it up to 25 and it evolves automatically.
What level does Haunter evolve into Gengar?
Haunter doesn't evolve by level — it evolves by holding a Linking Cord and gaining a level. There's no minimum level requirement; you can evolve it as soon as you have the item.
Where do I get a Linking Cord?
Linking Cords can be crafted or found as loot. Check your crafting recipes in-game, or look in chest loot in dungeons and strongholds. Some server shops and player traders also stock them regularly.
Can Gastly spawn during the day?
No — Gastly and Haunter are strictly night-time spawns in the overworld and caves. The only exception is the deep dark biome, which is permanently dark and allows spawns at any time.
Can you get a shiny Gastly in Cobblemon?
Yes. Shiny Gastly has a blue tint instead of its standard purple-black colouring. It's obtainable at the standard base shiny rate from any of its normal spawn locations.
Is Haunter worth using instead of Gengar?
Haunter has notably lower stats than Gengar, so for competitive play Gengar is almost always the better choice. Haunter can still work in casual play given its better movepool access at certain levels, but you'll want to evolve it eventually.