How to Evolve Haunter in Pokemon Legends Arceus

Gengar has always been a trade-only evolution in mainline Pokemon games, which left solo players stuck with a Haunter that refused to finish evolving. Pokemon Legends: Arceus changes that. You can now evolve Haunter into Gengar entirely on your own, no friend or Nintendo Switch Online subscription required, though the classic trade method still works if you prefer it.

Where to Catch Gastly and Haunter in Hisui

Both Gastly and Haunter are absent from the starting Obsidian Fieldlands area, so you’ll need to progress the story before you can start hunting for them.

Gastly and Haunter first become available once you unlock the Crimson Mirelands by calming the noble Pokemon Kleavor. Both spawn only at night, though weather conditions have no effect on their appearance, so plan your hunt accordingly. In the Crimson Mirelands, look for them at:

Gapejaw Bog
Golden Lowlands
Scarlet Bog
Shrouded Ruins

If you’ve advanced further in the story, Gastly and Haunter also show up in the Coronet Highlands and Alabaster Icelands.

Method 1: Evolve Haunter Without Trading Using the Linking Cord

The Linking Cord is a Hisui-exclusive item built specifically to remove the trade requirement from evolutions like Gengar. It works the same way a Fire Stone or Water Stone does: use it directly on Haunter from your satchel and it evolves on the spot.

The Linking Cord isn’t limited to Haunter either. It also works on other classic trade-locked Pokemon such as Kadabra, Machoke, and Graveler, making it worth stocking up on if you’re filling out the Hisui Pokedex solo.

Where to Get a Linking Cord

There are three ways to obtain a Linking Cord in Pokemon Legends: Arceus:

Buy it from Simona’s shop: The Trading Post in Jubilife Village sells the Linking Cord for 1,000 Merit Points (MP).
Dig with Ursaluna: While riding Ursaluna, watch for its treasure-hunting cues. Linking Cords can occasionally turn up as random loot when you dig up buried items.
Break shaking ore deposits: Throwing Pokemon at shaking mineral deposits in the overworld sometimes drops evolution items, including the Linking Cord, alongside standard crafting materials like Tumblestones.

Steps to Use the Linking Cord on Haunter

Open your satchel menu.
Select the Linking Cord.
Choose Haunter to use the item and trigger the evolution into Gengar.

How to Farm Merit Points Fast

If you’d rather not rely on random drops from ore or Ursaluna digging, buying the Linking Cord from Simona’s shop is the more reliable route, which means farming Merit Points.

The quickest way to earn MP is through lost satchels, an asynchronous online feature. As you explore Hisui with your map open, look for satchel icons marking items dropped by other players’ Pokemon that fainted in the wild. Travel to each one, pick it up, and return it through the game menu to earn Merit Points. A handful of returned satchels is usually enough to reach the 1,000 MP needed for a Linking Cord.

Keep your Nintendo Switch connected to the internet while playing so your map populates with fresh satchels from other players.

Method 2: Evolve Haunter Through Trading

If you have a friend to trade with, the classic method still works and can be worth it if you’d rather save your Merit Points for pricier items like the Electirizer or Magmarizer.

Head to Simona’s shop in Jubilife Village and speak with her to open the Trading Post menu. Trading locally with someone in the same room uses Local Communication and works without any subscription, while trading over the internet needs Nintendo Switch Online. For internet trades, set up an 8-digit Link Code beforehand to avoid pairing with a stranger. Trade your Haunter over and it will evolve into Gengar the moment it reaches the other player’s game. Have them trade it straight back and your Gengar is set.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get Gengar solo in Pokemon Legends: Arceus?

Yes. The Linking Cord lets you evolve Haunter into Gengar without trading, so a Nintendo Switch Online subscription or a trading partner isn’t required.

Does weather affect where Gastly and Haunter spawn?

No. Both only spawn at night, but in-game weather has no effect on whether they appear.

What other Pokemon can the Linking Cord evolve?

Besides Haunter, the Linking Cord works on other classic trade-evolution Pokemon such as Kadabra, Machoke, and Graveler.

How much does a Linking Cord cost at Simona’s shop?

A Linking Cord costs 1,000 Merit Points at the Trading Post in Jubilife Village.

Can I use a Linking Cord on any Haunter, or does it need to hold an item first?

You don’t need to attach a held item beforehand. Just select the Linking Cord from your satchel and use it directly on Haunter to trigger the evolution.

Read More:

How to Evolve Haunter in Pokemon Legends: Arceus Without Trading