Pokémon Legends Z-A reveals Gastly’s third redesign in three generations ahead of October release

Gastly gets its third redesign in Pokémon Legends Z-A, sparking fan debate ahead of the game’s October launch

Pokémon Legends Z-A has introduced a new look for Gastly, marking the Ghost-type’s third redesign in as many generations.

The updated design appeared in the latest trailer for the upcoming game, which also confirmed the return of Lumiose City, Mega Evolutions, and real-time battles.

Gastly’s appearance has evolved multiple times in recent years. In 2022, Pokémon Legends: Arceus gave the character a darker, heavier smog effect, while Scarlet and Violet later reverted to a lighter, more classic look.

The new Legends Z-A version combines both approaches, featuring a denser gas cloud closer to the core that fades towards the edges.

Its eyes now have a sharper, brighter glow reminiscent of the original anime portrayal, which long-time fans recognised immediately.

Shiny hunters also welcomed the change, noting that this design makes the alternate form easier to distinguish in the wild.

Fan reactions online have been mixed. One commented, “The Gengar line gets the best treatment except for Gengar’s regular shiny.”

Another wrote, “SV Gastly was horrendous. I remember trying to shiny hunt one and from a slight distance, they all look blue.”

Others praised the attention to detail in the redesign. “The effect it’s giving off reminds me of the classic anime,” one fan said. “It’s more vivid near the main body and thinner at the edges where the gas starts to dissipate.”

Pokémon Legends Z-A launches on October 16.