@ the Gengar anon: think of it like an exchange program. Make sure your Haunter knows that you’re not giving him up, you’re just sending him on a sort of field trip so he can have a variety of life experiences. I’m sure your friend’s Graveller could benefit from hearing that, too. Evolution is about learning and improving, and spending some time with a different trainer is a great way to do that.

I want a Gengar, but I’m nervous about trading him away and back in case he hates me! It would be to my best friend (who has a graveller as it turns out) I don’t know even how to approach it with him… he seems eager to evolve (and keeps drawing himself as a gengar with loads of hearts) but I don’t think he knows how? Is there anything else I can do? Do the trading machines have a way to be changed so the radiation makes him evolve without trading him? I don’t understand the process at all…

Unfortunately, it’s not just the radiation that triggers a trade evolution but also the act of modifying a pokémon’s “data” (in the process of changing its trainer information). The only other option is to wait a bit and perhaps your haunter will evolve naturally if it’s old enough to do so, but given the strength of his interest and your friend’s willingness to help (not to mention their partner’s willingness to evolve), it’s perhaps better to go through with the trade.

One way to make it easier on your haunter is by being upfront with him about it. Show him the trading machine and explain how it will work for him. Show him a few videos. Introduce him to your friend and their graveler and have him spend time with them. Haunter are fairly intelligent, so even if this sounds complicated, yours will understand more than you might think.

Also, tell him your exact plan. Emphasize how long the process will be, and make it clear that you’re not giving him up. When the time comes, try to keep him in his poké ball until he’s back in your possession to minimize his feeling of being abandoned. The evolution will take place once he’s released, even if you change his trainer’s data back to you. Afterwards, be sure to take him out for a treat, just in case you do have to apologize.

Best of luck!

I live next to a human abandoned house and there is a lone gengar living there. I know this because sometimes it comes over to mine and as soon as it sees me or my Pokémon or gets very scared and leaves. So… that leaves me with the question when you see Pokémon like gengar and alakazam in the wild, Pokémon who can’t evolve unless traded, does that mean they were abandoned by their trainer?

Not necessarily. For many pokémon that evolve by trading, trade evolution is only the faster of two options. Trade evolution pokémon may also evolve by themselves, just like many others do; the only thing is that the pokémon in question must be of considerable age and battle experience to do so.

However, it’s difficult to say with this particular gengar. Its timidity may indicate that it hasn’t seen humans in years (which means it’s old and has evolved on its own) or that it’s endured trauma (which may indicate that it’s been abandoned). On the other hand, the fact that it visits you may indicate that it’s curious, which seems to imply the former (that you’re the first human it’s interacted with in a very, very long time).

Regardless of the reason behind its behavior, it wouldn’t hurt to show that you mean this gengar no harm, but certainly be cautious. While I advocate making friends with any pokémon, a gengar’s curiosity may also indicate that it’s examining you for your potential as food. Consider investing in sage before attempting to befriend this gengar.

Best of luck, anonymous!