Published Oct 5, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT
Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond.
Pokémon's 30th anniversary celebrations have been truly remarkable over the course of the year, with several major updates on the franchise's future plans as well as unexpected crossovers and new releases for longtime fans. From the announcement of Winds & Waves to the 30th Celebration TCG set, The Pokémon Company has used the milestone to spotlight both the series' history and the characters that helped turn it into a global phenomenon.
Naturally, Pikachu has received plenty of attention throughout the celebrations, with everything from 30 unique TCG designs to a pure gold museum-grade statue, but the franchise is hardly limiting their scope to Pikachu alone. Among the most iconic Pokemon in the franchise that date back to Gen 1, Gengar, the mischievous Ghost-type has remained one of Pokémon's most recognizable creatures for decades.
Now, as the anniversary festivities continue, Gengar is receiving an unexpected new look that puts a fresh spin on one of the franchise's most enduring Mons, and hardcore fans won't want to miss out on this one.
Gengar's New Design Will Have You Running Scared
Gengar has been given one of its strangest "redesigns" yet, transforming the iconic Ghost-type into a pair of Adidas sneakers for Pokémon's 30th anniversary. The Pokémon x Adidas Adistar XLG 2.0 Gengar takes the creature's familiar purple appearance and incorporates it directly into the shoe, rather than simply placing Gengar artwork on an existing silhouette.
The purple sneaker features an oversized eye along the upper, while 3D-molded spikes around the heel recreate Gengar's distinctive silhouette. Even the Adistar XLG 2.0's cage has been arranged to resemble Gengar's trademark grin, with additional character and Poké Ball details incorporated into the laces. Adidas says the design also draws inspiration from Gengar's speed and ability to levitate.
The Gengar shoes officially released on September 22, 2026. They are priced at £150 in the UK, where Adidas currently lists them for sale, while U.S. retail information puts the price at approximately $170. Availability varies by size and retailer, with some stores already selling through their initial stock.
Pokémon x Adidas Features Fresh Takes On Classic Designs
Gengar is only one part of a much larger Adidas collection celebrating Pokémon's 30th anniversary, with other designs based on characters including Pikachu, Charizard, Gastly, and Haunter. The full range notably spreads Gengar's evolutionary family across different Adistar models, culminating with Gengar on the chunkier XLG 2.0. Gastly starts the evolution with a mostly black and purple Adistar Control 3, while Haunter gets a purple Adistar Control 5 featuring pointed elements inspired by the Pokémon's jagged appearance.
Pikachu is getting four different shoe models; two are Superstars, including a relatively understated white design covered with Pikachu imagery and a far bolder fuzzy yellow version, alongside a yellow high-top Pro Model. A fourth Megaride F50 released shortly afterward, with a black upper with yellow Three Stripes, lightning-like graphics, and Pikachu branding near the heel.
Adidas also features the entire Charmander evolutionary family, with Charmander and Charmeleon each getting their own Superstar, while Charizard's premium Superstar combines orange scale-like materials with removable wing-inspired pieces.
The Legendary Pokémon are featured as well, with Mewtwo appearing on the Samba, Handball Spezial, and ZX 8000, all using variations on its familiar purple-and-pink coloring, with the ZX 8000 even incorporating molded elements around the heel. Rayquaza gets three shoes of its own: a green ZX 500, an Adistar Control 5, and a particularly elaborate F50 Tunit Mega/Megaride F50 with a scale-like upper and oversized lace covering inspired by the Legendary Pokémon's serpentine appearance.
Altogether, the 30th anniversary collection comprises 16 designs based on nine Pokémon, with the primary rollout beginning September 22 and additional releases following, while many fans are already sporting their fresh new looks. If you haven't picked up a pair yet, there's still time, though as mentioned, the more popular designs are either already sold out or will soon.
English (US) ·