How to Get 999 Gimmighoul Coins and Evolve Gholdengo

Need Gholdengo for your Paldea Pokédex? The key is not a special evolution stone or a trade. In Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, you need to collect 999 Gimmighoul Coins, then level up Gimmighoul once. The official Pokémon Company announcement confirms the requirement.

The number sounds intimidating, but there is a practical shortcut: prioritize the treasure-chest encounters around Paldea’s watchtowers and ruins. This guide explains what to look for, how to organize a route, and what happens when you finally evolve your Pokémon.

Quick answer: how to evolve Gimmighoul into Gholdengo

Catch a Chest Form Gimmighoul in Pokémon Scarlet or Violet, commonly at a watchtower or ruin.
Collect Gimmighoul Coins by finding Chest Form and Roaming Form encounters around Paldea.
Check the TM Materials section of your Bag until you have 999 coins.
Put the Gimmighoul you want to evolve in your party and level it up, for example through a normal battle or with an appropriate experience item.
After the evolution, your Gimmighoul becomes Gholdengo and the 999 coins are spent.

That last detail matters: simply reaching 999 does not trigger an instant evolution. You still need a level-up. The requirement is confirmed by The Pokémon Company; the coin-consumption and collection mechanics are documented in Serebii’s Scarlet/Violet coin guide.

Chest Form vs. Roaming Form: which is faster?

Gimmighoul has two forms, and they behave differently in Paldea. The official November 8, 2022 reveal describes Chest Form as a Ghost-type Pokémon hiding in a heavy treasure chest, while the small Roaming Form carries a coin and flees when approached.

Chest Form: your main coin source

Look on the upper platforms of watchtowers, among ruins, and at other out-of-the-way locations. Chest Form Gimmighoul starts a normal encounter: you can battle it and, if you need one for evolution, catch it. These encounters typically award substantially more coins than a single Roaming Form pickup.

Rewards vary; do not assume every chest gives the same amount. Serebii documents variable coin drops and a low chance of a Chest Form encounter reappearing at a location. For a reliable plan, visit multiple locations rather than waiting at one empty tower.

Roaming Form: collect it while exploring

Roaming Form Gimmighoul appears on ledges, signs, rocks, near ruins, and in other small hiding places. Listen for its distinctive coin-like sound and look around. Interact with it to collect coins; in ordinary Scarlet/Violet overworld encounters, this form runs away rather than entering a catchable battle.

Roaming pickups are excellent when you are only a few coins short. They are less efficient as your entire 999-coin strategy because the common rewards are small. The two forms and their original behavior are described in the official Gimmighoul announcement.

A sensible 999-coin farming route

Instead of chasing a supposed secret spawn, build a route around landmarks you can revisit. This keeps the search manageable without relying on lucky drops.

Start with towers you have already discovered. Open the map and travel between available watchtower fast-travel points. Climb to the top and check for a chest.
Explore nearby ruins. Several Chest Form encounters are found away from towers, so inspect broken walls and isolated stone structures rather than only the tower roofs.
Pick up Roaming Form coins on the way. Check railings, signs and small elevated spots when you hear the sound. Think of these as extra progress.
Track your total. Look under TM Materials in the Bag. You do not need to count every pickup manually.
Revisit older locations later. Chest Form locations can become available again, but a return visit does not guarantee an encounter. Continue to other landmarks if a spot is empty.

If you have not explored much of Paldea, use the search as an excuse to activate more fast-travel points. Your first circuit can produce coins and a better map for the next one. For detailed encounter behavior and location notes, consult Serebii’s Gimmighoul Coins reference.

What if you reach the 999-coin limit?

Once you have enough coins, stop farming and evolve the Gimmighoul you actually want to keep. If you want another Gholdengo later, you will need to collect another set of coins.

There is also an easily missed convenience: an NPC in Medali can hold excess Gimmighoul Coins collected when your Bag is at its limit. Speak to him after you have room again to retrieve stored coins. This is a useful safety net, not a reason to delay your first evolution. The Medali collector is documented in Serebii’s mechanics guide.

Is Gholdengo worth the collection effort?

For many teams, yes. Gholdengo is Steel/Ghost type, and its Ability, Good as Gold, protects it against status moves used by other Pokémon. That can make it an interesting defensive and offensive team member, although it still has weaknesses and can be damaged by attacks.

The official Pokédex entry lists Fire, Ground, Ghost and Dark as its weaknesses. It also identifies Gholdengo as National Pokédex No. 1000, a neat milestone for collectors. The exact best moveset depends on whether you are playing through the story, doing raids, or building a competitive team; there is no single universally optimal build.

Common mistakes to avoid

Trying to evolve before leveling up: the 999-coin total unlocks the evolution condition; the level-up completes it.
Only collecting tiny Roaming Form rewards: prioritize Chest Form encounters for larger coin gains.
Expecting a chest at every revisit: repeat appearances are chance-based, not guaranteed on demand.
Mixing up games: this walkthrough covers the evolution in Scarlet/Violet. Pokémon GO has its own separate systems and collection rules.
Forgetting to catch a Gimmighoul: coins alone do not give you a Gholdengo; you still need a Gimmighoul to evolve.

FAQ

Do I need 999 coins for every Gholdengo?

Yes. The coins are used when Gimmighoul evolves, so collecting a second Gholdengo requires another set of 999 coins. You can keep farming after your first evolution.

Can I catch Roaming Form Gimmighoul in Scarlet or Violet?

Not from its ordinary Paldea overworld appearances. The original official reveal notes that this form runs away. Separate Pokémon GO and Pokémon HOME connectivity introduced another route for obtaining Roaming Form, but it is not necessary for this guide’s Chest Form evolution path.

Can I get a Shiny Gimmighoul from a regular chest?

Do not assume so. The official August 2024 Tera Raid announcement specifically described Shiny Chest Form Gimmighoul as an event possibility that does not normally appear through regular gameplay. That 2024 event is historical, not an active promotion.

Bottom line

Catch a Chest Form Gimmighoul, check watchtowers and ruins for the bulk of your coins, pick up Roaming Form coins as you travel, and level up once you reach 999. It takes some exploration, but there is no hidden trade requirement or special stone.

Unofficial fan guide. Pokémon and its related names belong to their respective owners.