Poltergust 5000

The Poltergust 5000 is the name of the vacuum that Luigi uses in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. It is an upgraded version of the Poltergust 3000 from the first game, both of which were created by Professor Elvin Gadd.

This version of the Poltergust is numbered "5000", but the previous version was numbered "3000". This is likely done to acknowledge the Poltergust 4000 kart which debuted in Mario Kart DS.

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
The Poltergust 5000 debuts in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon as the vacuum Luigi uses throughout the game. When the ghosts of Evershade Valley become hostile due to the shattering of the Dark Moon, E. Gadd escapes, leaving the Poltergust 5000 behind. As part of the first mission of the game, recovering the vacuum from the vehicle in the Garage is Luigi's first objective.

Features
While the Poltergust 5000 is marked as an improved version of the Poltergust 3000, they share the same basic properties. Players can use the Poltergust 5000's vacuum by pressing and blow things away by pressing. While the Poltergust 5000 does retain the Flashlight attachment, it works differently than the original version's. The basic light can no longer stun ghosts, so the player has to first find the Strobulb in order to do so. The Strobulb can be used by pressing. If the player long presses, the Strobulb's range will increase, however, the Strobulb can stun a maximum five ghosts, three of which can be captured, but the other two won't be captured. While the Poltergust 5000 cannot expel elements like the Poltergust 3000 could, an additional Dark-Light Device can be added to the Poltergust 5000, which is used to uncover invisible secrets.

While players could use to help suck up ghosts in the original game, the Poltergust 5000 instead uses a "Power Surge" technique when sucking in ghosts. After charging a meter for a short time, players can press to suck up a large amount of the ghost's health in one go. A Blue Surge removes 10 HP from the ghost, a Green Surge removes 20, and a Red Surge removes 50. Vacuuming in a ghost with a Power Surge will result in them dropping a certain amount of gold bars, which is dependent on what charge was used to vacuum them in: a Blue Surge gives 3 coins, a Green Surge gives one gold bar, and a Red Surge gives 3 gold bars. If there are multiple ghosts within the suction, the ghosts will always drop an additional gold bar when captured, from a single gold bar with no surge, to a maximum of 4 gold bars from a Red Surge. During some battles, such as with the fights against the Possessors, this technique is required.

Additionally, the Poltergust 5000 can be seen in an additional four colors during the ScareScraper: Green, Blue, Orange, and Pink, which is respective to the player wearing it.

Upgrades
The Poltergust 5000 can also be upgraded over the course of the game, based on how much gold Luigi collects.
 * 2,000 G: The Green Surge is unlocked, allowing Luigi to do more damage and receive more gold.
 * 4,000 G: The Dark-Light Level 2 is unlocked, increasing the length of the Dark-Light Device's meter.
 * 7,000 G: The Red Surge is unlocked, allowing even more damage and even more gold with Power Surges.
 * 10,000 G: The Dark-Light Level 3 is unlocked, maxing out the Dark-Light meter.
 * 20,000 G: The Super Poltergust is unlocked, which fills the power bar and drains the ghost's HP faster. It also features a design on the wheels, though it disappears when the player is in the Bunker.

Super Smash Bros. series
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, Luigi uses the Poltergust 5000 for his Final Smash, replacing his previous Final Smash, the Negative Zone, from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Upon activating the Final Smash, Luigi will don the Poltergust 5000 and begin vacuuming in his opponents and nearby items, with the caught opponents receiving repeated damage. After a short period of time, he will then launch out anyone he caught in the direction he is facing, along with any items that were caught in the process. If no opponents are caught in the vacuum's suction, the Final Smash will fail.

Additionally, the Poltergust 5000 appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as a Spirit. Luigi's Final Smash in this game is replaced by the Poltergust G-00 from Luigi's Mansion 3.

Other appearances
A controller based on the Poltergust 5000 is used for Luigi's Mansion Arcade.

Luigi's first Precision weapon in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, the Suction Destruction, is styled after the Poltergust 5000.

In the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft, Luigi wearing the Poltergust 5000 on his back is a playable skin.

Trivia

 * On March 27, 2013, Nintendo revealed that they had posted a challenge to iam8bit to make a working Poltergust 5000 replica, complete with a lit Strobulb and overall backpack design just as in the game.