Best Ghost Type Pokemon

Picking the best Ghost type Pokemon starts with a type that two others cannot touch. Normal and Fighting moves have no effect on Ghost type Pokemon, and Ghost moves hit Psychic and other Ghost types for double damage.

Ghost types also get the darkest Pokedex entries in the series. On this list alone, one lights homes where funerals keep happening, and another killed the scientist who looked under its rag. (We have stopped reading them before bed. We have not stopped reading them.)

This list ranks 15 of the 65 Ghost type Pokemon by how many different players named each one as their favorite or best Ghost type. Let's get into the countdown:

Best Ghost Type Pokemon

#15

Litwick

Litwick may be based on a candle and the will-o'-the-wisp, especially the Onibi, a Japanese ghost light that sucks out the life force of anyone who comes near it and is usually described as a blue flame. Its Pokedex category is Candle Pokemon, and its entry says the younger the life it absorbs, the brighter and eerier the flame on its head burns. (A candle with a preference for young victims. We are blowing ours out.)

Its base stat total of 275 is the lowest on this list, and its Speed is 20 (Speed decides who attacks first in a turn). Every Pokemon also has an ability, a passive effect that works on its own in battle. Litwick's Flash Fire protects it from Fire moves, and once one has been blocked, its own Fire moves hit 1.5× as hard. Its hidden ability (a rarer ability some Pokemon can have), Infiltrator, lets it get past defensive moves such as Reflect and Light Screen. It evolves into Lampent at level 41.

It gets called adorable far more often than scary, which is a strange result for a candle that feeds on life force.

#14

Duskull

Duskull seems to be a ghost shaped like a hitodama, the ghostly fire of Japanese folklore, with the single eye common to many yokai. Its skull mask and dark, robe-like body may reference figures tied to death, namely the Grim Reaper and modern takes on Charon. Its habit of spiriting away misbehaving children points to bogeymen such as the Japanese Namahage, and its Pokedex entry backs that up: the children of Hisui all begin to behave once they have heard how it roams about before the witching hour. (We were told about a man with a sack. Same idea, worse branding.)

Its Defense and Special Defense are both 90, but its HP of 20 is the lowest on this list. Its ability, Levitate, makes Ground moves miss it. Its hidden ability, Frisk, reveals the opponent's held item (an item a Pokemon carries into battle) as soon as Duskull enters battle. It evolves into Dusclops at level 37.

#13

Decidueye

Decidueye is based on an owl, in particular the pueo, a common physical form of the aumakua, ancestral spirits in Hawaiian culture, which may account for its Ghost type. It also has traits of the barn owl, which some places call the ghost owl, and it shares elements with archers and the English folk hero Robin Hood. It is the final form of Alola's Grass starter, and Dartrix evolves into it at level 34. Its newest Pokedex entry says the air stored in its feathers insulates it against Hisui's extreme cold, which is firm proof that evolution can be influenced by environment.

Its Attack is 107 and its Special Attack is 100 (Attack powers physical moves, Special Attack powers special ones). Its ability, Overgrow, makes its Grass moves hit 1.5× as hard once its HP drops to a third or less. Its hidden ability, Long Reach, means its moves do not make contact, so abilities that punish touching, such as Flame Body, never get the chance. (An archer who will not get its hands dirty. We admire the boundaries.)

#12

Mismagius

Mismagius seems to be based on mages and witches, and its coloring might point to the Nasu-babā, a witch-like yokai with purple skin. Another possible source is the banshee, a female spirit from Irish mythology known for its unearthly wailing and screaming. Its Pokedex entry says the incantations it chants can ward off misfortune, so a custom exists of inviting it into the home, but incur its displeasure and disaster will surely ensue. (A houseguest with terms and conditions. We have dated this person.)

Misdreavus evolves into it with a Dusk Stone, an evolution item. Its Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed are all 105. Its only ability is Levitate, and it has no hidden ability.

#11

Froslass

Froslass is most likely based on Yuki-onna, a female ice spirit of Japanese folklore, and its red sash makes it look like it is wearing a kimono. Its body shape resembles a kokeshi doll, and its long horns resemble those of an oni. Its Pokedex entry says it is inhabited by the soul of a woman who died bearing a grudge in the snowy mountains, and that legends of it placing deathly curses on misbehaving men send shivers down the writer's spine. (We have reviewed our behavior and believe we are in the clear. Mostly.)

Snorunt evolves into it with a Dawn Stone. It is the only Pokemon that is both Ice and Ghost type, and its Speed of 110 ties Gengar for the highest on this list. Its ability, Snow Cloak, raises its evasion (how hard it is to hit) to 1.25× during hail. Its hidden ability, Cursed Body, gives it a 30% chance of disabling any move that hits it, which blocks that move for a few turns.

#10

Dusknoir

Dusknoir appears to be a cyclopean ghost, and its round, hollow body may allude to the Chōchin-obake, a haunted Japanese paper lantern. Its job of guiding lost spirits to the spirit world is similar to the Grim Reaper and other psychopomps, and its mouth, styled like a jack-o'-lantern, works as the gate and may be inspired by a Hellmouth. Its Pokedex entry says it comes to those whose lives have come to an end and escorts their souls to the afterlife, though it is known to take the souls of those who yet have life left in them, albeit rarely. (Rarely. We would like a number.)

Dusclops evolves into it when traded while holding a Reaper Cloth (trading sends a Pokemon to another player's game). Its Defense and Special Defense are both 135, and its Attack is 100. Its ability, Pressure, makes any move that targets it cost one extra PP (PP is how many times a move can be used). Its hidden ability is Frisk.

The Mystery Dungeon spin-off games did a lot of its recruiting, and several players name them as the reason it is their favorite.

Haunter

Haunter appears to be based on a ghost, and its evolution line seems to show one crossing from the afterlife into the living world, with Haunter as the one that has partially broken through. It shares a lot with the akaguchi, a yokai with a wide mouth and a big tongue whose body is covered by dark clouds that leave only its head and clawed hands visible. Its Poison type and its link to gases may reference the miasma theory, the old belief that diseases were caused by toxic vapors. Its Pokedex entry says that, according to rumor, victims of its lick will wither to death day by day. (We would like to know who started the rumor and whether they are okay.)

Gastly evolves into it at level 25, and it evolves into Gengar when traded. Its Special Attack is 115 and its Speed is 95. Its only ability is Levitate.

Haunter makes this list on its own, separate from Gengar, and plenty of players name it as their favorite Ghost type outright.

Dusclops

Dusclops has a hollow, horizontally segmented body with a ball of fire inside, which may hint at the Chōchin-obake as well. Its single eye is a common feature of many yokai, and its body is described as covered in bandages, which suggests it is also based on a mummy. Its Pokedex entry says there are rumors that peeking inside its bandage-wrapped body will get you pulled in through the gaps, never to return, and the writer admits to being too scared to verify. (We would also skip that experiment.)

Duskull evolves into it at level 37. Its Defense and Special Defense are both 130, and its Speed is 25. Like Dusknoir, its ability is Pressure and its hidden ability is Frisk.

Some players rate it above Dusknoir, its own evolution, either for the look or for the Eviolite, a held item that makes a Pokemon that can still evolve harder to knock out.

Aegislash

Aegislash appears to be based on a possessed sword and shield. Its knack for sensing an owner's potential as a leader and king seems to draw on the mythical swords of European legend, such as Durendal and Excalibur. Its Pokedex entry says its spectral powers let it manipulate others, and that it once used them to force people and Pokemon to build a kingdom to its liking. (A sword with a vision board. Ours is mostly naps.)

Doublade evolves into it with a Dusk Stone. Its Defense and Special Defense are both 140, the highest on this list. Its only ability, Stance Change, turns it into Blade Forme before it uses a damaging move and back into Shield Forme before it uses King's Shield, a move that blocks attacks for that turn.

Banette

Banette seems to be based on the idea of a haunted doll, and its story of an ordinary doll coming to life is similar to the tsukumogami, an idea rooted in Shinto animism. Its look and its habit of sticking itself with pins reference the voodoo doll, and its loosely hanging arms are a common trope in yūrei depictions. Its Pokedex entry says resentment at being cast off made it spring into being, and some say treating it well will satisfy it, and it will once more become a stuffed toy. (There is a bear in our closet we owe an apology.)

Shuppet evolves into it at level 37. Its Attack of 115 is the highest on this list. Its abilities are Insomnia, which prevents sleep, and Frisk, and its hidden ability is Cursed Body.

Sableye

Sableye may be based on the Hopkinsville Goblin, a creature from an alleged Kentucky alien encounter described as having shining eyes, small legs, clawed arms and swaying hips, a movement Sableye imitates in the 3D games. The ruby, sapphire and emerald on its body may be a reference to the games it debuted in. Its Pokedex entry says it feeds on gemstone crystals, and in darkness its eyes sparkle with the glitter of jewels. (We also stare at jewelry we cannot afford. We have not tried eating it.)

It does not evolve. Its ability Keen Eye prevents its accuracy from being lowered, and Stall makes it move last. Its hidden ability, Prankster, raises the priority of its non-damaging moves by one, so they usually go first (priority decides move order before Speed does).

Before Fairy arrived in Gen VI, its Dark / Ghost typing left it with no weakness at all, and players still bring that up. Fairy is its only weakness today.

Chandelure

Chandelure appears to combine an ornate chandelier with the folkloric idea of wandering spirit-flames. Its face loosely resembles a skull, and its curled black arms and cage-like frame recall the wrought iron fixtures typical of Gothic architecture. Its flames tend to lure and consume spirits, which parallels tales of the will-o'-the-wisp leading travelers astray. Its Pokedex category is Luring Pokemon, and its entry says that in homes illuminated by Chandelure instead of lights, funerals were a constant occurrence, or so it's said. (We switched to LED bulbs. Unrelated.)

Lampent evolves into it with a Dusk Stone. Its Special Attack of 145 is the highest on this list. Its abilities are Flash Fire and Flame Body, which gives it a 30% chance of burning any Pokemon that touches it, and its hidden ability is Infiltrator.

Players describe it as fancy and royal far more often than scary.

Giratina

According to Junichi Masuda and Takeshi Kawachimaru, Giratina and the Distortion World are personifications of antimatter. In its Altered Forme it resembles a European dragon or a sauropod, and its wings may be based on a bat's. Its Ghost type may parallel the types of its counterparts, Water for Palkia and Steel for Dialga, with the three standing for the primary states of matter: gas, liquid and solid. Its Pokedex entry recalls a Hisuian verse about a powerful light creating a deep shadow, and the writer imagines that this deep shadow is Giratina. (We also assume most things are about us. They usually are not.)

It is the only legendary Pokemon on this list, and its base stat total of 680 is the highest of the 15. Its HP is 150. Its ability is Pressure, and its hidden ability, Telepathy, protects it from its partner's damaging moves in double battles.

Mimikyu

Mimikyu's disguise is based on Pikachu, with a crudely drawn face that resembles a child's crayon drawing, and it works like a ghost costume made from a bedsheet. In the games' world, the disguise comes from the rising popularity of Pikachu merchandise 20 years earlier, which may nod to the Pokemon 20th Anniversary that Sun and Moon celebrated. It also shares traits with the Bugul Noz, a kind and gentle fairy spirit from Breton myth whose ugliness keeps it alone. Its Pokedex entry says a scientist who peeked under its rag in the name of research died of a mysterious disease. (For the record, we have never looked.)

Its only ability, Disguise, blocks the first hit of damage it takes in a battle. Its Special Defense is 105 and its Speed is 96.

Its design and its sad backstory get equal credit from the players who rank it this high.

Gengar

Gengar appears to be based on a ghost, and its evolution line seems to show one crossing from the afterlife into the living world, with Gengar as the one that broke through. Its shadow abilities and its category, Shadow Pokemon, suggest it may partly come from shadow people, and its name hints at ghostly doubles like the doppelgänger. Its horn-like ears and large teeth may come from the oni, and its wide grin and habit of vanishing from the Cheshire Cat. Its Pokedex entry says it possesses victims' shadows to steal away their lives, and if your shadow begins to laugh, you must take hold of a protective charm posthaste. (Our shadow has been quiet lately. Suspiciously quiet.)

Haunter evolves into it when traded. Its Special Attack is 130, and its Speed of 110 ties Froslass for the highest on this list. Its only ability, Cursed Body, has a 30% chance of disabling a move that hits it.

More players named it as their favorite Ghost type than any other, nearly three times as many as Mimikyu at number two. One calls it "a little monster with a sense of humor".

Conclusion

Ghost type Pokemon take double damage from Ghost and Dark attacks, and only two Pokemon on this list do anything about it. Sableye's Dark half resists both, which cancels both weak spots. Mimikyu's Fairy half resists Dark, which cancels that one, and Disguise blocks the first hit on top of it.

The other 13 keep both weaknesses, Gengar included, and made the list on looks and lore. (We relate most to Duskull. Low HP, decent defenses, mostly a mood.)

If your favorite didn't make it, the full list of Ghost type Pokemon has all 65, and the type chart shows what each pairing covers.

Ghost Type Pokemon FAQ

What is the best Ghost type Pokemon?

Gengar. More players name it as their favorite Ghost type than any other.

How many Ghost type Pokemon are there?

There are 65 Ghost type Pokemon in the National Pokedex.

Can Normal moves hit Ghost type Pokemon?

No. Normal and Fighting moves have no effect on Ghost type Pokemon, and Ghost moves have no effect on Normal types either.

Best Ghost Type Pokemon

Best Ghost Type Pokemon

Litwick

Duskull

Decidueye

Mismagius

Froslass

Dusknoir

Haunter

Dusclops

Aegislash

Banette

Sableye

Chandelure

Giratina

Mimikyu

Gengar

Conclusion

Ghost Type Pokemon FAQ

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Best Grass Type Pokemon

Best Ground Type Pokemon

Best Ice Type Pokemon

Best Normal Type Pokemon

Best Poison Type Pokemon

Best Psychic Type Pokemon