Ghost-types have a pretty fascinating history in the Pokémon series. In Pokémon Red and Blue, there were only three Ghost-type Pokémon, and they all belonged to the same line: Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar. Since they were dual Ghost/Poison-types, they were weak to Psychic moves, and a programming error made Psychic-types immune to Ghost moves when they were supposed to be weak to them.
Things have come a long way since then. Ghost-types now properly counter Psychic-types, and the roster has grown a lot across later generations. Their immunity to Normal- and Fighting-type moves still makes them unique, and in recent years, some of the strongest competitive Pokémon have come from the Ghost-type pool.
Blacephalon is the Explosive Ghost-Type Ultra Beast
A Blacephalon is encountered through an Ultra Wormhole in Pokemon Ultra Sun.Image via Game Freak
Blacephalon is a Fire/Ghost-type Ultra Beast with a base stat total of 570 that was originally introduced in Generation VII’s Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. It has an exceptionally high Special Attack stat of 151, but incredibly low HP, Defense, and Special Defense stats, making it a glass cannon.
While Blacephalon’s signature move, Mind Blown, is an extremely high-damage Fire-type attack, Shadow Ball also lets it take advantage of STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus). It fits the creepy vibe of a Ghost-type Pokémon with the way it moves and its lack of a distinguishable face.
Flutter Mane is One of the Strongest Paradox Pokémon
Flutter Mane’s Pokedex entry in Pokemon Scarlet and VioletImage via The Pokemon Company
Flutter Mane is a Ghost/Fairy-type Paradox Pokémon based on the Ghost-type Pokémon Misdreavus. It was introduced in Generation IX’s Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It has a base stat total of 570, with very high Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats at 135. Its HP, Attack, and Defense are all low in comparison, at 55 each.
Those high stats more than make up for its low ones, and Flutter Man is a very hard-hitting Pokémon overall. It’s popular in competitive Pokémon VGC battles and gets even better in the sun due to its ability, Protosynthesis, which boosts the Pokémon’s highest stat while in harsh sunlight or when holding a Booster Energy item.
Mega Gengar is the Ultimate Form of the OG Ghost Pokémon
A Shiny Mega Gengar uses Shadow Ball in the Pokemon animeImage via The Pokemon Company
Gengar’s Mega Evolution, added in Generation VI’s Pokémon X and Y, is an absolute monster. It looks terrifying with an unsettling smile, and its stats back it up. It has a base stat total of 600, with an extremely high 170 Special Attack stat. It’s also very fast, with a 130 base Speed.
Mega Gengar’s defenses may not be that strong, but when it is hitting like a truck with every Shadow Ball, that doesn’t matter. Since it’s part Poison type, it can also send out super-strong Sludge Bombs as well. Mega Gengar is definitely one of the coolest-looking Pokémon and has one of the best shiny versions of any mega evolution.
Hoopa (Confined) Is a Mischievous Mythical Pokémon
Hoopa in the Pokémon AnimeImage via The Pokémon Company
Hoopa is a Mythical Pokémon introduced in Pokémon X and Y. It’s unique in that it has two versions with different typings. The Confined version is Psychic/Ghost, while the Unbound version is Psychic/Dark. Hoopa (Confined) has a base stat total of 600, with high Special Attack and Special Defense at 150 and 130, respectively.
Like Blacephalon, Hoopa has a signature move that isn’t Ghost-type. Hyperspace Hole is a Psychic-type attack, but with the same base power as the Ghost move Shadow Ball. Its very high Special Attack and part-Ghost typing still make it a strong Ghost Pokémon.
Marshadow Is the Punching Mythical Ghost Pokémon
Marshadow standing behind Ash Ketchum’s leg in the Pokemon animeImage via OLM
Marshadow is a Fighting/Ghost Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon. It has a base stat total of 600 with fairly balanced distribution, though its best stats are Attack and Speed at 125 each. That makes it one of the rare Ghost-types that excels at physical attacking.
It hits hard with Fighting moves like Close Combat and Drain Punch, but what really sets Marshadow apart is its signature Ghost move, Spectral Thief. That attack steals the target’s stat boosts before dealing damage. If an opponent uses Swords Dance to raise their Attack, Spectral Thief takes those boosts, gives them to Marshadow, and then strikes.
Dragapult Is a Powerful Dragon/Ghost-Type Pokémon
Dragapult floating in the air in Pokémon Sword and Shield.Image via Game Freak
Dragapult is a Dragon/Ghost-type Pokémon introduced in Gen 8’s Pokémon Sword and Shield. It has a base stat total of 600, highlighted by excellent Speed and strong Attack. As a pseudo-legendary, it sits in that elite tier of non-legendary Pokémon with near-legendary stats.
What makes Dragapult stand out is its flexibility. Its 120 Attack lets it hit hard with physical moves, but a solid 100 Special Attack means special sets are viable too. It gets great coverage options like Surf, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, and even Solar Beam, while still packing powerful STAB moves like Draco Meteor and Shadow Ball.
Pecharunt Is a Mythical Poison/Ghost-Type Pokémon
Pecharunt is one of Pokémon’s most clever designs.Image via Nintendo
Pecharunt is a mythical Poison/Ghost Pokémon that was introduced in the finale of the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet expansion pass with a cool event. Its base stat total is 600, but the spread is unusual: every stat sits at 88 except Defense, which jumps all the way to 160. That makes Pecharunt especially good at soaking up physical hits.
The Pokémon also comes with a signature ability and move that lean into its Poison side, Poison Puppeteer, which causes any Pokémon poisoned by Pecharunt’s moves to become confused as well. Its signature move, Malignant Chain, is a strong Poison-type special attack with a chance to badly poison the target.
Giratina Is the Terrifying, Original Ghost/Dragon-Type Pokémon
Giratina is floating ominously in the sky in Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages.Image via The Pokemon Company
Before Dragapult, there was the legendary Giratina. It’s a Ghost/Dragon-type Pokémon with a base stat total of 680. It has two forms: Altered Forme and Origin Forme. In terms of stats, they’re nearly identical. Altered Forme has higher Defense and Special Defense, while Origin Forme has higher Attack and Special Attack.
The rest of its stats are the same regardless of form, and it boasts a large HP stat of 150. It also has a powerful signature Ghost-type move, Shadow Force, a hard-hitting physical Ghost attack that takes two turns. On the first turn, Giratina vanishes and can’t be hit normally. On the second, it reappears and deals damage.
Lunala Is the Legendary Ghost Final Evolution of Cosmog
Lunala floating in front of the full moon in the Pokémon anime.Image via OLM
Lunala is special because it’s a legendary Pokémon that evolves from another Pokémon, Cosmoem. Cosmog evolves into Cosmoem, then either Solgaleo in Pokémon Sun or Lunala in Pokémon Moon. Lunala is a Psychic/Ghost-type Pokémon with a base stat total of 680. It has high HP and Special Attack stats of 137, making it strong and bulky.
Its signature Ghost-type move, Moongeist Beam, deals serious damage and also ignores the target’s ability. This means it can bypass any ability that would stop it from hitting the intended target. Lunala also has access to Wide Guard, making it great for double battles.
Calyrex (Shadow Rider) Is the Strongest Ghost Pokémon in Competitive VGC
Shadow Rider Calyrex’s in-game model in Pokemon Sword & Shield’s Crown Tundra DLC.Image via Game Freak
Calyrex (Shadow Rider) has been one of the strongest Pokémon in the game since it was introduced in the Crown Tundra DLC in Pokémon Sword and Shield. It’s a Psychic/Ghost-type with a base stat total of 680. It has a Special Attack of 165 and Speed of 150, making it great for offense.
In double battles and VGC, Calyrex shines thanks to its signature move, Astral Barrage. This high-damage Ghost-type attack hits both targets in double battles. Its unique ability, Grim Neigh, raises its Special Attack every time it KOs an opponent. That ability, combined with its already high offensive stats, makes it the strongest Ghost-type Pokémon currently in the mainline Pokémon games.
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