Complete Guide to Every Ghost Type Pokemon: List & Analysis

So, you want to know about every ghost type Pokemon out there? Smart move. Whether you're filling out your Pokedex, building a killer competitive team, or just love those creepy critters, knowing your ghosts is key. Seriously, ghost types bring some of the wildest abilities and quirks to the table. Immunity to Normal and Fighting moves? That alone changes battles. But there are tons of them now, scattered across nine generations. It's easy to lose track. I remember trying to figure out if Runerigus was worth training for ages. Let's cut through the fog and get you the full lowdown on **every ghost type Pokemon**.

What Makes Ghost Type Pokemon Tick? Beyond Just Being Spooky

Ghost types aren't just cool designs (though, come on, a haunted chandelier? Genius). They have unique battle mechanics. That double immunity? Huge. It shuts down some common strategies right off the bat. They also hit Psychic types super hard and resist Poison and Bug moves. But watch out – Dark and other Ghost moves will wreck them, and Normal/Dark types totally ignore their ghostly tricks. They often come packed with abilities like Levitate (bye-bye Ground moves) or game-changers like Cursed Body or Shadow Shield. And moves? Shadow Ball is basically mandatory, but they get access to wild stuff like Destiny Bond, Trick Room setup, and Will-O-Wisp burns. Knowing these strengths and weaknesses is half the battle when using any ghost type Pokemon.

The Core Strengths: Why Use a Ghost?

• Immunities Galore: Normal and Fighting moves just pass right through them. Perfect switch-ins.
• Psychic Annihilation: STAB Ghost moves hit Psychic types for double damage. Ouch.
• Spinblocking: They block moves like Rapid Spin, keeping your entry hazards down forever. Crucial in competitive.
• Unique Support: Moves like Will-O-Wisp (cripple physical attackers), Trick Room (speed control), Destiny Bond ("if I go down, you're coming with me").
• Weird Abilities: Disguise (Mimikyu saves itself once), Shadow Shield (Lunala takes less at full HP), Cursed Body (randomly disabling moves).

The Shadows Have Weaknesses Too

It's not all sunshine and ectoplasm. Ghosts have glaring downsides:

• Double Weakness: Dark and other Ghost moves hurt. Badly. A strong Crunch or Shadow Ball can one-shot many.
• Normal/Dark Walls: Hisuian Zoroark (Normal/Ghost) hates Dark moves. A pure Dark type like Greninja or Hydreigon laughs at most Ghost attacks.
• Predictability: They often rely on similar movesets. Sometimes they feel a bit one-note compared to other types.
• Frailty: Many popular ghosts (Gengar, Dragapult) hit hard but crumple if hit first. Don't expect them to tank hits like a Snorlax.

Honestly, I used to avoid ghosts because of that Dark weakness. Getting swept by a Bisharp using Knock Off was the worst. But learning when to switch them in safely made all the difference. Practice matters!

The Definitive List: Every Ghost Type Pokemon, Generation by Generation

Alright, down to brass tacks. Here are *all* of them. I've included every evolution stage, where you can typically find them (specific games can vary a bit, especially remakes), their secondary type if they have one, and a super quick highlight. This covers **every ghost type Pokemon** from Kanto to Paldea and beyond.

Ghosts of Kanto (Gen 1): The O.G. Spooks

Gen 1 only gave us these three, but they set the standard. Gengar's Shadow Ball became *the* Ghost move. Finding Gastly in the eerie Lavender Tower as a kid was genuinely spooky! Trading for that Gengar felt like a major achievement back then.

Johto Introductions (Gen 2): Nightmares and Whispers

Just one new ghost? Yep, Misdreavus felt a bit lonely. It needed that Dusk Stone evolution later to really shine. Catching it near the top of Mt. Silver was always a trek.

Hoenn Hauntings (Gen 3): Phantoms and Shadows

Hoenn expanded things nicely. Shedinja is arguably the weirdest ghost type Pokemon ever. Trying to get that evolution right the first time was confusing! Banette's mega evolution with Prankster Destiny Bond was just evil.

Shedinja is cool in theory, but man, stepping on Stealth Rocks or facing anything with Mold Breaker/Typhlosion with Eruption feels like an instant waste of a team slot sometimes. High risk, high reward... mostly high risk.

Sinnoh Specters (Gen 4): Evolution and Legends

Sinnoh went wild! So many iconic ghosts. Getting Spiritomb in DPPt required interacting with 32 other players underground – pure torture before online guides were huge. Giratina remains a terrifying legendary. Rotom's appliance forms are technically Electric plus whatever the appliance is, but its base form is pure Ghost/Electric and counts!

Unova's Unsettling Crew (Gen 5): Relics and Puppets

Gen 5 brought immense creativity. Chandelure immediately became a fan favorite – that Special Attack is no joke. Golurk flying? Unexpectedly awesome. Breeding a competitive Jellicent took me forever; they always seemed to get the wrong ability.

Kalos and Alola Additions (Gens 6 & 7): Phantoms and Nightmares

Kalos and Alola were ghost goldmines. Mimikyu stole everyone's hearts instantly – that Disguise ability is so useful. Hisuian Typhlosion later joined the ranks as Fire/Ghost. Getting a Super Size Pumpkaboo with good IVs was a nightmare. Dhelmise fishing felt endless. Why does Lunala have to be so cool yet so hard to get legitimately?

Galar Ghosts and Hisuian Haunts (Gen 8): Poltergeists and New Forms

Galar and Hisui kept the spooky train rolling. Galarian Corsola's lore is downright depressing. That Runerigus evolution method? Who thought that was a good idea? Trying to get Basculin to evolve in Legends: Arceus nearly drove me mad – 294 recoil damage is nuts! Hisuian Typhlosion is surprisingly chill for a flaming ghost badger.

Honestly, Galarian Corsola and Cursola feel a bit lackluster in battle outside of specific Perish Trap teams. They look fantastic, but their stats leave them overshadowed by other ghosts like Dragapult or even Gengar still.

Paldean Phantoms (Gen 9): New Ghosts and Paradox Past

Paldea delivered! Greavard/Houndstone are instant classics design-wise. Good luck getting those 999 coins for Gholdengo without pulling your hair out; it felt like a grind. Flutter Mane dominated competitive play instantly – that thing is broken. Ceruledge feels like a proper evolution of the Honedge line concept. Poltchageist and Sinistcha are charming additions, though hunting Artisan form is tedious.

I spent way too long hunting for an Artisan Poltchageist in Kitakami. Found two Counterfeit ones and finally gave up. Maybe next playthrough!

Battling with the Best: Top Ghost Type Pokemon for Competitive Play

Knowing **every ghost type Pokemon** is one thing. Knowing which ones actually dominate battles is another. Based on usage stats (think Smogon tiering and VGC), these ghosts consistently rise to the top. Why? Usually a mix of speed, power, fantastic abilities, or unique utility. This isn't just theory – I've faced (and used) most of these in high ladder matches.

While Lunala is cool, Shadow Shield feels less reliable than, say, Multiscale. It needs that absolute full HP, which is harder to maintain than people think in high-tier play. Necrozma-Dusk-Mane often overshadows it as a Psychic tank.

Ghost Type Pokemon FAQs: Answering Your Spooky Questions

Alright, let's tackle some common things people wonder about when hunting down info on **every ghost type Pokemon**. These pop up all the time in forums and searches.

Ghost Hunting Tips: Practical Advice for Trainers

Finding and training ghosts can be tricky. Here are some hard-won nuggets of wisdom:

• Night Owl: Many ghost types have higher encounter rates at night (in-game night) or in specific dark areas (caves, forests, graveyards). Set your console clock accordingly!
• Item Check: Evolution items are crucial for many ghosts: Dusk Stone (Mismagius, Lampent, Doublade, Chandelure), Reaper Cloth (Dusknoir), Cracked/Chipped Pot (Polteageist), Malicious Armor (Ceruledge), Auspicious Armor (Armarouge), Unremarkable/Masterpiece Teacup (Sinistcha). Know what you need and where to find it.
• Trade Evolutions: Haunter, Dusclops, Phantump, Pumpkaboo, Gurdurr (wait, not ghost!), Polteageist (if using specific pot), Sinistcha (if using specific cup) all need trading to evolve. Find a buddy or use online trade forums.
• Convoluted Methods: Runerigus (49+ damage + walk under arch), Basculegion (294+ recoil damage), Shedinja (spare ball + space). Look these up beforehand to avoid frustration.
• Ability Matters: Levitate makes Gengar and others immune to Ground. Infiltrator (Dragapult) ignores screens. Disguise (Mimikyu) is a free hit. Cursed Body can disable moves. Good As Gold (Gholdengo) blocks status. Choose abilities that suit your battle strategy. Don't just accept the first one you catch!
• Watch the Weakness: Always, always be aware of the Dark and Ghost weakness. Switching a ghost blindly into a Pokemon that commonly carries Crunch or Knock Off (like Krookodile, Greninja, Kingambit) is asking for trouble. Have a plan (like a Fighting type counter) or be ready to sack it.

I lost count of how many times I forgot Runerigus's evolution method and just had Yamask sitting in my party uselessly until I finally Googled it again. Write these weird ones down!

Some ghost evolution methods are just plain bad design. Basculin needing 294 recoil damage feels arbitrary and punitive. It discourages using the Pokemon normally until you're ready to evolve it.

The Enduring Appeal of Ghost Types

From the classic menace of Gengar to the melancholic beauty of Hisuian Typhlosion, the sheer variety within **every ghost type Pokemon** is incredible. They offer unparalleled strategic depth in battles thanks to their unique immunities, diverse movepools, and often quirky abilities. Sure, they have weaknesses like that pesky Dark vulnerability, but mastering when and how to deploy these spectral fighters is incredibly rewarding. Whether you're charmed by Greavard's candle nose, intimidated by Giratina's distortion powers, or love the sheer chaos Mimikyu brings, there's truly a ghost type for everyone.

Hopefully, this deep dive into **every ghost type Pokemon** cleared away the fog. Got a favorite ghost I didn't hype enough? Think I was too harsh on Cursola? Let me know – the world of ghost Pokemon is vast and full of surprises.