Ghost-type Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are some of the coolest we’ve ever seen. But don’t just believe what we say, read our list.
In the Paldea region of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, there are a lot of ghost-type Pokemon. The game’s day-and-night cycle happens fast enough that most players should be able to go hunting for some after dusk at least once every time they sit down in front of their Switch. Some can be found even during the day.
You have a lot of ghostly options to choose from. Which one is the best? We look at statistics, strategies, and a lot of “wow, this one looks cool” to figure out what to do. Just keep in mind that we’re writing the first version of this list before we’ve played any real games against each other, so our opinions will almost certainly change in the future.
Houndstone
Houndstone doesn’t have the best numbers, which is a shame. Even so, it has been moved to the most competitive level, “Uber,” on the popular Pokemon site Smogon, where people play games with Pokemon. What went wrong? And if that’s the case, why is Houndstone dead last on our list?
Last Respects, which is Houndstone’s signature move, is the key to everything. It starts out with only 50 power, but gains another 50 power for every teammate that is knocked out. With the rest of the party already dead, this monstrous attack does 300 damage. Even if most of your party is knocked out in- 8 Ball Pool game, you could still kill monsters with your dog. Outside of multiplayer, it seems less than ideal, though.
Gengar
Gengar is a lot less interesting, so we don’t have as much to say about it. It’s a reliable first-generation ghost that we’d almost call rock-solid if it weren’t the exact opposite. Gengar’s stats are well-balanced, and its 130 Special Attack puts it in a good position to use its Ghost and Poison types.
Players have been talking about Shadow Ball, Nasty Plot, and Substitute move sets for decades (with a fourth ranging from Focus Blast for Fighting coverage to Sludge Bomb for more direct Poison prowess). Gengar is your ghost boy if you want a classic-looking Ghost Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet with few flaws and a tried-and-true method. If you’d rather build your team with new designs that are just as good, we can help.
Ceruledge
As soon as it and Armarouge were shown to the public, Ceruledge became a fan favorite. The Ghost/Fire Ceruledge and the Psychic/Fire Armarouge are both versions-only evolutions of Charcadet. The Ghost/Fire Ceruledge has more physical attacks, while the Psychic/Fire Armarouge has more special attacks. At first glance, a Ghost-type Pokémon that relies so much on its Attack stat seems like a dangerous combination. However, Ceruledge still manages to impress, even though it’s not the best Ghost Pokémon in Paldea.
Connect it to Phantom Force to get a good Same Type Attack Bonus. If you don’t have any Poison-type players on your team, Poison Jab can help. Bitter Blade is Ceruledge’s signature move. It has an attack power of 90 and heals half of the damage it does. If you can find one of these blue boos with the Weak Armor ability, which lowers Defense by one stage but increases Speed by two every time it’s hit, it’s the perfect match.
Gholdengo
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have already shown that Gen 9 is going to be one of the best for ghost-type Pokemon in the series’ history. The fact that there are four more Ghosts we like more than the great Gholdengo, of which three are just as new, is the clincher.
Good as Gold, Gholdengo’s ability, keeps it from being hurt by status conditions. This rodeo gold-hunter never takes a hit that could hurt him. That alone puts it in a league of its own when it comes to defense, even though it doesn’t have many defensive stats. (They’re still pretty good.) A Special Attack of 133 is great for a “normal” Pokemon, but its signature move, Make It Rain, is a special Steel move with 120 base power. The only bad thing about this is that it takes one stage off of Gholdengo’s Special Attack.
Skeledirge
If you chose Fuecoco at the start of Scarlet or Violet, you probably don’t need to raise a Ceruledge unless you really like the way it looks. Skeledirge is Fire/Ghost, but its stat spread is very different, and it can do a lot of different things.
Ideal, you’ll have a Quiet Skeledirge for a boost to Special Attack at the cost of Speed, since Speed is easily Skeledirge’s worst trait. Even if you’re not playing online, you might want to keep two Fire-type moves on Skelly instead of just one, which is how things are usually done. The base power of Torch Song is 80, but it boosts Skeledirge’s Special Attack. Using that boost with Overheat, which lowers Special Attack, can make a nice rhythm.
Annihilape
The Fighting/Ghost-type Annihilape was a real surprise, wasn’t it? Since Red & Blue, Mankey and its evolved form, Primeape, have been around. Since then, there have been so many more monkey-like creatures that we would never have thought Primeape would get a new evolution in 2022.
But now we’re here, and Annihilape comes through. When compared to real powerhouses, 535 base stats might not sound like much, but the spread is good. The only weak stat here is Special Attack, so it can take a few hits and use its high Attack to deal some knockout blows. Rage Fist, which you have to use 20 times as a Primeape to evolve, can be safely replaced with a more powerful Ghost attack, except in competitive battles.
Dragapult
The fear of Galar is back as one of the best Ghost-types for the second time in a row. Dragapult has been one of the most consistent Sword & Shield players in online challenges and big tournaments. The Dragon/Ghost is very fast, with a Speed of 142 and an Attack of 120. Even so, the Choice Specs item can raise its Special Attack from 100 to 150, but it can only be used on its first move.
That is not as bad as it sounds. You’ll be going in and out of sites a lot online. Draco Meteor is just too good to pass up, and since it depends on your special move, you’ll want to show off your Choice Specs. Shadow Ball is your move for ghosts. Dragapult can learn a nice variety of moves. Smogon’s most popular set often suggests one or two of Hydro Pump, Flamethrower, and Thunder, depending on what your team needs.
Flutter Mane
Flutter Mane is a threat, and Smogon has already banned it to the status of Uber.
And unlike Houndstone, that doesn’t come down to an ability. It’s all about what this Pokemon stands for. It has stats that are different from anything we’ve seen before. Its HP, Attack, and Defense are all 55, which is a terrible score. But the other three make up for it at 135 each: Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. We’re talking about something that can move quickly, kill, and last a long time.
But Flutter Mane also has a secret weapon. In bright sunlight, the process of protosynthesis automatically makes Flutter Mane’s Special Attack stronger. With Sunny Day set up, 135 becomes just north of 200, and all of a sudden, Flutter Mane is the Grim Reaper.
