Of all the creatures in the Pokemon universe, Ghost-types have the most interesting (and disturbing) backstories. And with that lore comes hauntingly creative designs, from particular Pokemon donning disguises to get attention and others simply stalking and draining their prey's life force.
Pokemon has its fair share of ghoulish monsters. Still, a select few have the potential to scare trainers throughout the land thanks to their fantastically eerie designs. Some were founded in the series' roots, while others have only recently been discovered in Paldea. Wherever they call home, these Pokemon still manage to haunt trainers incessantly.
10 Haunter
Haunter is arguably the most ghostly out of its evolution line, with the most haunting name (literally). It's a simple design at first glance, but looking deeper into Haunter's Pokedex entries, trainers will soon discover that what looks like fur is a gaseous body like Ghastly.
Another terrifying addition to Haunter's design is its incredibly long tongue, which "saps the victim's life," according to its Pokedex entry in Pokemon Yellow. When it's not absorbing the essence of Pokemon and humans, it likes to lurk in the shadows, "silently stalking its next victim," according to its Pokedex entry in Pokemon Gold.
9 Shuppet
Out of all the Ghost-types, Shuppet's design is the most traditional design in that it looks like a Halloween costume. However, Shuppet's appearance twists this slightly by swapping the white sheet for dark purple with large, piercing eyes. The Pokemon's name suggests that it's actually a puppet and is described as such in the Pokedex.
Shuppet could potentially be inspired by the Teru Teru Bozu, known as "Japanese rain-prevention dolls," according to Savvy Tokyo. These are made with white tissue paper or cloth and are hung outside windows to herald sunny weather. Shuppet's Pokedex entries aren't nearly as optimistic, however. According to its entry in Pokemon Sapphire, it is made of pure vengeance. It relishes in "feeding on dark emotions" and will "roam through cities in search of grudges that taint people."
8 Mimikyu
Despite its dual typing as a Ghost/Fairy-type, Mimikyu looks more ghostlike. Particularly when players realize that the Pokemon is wearing a disguise to receive attention. As described in its Pokedex entry in Pokemon Moon, Mimikyu "conceals its terrifying appearance beneath an old rag so it can get closer to humans and other Pokemon."
Mimikyu's Fairy-typing may be inspired by the Bugul Noz, a "fairy spirit destined to now live an independent existence" due to its hideous appearance.
7 Duskull
Instead of resembling a ghost, Duskull takes inspiration from the Grim Reaper with its pale gray body and the skull on its face. This Pokemon can only evolve when holding a Reaper Cloth while being traded, lending to its design.
In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it's believed that the "children of Hisui all begin to behave once they've been told the story of how this Pokemon roams about before the witching hour to spirit away misbehaving children." Duskull may also be partly inspired by the Hitodama, a floating human soul in Japanese folklore that looks like a ball of flame.
6 Phantump
Phantump is one of the cutest ghosts in the Pokemon universe, a spirit taking the form of a little tree stump. There's a possibility that this Pokemon is based on the Kodama, spirits in Japanese folklore that inhabit trees. However innocent that may seem, its Pokedex entries paint an entirely different (and more depressing) picture.
According to Pokemon Y, the spirit of Phantump is that of a child "who died while lost in the forest." This information is further supported in Pokemon Sword, where Phantump's Pokedex entry adds that the child's spirit possessed a lone tree stump, "causing the spirit's rebirth of this Pokemon."
5 Basculegion
Introduced in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Basculegion evolves from a White-Striped Basculin after losing at least 294 HP from recoil damage. Essentially, it must die before becoming a much more powerful form. Basculegion has a cool design, with spirit-like patterns emanating from its scales.
Like many ghost Pokemon, there is a sad backstory for why this evolution occurs. According to its Pokedex entry, Basculegion "clads itself in the souls of comrades that perished before fulfilling their goals of journeying upstream."
4 Polteageist
First appearing in Pokemon Sword and Shield, Polteageist is a very stereotypically British Pokemon in that a spirit possesses a teapot. The poltergeist takes over the liquid from within, further clarified in Pokemon Scarlet. "The tea that composes Polteageist's body has a distinct and enjoyable flavor," it reads. "Drinking too much, however, can be fatal."
Another unique aspect of Polteageist's design is that trainers can find a Phony or Antique form of the teapot depending on whether they find a Cracked or Chipped pot when evolving Sinistea.
3 Cursola
Much like coral reefs in the real world, Corsola has been affected by climate change in Galar. This is exemplified by its evolution Cursola, a Pokemon that surrounds itself with ectoplasm to protect its "core spirit," according to its Pokedex entry in Pokemon Sword.
Its white and gray color palette represents the bleaching of coral, which happens when coral is "stressed by changes in condition such as temperature, light, or nutrients," according to the National Ocean Service. This causes the coral to expel "symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white," much like Cursola's ectoplasm.
2 Hisuian Zoroark
The ancient land of Hisui introduced a variety of variants of Pokemon, including that of Zoroark. Its trickster personality still somewhat shines, but it's taken on a ghostly facade and very clearly resembles the traditional Kitsune mask - from its white fur, red markings, and piercingly yellow eyes.
Its ghostly fur symbolizes "the embodiment of death," according to its Pokedex entry in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and it "attacks its nemeses with bitter energy so intense, it lacerates Zoroark's own body" - evidenced by the red marks on its legs.
1 Annihilape
It's been a long time since the Mankey evolution line got some love. Instead of creating a regional variant in Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet, the land of Paldea introduced trainers to another evolution after Primeape. Annihilape is the latest addition, and it can only evolve from Primeape after using the new move Rage Fist 20 times.
Essentially, Primeape got so angry that it transcended from its physical body to a spiritual form. Annihilape's design choice exemplifies this: the wispy white hair, the red, soulless eyes, and a broken shackle on its arm.