Ghost Type Pokemon
Ghost type Pokemon get two free immunities to Normal and Fighting moves, plus they can never be trapped. On offense, Ghost hits 14 types neutrally, resisted only by Dark and blocked by Normal.
How Ghost Performs in Battle
See how Ghost's natural immunities work, what attacks hit Ghost super effectively, and how Ghost moves hit on offense.
Ghost Type Pokemon Weakness
- Ghost (2×): Ghost attacks deal double damage to other Ghost Pokemon. Mirror matches often come down to Speed tiers and priority moves like Shadow Sneak.
- Dark (2×): Dark attacks like Knock Off, Crunch, and Sucker Punch deal super-effective damage while removing held items and punishing offensive setup.
Defensive Resistances & Immunities
- Dual Immunities (0×): Ghost Pokemon take zero damage from Normal and Fighting attacks. This allows safe switch-ins against powerful physical attackers relying on Close Combat or Body Slam.
- Core Resistances (0.5×): Ghost resists Poison and Bug attacks, reducing incoming chip damage from hazards and pivoting moves like U-turn.
Offensive Coverage
- Super Effective on Ghost and Psychic (2×): Ghost attacks deal double damage to Ghost and Psychic Pokemon, threatening premier special sweepers and defensive walls.
- Wide Neutral Coverage: Ghost moves hit 14 single types for neutral (1x) damage. Only Dark resists Ghost attacks (0.5x), and Normal is immune (0x).
- Unchecked Special Damage: With Steel losing its Ghost resistance in Generation 6, attacks like Shadow Ball and Astral Barrage provide near-unresisted offensive progress.
Ghost Type Battle Mechanics
Trapping immunity, how Curse changes for Ghost types, and core battle mechanics.
Starting in Generation 6, Ghost Pokemon gained an inherent immunity to all trapping moves and abilities. They cannot be trapped by Shadow Tag, Arena Trap, Magnet Pull, Mean Look, Block, or Infestation. Ghost Pokemon can always switch out freely and are guaranteed to flee from wild battles on the first attempt regardless of Speed.
In Generations 2 through 5, Steel was one of two types that resisted Ghost attacks. Generation 6 removed Steel's resistance to Ghost and Dark, leaving Dark as the only type that resists Ghost damage. This mechanical balance change turned Ghost into one of the most reliable offensive coverage types in competitive Pokemon.
Ghost Pokemon access unique tactical moves with distinct mechanics. When a Ghost Pokemon uses Curse, it cuts half its maximum HP to inflict a non-clearing curse that drains 25% of the opponent's max HP each turn. Moves like Will-O-Wisp halve incoming physical Attack, while Hex doubles in power against burned or paralyzed targets.
All 17 Ghost Dual Type Combinations
Ghost combines with 16 existing types, with Ghost and Rock remaining the only unused pairing. Review concrete immunities, resistances, and 4× vulnerabilities across every pairing.
Zoroark Hisui, Zorua Hisui
Chandelure, Skeledirge, Ceruledge
Jellicent, Basculegion
Trevenant, Decidueye, Sinistcha
Rotom
Froslass
Marshadow, Annihilape
Gengar, Pecharunt, Haunter
Golurk, Palossand, Runerigus
Drifblim, Oricorio Sensu, Drifloon
Lunala, Hoopa, Calyrex Shadow
Shedinja
Dragapult, Giratina Altered, Dreepy
Gholdengo, Aegislash Shield, Honedge
Sableye, Spiritomb
Flutter Mane, Mimikyu
Ghost Type Pokemon Base Stat Rankings
Ranked by Base Stat Total (BST) for standard species. Giratina Altered and Lunala share the top spot at 680 BST, followed by a four-way tie at 600 BST.
All Ghost Type Pokemon List
Browse the complete list of Ghost type Pokemon across all 96 official forms and 65 base species, with live search and stat filters.
Notable Ghost Type Moves
Key damage attacks, setup moves, and tactical options available to Ghost Pokemon.
| Move | Category | Power | Accuracy | Battle Effect & Utility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Ball | Special | 80 | 100% | Standard Special attack with 80 base power. Has a 20% chance to lower the target's Special Defense by one stage (-1). |
| Shadow Sneak | Physical | 40 | 100% | Physical STAB attack operating at +1 priority. Allows Ghost Pokemon to pick off weakened opponents before they can act. |
| Hex | Special | 65 | 100% | Special attack that doubles in power from 65 to 130 if the target has a status condition like Burn or Paralysis. Pairs naturally with Will-O-Wisp. |
| Poltergeist | Physical | 110 | 90% | High-power physical attack that strikes using the target's held item. Fails if the target is not holding a removable or consumable item. |
| Rage Fist | Physical | 50 | 100% | Signature physical move of Annihilape and Primeape. Base power increases by 50 each time the user takes hit damage, stacking up to 350 power across the battle. |
| Astral Barrage | Special | 120 | 100% | Signature move of Shadow Rider Calyrex. Strikes both opposing targets in Double Battles with 120 base power and 100% accuracy with zero negative recoil. |
| Will-O-Wisp | Status | - | 85% | Status move that inflicts a Burn on the target, dealing 1/16 max HP chip damage each turn and cutting their physical Attack stat in half. |
| Curse | Status | - | - | Unique Ghost mechanic. When used by a Ghost Pokemon, cuts 50% of the user's max HP to curse the target, draining 25% of their max HP at the end of every turn. |
Ghost Type Battle Questions
Direct answers to the most common questions about Ghost Pokemon.
Ghost type Pokemon are weak to Ghost and Dark moves. Both types deal 2x super-effective damage against pure Ghost Pokemon. If a Ghost Pokemon also has Psychic typing, such as Lunala or Calyrex Shadow Rider, incoming Ghost and Dark attacks deal 4x damage instead. Defensively, Ghost Pokemon completely negate Normal and Fighting attacks with zero damage taken, and resist Poison and Bug moves.
Dark and Ghost attacks deal super-effective damage against Ghost Pokemon. Dark type Pokemon are the most reliable defensive switch-ins because they resist Ghost attacks and strike back with STAB moves like Knock Off and Crunch. Normal type Pokemon are completely immune to Ghost attacks, though they cannot hit Ghost Pokemon with Normal moves in return without Foresight or Scrappy.
By Base Stat Total, Giratina Altered and Lunala lead all standard species tied at 680 BST, alongside the battle form Calyrex Shadow Rider. In standard competitive formats, Gholdengo, Flutter Mane, Dragapult, and Annihilape are top choices due to outstanding Speed tiers, strong offensive stats, and game-changing abilities like Good as Gold and Protosynthesis.
Major Ghost type legendary Pokemon include Giratina (Altered and Origin Formes), Lunala, Dawn Wings Necrozma, and Shadow Rider Calyrex. Sub-legendary and Mythical species include Spectrier, Marshadow, Hoopa Confined, and Pecharunt. Flutter Mane is an Ancient Paradox Pokemon and Blacephalon is an Ultra Beast.
For raid battles and PvP in Pokemon GO, top Ghost type Pokemon include Mega Gengar, Shadow Chandelure, Dawn Wings Necrozma, and Origin Forme Giratina deal top-tier ghost damage. For Master League PvP, Origin Forme and Altered Forme Giratina remain dominant forces due to outstanding bulk and fast energy generation from Shadow Claw. Skeledirge and Trevenant are also top picks in Ultra and Great League.
In Generation 1 (Red, Blue, and Yellow), the Gastly family was the only Ghost line in the entire game: Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar. All three carried dual Ghost and Poison typing. Agatha of the Indigo Plateau Elite Four was the original Ghost specialist, using two Gengars, Haunter, Golbat, and Arbok.
In Pokemon cards (TCG), Ghost type Pokemon are categorized under the Psychic energy type, represented by the purple eye symbol. Ghost cards use Psychic Energy for their attacks and frequently feature tactical disruption, damage counter placement, and status effects rather than simple direct attacks.