At one end of the Pokémon character design spectrum, you have some of the cutest little guys to have ever graced our screens. On the other, you have pure, unapologetic nightmare fuel. As we approach Halloween, it seems only fitting that we take a look at the latter, right? Okay, perhaps delving into the complete horrors of the Pokédex would be stretching things too far (and we have already considered which ‘mon would be the tastiest in the past if you’re really after some horror), but spookiest… now that’s another question entirely.
These guys are not necessarily the most terrifying to look at (you won’t find any Guzzlord, Mawile, or Machamp in his black little pants here) nor are they the ones with objectively the most worrying abilities (sorry, Mr. Mime. And yep, you too, Malamar), no. These are just the spookiest out there — those who embody all things Halloween making them, yes, pretty scary, but also a little cute.
We have compiled 13 — to keep the scares coming, of course — of the spookiest Pokémon and have given them a spooky rating out of 10 for accompaniment. Our scores are based on objective sets of hard data including how much we want to hug it and how much it has the potential to keep us up at night. Proper scientific stuff, of course.
13. Zubat
Debut: Pokémon Red & Blue
Zubat is by no means the scariest Pokémon out there (even if walking through a cave without a Repel active can be a pretty heart-pounding experience) but we wouldn’t be able to discuss the spookiest ‘mon without throwing this little guy in there. It’s Halloween, so there has to be bats. It just makes sense!
Spooky rating: 4/10
12. Greavard
Debut: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Yes, Greavard is not actually all that scary (just look at that happy little face) but by name alone, this pretty pup is one of Pokémon’s spookiest. If we really want to make things scarier, let’s imagine him as pictured in Scarlet & Violet’s buffering game engine, ooOoOoooOo.
Spooky rating: 4/10
11. Sableye
Debut: Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire
Some of the spookiest creatures could be identified by silhouette alone — bats, spiders, snakes — but Sableye is one of those that only gets worse with added detail. It is low-key adorable, but those are diamonds in its eyes, and the unwanted throwback to Coraline (the 2002 novela or the 2009 movie — you’re pick) is enough to warrant a mention on this list.
Spooky rating: 6/10
10. Murkrow
Debut: Pokémon Gold & Silver
Say what you like, crows are spooky. The fact that Murkrow looks like somebody who had forgotten that the Halloween party was fancy dress until they were five minutes away from leaving the house only adds to it. We love a slap-dash outfit, and the last-minute witch’s nose and hat make this design the queen of them all.
Spooky rating: 6/10
9. Chandelure
Debut: Pokémon Black & White
Chandelure has the spooky season look pretty much nailed. It’s not particularly cuddly, nor is it particularly scary, but it is said to burn its opponent’s spirits and leave the bodies behind, so you’d probably think twice before toasting your marshmallows on it.
Spooky rating: 7/10
8. Gengar
Debut: Pokémon Red & Blue
You think of spooky Pokémon and Gengar has to be up there, right? Surely this is the OG of them all, the benchmark that all other catchable spookémon should strive to be. Is its evolution, Haunter, objectively scarier? Yes. But there’s also a level of cuddleability that Gengar brings to the spooky race which can’t be overlooked.
Spooky rating: 7/10
7. Gourgeist
Debut: Pokémon X & Y
Speaking of cuddleability, this is probably the final entry in the list where we leave the cute-but-spooky realm of Pokémon design and enter the ‘yep, that’s spooky, please get it away from me’ side. Gourgeist is all things Halloween-y embodied in a single Pokémon. You have the pumpkin (which its previous form, Pumpkaboo, brings in droves) and the spooky locks to match, *chef’s kiss*. The Pokémon Y Pokédex entry was always going to up the spooky rating here: “It enwraps its prey in its hairlike arms. It sings joyfully as it observes the suffering of its prey.” Yep, it belongs on the list…
Spooky rating: 7.5/10
6. Phantump
Debut: Pokémon X & Y
Kalos really dished out some spooky plants, didn’t it? Phantump does bring a certain “we have Hollow Knight at home” energy, but that doesn’t make this little Grass/Ghost Type any less spooky. Things get really creepy (treepy) with its evolution, Trevenant, but the ghostly body and wooden-head combo gives off an undoubtedly spooky vibe. Oh, and let’s not forget this Pokémon is literally a tree stump possessed by the spirit of a lost child.
Spooky rating: 7.5/10
5. Banette
Debut: Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire
So the spooky iconography might not be fully on display with Banette, (even though the zipper mouth is undeniably freaky), but canonically being a discarded doll who has gained life from pure grudge energy, that is some top-tier spooky stuff in our books. Don’t let it play with toys or puppets.
Spooky rating: 8/10
4. Cofagrigus
Debut: Pokémon Black & White
Now we enter the pure nightmare fuel section. We originally had Yamask in place of its evolution, but the spooky status of the sarcophagus combined with those pull-your-toes-back-under-the-covers gangly arms made Cofagrigus the more obvious choice. Truly, one of the creepier Pokémon designs out there. Did you know it could walk on its back and crawl? We certainly didn’t.
Spooky rating: 8/10
3. Duskull
Debut: Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire
Duskull