With the two newest entries in the Pokémon series finally being released with a new array of awesome creatures, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet impress with the Paldea Pokédex. This includes a fresh line of Ghost-types included in the game, which range in strength from the rather modest Bramblin to the attention-grabbing and powerful Ceruledge.
However, the most ferocious of the ghostly beings tend to be those that aren’t Dual-Type but Mono-type. After all, having a sole Ghost-type means the Pokémon will have fewer weaknesses and be more effective when countering types like Normal and Fighting. Taking into account each new Ghost-types learnable skills and base stats (BTS), which of them is considered the most formidable of them all?
Bramblin
The least valuable of the new Dual-types is the restless Bramblin, a small tumbleweed Pokémon with rhombic dark eyes and red pupils. The rough stalks of its spherical body are actually dried grass its accumulated from rolling through the land as a soul blown by the wind, unable to pass over to the afterlife.
The Grass/Ghost-type never knows where it’s heading and hates getting wet. With a BTS of 275, it certainly isn’t all that scary for being a Ghost-type, but its 65 Attack isn’t too shabby for an un-evolved pocket monster. Luckily, it evolves into a more useful Pokémon, Brambleghast, by walking with it for two minutes straight.
Gimmighoul
Arguably one of the strangest Pokémon of the new bunch, Gimmighoul hides inside a sturdy treasure chest and is often mistaken for antique. When it senses someone nearby, it ambushes them and controls them, forcing their victim to collect coins.
Gimmighoul might not be the strongest wild Ghost-type Pokémon, but its Chest form reaches a Defense of 70, which is quite impressive for being unevolved. Though it loses much of its Defensive capabilities in Roaming form, its Speed increases massively to 80, landing it a BTS of 300.
Greavard
A fan-favorite new Mono Ghost-type of Scarlet and Violet, Greavard, accompanies Pokémon and their trainers to their unfortunate deaths. Despite its creepy activities, it's still quite an adorable fellow.
The shaggy dog with a candle mounted atop its head waits around in graveyards and sometimes underground, where an unsuspecting victim might play with it and have their life force drained. Having a serrated and hard mouth rather than actual teeth, Greavard is strong enough to shatter bones effortlessly. With both high Attack and Speed stats, it is lives up to its lore, totaling up to 290 BTS.
Annihilape
Legend has it that a Primeape once became so overcome with rage that it outgrew its body and gained much power from no longer being limited by flesh. The creature is shaggy, and each of its punches are filled with a rage that horrifies its target.
Though many fans found the Fight/Ghost-type a disappointing Pokémon since it has no evolution, its stats completely make up for it. With a whopping 115 Attack and 90 Speed, the primate is a force to be reckoned with. Its BTS is 535 and it is the sole Pokémon capable of learning the move Rage Fist, letting its power increase by 50 for every time it is hit during a battle.
Brambleghast
The evolution of Bramblin may not look like much, but it can learn some decently powerful Ghost/Grass-type moves. For example, the move Phantom Force allows Brambleghast to disappear for a turn and inflicts damage once it reappears, while Giga Drain heals it 50% of the damage dealt to its opponent.
The Pokémon is known for using its haunted pieces of bramble to engulf its prey and steal the life energy it needs. Ironically, Brambleghast has surprisingly high 90 Speed, and a whopping 115 Attack. Adding up all of its stats totals to a considerable 480 BTS.
Gholdengo
The humanoid figure comprised of a stack of a thousand gold coins, Gholdengo might not look much like the Ghost part of its Dual-type heritage, but it surely does resemble the Steel-type in its description. One thing is for sure, it is scary powerful for something made purely of coins.
The Pokémon has the ability to make a surfboard of gold and ride on it, a nice upgrade from the largely immobile Chest form of Gimmighoul. Gholdengo not only has a great Special Attack stat of 133 but its signature move (Make It Rain) damage its opponent while lowering their Special Attack, keeping their victim’s money and thoroughly proving its impressive 550 BTS.
Ceruledge
Evolving from Charcadet into a Fire/Ghost-type, Ceruledge is exclusive to Violet and quite the formidable foe. The knight-like Pokémon wields two dark purple, cyan, and pink blades that are born from the grudges of a fallen swordsman.
These spectacular swords leave anything cut by them leaking of life energy, which are then absorbed by the blades to heal it, using its exclusive move Bitter Blade to regain HP. The offensive attacker often goes for the blind spots of its foe and will do anything to win. A Special Defense of 100 and an Attack of 125 proves its mightiness, its BTS accumulating to 525.
Skeledirge
By choosing Fuecoco as their starter, players can already have one of the most overpowered Ghost-types in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. With fire energy equal to 5,400 °F (3,000 °C) wisping out the sides of its huge jaws, it is something to be feared in battle.
The Fire/Ghost crocodile is unexpectedly a singing Pokémon as well, able to use the move Torch Song, increasing its own Special Attack while depleting an opponent's HP. Speaking of, its stats are no laughing matter, having 530 BTS. Its HP, Defense, and Special Attack are all in the 100s, the highest of which being its Special Attack.
Houndstone
The final evolution of Greavyard is the Mono Ghost-type Houndstone, who is the most loyal dog Pokémon ever, that spends a lot of its time snoozing in graveyards. It is said to have been reborn from a lovingly mourned Pokémon that once passed away.
However, this fido has some fight in it, being one of the most powerful Pokémon found in the wild. Equipped with the powerful move Sand Rush, doubling its speed when it's in sand, Houndstone’s incredible power doesn’t stop there. It can learn Last Respects, which is debatably the greatest offensive move ever, since it can gain 50 more points on top of its 488 BTS. Its Attack and Defense both reach 100, its Special Defense just 3 points off doing the same.
Flutter Mane
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Misdreavus might be exclusive to Pokémon Violet, but Flutter Mane is exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet. The ancestor of the famous Ghost-type has a subtle design difference, like red spikes on its head and yellow pupils instead of red, but it is essentially the same.
The Paradox Pokémon is one of the only new Mono Ghost-type in the game, making it especially strong against other Ghost-types and less susceptible to the weaknesses Dual-types face. Its stats are incredible with its Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed all being 135. With a BTS of 570, Flutter Mane makes a perfect addition to any team, if the player is able to find one.