There are plenty of trends that take over the anime and video game industries, but it’s truly incredible to consider the growth that’s been experienced by the Pokémon franchise. The quirky RPG series has made major strides to tackle nearly every form of media and dominate the marketplace with an incredibly cute and addictive world. Significant changes have taken place since Pokémon’s debut, whether it’s through the development of spin-off titles or the ways in which Pokémon themselves have changed since the first generation of titles.
There are now nearly 1000 unique Pokémon designs, which means that it’s only natural that some broader risks are taken with their look and feel. Some highly unconventional Pokémon have entered the canon and there are a special breed of spooky creatures that are the perfect Pokémon to celebrate Halloween.
10 Golbat And His Batty Ways Make For The Perfect Halloween Fright
It’s easy to connect the dots between certain Pokémon and Halloween since the spooky holiday already has a number of creatures that are naturally associated with it, like bats. Golbat is a Flying- and Poison-Type Pokémon that’s not the only bat Pokémon, but he’s definitely the most intimidating of the lot. The Generation I Pokémon evolves Zubat’s design with a disturbing open mouth that’s almost like a black hole of terror. Golbat brings Halloween to mind, whether he’s in battle or simply on display in his natural habitat.
9 Cacturne’s Creepy Demeanor Turns The Pokémon Into A Natural Predator
Scarecrows have turned into oddly frightening iconography that are frequently associated with Halloween and other creepy times of the year. There are no explicit scarecrow Pokémon, but Cacturne bears the closest resemblance, yet combines the idea with something as uncomfortable as a cactus. Cacturne is a Grass- and Dark-type Pokémon from Generation III’s Hoenn region. Cacturne always looks like he has a mischievous glint in his eye and his quill-covered body makes him abrasive to touch. It’s not hard to imagine Cacturne frightening plenty of Pokémon trainers during Halloween.
8 Claydol’s Unnerving And Minimalist Design Leaves Much To The Imagination
One of the most incredible things about Pokémon is that some of them are tens of thousands of years old and correspond to primitive society. There are countless mysteries that surround ancient Pokémon, many of which naturally fit into the enigmatic nature of Halloween.
Claydol first shows up in Generation III and the Psychic- and Ground-Type Pokémon is said to be made out of clay, which gained life through mysterious rays. Claydol feels like it carries dark secrets and its ties to the past and strange markings aren’t out of place on Halloween.
7 Gourgeist Isn’t A Pokémon That Anyone Should Try To Practice Pumpkin Carving On
There are plenty of different ways to celebrate Halloween, but one of the most popular customs involves the carving of pumpkins into creative jack-o-lanterns. There’s practically a Pokémon for every kind of animal and plant, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a pumpkin Pokémon exists. Generation VI’s Kalos region is the home to Gourgeist, a foreboding Ghost- and Grass-Type that immediately brings Halloween to mind. Gourgeist evolves from Pumpkaboo, who is also holiday appropriate, but Gourgeist is the scarier of the two Pokémon and seems to relish his ghost status.
6 Mimikyu Celebrates The Holiday With A Creepy Costume That It Won’t Abandon
Many different Pokémon have become fan favorites over the years, but Pikachu’s success is undeniable and he’s basically become the mascot for the series. As a result, several Pokémon attempt to copy Pikachu’s design in various ways, whether they’re a part of its evolutionary line or not. The most frightening of these experiments is the Alola region’s Mimikyu. This Ghost- and Fairy-Type Pokémon looks like a low-budget Pikachu, but it’s actually a disguise that Mimikyu hides beneath. The dark nature of what Mimikyu hides is frightening, but it’s also a Pokémon that’s ready to trick-or-treat.
5 Cofagrigus Brings An Ancient Curse To The Pokémon World
Evil mummies are a horror trope that have fallen in popularity within modern times, but they have a deep connection to the genre. Universal’s The Mummy is one of their classic monsters and so it’s quite unnerving to have a Pokémon that embraces this ancient variety of evil.
Yamask is a frightening Ghost-Type Pokémon from Generation V, but its evolved form, Cofagrigus, effectively adds to the equation. The Pokémon resembles a possessed sarcophagus that’s come to life, complete with elongated spirit hands that want to grab anyone within arm’s reach.
4 Hatterene Tows The Line Between Elegance And Frightening With Her Witchy Look
Hatterene is one of the most recent Pokémon to enter the series and she’s a Psychic- and Fairy-Type creature who first shows up in Generation VIII’s Galar territory. Hatterene is a curious Pokémon since she possesses vast psychic abilities and her appearance clearly draws inspiration from a witch. Hatterene isn’t prone to mischief like many of these other Pokémon, but she seems like the type to be prominent on Halloween, whether as a guardian who takes out other Pokémon to trick-or-treat or perhaps even as a Pokémon costume.
3 Phantump Is A Wandering Spirit Who Easily Invokes Fear
Ghost Pokémon cover a broad spectrum and some of them mask their full ferocity with a calming appearance. Generation VI’s Phantump is a Ghost- and Grass-Type Pokémon that’s frequently positioned as a counterpoint to Pumpkaboo, but has more sinister intentions. Phantump is tiny in size and may not look like much, but it lures in victims with a siren call that sounds like a lost child. This element of deception makes Phantump considerably more of a fright and a Pokémon that could cause serious mayhem on Halloween.
2 Darkrai Is A Dark Mythical Pokémon With Sinister Implications
Some of the most intimidating Pokémon to enter the canon are the Legendary and Mythical behemoths that are often centerpieces in the various Pokémon feature films. These Pokémon are often shown to have the strength to destroy the world or inflict comparable damage. Darkrai is a Dark-type Mythical Pokémon out of the Sinnoh region who thrives on negativity. The Pokémon’s aggressive design and demeanor make it clear that Darkrai isn’t a creature to mess around with, but it’s also able to lull people to sleep and plant terrifying nightmares in their heads.
1 Gengar’s Evolutionary Line Are Pokémon’s Trademark Ghost Trio
The Pokémon series has grown in astronomical ways since the original games in the series, but it’s a testament to their creativity that many of the Generation I Pokémon are still considered to be fan favorites. Ghost- and Dark-type Pokémon have really upped their game in modern Pokémon games, but it’s impossible to discuss these types of creatures without mentioning Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar from the Kanto region. This original trio of Ghost Pokémon remains iconic. They all resemble different stereotypical depictions of evil spirits, but their mischievous nature makes them Pokémon that would love to misbehave on Halloween.