Pokémon is one of the most family-friendly media franchises in the world, boasting a cast of some of the cutest creatures in gaming history while championing themes of friendship and acceptance that children and adults alike can appreciate. However, the franchise has never turned down a chance to explore the darker side of its almost-utopian setting, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's newest contribution to the Pokédex is a fitting continuation of its scariest trend.

Greavard, a dog-like Ghost-type Pokémon introduced in the latest of Scarlet and Violet's excellent nature documentary-inspired trailers, is an adorable creature with a deadly secret that puts the lives of its would-be trainers in grave danger. It's also the latest in a long line of Pocket Monsters whose in-game lore paints the world of Pokémon in a much more sinister light.

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Scarlet and Violet's Greavard Is a Soul-Stealing Puppy Pokémon

Anime Pokemon Poketoon Gengar

Appropriately christened the Ghost Dog Pokémon, Greavard is a small, scruffy Pokémon that bears a striking resemblance to a sheepdog. While Greavard prefers to spend most of its time resting underground, Greavard will happily reveal itself to any passing human, as it's a lonely Pokémon who greatly enjoys their company. Unfortunately, Greavard also possesses the ability to passively absorb the life energy of living creatures, with Greavard's debut trailer featuring the oblivious ethereal canine sucking the life out of a member of Naranja Academy's Ghost-type Pokémon Club.

Although Greavard's biography on the official Pokémon Scarlet & Violet website makes it clear that it isn't intentionally harming the people that it's so eager to befriend, it wouldn't be the first time that a Pokémon has been responsible for injuring or even killing humans. As early as Pokémon Red & Blue, the series has implied that certain species of Pokémon have no qualms about inflicting harm on humans, with Ghost and Dark-type Pokémon often having some rather grim Pokédex entries dedicated to describing the horrifying ways that they've terrorized people unfortunate enough to get on their bad sides.

While no mainline Pokémon game has made the threat that certain Pokémon pose to humans a major plot point, the series has grown increasingly comfortable painting Pokémon as unpredictable and occasionally dangerous creatures. Pokémon Legends: Arceus established that the original relationship between people and Pokémon was one of mutual fear and distrust, and more recent Pokémon titles like Pokémon Sun and Moon have given previously harmless Pokémon like Psyduck some rather disturbing Pokédex entries that make them sound like something straight out of Silent Hill.

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Plenty of Pokémon Already Sound Like They Belong In a Horror Game

Pokemon Ghost Banette Puppetry

With the franchise's primary demographic being made up of younger children, it's highly unlikely that Game Freak and Nintendo would design and publish a Pokémon game that delves into the realm of horror. However, older fans of the series have expressed their appreciation for more macabre Pokémon like Gengar through some rather impressive pieces of fan art, proving that there are Pokémon fans who would probably enjoy a game that presents Pokémon in a more menacing light. With Pokémon like Banette and Drifloon being affiliated with the disappearance of children, there is a strong in-universe blueprint for a Pokémon game where the Pokémon are trying to catch the player, not the other way around.

While many veteran Pokémon fans have complained about the series' apparent reluctance to grow beyond its child-friendly roots, the existence of Pokémon like Greavard proves that Game Freak is willing to embrace the darker aspects of the Pokémon universe. With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet set to launch on November 18, fans will soon be able to catch the series' latest piece of nightmare fuel.