In competitive Pokémon play, Ghost-type Pokémon can be invaluable due to their versatile movepools, high Special Attack or Speed stats, and immunity to Normal- and Fighting-type moves. Some Ghost-types also come with powerful abilities like Levitate or Cursed Body, giving them added utility. Below are some of the best Ghost-type Pokémon for competitive battling, taking into account their stats, abilities, and common strategies used in competitive formats like VGC or Smogon.
1. Gengar
Type: Ghost/Poison
Abilities: Cursed Body, Shadow Tag (Hidden Ability)
Stats: HP 60 / Attack 65 / Defense 60 / Special Attack 130 / Special Defense 75 / Speed 110
Gengar has long been a staple of competitive play due to its excellent Special Attack and Speed stats. Its high Speed allows it to outspeed many threats, and its Special Attack enables it to hit hard with moves like Shadow Ball or Sludge Bomb. Cursed Body, its regular ability, can disable opponents’ moves when they make contact, and with its access to Taunt and Will-O-Wisp, it can disrupt set-up sweepers. Gengar’s Ghost typing grants it immunity to Normal- and Fighting-type moves, which are commonly used in the competitive metagame.
Gengar can also be a great choice in Double Battles, especially with its Hidden Ability, Shadow Tag, allowing it to trap and KO enemies that rely on switching to avoid damage. One of the most common strategies with Gengar is setting up with moves like Taunt or Will-O-Wisp to disable and chip away at opponents, before sweeping with powerful STAB Shadow Ball or Sludge Wave.
2. Aegislash
Type: Ghost/Steel
Abilities: Stance Change
Stats: HP 60 / Attack 50 / Defense 150 / Special Attack 150 / Special Defense 150 / Speed 60
Aegislash is a formidable wall and offensive powerhouse, thanks to its unique ability, Stance Change. This ability allows Aegislash to switch between its Blade Form (offensive) and Shield Form (defensive) during battle. In Blade Form, Aegislash can hit hard with powerful STAB moves like Shadow Ball or Sacred Sword, while in Shield Form, it can tank hits thanks to its high Defense and Special Defense. Its access to King’s Shield, a move that lowers the opponent’s Attack and protects Aegislash, allows it to function as a reliable defensive pivot.
In competitive play, Aegislash can be used as a potent setup mon, with the ability to pressure opponents both offensively and defensively. It can also act as a stallbreaker thanks to its ability to stall out with King’s Shield while boosting its stats. It’s especially effective in Singles, where its versatility can truly shine.
3. Dragapult
Type: Dragon/Ghost
Abilities: Clear Body, Infiltrator
Stats: HP 88 / Attack 120 / Defense 75 / Special Attack 100 / Special Defense 75 / Speed 142
Dragapult is one of the fastest Pokémon in the competitive scene, outpacing most threats and making it an excellent choice for a physical or special attacker. With its Ghost typing, it gains access to powerful moves like Phantom Force, Shadow Ball, and Dragon Darts. Dragapult can also use its high Speed to effectively support teams with moves like U-turn or even Dragon Dance to set up for a late-game sweep.
Its ability, Clear Body, protects it from stat drops, and Infiltrator allows it to bypass Substitute and Light Screen/Reflect, which makes it a potent offensive choice in Double Battles. Dragapult’s versatility in terms of both offensive and defensive moves makes it a top pick in many teams, especially when paired with strong teammates that can cover its weaknesses.
4. Mimikyu
Type: Ghost/Fairy
Abilities: Disguise
Stats: HP 55 / Attack 90 / Defense 80 / Special Attack 50 / Special Defense 105 / Speed 96
Mimikyu is a unique and popular competitive choice due to its ability, Disguise, which allows it to take a free hit without losing HP when it first enters the battlefield. This ability makes Mimikyu a great lead or set-up Pokémon, as it can safely use moves like Swords Dance or Will-O-Wisp without taking damage. Mimikyu’s Ghost/Fairy typing also makes it a strong offensive presence, as it can hit with STAB moves like Shadow Claw or Play Rough.
Mimikyu’s great utility in competitive play comes from its ability to disrupt opponents. Its access to Taunt and its ability to break down walls with its offensive stats makes it a solid choice in many team compositions. Mimikyu is also useful as a late-game cleaner, especially with a Swords Dance set that can sweep weakened teams.
5. Chandelure
Type: Ghost/Fire
Abilities: Flash Fire, Infiltrator
Stats: HP 60 / Attack 55 / Defense 90 / Special Attack 145 / Special Defense 90 / Speed 80
Chandelure is an excellent special attacker with a high Special Attack stat and a unique Ghost/Fire typing. It can hit extremely hard with moves like Shadow Ball and Flamethrower, and it benefits from the ability Flash Fire, which boosts its Fire-type moves when hit by Fire-type attacks. Chandelure also has access to useful utility moves like Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Energy Ball to deal with bulky Water- or Rock-types.
Chandelure’s Ghost typing gives it a great offensive advantage in the current competitive scene, and its ability to hit hard while being relatively bulky makes it an effective choice in both Singles and Doubles. Its unique combination of Fire and Ghost-type moves allows it to hit a wide range of Pokémon for super-effective damage, making it a versatile offensive threat.
6. Golisopod
Type: Bug/Water
Abilities: Emergency Exit
Stats: HP 75 / Attack 125 / Defense 140 / Special Attack 60 / Special Defense 90 / Speed 40
Though primarily a Bug/Water-type, Golisopod has a Ghost-type coverage option in moves like Shadow Claw. Golisopod stands out for its unique ability, Emergency Exit, which forces it to switch out when its HP falls below half. This ability makes it an excellent pivot Pokémon that can take a hit, deal heavy damage with a physical move like First Impression, and then switch out to keep momentum on the team.
While Golisopod is not a traditional Ghost-type in terms of its primary typing, its access to Ghost-type moves combined with its bulk and offensive pressure makes it a great support for teams that require a tanky pivot. It also has access to many utility moves, including Toxic and Leech Life, to wear down opponents.
7. Sableye
Type: Dark/Ghost
Abilities: Keen Eye, Stall, Prankster (Hidden Ability)
Stats: HP 50 / Attack 75 / Defense 75 / Special Attack 65 / Special Defense 65 / Speed 50
Sableye is known for its versatility as a status-inducing support Pokémon. It has a very useful Dark/Ghost typing, which grants it an immunity to Normal- and Psychic-type moves. With its access to Prankster, Sableye can reliably set up status moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, or Foul Play to cripple physical attackers. This ability allows it to support the team by disrupting opponents before they can set up or attack.
While Sableye is not as strong offensively as some of the other Ghost-types, it is a great defensive option that can fit into many team compositions. It also benefits from the rare Dark/Ghost typing, which makes it resistant to several types and immune to several status effects.
Conclusion
Ghost-type Pokémon are an integral part of the competitive scene, with many offering utility, offensive power, and versatile movesets. From fast, offensive sweepers like Gengar and Dragapult to utility-focused support Pokémon like Sableye and Mimikyu, Ghost-types can cover a wide range of roles on a team. Selecting the best Ghost-type for your team depends on your overall strategy, but the Pokémon mentioned above are solid choices for anyone looking to use Ghost-types in competitive play.
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