The Pokémon franchise might seem like it’s just for kids, but true fans know tons of hair-raising lore that is anything but childish.
The Ghost-type category is particularly dark, with plenty of Pokedex entries explaining all the ways that a seemingly innocent Drifblim or charming Chandelure is just waiting for the right moment to steal your soul.
While not every spooky shiny is a winner (*cough cough* Misdreavus), GameFreak pulled out all the stops for others.
Here are a few of my absolute favorites:
13. Trevenant
Move over, Ents from Lord of the Rings, there’s a new horrifying death tree in town!
Honestly, I’m a sucker for any Ghost-type shiny that turns white.
And Trevenant is no exception.
Not only does this bad-tempered birch get decked out in crisp, burgundy Autumn leaves, but the deep darkness of its eyes and stripes seems to pop against the sharp contrast of color.
It helps amp up the fear of getting devoured by a tree if you so much as think of stepping on an acorn.
12. Chandelure
It’s hard to take something that’s already amazing and make it even better.
But GameFreak has done it again!
The OG coloring for Chandelure has my favorite colors to see in an ombre (blues, violets, and lavenders) all reflected in its ghostly flames.
It’s gorgeous, I love it, but it’s almost too cute.
Given that Chandalure’s whole thing is hypnotizing spirits into being burned up by its flickering flames, I personally feel that those flames should at least be realistic.
Plus if shiny Chadelure wanted to, it could disguise itself as an authentic chandelier, making it even easier to tempt its victims to their doom.
Creepy.
11. Spiritomb
I’m just going to come right out and say it…
The standard version of Spiritomb looks like someone got a little seasick over the side of the S.S. Anne.
The weird, purple-brown cluster of fog studded with strange green chunks isn’t appealing at all.
The shiny version, on the other hand, makes for a much nicer look.
It features a much more pleasant blue with glowing purple and pink orbs.
You might think that a nicer coloring takes away from some of the spookiness, but it’s my theory that the more appealing a Pokémon looks, the more likely it is to lure in someone to haunt.
10. Gourgeist
For Pokefans who think that every day should be Halloween, it doesn’t get any better than shiny Gourgeist.
The Pumpkin Pokémon typically comes in brown, tan, and orange. The body is carved with a jack-o-lantern face that shines in the same yellow as its eyes, giving you the feeling that Gourgeist is truly a hollowed-out gourd.
Shiny Gourgeist swaps out the typical fall neutrals for a ghoulish palate of black, purple, and neon yellow, with glowing eyes to match.
9. Jellicent
While I’m usually not a fan of the green shinies (I’m looking at you, Chansey and Espeon), male Jellicent is the exception!
Jellicent’s coloration is already pretty fun, as it differs based on whether it’s a bright blue boy or a cotton candy pink girl.
The shiny version follows the same pattern, shifting the blue into seafoam green and the pink into lovely lavender.
8. Drifblim
The Blimp Pokémon may seem pretty friendly, at least until you read its Pokedex entry.
That round, balloonish body is actually pumped full of souls. And when its body starts to get a little low on gas, it snatches up people and Pokémon to refill.
Drifblim’s standard color, a deep purple, is more indicative of its spooky tendencies for kidnapping.
But the shiny is even scarier.
Because it’s a lovely sunshiny yellow with pleasant aqua accents, it’d be even more tempting to catch a ride.
7. Rotom
If you want to put the work into shiny hunting, you might as well get the most bang for your buck.
That’s why Rotom is one of the absolute coolest Ghost-type shinies.
Rotom’s hue shifts from the standard orange into a vibrant red, while the electricity changes from blue to yellow, making it even more apparent that this Pokémon has some shocking tricks up its sleeves.
When it moves into one of its appliance motors, that form also reflects the shiny coloring, which means you’re technically getting six different ways to brag about your skills.
6. Palossand
Did you know that black sand beaches exist?
In areas with a lot of active volcanoes, like Hawaii and the Canary Islands, the erosion of volcanic stone and hardened lava creates these spooky shorelines.
So it makes perfect sense that the gritty & ghostly Pallosand has a shiny version that features a noir recolor as a shoutout to Alola’s real-life tropical counterpart.
If Wednesday Addams had to hang out on the beach, there’s no doubt she’d be hanging out with shiny Pallosand and trying to tempt any lurking bullies towards the sandy vortex it uses to suck up life force into its grainy depths.
5. Alolan Marowak
Man oh man.
There are many sad stories to be uncovered in the Pokedex, but the Cubone one has to be the worst.
Cubone’s signature skull helmet came from its deceased mother. It continues to cry in mourning to the point that there are tearstains etched into the bone.
But when Cubone evolves into Marowak, it overcomes the sadness and transforms into a Pokémon with a rugged, hardened spirit.
After such a sad start to life, shiny Alolan Marowak, who clutches its mother’s bones that are still possessed by her restless spirit, deserves to get a tricked-out color revamp.
The swap from dreary brown to an appropriately hardcore black & purple screams, “Don’t mess with me!”
4. Shuppet
It’s said that Shuppet is drawn to feelings of envy and vindictiveness, which might be why its shiny version makes the other Ghost-types majorly jealous.
It’s a pretty simple change, but one that makes a huge difference.
In Shuppet’s standard version, it’s a dull, drab gray.
Sure, it makes sense to color the Pokémon with a design most similar to a traditional ghost with traditional colors.
Still, Pokémon is all about hanging out with fantastical creatures. They’re supposed to be different from anything we’ve seen in the real world.
The shiny version shakes things up by turning Shuppet a lovely shade of teal, perfect for sneaking through graveyards at twilight or stalking through the shadowy woods.
3. Sensu Oricorio
The Dancing Pokémon is another novelty from the Alolan Islands, featuring a lovely bird that sips nectar to transform into three different styles.
One of the most astonishing facts about the Alolan region is that each of the islands is named after a Hawaiian color word:
Melemele means yellow, Akala means pink, Ula’ula means red, and Poni means purple.
You may have even noticed that the different forms of Oricorio can only be found on a particular island… and the island name matches its color scheme!
All three forms are adorable, but the Ghost-type Sensu from Poni Island is particularly gorgeous with a light purple body and soft blue accents.
The shiny version inverts those shades, making the bird look even brighter and more vibrant.
2. Polteageist
There’s just something about Polteageist that is so darn loveable, although it’s a literal ectoplasm that has made a broken teapot its favorite haunt.
Maybe it’s the fact that our world’s version of poltergeists are supposed to be malicious.
But this sweet little friend just wants to tuck itself away in your leftover Earl Grey.
Maybe it’s that it lets trusted trainers taste a tiny sample of rich flavors of its home-brewed concoction.
I think the most likely reason, though, is that the shiny version turns my absolute favorite shade of pink.
Blue is fine, but I can’t get enough of this warm cup of bubblegum pink adorable-ness.
I’d take a shiny “Phony” form over a standard “Authentic” form any day.
1. Mega Gengar
Since Generation I, Gengar has been a top contender for most sinister Pokémon.
Its mischievous nature can cause big-time scares, and the fact that it waits in shadowy corners to steal its victim’s life force is absolutely spine-chilling.
Gengar’s tendency to delight in frightening others, steal all the warmth from the room, and possess people just for kicks explains why some trainers are willing to literally “give up the ghost” out of fear of what this living nightmare might do next.
That being said, it’s no surprise that one of the original franchise favorites gets an eerie reboot with its Mega Shiny, claiming its spot as one of the best Pokémon designs of any generation, ever.
It’s a ridiculously fabulous makeover that is only supported by the fact that Gengar has a pretty basic design.
Instead of the classic dark purple that most Ghost-type Pokémon sport, shiny Mega Gengar goes full white with hot pink ombre tones up its arms and belly.
Even its eyes turn a haunting shade of Fuschia that makes it look incredibly creepy.
This revved-up design certainly isn’t practical when it comes to haunting the shadows.
But I don’t think shiny Mega Gengar needs the cover of nighttime to be a terrifying addition to your Pokémon team.
