Pokémon Has a Spooky Side: The 5 Creepiest Pokédex Entries

Pokémon is renowned for its child-friendly nature, with all its mainline games earning an E for Everyone rating, inviting young players into its vibrant universe. While beloved characters like Pikachu and Eevee often take the spotlight, some Pokémon delve into darker themes. Their Pokédex entries reveal tales of kidnappings and even brutal murders, adding a surprising layer of horror to the franchise. These eerie stories are not just limited to the games; they occasionally surface in other Pokémon media as well.

IGN has compiled a list of what we consider the five creepiest Pokédex entries, though this is by no means exhaustive. Notable mentions include Mimikyu, a Pokémon so unsettling that it disguises itself as Pikachu to make friends, all while plotting the downfall of the franchise's mascot. Haunter, known for lurking in dark alleys and causing death with a mere lick, and Hypno, who in the Pokémon children's cartoon, hypnotizes and kidnaps children to feed on their dreams, also deserve recognition for their chilling narratives.

It was finally Friday, and the young girl from Floaroma Town couldn't contain her excitement. She woke up early, rushed through breakfast, eager to start her weekend of flower picking. It was her favorite time of year, and she longed for school to end so she could spend the next two days laughing and smiling with her parents. She sprinted to the Valley Windworks, known for its unique flowers not found in town. Although she knew it was risky to venture there without a Pokémon, she considered it the safest, most serene spot in Sinnoh.

Upon arrival, she was greeted by a sea of pink, yellow, and red flowers, but her attention was soon captured by something even more enchanting: a shimmering purple balloon gently floating in the breeze. Mesmerized, she ran over and grabbed its string, only to be startled when the balloon turned to face her. It had a large yellow cross on its face and two empty black eyes. As it tugged gently, the girl followed, giggling. The balloon pulled her further and higher, the string wrapping around her wrist. The child was light and gentle, so the balloon continued to pull, leading her further and higher until she was never seen again.

Drifloon, the Balloon Pokémon, introduces a chilling twist to the beloved children's toy. While some of its Pokédex entries are relatively benign, noting it's "a Pokémon formed by the spirits of people and Pokémon," others delve into darker territory. "It tugs on the hands of children to steal them away," one entry warns. Another chillingly states, "Any child who mistakes Drifloon for a balloon and holds on to it could wind up missing." A third entry adds, "Its round body is stuffed with souls and expands each time it leads someone away." Drifloon's mysterious appearances in Diamond and Pearl, only on Fridays at the Valley Windworks, add to its eerie allure, transforming curiosity into a haunting mystery.

Banette

The boy's parents were increasingly worried as his fever spiked, his skin turned gray, and his speech became unintelligible. Even the best doctors from Mauville and Slateport were helpless, and his condition worsened daily. Amidst his shivers and cries, he managed to utter a few words: "My doll." Desperate, his parents brought him toy after toy from his collection—Pikachu, Lotad, Skitty, Treecko—but he rejected each one with the last of his strength.

Confused, his parents searched everywhere, finally finding a faded, ragged doll with glowing red eyes and a golden zipper for a mouth under the bed. The mother recognized it as a doll her son had years ago, one she had discarded when they bought him the latest Poké Doll collection from Lilycove's department store. It was damp, damaged, and covered in sharp pins. As the boy reached for it, the doll seemed to stare directly at the mother, who screamed as it leaped from her hands and out the window. To their relief, the boy's condition seemed to improve slightly.

Even Pokémon isn't immune to classic horror tropes. Banette, the Marionette Pokémon, embodies the spirit of Annabelle or Chucky, with an origin story reminiscent of Jessie from Toy Story 2, but with a vengeful twist. "A doll that became a Pokémon over its grudge from being junked. It seeks the child that disowned it," one Pokédex entry reads. Another chillingly notes, "This Pokémon developed from an abandoned doll that amassed a grudge. It is seen in dark alleys." A later entry is even more direct: "It’s a stuffed toy that was thrown away and became possessed, ever searching for the one who threw it away so it can exact its revenge." Banette inflicts harm by acting as an effigy, sticking pins in itself to cause pain to the child. Only by unzipping its wide smile or treating it with love again can its negative energy be alleviated.

Sandygast

It was a perfect summer day on Melemele Island, with residents enjoying Big Wave Beach. Some surfed, others sunbathed, and children built sandcastles. As the sun began to set, most kids headed home, but one boy remained, determined to finish his grand sandcastle. The beach was nearly deserted, but the boy was so focused he didn't notice the movement behind him.

The other sandcastles were shifting, taking on unnatural forms. Their shadows grew against the sunset, enveloping the boy as he turned to look. Behind him stood a Pokémon resembling a sandcastle, but with a gaping mouth and soulless eyes. Assuming all Pokémon were friendly, the boy didn't retreat as it approached. He reached for a red spade stuck in its head, thinking it was offering help. But as he extended his hand, the Pokémon engulfed it. The boy screamed and tried to pull away, but his arm was consumed, and like quicksand, his entire body was slowly absorbed.

Contrary to what one might expect from a sandcastle-themed Pokémon, Sandygast harbors a sinister nature. "If you build sand mounds when you’re playing, destroy them before you go home, or they may get possessed and become Sandygast," one Pokédex entry warns. Another hints at the consequences: "Sandygast mainly inhabits beaches. It takes control of anyone who puts their hand into its mouth, forcing them to make its body bigger." The true horror unfolds when Sandygast evolves into Palossand, whose Pokédex entries reveal, "Palossand is known as the Beach Nightmare. It pulls its prey down into the sand by controlling the sand itself, and then it sucks out their souls." Both Sandygast and Palossand essentially consume children to grow larger and stronger, as confirmed by another entry: "Buried beneath the castle are masses of dried-up bones from those whose vitality it has drained."

Frillish

The busy season had finally ended, and the old woman relished her morning swim in the peaceful waters of Undella Town. She preferred the town without tourists, even if the water was cooler. Having swum from these shores for nearly 70 years, she had no intention of stopping. The waves were choppy that day, but she swam with unexpected vigor. The current carried her further out than usual, but she was too absorbed in her solitude to notice. When she finally turned to see the distant shore, her heart rate quickened upon realizing how far she had drifted.

She tried to swim back, but her aging body needed frequent breaks, and each pause allowed the current to pull her further out. Exhausted, she made no progress. Suddenly, a Pokémon emerged from the water, inches from her face. Initially cautious, she assumed it wanted to help as it moved closer. She wrapped her hands around it, and it did the same to her, allowing her to rest without drifting further. After a few minutes, she thanked the creature and tried to swim the remaining distance, but she couldn't move. Paralyzed, she watched as the Pokémon, with distant eyes, began to submerge, dragging her down with it until they were fully underwater.

Frillish, the Floating Pokémon, conceals a deadly nature behind its simple appearance. It taps into the common fear of the unknown depths of the ocean. "With its thin, veil-like arms wrapped around the body of its opponent, it sinks to the ocean floor," its original Pokédex entry states. Another entry reveals, "Its thin, veil-like arms have tens of thousands of poisonous stingers. They paralyze prey with poison, then drag them down to their lairs, five miles below the surface." Frillish's victims are likely still conscious as they are pulled to their watery graves, fully aware of their impending doom.

Froslass

He knew he shouldn't have ventured out. The mountain was treacherous at night, especially during a blizzard. But he had heard a knock at his door and a woman's cry for help. Living alone at such a high altitude, he felt compelled to search for her. Bundled up, he stepped into the storm, only to be disoriented almost immediately, unable to distinguish up from down or left from right.

Relieved to find a small cave entrance, he ducked inside, hoping to survive the night despite the freezing temperatures. As he lit his lantern, he noticed the cave walls were encased in thick ice, explaining the cold. But as he approached, he realized the ice was unnaturally preserved. Holding up the lantern, he saw his reflection, but it wasn't his face staring back—it was another man's, tall and similar in features, frozen within the ice. Panic set in as he noticed several other bodies suspended in the icy walls. As he turned to flee, an icy Pokémon floated before him. It drew closer, and he backed away until he was pressed against the wall. The Pokémon exhaled a cloudy, frozen breath, and as it enveloped him, he realized he was becoming another decoration in its chilling lair.

Froslass combines elements of the Japanese Yōkai Yuki-onna and the Greek myth of Medusa. "The soul of a woman lost on a snowy mountain possessed an icicle, becoming this Pokémon. The food it most relishes is the souls of men," one Pokédex entry chillingly states. Another entry adds, "It freezes hikers who have come to climb snowy mountains and carries them back to its home. It only goes after men it thinks are handsome." Froslass is known to knock on doors during blizzards, luring or dragging victims to its den, where they are "neatly lined up" as "decorations." The chilling nature of Froslass's actions is truly haunting.