When it comes to the Pokémon franchise, which is generally marketed towards younger audiences, horror doesn't often come to mind. However, some of the almost 900 Pokémon would undeniably be right at home in a horror movie. From their abilities and movesets to their physical appearances, they sow fear in the hearts of trainers and Pokémon alike.
Although some of these Pokémon may appear harmless and non-threatening on the surface, their Pokédex entries and portrayals in the anime tell a substantially different story. Move aside Jason Voorhees and Michael Meyers; these are 1o Pokémon that belong in a horror movie.
10 Phantump Are The Spirits Of Lost Children
Introduced in the sixth generation Pokémon games, Phantump are deceptively terrifying ghost Pokémon. The games reveal that Phantump are formed when a lost or lonely spirit inhabits a tree stump.
If the idea of a haunted tree stump wasn't scary enough, Phantump become even more frightening upon further examination. According to Pokémon lore, Phantump are actually the spirits of children who died lost and alone in the forest. Not only that, but their cries are said to sound like the helpless cry of a lost child.
9 Palossand Leave A Wake of Pokémon Bones in Their Path
When it comes to Palossand, a ghost-type Pokémon from Sun & Shield, fans may be wondering, "what's so scary about a sandcastle?" Imagine taking your family on vacation to the beach, when all of a sudden grains of sand start controlling you, forcing you to build a giant sandcastle bigger than a building.
Then, suddenly you realize your favorite Pokémon is missing. All that's left is a trail of bones that begin to spawn new Sandygast from the soul of your Pokémon. That, in a nutshell, is a Palossand.
8 Just Looking At A Mimikyu's Real Form Can Result In Death
Considering Mimikyu's real appearance was so frightening that it killed Meowth from shock, it should come as little surprise that this Pokémon would feel right at home in a horror movie. Like Palossand, Mimikyu made their debut in the seventh generation Pokémon games and can change their appearance when attacked.
As a result of their horrifying appearance, Mimikyu are always covered, so no one actually knows what they really look like, aside from their haunting, glowing eyes. Even more terrifyingly, Mimikyu will seek vengeance on anyone who damages their disguises, fearing that their real appearance may be exposed as a result.
7 Lampent Are The Grim Reapers Of The Pokémon Universe
Though unassuming on the surface, Lampent are the equivalent of the grim reaper in the Pokémon universe. These harbingers of death can detect when someone is about to die and linger, waiting to steal their souls.
According to their Pokédex entry, Lampent are often seen near hospitals in cities, waiting for their helpless victims to die, similar to a vulture. Instead of ushering their victims' spirits into the afterlife, Lampent feed off souls, turning them into fuel for their fire.
6 Houndoom, The Literal Hounds of Hell
Houndoom, first introduced in Pokémon Gold & Silver, are eerily similar to hellhounds from mythology and folklore. From their red eyes to their foul odor, Houndoom are Pokémon that would evoke fear in even the bravest trainers.
Houndoom mix toxins with their fire abilities, causing irreversible damage. Like Frodo getting stabbed with a Morgul blade in Lord of the Rings, the wounds will stay with their victims forever. Not only that, but a Houndoom's howl alone is enough to scare away anyone unlucky to come across one in the wild.
5 Yamask Holds Onto Fading Memories Of Humanity
Yamask blur the lines between Pokémon and humans, as they are said to have been human themselves, at one point. Their humanity is represented in the masks they carry, allowing Yamask to possess those unlucky enough to wear them. More disturbingly, Yamask can also talk when possessing a human.
These eerie and tragic Pokémon are haunted by memories of their previous humanity and are frequently seen crying, starring into their masks, a mere husk of what they used to be.
4 Gourgeist Will Sing While Strangling Their Victims
Imagine if real-life animals got larger or smaller, depending on the size of their prey. With Gourgeist, that scenario is actually a reality. This Pokémon's size will vary depending on the proportions of their victims.
While already a frightening prospect in itself, Gourgeist are also generally feared for their curse-inducing singing abilities, making them the nightmarish equivalent of a Jigglypuff. They will also remorselessly sing a happy tune while strangling their helpless victims. Even worse, a Gourgeist won't stop at just tormenting other Pokémon; they will also target children by pretending to be adults.
3 Drifloon Take The Souls of Children
Pokémon creators' ability to transform seemingly harmless everyday objects into horrific creatures would make any horror movie director proud. Drifloon, a Pokémon that made its debut in the fifth generation games, is an undeniable example of that.
Drifloon are formed by stealing the souls of children, who mistake the Pokémon for balloons. The more souls a Drifloon accumulates, the larger it will become. Even more terrifyingly, if something causes a Drifloon to "pop," all its souls will utter an unearthly scream as they dissipate.
2 Banette Are Voodoo Dolls Brought To Life By Hatred
Almost every aspect of a Banette is unsettling, from their appearance to their origin story. Like Yamask, Banette weren't always Pokémon. They are said to have once been stuffed animals brought to life by hatred, which they use as a source of energy, locked behind their zipper mouth.
Not only that, but Banette can use their bodies like a voodoo doll, allowing them to place curses on their victims. Tragically, these Pokémon are forced to wander alleys in search of those who threw them away.
1 Cofagrigus Can Mummify Their Unsuspecting Victims
Cofagrigus are the fully evolved forms of the already-disturbing Yamask. Introduced in Pokémon Black & White, Cofagrigus inexplicably enjoy consuming gold nuggets, making them a threat to both trainers and bank accounts.
Mummies are a longtime staple of the horror genre; however, they aren't usually depicted turning their victims into mummies, like Cofagrigus. Sadly, unlike their previous form, Yamask, Cofagrigus no longer have memories of their humanity and exist as soulless coffins, though they still cling tightly to their human masks.
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