How to Beat Ghost-Type Pokémon

Ghost-type Pokémon are weak to Dark and Ghost-type attacks, taking double damage. They resist Poison and Bug. Crucially, they are completely immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves. To beat them safely, use Dark-types, as they resist Ghost attacks while dealing super-effective damage.

Beating Ghost-types requires playing around their two major immunities. Normal and Fighting-type attacks will completely fail, forcing you to rely on specific coverage. Dark-type Pokémon are the optimal counters. They resist Ghost-type STAB moves and strike back with super-effective damage.

Using a Ghost-type to counter an opposing Ghost is a double-edged sword. Since the type is weak to itself, the matchup often devolves into a speed tie where the faster Pokémon wins. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Scarlet/Violet playthroughs, relying on an underleveled Ghost-type will usually result in a quick knockout.

Items like the Spell Tag or Kasib Berry often complicate these matchups. A Kasib Berry halves damage from a single super-effective Ghost attack, allowing the opponent to survive and retaliate. Always assume an opposing Ghost might carry status moves like Will-O-Wisp to cripple your physical attackers.

Ghost-type offense is incredibly consistent. Very few types resist it. It hits Psychic and opposing Ghost-types for super-effective damage. This makes it a highly spammable offensive typing in most story battles.

Only Dark-types resist Ghost, and Normal-types are immune. If the opponent lacks these two types, a strong Ghost-type attack like Shadow Ball or Poltergeist will deal heavy, unresisted neutral damage. This neutral coverage makes Ghost-types excellent sweepers when you lack specific super-effective options.

However, Ghost-types often rely on special attacks. Physical Ghost-type moves are historically limited in base power or come with drawbacks, like Phantom Force taking two turns. You need to align your Pokémon's stats with the right move category.

Combining Ghost with other types often removes its few weaknesses or adds critical immunities. You must adapt your strategy when facing these specific combinations.

• Ghost/Dark: Pokémon like Spiritomb or Sableye have no weakness to Ghost or Dark. Their only vulnerability is Fairy. You must pivot to Fairy-type attacks to break through them.
• Ghost/Steel: Aegislash or Gholdengo gain massive resistances. Ground and Fire become your primary win conditions, as Steel neutralizes the Dark and Ghost weaknesses.
• Ghost/Normal: Hisuian Zoroark boasts three immunities (Normal, Fighting, Ghost) and only one weakness (Dark). You cannot rely on Ghost moves to counter it.

Every team needs a dedicated answer to Ghost-types to avoid being walled by their immunities. A fast Dark-type like Meowscarada in Scarlet/Violet provides the perfect offensive and defensive pivot. It outspeeds most threats and threatens a one-hit knockout with Knock Off or Night Slash.

If you lack a Dark-type, equip your Normal or Fighting-types with coverage moves. Giving a Fighting-type a Dark-type move like Crunch or Throat Chop prevents them from being completely helpless. Keep a special attacker ready, as many Ghost-types have high physical Defense to complement their Will-O-Wisp burns.

Avoid relying solely on trapping abilities like Arena Trap or Shadow Tag. Ghost-types are inherently immune to all trapping mechanics. They can freely switch out of unfavorable matchups, forcing you to predict their replacements.