Top 5 Eerie Pokédex Entries Revealed

Pokémon is celebrated for its child-friendly appeal, with all its mainline games earning an E for Everyone rating, inviting young players to immerse themselves in a vibrant world filled with charming characters. While beloved creatures like Pikachu and Eevee often take center stage, some Pokémon harbor surprisingly dark narratives. Within the depths of their Pokédex entries, tales of abductions and even gruesome murders lurk, adding a chilling layer to the franchise. These darker themes occasionally surface in various horror stories, enhancing the eerie atmosphere of certain Pokémon.

IGN has curated a list of what we consider the five creepiest Pokédex entries, though this selection is far from exhaustive. Notable mentions include Mimikyu, who disguises its terrifying appearance with a Pikachu costume to make friends, all while secretly plotting the demise of the franchise's mascot; Haunter, known for silently stalking humans in dark alleys, ultimately causing death with a lethal lick; and Hypno, which, even in the Pokémon children's cartoon, has a plot involving hypnotizing and kidnapping children to consume their dreams.

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 believed it to be 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 reached for its string, only to be startled when the balloon turned to face her. It had a large yellow cross on its face and two hollow 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, infuses a sense of terror into the otherwise joyful image of a child's toy. While some of its Pokédex entries are relatively benign, noting it as "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 the games, only on Fridays at the Valley Windworks in Diamond and Pearl, 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 unable to help, and his condition deteriorated daily. Amidst his desperate breaths, he managed to utter, "My doll." His parents, heartbroken yet hopeful, brought him toy after toy from his collection—a Pikachu, a Lotad, a Skitty, and a Treecko—but he rejected each one with the last of his strength.

Confused, his parents searched everywhere, finally discovering 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 in its family-friendly games. 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 becomes more explicit: "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

On a beautiful summer day, the residents of Melemele Island enjoyed Big Wave Beach. Some surfed, others sunbathed, while children built sandcastles. As the sun began to set, most children went 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 shapes. 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 still embedded in its head, thinking it was offering help. Instead, the Pokémon swallowed his hand, and like quicksand, slowly consumed his entire arm. The boy screamed and tried to pull away, but his body was soon completely absorbed.

Contrary to the sunny and joyful image of sandcastles, Sandygast harbors a darker 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 feed on 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 forced her to stop for breath frequently. Each pause allowed the current to pull her further out, and soon she made no progress at all. It was then that a Pokémon emerged from the water, inches from her face. Initially cautious, the old woman assumed it wanted to help as it moved closer. She wrapped her hands around it, and it did the same to her. She could finally rest without drifting back, thanks to the Pokémon's support. After a few minutes, she thanked the creature and attempted to swim the remaining distance. But she couldn't move. Her fingers, toes, and then her face became paralyzed with fear. The Pokémon, with distant eyes, began to submerge, dragging the old woman down with it until they were fully underwater.

Frillish, known as the Floating Pokémon, conceals a deadly nature behind its simple appearance. Tapping into common fears of the ocean's unknown depths, Pokémon designed Frillish to embody this phobia. It resides in a den far below the waves but surfaces to hunt. "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 down, fully aware of their impending doom before drowning.

Froslass

He shouldn't have ventured out. The mountain was hard enough to navigate at night, but in a blizzard, it was nearly impossible. Yet, he was certain he had heard a knock at his door and a woman's cry for help. Living alone at such a high altitude, he knew someone must be in distress. He donned his boots and gear and set out to search, but the blizzard quickly disoriented him, leaving him to wander aimlessly.

Relieved to find a small cave entrance, he hoped to spend a cold but safe night inside. The cave was freezing, almost unnaturally so, but it was better than facing the blizzard. He lit a lantern and examined his surroundings. The cave walls were encased in thick ice, explaining the cold. As he stepped closer, he realized the mountain's cold wasn't enough to preserve ice permanently. Holding up the lantern, he saw his reflection in the ice, but it wasn't his face staring back. It was another man's, tall and similar in features, frozen within the ice. His eyes darted around, revealing several bodies suspended in the frozen 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, his body froze stiff, becoming another decoration in the monster's 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 reads. Another chilling entry states, "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." Other entries describe Froslass knocking on doors during blizzards, luring or dragging victims to its den, where "they become decorations," neatly lined up in a chilling display.