Summary
ThePokemongames have made a name for themselves by being a great franchise for young children. Every three years, a new mainline entry into the series is released to try and appeal tothe next generationof kids. The franchise mascot, Pikachu, and the trio of new regional starter Pokemon are cute enough to pique the interest of any young child.
However, every newPokemongame brings with it a vast number of new creatures to the series. Not all of these Pokemon can be cute and cuddly, and some of them aredownright evil. Their Pokedex entries and behavior often confirm these moral leanings.
Updated June 15, 2025 by Blaise Santi: If you’re not obsessively reading the Pokedex entries for every single Pokemon you catch, then you might be unaware of just how disturbing some of these unassuming creatures are. There are plenty more Pokemon whose behavior throughout the franchise can be seen as outwardly evil or malicious, but for some Pokemon, the secrets are hidden under the surface.
Take a look at these additional Pokemon who are pretty nefarious in their own ways, and be sure to pay close attention to the Pokedex entries included for each of them for details as to why they’re the kind of Pokemon to make you glad they don’t exist in real life.
Night Slash, Topsy-Turvy, Hypnosis, Psycho Cut, Superpower, Pluck, Swagger
Pokedex Entry
It wields the most compelling hypnotic powers of any Pokémon, and it forces others to do whatever it wants.
The sixth generation Dark/Psychic-type is unique for many reasons, namely becauseit evolves from Inkay utilizing the console’s gyroscope. Even though it’s based on a squid, its Dark/Psychic-typing should be a clue that this Pokemon earns its spooky design. Several of Malamar’s Pokedex entries specifically name its powers of hypnosis as the strongest of any Pokemon.
There are even Pokedex entries for Malamar that describe it as a Pokemon often used by evil humans for unspecified nefarious purposes. This is especially the case in the anime, where Malamar hypnotizes Officer Jenny and even Pikachu, proving to be one of the few Pokemon to antagonize Ash and his friends without the help of humans like Team Rocket.
Swift Swim, Hydration
Learned Moves
Whirlpool, Aqua Tail, Draining Kiss, Coil, Psychic, Iron Defense, Shell Smash
Although Gorebyss is the very picture of elegance and beauty while swimming, it is also cruel. When it spots prey, this Pokémon inserts its thin mouth into the prey’s body and drains the prey of its body fluids.
Nothing about Gorebyss' design would suggest it’s one of the most evil Pokemon in the franchise. Just look at it; it’s pink and unassuming. However, even its earliest Pokedex entries from the third generation, when it was introduced as a split evolution of Clamperl, suggests quite the opposite. Apparently, Gorebyss is a fierce predator that brutally drains its prey of their bodily fluids.
What’s even stranger about Gorebyss' cruelty is that many other Pokedex entries simply just mention that its pink body turns more vivid in the springtime. It seems to suggest that Gorebyss' behavior toward its prey is simply just the cycle of nature, which is maybe the most scary thing about it. Thankfully, the anime has opted to not show this side of Gorebyss yet.
Stealth Rock, Power Gem, Venoshock, Toxic Spikes, Mirror Coat, Headbutt
It appeared in this world from an Ultra Wormhole. Nihilego appears to be a parasite that lives by feeding on people and Pokémon.
The question remains ifNihilego and the other Ultra Beastseven count as “Pokemon.” Nevertheless, despite its very familiar design resembling the friendly Lillie fromPokemon Sun & Moon, Nihilego is not to be trifled with. This Pokemon is notorious for its parasitic nature, as seen in the games and anime when it possesses Lusamine and attacks Ash and his friends.
According to its Pokedex entries, Nihilego’s possession of others is quite biological, given that it feeds off of Pokemon and humans alike. Plus, those who are possessed by Nihilego tend to display violent tendencies, but according to characters like Wicke in the video games, Nihilego isn’t brainwashing its victims, but just exacerbating violent urges that are already inside, which is even more terrifying.
Prism Armor, Neuroforce (Ultra)
Photon Geyser, Prismatic Laser, Charge Beam, Metal Claw, Night Slash, Moonlight, Rock Blast, Morning Sun
It needs light to survive, and it goes on a rampage seeking it out. Its laser beams will cut anything to pieces.
Necrozma is one of the strongest Legendary Pokemon inPokemon Sun & Moon, but it plays an even bigger role inUltra Sun & Ultra Moon. This prismatic Pokemon derives its powerful energy by taking in light, with its Ultra Necrozma form coming after it drains the world of light. Like Nihilego, it’s also able to possess Solgaleo and Lunala, the mascot legendaries of the seventh-generation games.
What makes Necrozma truly evil, however, is that the absence of light energy makes it incredibly violent and mad. That’s also why the Pokemon is a pitch-black color; it comes from all the impurities that build up inside of it as it searches for light. When Necrozma absorbs light energy from a world, it makes the humans inside it tired and lacking motivation, as seen in the anime.
Sand Veil, Water Absorb
Energy Ball, Spiky Shield, Sucker Punch, Payback, Spikes, Poison Sting, Pin Missile, Sandstorm, Destiny Bond, Growth
If a traveler is going through a desert in the thick of night, Cacturne will follow in a ragtag group. The Pokémon are biding their time, waiting for the traveler to tire and become incapable of moving.
The cactus Pokemon, Cacturne, is a grass-type player’s dream. Its scarecrow-like design looks appealing, and its additional dark typing allows it to withstand some of the most powerful psychic attacks. However, Cacturne’s scariness extends beyond its real-world physical influence.
As its design suggests, Cacturne is a scarecrow Pokemon that is most at home in the desert. Unfortunately, it is not content to just stand in place and absorb the sunlight. According to its Pokedex entries, Cacturne comes to life at night to follow travelers until they get tired. What this Pokemon does when it catches these travelers is anyone’s guess. However, it is certain to be something evil.
Lick, Shadow Punch, Dream Eater, Dark Pulse, Mean Look
Haunter is a dangerous Pokémon. If one beckons you while floating in darkness, you must never approach it. This Pokémon will try to lick you with its tongue and steal your life away.
In thePokemonanime, Haunter is portrayed as more of a jovial creature. This Pokemon joins Ash on his journey as the young trainerneeds a ghost-typePokemon to help him defeat the psychic-type gym leader, Sabrina. Haunter has some fun of his own, though, by playing tricks on Team Rocket and leaving Ash on the battlefield, only to return at the last minute.
In the games, Haunter is depicted as more of a malevolent presence. Its Pokedex entries state that Haunter licks a person to paralyze them and watches until their life force is slowly drained. That isn’t the behavior of anything on the side of good.
Snow Cloak, Cursed Body
Frost Breath, Blizzard, Hex, Shadow Ball, Will-O-Wisp, Crunch, Draining Kiss, Double Team
When it finds humans or Pokémon it likes, it freezes them and takes them to its chilly den, where they become decorations.
Froslass was a later addition to the Snowrunt line and was introduced in Generation 4. This Pokemon is supposed to be a more elegant evolution option for players who want to use something other than the angry-looking Glalie. Since its design is based on a siren from mythology, Froslass achieves this goal quite well. However, players should be wary about this icy ghost’s intentions.
One of its Pokedex entries states that Froslass freezes those walking in the snowy mountains and takes them back to its cave. To make matters worse, it’s said that Froslass keeps these frozen travelers as decorations, which is among the most disturbing things ever written in the Pokedex. While this behavior may not be lethal, kidnapping adventurers is still evil.
Shadow Sneak, Phantom Force, Will-O-Wisp, Role Play, Knock Off, Screech
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.
In a game series likePokemon, it seems like a no-brainer to create a creature in this universe that is based on a child’s doll. GameFreak has proved that almost anything can be used for the inspiration behind a Pokemon’s design, and using a child’s favorite toy for a Pokemon like Banette makes perfect sense. Though, there was no need to make it so evil.
Banette is not a cuddly toy that is intent on protecting the trainer it loves. Instead, it is a possessed nightmare that was discarded by its original owner. As a result, this Pokemon is now an evil force that iscreated by hateful energy.This energy is what makes it so evil.
Dark Aura
Dark Pulse, Foul Play, Oblivion Wing, Hurricane, Focus Blast, Psychic, Phantom Force, Dragon Rush, Hyper Beam
When this legendary Pokémon’s wings and tail feathers spread wide and glow red, it absorbs the life force of living creatures.
The legendary Pokemon in every new generation are always something to look forward to.These powerful beastsare often fought by the player as a part of the main story, and catching such a Pokemon is normally a reward for progressing so far in the game. Sometimes the legendary Pokemon are benevolent creatures that need protection, and other times, they are destructive forces that need to be stopped.
Yveltal fits into the latter part of these legendaries, and it is exclusive toPokemon: Y. This Pokemon is caught by the player as its resurrection could bring about an evil time in thePokemonworld. Its Pokedex entry fromOmega Rubysays that Yveltal drains the life of all those who are near when it flaps its wings.
Bad Dreams
Dark Void, Sucker Punch, Haze, Dream Eater, Night Shade, Quick Attack
It chases people and Pokémon from its territory by causing them to experience deep, nightmarish slumbers.
Even the dreams of the people in thePokemonworld are not safe from some of the forces at work in that reality. For instance, the legendary Pokemon, Darkrai, is known as the nightmare Pokemon, and its main duty is to enter people’s dreams and turn them into nightmares. While nightmares are a normal part of life, no one wants to be subjected to a horrific nightmare every time they sleep just because Darkrai is near.
What makes this Pokemon more evil is the fact that each of its Pokedex entries states that Darkrai can lull people to sleep. Therefore, this malevolent Dark-type is willingly putting people to sleep and forcing them to relive their biggest fears.
