It is October 2013. You are walking through the tall grass on Route 16 in the Kalos region. Suddenly, a tiny pumpkin with glowing yellow eyes pops out. It’s cute. It’s spooky. It’s a jack o lantern pokemon. At first glance, you might think Pumpkaboo is just another seasonal filler mon designed to sell plushies at the Pokemon Center. But if you look at the actual mechanics and the unsettling lore hidden in the Pokedex, these Ghost/Grass types are some of the most mechanically complex creatures Game Freak has ever designed.
The Pokemon world doesn't just have one jack o lantern. It has a whole biological system of them.
The Weird Science of the Jack o Lantern Pokemon
Most players don't realize that Pumpkaboo and its evolution, Gourgeist, introduced a mechanic that basically hasn't been used since. Size variation. While most Pokemon have a standard height and weight, these gourds come in four distinct sizes: Small, Average, Large, and Super Size. This isn't just a visual thing. It’s a competitive nightmare.
If you catch a Small Size Pumpkaboo, it’s fast. Like, surprisingly fast for a vegetable. But it hits like a wet noodle. On the flip side, the Super Size version is a massive tank with higher base HP and Attack, but it moves with the speed of actual molasses. This size mechanic actually changes the base stat totals. That’s rare. Usually, a Pokemon is what it is, but with the jack o lantern pokemon, you have to hunt for the specific physical dimensions that fit your team’s strategy.
Honestly, it makes the shiny hunt even more of a headache. Imagine finding a shiny Pumpkaboo only to realize it's the "wrong" size for your Trick Room team. It’s brutal.
A Darker Shade of Orange
The Pokedex entries for these things are genuinely haunting. We love to talk about how Pokemon is for kids, but then you read the entry for Pumpkaboo in Pokemon Y. It says that these Pokemon carry wandering spirits to the place where they belong so they can move on. That's almost sweet, right?
Then you get to Gourgeist.
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The entries for Gourgeist in Pokemon Sword and Shield describe it singing joyfully while it wanders through town on the night of a new moon. Anyone who hears the song is cursed. Even worse, it wraps its hair-like arms around its prey and sings happily as they suffer. It’s a literal jack o lantern that commits kidnappings. This isn't just a "spooky" design; it's a creature rooted in the darker side of Celtic folklore and the origins of Samhain.
Evolution and the Trade Dilemma
To get the full jack o lantern experience, you have to evolve Pumpkaboo into Gourgeist. This requires a trade. It’s one of the most polarizing mechanics in the series. You find a friend, trade your pumpkin, and watch it grow into a larger, more menacing lantern with flowing pink "hair" that is actually part of its body.
The evolution doesn't just change the looks. It solidifies its role as a "status" attacker. With moves like Trick-or-Treat—an exclusive move that adds the Ghost type to the opponent—Gourgeist can effectively create its own weaknesses on the enemy team.
- Trick-or-Treat: Makes the target Ghost-type.
- Shadow Sneak: Priority move that now hits for super effective damage because of the first move.
- Leech Seed: Classic Grass-type stalling.
This combo is why the jack o lantern pokemon remains a niche favorite in lower-tier competitive brackets. It’s a disruptor. It messes with the fundamental typing of the game.
Why We Don’t See Many Others
You might be wondering about Palossand or Mimikyu. Sure, they are spooky. But they aren't "jack o lanterns." They don't have that specific orange, carved-out aesthetic. The closest we get is maybe the Litwick line, which covers the "living light" trope, but they are candles and chandeliers.
Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist own the autumn aesthetic entirely.
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The design philosophy behind them is incredibly tight. They use the "pouch" of the pumpkin to house the spirit, and the holes in the pumpkin serve as eyes, but the real eyes are actually on the head section above the gourd. It’s a clever bit of visual misdirection. When it glows, it’s not just light; it’s the soul of a departed human being.
Finding One in 2026
If you’re playing the modern games, finding a jack o lantern pokemon is hit or miss. They were staples in Sword and Shield, appearing all over the Wild Area, especially during foggy weather. In Scarlet and Violet, they were noticeably absent from the base game. This led to a lot of fan outcry. People miss the gourds.
Luckily, the DLC and various Tera Raid events often bring back these seasonal favorites. If you’re looking to catch a Super Size one, listen for the cry. In the older games, the Super Size Pumpkaboo actually had a lower-pitched cry than its smaller counterparts. It’s a tiny detail that most people miss, but it shows the level of care put into the "jack o lantern" concept.
Competitive Strategy: The Super Size Wall
If you want to use Gourgeist today, you have to lean into its bulk. Because the Super Size variant has a Base Stat Total (BST) where the HP is significantly higher, it functions as a physical wall.
Put a Rocky Helmet on it. Give it the ability Frisk so you can see what item your opponent is holding. Use Will-O-Wisp to burn physical attackers. Suddenly, that cute pumpkin is an indestructible nightmare. It’s especially good against Fighting and Normal types because of its Ghost typing. They can't touch it.
But watch out for Fire types. Obviously. It’s a giant vegetable.
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What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception? That any "Ghost" type found in a forest is a jack o lantern. It’s a specific niche.
People often confuse the Pumpkaboo line with Phantump and Trevenant. While they were introduced in the same generation and are both Ghost/Grass types that evolve via trade, Trevenant is a haunted tree. It’s an Ent. It’s not a pumpkin. The jack o lantern pokemon is strictly the Pumpkaboo line.
Another mistake is thinking the sizes are random every time you send them out. They aren't. The size is fixed the moment it's generated in the wild. If you catch a Small one, it stays Small forever. If you breed a Super Size one, the offspring will also be Super Size (if the mother is the Super Size one).
Actionable Steps for Pokemon Collectors
If you're looking to add the ultimate jack o lantern pokemon to your collection, here is the most efficient way to do it:
- Boot up Pokemon Sword or Shield: This is currently the easiest place to find them in the wild without waiting for a specific event.
- Head to the Pumpkaboo Grove: Specifically, check the areas around Hammerlocke Hills during "Overcast" or "Fog" weather.
- Check the size: Don't just catch the first one. Look for the physically largest one on the screen. Super Size Pumpkaboo are noticeably bigger than the player character's head.
- Use a Friend: Find a trade partner. You cannot get Gourgeist without the trade evolution. If you're playing solo, you'll need to look for Gourgeist in Max Raid Dens.
- Breed for Stats: Once you have a Super Size Gourgeist, use an Everstone to pass down the nature and keep the size consistent for its offspring.
The jack o lantern pokemon is a masterclass in how Game Freak can take a simple holiday concept and turn it into a deep, mechanically interesting part of the ecosystem. It's more than just a decoration for the month of October. It's a fast-switching, soul-carrying, stat-shifting monster that deserves a spot on more teams.
Forget the standard Ghost types for a second. Go catch a gourd. Just maybe don't listen too closely to its song if you're walking home alone at night.