Ghost types are annoying. Honestly, there isn’t a more frustrating matchup in the entire Pokémon franchise than staring down a Gengar or a Dragapult and realizing your best moves just pass right through them. If you’ve ever clicked "Extreme Speed" or "Close Combat" only to see that "It had no effect!" message, you know the pain.
Understanding what's strong against ghost isn't just about memorizing a type chart. It’s about understanding the weird, often counter-intuitive mechanics that Game Freak has layered into the series since Red and Blue. Back in Gen 1, Psychic was actually immune to Ghost due to a programming glitch, but those days are long gone. Now, Ghost is one of the most offensive types in the meta.
The Core Weaknesses You Need to Memorize
The basics are simple. Ghost is weak to itself and Dark. That’s it. Just two weaknesses. This makes them incredibly "neutral" threats, meaning they hit almost everything for decent damage.
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But let’s talk about Dark types first. Dark was literally invented in Generation 2 specifically to nerf the reign of terror held by Psychics and Ghosts. When you're looking for what's strong against ghost, Dark is your gold standard. Not only do Dark-type moves like Knock Off and Crunch hit for super-effective damage, but Dark types actually resist Ghost-type attacks. It’s a double-edged sword that cuts entirely in your favor.
Crunch is a staple for a reason. Knock Off is even better because it removes the Ghost’s item—usually a Focus Sash or Life Orb—while dealing massive damage.
The Ghost-on-Ghost Violence
Then there’s the weird part. Ghost is weak to Ghost. This creates a "glass cannon" scenario. If you’re faster than your opponent, you win. If they’re faster, you’re done. Dragapult is the king of this right now because its base Speed is a staggering 142. It can usually click Shadow Ball and delete an opposing Ghost before they can even blink.
It’s high-risk, high-reward. I usually don't recommend using a Ghost type to counter another Ghost unless you are 100% sure you outspeed them. Otherwise, you’re just flipping a coin with your Pokémon’s life.
Why Your Normal Types Are Secretly Your Best Friends
A lot of players overlook the most obvious defensive play: the Normal type.
Normal types are completely immune to Ghost moves. They don't just "resist" them; the damage is zero. This is a massive tactical advantage. If you can predict a Shadow Ball or a Poltergeist, switching into a Snorlax or a Blissey completely wastes the opponent's turn.
But there’s a catch.
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While Normal types are immune to Ghost, Ghost types are also immune to Normal moves. You end up in a stalemate where neither side can hit the other with their primary STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves. To actually beat the Ghost, your Normal type needs coverage. This is why you see Snorlax running Crunch or Ursaluna-Bloodmoon running Earth Power and Scrappy.
Abilities That Break the Rules
If you really want to know what's strong against ghost, you have to look at Abilities. Some Pokémon just ignore the rules of physics.
- Scrappy: This is the big one. Pokémon with Scrappy (like Mega Lopunny or Sirfetch'd) can hit Ghost types with Normal and Fighting moves. It’s a game-changer. Suddenly, that Fighting-type move that was supposed to fail hits for neutral damage.
- Mind's Eye: This is Bloodmoon Ursaluna’s signature ability. It works like Scrappy but also prevents accuracy loss. It makes Ursaluna one of the most terrifying Ghost-counters in the modern game.
- Good as Gold: Gholdengo’s ability doesn't make it "strong" against Ghost offensively, but it makes it immune to the status moves Ghosts love to use, like Will-O-Wisp or Confuse Ray.
The Problem with Secondary Types
You can't just look at the Ghost icon and assume you're safe with a Dark move. Most Ghosts are dual-types.
Take Gengar. It's Ghost/Poison. While it's weak to Dark and Ghost, it's also weak to Ground and Psychic. Or look at Aegislash—Ghost/Steel. That Steel typing makes it neutral to some of its usual weaknesses but adds a massive vulnerability to Fire and Ground.
If you’re struggling against a specific Ghost, look at the other half of its identity. Often, the secondary type is much easier to exploit than the Ghost type itself. For example, Brambleghast is Ghost/Grass. Fire types will melt it faster than any Dark move would.
Competitive Strategies for 2026
In the current meta, Ghost types are everywhere because of how good "neutral coverage" is. If you're building a team, you need a dedicated "Ghost check."
A "check" is a Pokémon that can switch in safely once and scare the Ghost away. A "counter" is something that can switch in repeatedly and win every time. Honestly? True Ghost counters are rare because moves like Hex and Astral Barrage are just so powerful.
Your best bet is a bulky Dark type with high Special Defense. Ting-Lu is a monster here. It’s so heavy and tanky that even a super-effective Ghost move feels like a tickle. It can then retaliate with Ruination or a heavy Dark-type STAB move.
Don't Forget the Items
Items change the math.
- Assault Vest: Boosts Special Defense by 50% but forces you to use only attacking moves. Give this to a bulky attacker to survive a Shadow Ball.
- Kasib Berry: This reduces the damage from a single super-effective Ghost-type move. It's niche, but it can let your own Ghost type survive a hit and strike back.
- Safety Goggles: Not directly related to Ghost damage, but many Ghosts (like Amoonguss, though it's Grass/Poison, it plays the "utility" role many Ghosts do) use Spore or Powder moves.
Environmental Factors: Terrain and Weather
While there isn't a "haunted" weather effect that boosts Ghosts, they often thrive in the absence of things that help you.
Psychic Terrain prevents priority moves. If you were planning on using a Sucker Punch (a Dark move) to take out a frail Ghost like Flutter Mane, and Psychic Terrain is active, your Sucker Punch will fail. This is a common trap. Always check the terrain before trying to "outplay" a Ghost with priority moves.
Conversely, Dark-type moves don't get a weather boost, but they are incredibly consistent. Rain and Sun don't dampen them.
Misconceptions About the Ghost Type
I hear people say all the time that Fairy is strong against Ghost. It isn't. They hit each other for neutral damage. The confusion usually comes from Mimikyu, which is Ghost/Fairy. Because it's such a popular Pokémon, people start to associate the two types.
Another one: "Steel resists Ghost."
Nope. It used to, but back in Generation 6 (X and Y), they changed the type chart. Steel no longer resists Ghost or Dark. This was a massive buff to Ghosts and is why Pokémon like Gholdengo and Flutter Mane are so dominant today. If you're playing an older game, like Diamond or Pearl, your Steel types are safe. If you're playing Scarlet, Violet, or anything recent, your Steel type is a sitting duck.
Practical Steps to Beat Ghost Types
If you want to stop losing to these spectral nuisances, you need to change your approach to team building. You can't just "hope" your sweepers are faster.
- Run "Knock Off" on everything: Even if your Pokémon isn't a Dark type, the utility of removing a Ghost's held item is too good to pass up.
- Use the "Normal Switch": Keep a Normal type in your back pocket. Switching into a Snorlax or a Blissey on a predicted Ghost move is a 10/10 pro move that tilts opponents.
- Prioritize Speed: If you're using a Ghost to fight a Ghost, you must have a higher Speed stat or a Choice Scarf. There is no middle ground.
- Check for Scrappy: When choosing a Fighting or Normal-type attacker, see if it has access to the Scrappy ability through an Ability Patch or Hidden Ability breeding.
- Watch for the Tera Type: In the modern games, a Ghost type might "Tera" into something else entirely. A common move is for a Ghost to Tera into a Fairy type to resist the Dark moves you brought to counter it. Always have a backup plan for a Terastallized opponent.
The Ghost type is designed to be tricky. It's the "trickster" archetype of the Pokémon world. By focusing on Dark-type moves, leveraging Normal-type immunities, and paying close attention to secondary typings and abilities like Scrappy, you turn the tables. You aren't just reacting to them anymore; you're dictating the flow of the battle. Stop clicking the moves that don't work and start forcing the Ghost to play by your rules.