Pokémon is renowned for its family-friendly appeal, with all mainline games rated E for Everyone, welcoming even the youngest gamers into its vibrant universe. While beloved characters like Pikachu and Eevee often steal the spotlight, lurking within the franchise are some unexpectedly dark and eerie Pokémon. Their Pokédex entries weave tales of abductions and chilling murders, adding a layer of horror to the otherwise cheerful world of Pokémon. IGN has gathered what we consider the five most unsettling Pokédex entries, though this list is far from exhaustive. Notable mentions include Mimikyu, a Pokémon so terrifying that it disguises itself as Pikachu to gain friends, all while secretly planning the demise of the franchise's mascot; Haunter, which stealthily follows humans down shadowy alleys to lick them, causing fatal convulsions; and Hypno, whose narrative in the Pokémon children's show involves hypnotizing and abducting children to consume their dreams.

It was finally Friday, and the young girl from Floaroma Town couldn't contain her excitement. She eagerly woke up early and rushed through breakfast, eager to start the weekend's flower picking. It was her favorite time of year, and she longed for the school day 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 go without her own Pokémon, she believed this spot in Sinnoh was the safest and gentlest.

Upon arriving, she was greeted by a sea of pink, yellow, and red flowers, but her attention was quickly captured by something even more enchanting: a shimmering purple balloon, gently swaying in the breeze. Captivated, she ran over and grabbed its string, only to be startled when the balloon turned to face her. It bore 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, its string winding around her wrist. Not too heavy or too rough, the balloon continued to tug, leading the girl further and higher until she was never seen again.

Drifloon, the Balloon Pokémon, infuses a chilling horror into what is typically a beloved children's toy, reminiscent of the terror in the IT franchise. While some Pokédex entries for Drifloon are relatively benign, describing 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," states one entry. Another warns, "Any child who mistakes Drifloon for a balloon and holds on to it could wind up missing." A third entry chillingly notes, "Its round body is stuffed with souls and expands each time it leads someone away." Drifloon's mysterious appearances in Diamond and Pearl, limited to Fridays at the Valley Windworks, add an eerie intrigue, but its increasingly sinister Pokédex entries transform that curiosity into a haunting mystery.

Banette

As the boy's health deteriorated, his parents grew increasingly desperate. His fever spiked, his skin turned grayer, and his speech became unintelligible. Even the best doctors in Mauville and Slateport couldn't help, and his condition worsened daily. Amidst his struggles, he managed to whisper, "My doll." His parents, heartbroken but hopeful, brought him various toys from his collection—a Pikachu, a Lotad, a Skitty, and a Treecko—but he rejected each one with the little strength he had left.

Confused, his parents searched everywhere for the doll he craved, finally discovering it under the bed. It was a faded, ragged doll with glowing red eyes and a golden zipper for a mouth. The father reached for it, and the mother gasped in recognition. This was the doll her son had years ago, discarded when they bought him the latest Poké Doll collection from Lilycove's department store. Now, damp, damaged, and adorned with sharp pins, the doll seemed menacing. As the boy reached for it, it leaped from the mother's hands and out the window, leaving the boy momentarily brighter.

Even in its family-friendly setting, Pokémon isn't shy about using classic horror tropes. Banette, the Marionette Pokémon, draws inspiration from horror icons like Annabelle and 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," reads one entry. Another chillingly narrates, "This Pokémon developed from an abandoned doll that amassed a grudge. It is seen in dark alleys." A later entry is even more direct: "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 harm to the child. Only by unzipping its wide smile or showing it love again can its negative energy be dispelled.

Sandygast

On a beautiful summer day, the residents of Melemele Island enjoyed Big Wave Beach. Some surfed, others sunbathed, and children built sandcastles. As the sun began to set, most kids went home, but one determined boy stayed to finish his masterpiece—a grand sandcastle that outshone the others. The beach was nearly deserted, but the boy remained focused, oblivious to the movement behind him.

The other sandcastles were morphing, taking on unnatural shapes. As their shadows grew against the sunset, they enveloped the boy, who finally turned to see a Pokémon resembling a sandcastle but with a gaping mouth and soulless eyes. Assuming it was friendly, as he knew Pokémon to be, he 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, then his arm, and like quicksand, slowly consumed his entire body.

Contrary to the sunny and joyful image one might associate with sandcastles, Sandygast harbors a dark secret. "If you build sand mounds when you’re playing, destroy them before you go home, or they may get possessed and become Sandygast," warns one entry. Another ominously states, "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 entry chillingly notes, "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. Another entry confirms, "Buried beneath the castle are masses of dried-up bones from those whose vitality it has drained."

Frillish

After the busy season, the old woman relished her peaceful morning swim in Undella Town. She preferred the tranquility without tourists, despite the cooler water. Having swum these shores for the past 70 years, she had no intention of stopping. Today, the waves were choppy, but she swam with unexpected vigor. The current carried her further than usual, but she was too absorbed in her solitude to notice. Realizing her distance from the shore, her heart rate quickened. She attempted to swim back, but her aging body forced her to pause frequently for breath, making little progress.

As she struggled, a Pokémon emerged from the water just inches from her face. Initially cautious, she thought it wanted to help as it moved closer. She wrapped her hands around it, and it did the same to her, allowing her to rest without drifting further. After a few minutes, she thanked the creature and tried to continue swimming, but she couldn't move. Paralyzed with fear, she realized she was completely immobilized. The Pokémon, with distant eyes, began to sink, dragging her down with it. Soon, they were fully submerged, and the old woman was pulled to the depths.

Frillish, known as the Floating Pokémon, conceals a deadly nature behind its simple appearance. The fear of the unknown ocean depths is a common phobia, and Pokémon seems to tap into this with Frillish. It lives in a den far below the waves but floats to the surface to hunt. "With its thin, veil-like arms wrapped around the body of its opponent, it sinks to the ocean floor," reads its original Pokédex entry. Another entry reveals, "Its thin, veil-like arms have tens of thousands of poisonous stingers," explaining how it paralyzes its prey with poison before dragging them down to lairs five miles below the surface. Frillish's victims are likely still conscious as they're pulled under, aware of their impending doom as they drown.

Froslass

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

Relieved to spot a small cave entrance, he hoped to find shelter for the night. Inside, the cold was intense, almost unnaturally so, but staying outside meant certain death. He pulled out a lantern, illuminating the icy cave walls. Confused by the persistent cold, he moved closer, realizing the mountain's temperature shouldn't preserve ice permanently. Holding up the lantern, he saw his reflection in the ice—only it wasn't his face. It belonged to another man, tall and similar in features, frozen behind the ice. Panic set in as he noticed 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 its icy breath engulfed him, freezing him in place. He became 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," reads one entry. Another chillingly 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 are "neatly lined up" as "decorations." The horror of Froslass's actions is truly chilling.