Poltergeist

Ghost

Poltergeist is a Charged Attack of type Ghost in Pokémon GO. In Gym and Raid battles, it deals 140 damage and it costs 100 energy. In GO Battle League, Poltergeist deals 150 damage and costs 75 energy. Explore its damage and energy stats in battles, its effectiveness against various Pokémon types, and see which Pokémon wield it best.

Poltergeist effectiveness against other Pokémon types

NormalFightingFlyingPoisonGroundRockBugGhostSteelFireWaterGrassElectricPsychicIceDragonDarkFairy
Ghost×0.4×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.6×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.6×1.0×1.0×0.6×1.0

Poltergeist Adventure Effects

Poltergeist has no Adventure Effects.

Poltergeist in Gym and Raid Battles

Gym and Raid Battles Stats

CategoryCharged Attack
TypeGhost
Power140
Energy100
Animation Duration3.5s
Damage Window2.7s - 2.9s
DPS40 Damage per second
DPE1.4 Damage per Energy

Similar moves in Gym and Raid Battles

GhostShadow Sneak50333.0s16.67
GhostShadow Punch35331.5s23.33
GhostOminous Wind55332.5s22
GhostShadow Ball100503.0s33.33
GhostNight Shade60502.5s24
GhostShadow Bone85503.0s28.33
GhostShadow Force1401002.0s70
GhostPoltergeist1401003.5s40
GhostSpirit Shackle70332.5s28
GhostMoongeist Beam2301003.0s76.67

Poltergeist in Trainer Battles

Trainer Battles Stats

CategoryCharged Attack
TypeGhost
Power150
Energy75
DPE2 Damage per Energy
TagsNuke

Special effects

Poltergeist has no special effects.

Similar moves in Trainer Battles

GhostShadow SneakGeneral1.57550
GhostShadow PunchSpam / Bait1.575535
GhostOminous WindGeneralBoost
Special effectsSpecial

Ominous Wind has a 10.0% chance to:

  • Increase User's Attack by 25.0%
  • Increase User's Defense by 25.0%
14545
GhostShadow BallGeneral1.89050
GhostNight ShadeGeneral1.567045
GhostShadow BoneGeneralDebuff
Special effectsSpecial

Shadow Bone has a 20.0% chance to:

  • Decrease Target's Defense by 20.0%
1.788045
GhostShadow ForceNuke1.8512065
GhostPoltergeistNuke215075
GhostSpirit ShackleSpam / BaitDebuff
Special effectsSpecial

Spirit Shackle has a 33.0% chance to:

  • Decrease Target's Defense by 20.0%
1.255040
GhostMoongeist BeamNuke2.0813565

Strongest Pokémon with Poltergeist

1.Shadow Chandelure (Shadow)Shadow ChandelureFireFire SpinGhostPoltergeist14.5117.36213.581,015s67
2.ChandelureChandelureFireFire SpinGhostPoltergeist12.9915.11223.091,131s64
3.Shadow Golurk (Shadow)Shadow GolurkGroundMud-SlapGhostPoltergeist12.7915.1201.811,151s71
4.GolurkGolurkGroundMud-SlapGhostPoltergeist11.3413.05209.181,295s69
5.Unremarkable Form Sinistcha (Unremarkable)Unremarkable Form SinistchaGhostAstonishGhostPoltergeist10.5412.13195.161,393s74
6.Masterpiece Form Sinistcha (Masterpiece)Masterpiece Form SinistchaGhostAstonishGhostPoltergeist10.5412.13195.161,393s74
7.Shadow Dusknoir (Shadow)Shadow DusknoirGhostHexGhostPoltergeist10.0211.76164.231,468s88
8.Gourgeist (Super size) (Super)Gourgeist (Super size)GhostHexGhostPoltergeist9.5710.79204.361,532s70
9.Gourgeist (Large size) (Large)Gourgeist (Large size)GhostHexGhostPoltergeist9.2310.48186.961,590s77
10.DusknoirDusknoirGhostHexGhostPoltergeist8.8810.17170.421,653s84

Best Great League Pokémon with Poltergeist

Great League

No Pokémon in our current Great League rankings have Poltergeist in their recommended moveset.

Best Ultra League Pokémon with Poltergeist

Ultra League

No Pokémon in our current Ultra League rankings have Poltergeist in their recommended moveset.

Best Master League Pokémon with Poltergeist

Master League

No Pokémon in our current Master League rankings have Poltergeist in their recommended moveset.

Mega and Primal Pokémon that boost Poltergeist

All Pokémon that can learn Poltergeist

356DusclopsDusclopsGhostPoltergeistReleasedStandard learnset
356Shadow Dusclops (Shadow)Shadow DusclopsGhostPoltergeistReleasedStandard learnset
477DusknoirDusknoirGhostPoltergeistReleasedStandard learnset
477Shadow Dusknoir (Shadow)Shadow DusknoirGhostPoltergeistReleasedStandard learnset
609ChandelureChandelureGhostPoltergeistReleasedLegacy
609Mega Chandelure (Mega)Mega ChandelureGhostPoltergeistUnreleasedLegacy
609Shadow Chandelure (Shadow)Shadow ChandelureGhostPoltergeistReleasedLegacy
623GolurkGolurkGhostPoltergeistReleasedStandard learnset
623Mega Golurk (Mega)Mega GolurkGhostPoltergeistUnreleasedStandard learnset
623Shadow Golurk (Shadow)Shadow GolurkGhostPoltergeistReleasedStandard learnset

Poltergeist FAQ

How does Poltergeist compare with other moves of the same type?

In raids, Poltergeist has lower move-only DPS compared with Moongeist Beam: 40 versus 76.67. This compares damage during the attack animation, not a Pokémon’s complete moveset.

In Trainer Battles, Poltergeist deals less damage per energy compared with Moongeist Beam (2 versus 2.08 DPE), and costs more energy (75 versus 65). Higher DPE uses energy more efficiently; a lower cost lets you reach the attack sooner.

Alternatives have the same type and attack category and at least one released Pokémon that learns them. The raid comparison uses the alternative with the highest move-only DPS; the PvP comparison uses the highest DPT for Fast Attacks or DPE for Charged Attacks. Stats alone do not account for buffs, debuffs, typing, or the other moves a Pokémon can learn.

How are the best PvP users selected?

These tables show Pokémon whose recommended moveset in our imported PvPoke rankings includes this move as the Fast Attack or either Charged Attack. The rank is their position in the full league ranking, not just among users of this move. Both recommended Charged Attacks are shown. Being able to learn the move does not automatically make a Pokémon a recommended user.

How are the strongest Pokémon with Poltergeist ranked?

Pokémon are ranked by eDPS (effective DPS), which accounts for damage, survivability, and time lost when rejoining. The default ranking uses Level 40 attackers and average raid boss weaknesses. Every moveset includes this attack. TTW estimates the time to win, and faints estimates how many attackers faint during the battle. Changing the settings can change the order.

How are tiers assigned?

Tiers group attackers by similar scores, emphasizing differences near the top. We use eight groups, labelled SS, S, A, B, C, D, E and F, when there are enough distinct scores; otherwise, fewer tiers are used. Group sizes are determined by the scores, not fixed rank cutoffs. Tiers update with the simulation settings and stay the same when you sort or change pages.

How do opponent choice and rejoin time affect the rankings?

Scores attackers against the configured T4+ raid boss pool, including Mega, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Outgoing damage reflects how effective each move type is against the bosses; incoming damage reflects the attacker’s resistances to their moves. Per-type rankings use bosses weak to that type. Types without super-effective matchups use the full pool. Unavailable Pokémon are excluded from the boss pool.

The dummy boss uses neutral effectiveness (1.0×) for every move, with incoming damage based on Defense alone. This can favor attackers whose moves the raid pool resists, or whose weaknesses make them take more damage in raids. The dummy has a fixed 25,000 HP, regardless of raid tier.

Time to return after a team of six faints. Applies to eDPS and estimated battle time.

How do Mega and Primal Pokémon boost Poltergeist?

The Pokémon in the Mega and Primal section above boost other Trainers’ Poltergeist damage by 30% (1.3×) in Raid Battles. The boost follows the attack’s type, not the attacking Pokémon’s type.

Standard Mega Pokémon must be on the battlefield. Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon, and Mega Rayquaza provide their boost while in the current battle party, including after fainting. Multiple Mega or Primal boosts do not stack; the strongest applicable boost is used.

Explore all Mega and Primal type boosts

Does the ranking include Mega and Primal boosts to teammates?

No. The Mega Level setting adjusts the attacker’s own bonuses. Damage boosts provided to teammates are not included in this ranking.

What does the complete learnset list include?

It includes all Pokémon and forms that have access to Poltergeist, whether they have been released in Pokémon GO or not.

What do legacy and exclusive moves mean?

Legacy moves were once available to a Pokémon but can no longer be learned through standard methods, such as a regular TM. Legacy and exclusive moves may require an event, an Elite TM, or another special method to obtain. Some legacy moves cannot be taught with an Elite TM.