Poltergeist (move)

Not to be confused with Polteageist.

Poltergeist ポルターガイスト Poltergeist

Battles Type  Ghost Category  Physical PP  5 (max. 8) Power  110 Accuracy  90% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation VIII Move Tutor in The Isle of Armor TM198 in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Contests Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]] Appeal  0   Jam  0

Super Contests Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]] Appeal  0

Contest Spectaculars Condition  [[{{{category}}} (condition)|{{{category}}}]] Appeal  0   Jamming  0

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation VIII Generation IX

Poltergeist (Japanese: ポルターガイスト Poltergeist) is a damage-dealing Ghost-type move introduced in Generation VIII. It is TM198 in Generation IX.

Effect

Poltergeist deals damage if the target is holding an item, after displaying the message "[target] is about to be attacked by its [item]!" If used when the target is not holding an item, the move fails.

If used on a Pokémon weak to Ghost-type moves holding a Kasib Berry or a Weakness Policy, or a Pokémon holding a Red Card, Poltergeist will still do damage after the item has been consumed, but the item in question still takes effect.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Poltergeist cannot be selected in a battle.

Generation IX

Poltergeist is programmed into Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, but cannot be selected in a battle as no available Pokémon can learn it. However, it can be called by Metronome.

Description

Games Description SwShLA The user attacks the target by controlling the target's item. The move fails if the target doesn't have an item. BDSP This move can’t be used. It’s recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can’t be remembered. SV The user attacks by controlling the target's item. This move fails if the target isn't holding an item.

Learnset

By TM

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Machine
						I --	II --	III --	IV --	V --	VI --	VII --	VIII --	IX TM198
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By Move Tutor

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Game
						SwSh	SwSh EP	BDSP	LA
0092		Gastly		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0093		Haunter		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0094		Gengar		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0105		Marowak Alolan Form		Monster		Monster	✔
0151		Mew		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0292		Shedinja		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0302		Sableye		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0355		Duskull		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0356		Dusclops		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0442		Spiritomb		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0477		Dusknoir		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0478		Froslass		Fairy	Mineral	✔
0479		Rotom		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0487		Giratina		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0562		Yamask		Mineral	Amorphous	✔
0562		Yamask Galarian Form		Mineral	Amorphous	✔
0563		Cofagrigus		Mineral	Amorphous	✔
0592		Frillish		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0593		Jellicent		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0607		Litwick		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0608		Lampent		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0609		Chandelure		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0622		Golett		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0623		Golurk		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0708		Phantump		Grass	Amorphous	✔
0709		Trevenant		Grass	Amorphous	✔
0710		Pumpkaboo		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0711		Gourgeist		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0724		Decidueye		Flying		Flying	✔
0769		Sandygast		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0770		Palossand		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0781		Dhelmise		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0792		Lunala		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0802		Marshadow		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0854		Sinistea		Mineral	Amorphous	✔
0855		Polteageist		Mineral	Amorphous	✔
0864		Cursola		Water 1	Water 3	✔
0867		Runerigus		Mineral	Amorphous	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

In other games

Main series

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, Poltergeist is a Charged Attack that was made available on October 15, 2022.

Poltergeist
Charged Attack
Gyms & Raids Power 140 Energy cost 100 Duration 3.6 seconds Damage window 2.8-3.0 seconds
Trainer Battles Power 140 Energy cost 75 Secondary effect Effect chance %
Eligible Pokémon:
Standard eligibility By Elite Charged TM By GO Snapshot As Shadow Pokémon As Purified Pokémon Formerly eligible None

Trivia

• This move originated as a TCG attack.
• Poltergeist is the only Ghost-type move with an accuracy lower than 100%.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 靈騷 Lìhngsōu Mandarin 靈騷 / 灵骚 Língsāo French Esprit Frappeur German Poltergeist Italian Poltergeist Korean 폴터가이스트 Polteogaiseuteu Brazilian Portuguese Poltergeist Spanish Poltergeist

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.