When it comes to Pokémon, most fans would think that a show aimed at children couldn't get that scary. Those fans might be surprised, however, in that many Pokémon are actually far more terrifying than a mere glance would suggest.

The Pokémon anime has actually had quite a few spooky episodes over the years, showcasing how the more supernatural Pokémon, such as Ghost-, Dark-, and Psychic-types, can be pretty scary to deal with. These episodes often focus on a particular species of Pokémon, revealing how their very nature can be a problem for people if they're not expecting it. Supernatural Pokémon can be plotting anything, from simple pranks on humans to the conquest or destruction of the world, and there's no way to be sure just what it is they're up to until it's too late. Here are 10 creepy Pokémon and the episodes that prove it.

Haunter

Pokémon the Original Series, Episode #23

In the episode “Tower of Terror,” Ash and friends approach the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town, where they find a group made up of a Gastly, a Haunter, and A Gengar, who seemingly love to play pranks on anyone that enters the tower. Except their pranks go a little too far, and Ash and Pikachu end up falling to their deaths... oops. Haunter extracts their souls from their body, and they have a good time together pranking Misty before returning to their bodies.

Everything’s just fine by the end of the episode, and Haunter ends up ing Ash for a bit to battle Sabrina, but that doesn’t change the fact that these Ghost Pokémon accidentally killed Ash and Pikachu while joking around, and hardly seemed to have comprehended what they did. Haunter and pals may seem jovial, but they can still be quite dangerous.

Gastly

Pokémon XY, Episode #72

After getting lost in the woods, Ash’s group is caught in a thunderstorm, forcing them to take shelter in a nearby mansion. However, the mansion owner seems overly prepared for them. As they rest, objects start moving, and the man who lives there explains why his place has a reputation as “the Scary House.” They soon deduce that the spooky antics are the work of Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar. The man its that these are his Pokémon, and that they enjoy scaring guests. Of course, As Ash and co. explore the house, they learn the man died over 200 years ago...

A rare appearance by the ghost of a human, he seems to have been kept on this plane of existence by his own ghost Pokémon, suggesting that even owning a Ghost-type Pokémon could interfere with one’s afterlife.

Gothitelle

Pokémon Black and White, Episode #21

While trying to reach Castelia City, Ash and friends attempt to cross the Skyarrow Bridge, but encounter an aggressive Gothitelle, which whisks them back in time to before the bridge was completed. Ash’s group tries to find an alternate way to cross and locates a water taxi, which is crewed by a young girl and her Gothitelle, which looks quite familiar. It becomes clear that they’re trapped in Gothitelle’s memory, and that the water taxis were put out of business by the bridge. Right as it seems things are hopeless, a woman approaches and talks Gothitelle down, freeing Ash and friends.

The fact that a Gothitelle would have the power to trap random ersby in its memory is terrifying enough on its own, but there was almost nothing Ash could’ve done to escape. Ash’s group simply got lucky that the little girl who Gothitelle knew returned, or they’d have been trapped forever.

Dusknoir

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Episode #90

At the Pokémon Summer academy, Ash and friends are sent to visit some ruins at night to meet Ghost-type Pokémon. One of the other campers, Conway, is lured off a cliff by a strange girl, only to be saved by a Dusknoir. Dusknoir also saves Meowth, but now Dusknoir’s repeated appearances have everyone thinking it’s the problem. Ash attacks Dusknoir when he sees it, thinking it’s a threat, but is soon revealed to be wrong when the little girl opens a portal to the spirit world, and nearly sucks Ash in.

Another episode involving a real ghost, or at least some sort of spirit being, Dusknoir actually was trying to be the hero here. It proves that in the Pokémon world, the threat of ghosts isn’t limited to just Ghost-type Pokémon, and that their special abilities may actually come in handy against a real spook.

Spiritomb

Pokémon Journeys, Episode #91

Ash and Goh attempt to board a train to take them to Stow-on-Side in the Galar region, but accidentally board a Ghost Train without realizing it. They find a strange stone, and a glowing presence seems to possess Ash. Ash starts behaving in a very mean way towards Goh, and eventually his face begins to change. A boy in a mask, Allister, reveals that Ash has been possessed by a Spiritomb, and helps purge the spirit from his body.

Once again, Ash is saved by the convenient presence of a nearby person who knows what to do; without Allister, there’s no telling if it would be possible to separate Ash from Spiritomb again, and Spiritomb is explicitly described as 108 dangerous spirits sealed into a single rock. One can’t help but wonder how many people fall into a Ghost-type Pokémon’s control for months, or even longer...

Mismagius

Pokémon Sun & Moon, Episode #94

When Lana’s younger sisters want to see a haunted house, the gang gets down to business setting one up for them. However, by involving Acerola in their plans, they’ve accidentally lured quite a few real Ghost-type Pokémon to the haunted house. Among the most problematic is Mismagius, which teleports Lana, Ash, and the others to a mysterious graveyard realm. A Banette ends up turning Ash, Kiawe, and Lillie into puppets, leaving them totally immobilized. Unable to tell reality from Ghost-type illusions, the group is eventually awakened by Komala ringing the schoolbell, revealing it all to have been a dream created by Mismagius.

Mismagius’ illusion abilities have proven to be a problem for Ash before, but this episode really lets loose on the Ghost-type Pokémon haunting, with many different species appearing. Thankfully, Komala is always asleep, so Mismagius couldn’t affect it, allowing them to be saved.

Drowzee

Pokémon the Original Series, Episode #86

Upon setting foot on Mandarin Island, Pikachu and Togepi go rogue, turning against Ash and Misty and leaving with a group of other furious Pokémon. In fact, many of the Pokémon on the island have fallen under this curse, with only Gastly immune. Officer Jenny works with Ash to find the culprits, which turn out to be Butch and Cassidy of Team Rocket, who are using a Drowzee to psychically control nearby Pokémon against their will. Ash tricks Pikachu into destroying Drowzee’s machine, freeing the Pokémon of the Psychic-type’s control.

The psychic power of something as mundane as a Drowzee can still be pretty frightening, able to turn even Pikachu against Ash. These supernatural Pokémon in the wrong hands can be exceptionally dangerous, and Butch and Cassidy could easily have stolen every Pokémon on the island Pied Piper-style with this one Drowzee.

Litwick

Pokémon Black and White, Episode #26

While traveling to Nimbasa City, a freak downpour causes Ash and co. To take shelter in an abandoned mansion, where Team Rocket turn out to be holed up as well. The mansion is actually home to many Litwick, which have slowly been draining the life from Jessie and James and aim to do the same to Ash and friends. Litwick is able to interfere with Ash’s Pokédex, keeping him from learning the danger they pose. The Litwick open a portal to the ghost world and attempt to suck everyone in, only failing due to Ash and Team Rocket working together.

Litwick is apparently such a dangerous Pokémon that even being near it can get you killed, as it feeds upon a person’s life force. Their ability to open portals to the Ghost World is certainly terrifying, and it seems likely that had anyone been sucked in, there’d be no coming back for them.

Malamar

Pokémon XY, Episode #19

This episode opens with Jessie and James immediately being hypnotized, with Meowth barely escaping. Meowth runs into Ash, and warns them of the hypnotizer-- a Malamar and a woman, who are now after Pikachu. When Ash and friends go to investigate, Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena, and even Pikachu, are hypnotized as well, leaving Ash and Meowth alone. Pikachu is able to break the mind control, and soon everyone is freed from Malamar’s control, including the woman, revealed to be Officer Jenny. Malamar gloats about a plan to take over the world, then disappears, ready to strike again some day...

This Malamar is a rare example of a Pokémon being outright evil on its own, without any influence from a trainer. It does indeed show up again in another episode, allied with two other Malamar, attempting again to take over the world. With as many wild Psychic-type Pokémon as there are in the world, it’s terrifying to think about what they might be capable of.

Guzzlord

Pokémon Sun & Moon, Episode #94

Guzzlord is an Ultra Beast from another dimension, one that’s capable of eating anything and everything. In one episode, Ash is transported to an alternate post-apocalyptic Alola which has been completely abandoned, with only one hero, Dia, left standing against the deadly beast that has been devouring their world. Ash ultimately works with Dia to defeat Guzzlord, allowing him to return home to his own world, while ridding this world of the threat that Guzzlord posed.

Guzzlord is a massive Pokémon, and like in the games, it seems to have singlehandedly destroyed this version of the Alola region. There was no way anyone in this world could’ve been prepared for Guzzlord, and fans can only hope that alternate versions of major characters merely fled the region, rather than befell a much more horrible fate in Guzzlord’s belly. Even the possibility, however, is enough to secure Guzzlord as the most terrifying Pokémon ever to appear in the anime.