Playthrough tier listDiamond & Pearl

Best Ghost Pokémon in Diamond & Pearl

Giratina (post-game) leads the 16 Ghost Pokémon for beating Diamond and Pearl.

16gradedNov 11, 2026updated
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  • Post-game
  • Trade to evolve
  • Pearl only
Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 16 Pokémon
STop1 PokémonCarries a Diamond & Pearl run against most of the bossesClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
GiratinaGiratinaPost-game
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
AStrong3 PokémonA strong pick for most of the game
GengarGengarTrade to evolve
DusknoirDusknoirPost-game · Trade to evolve
BanetteBanettePost-game
BSolid1 PokémonDoes the job with some help
RotomRotomPost-game
CSituational6 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
FroslassFroslassPost-game
DrifblimDrifblim
MismagiusMismagiusPearl only
HaunterHaunter
DusclopsDusclopsPost-game
ShuppetShuppetPost-game
DBottom5 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
ShedinjaShedinjaPost-game
GastlyGastly
DuskullDuskullPost-game
DrifloonDrifloon
MisdreavusMisdreavusPearl only

What each tier means

  • STop Carries a Diamond & Pearl run against most of the bosses
  • AStrong A strong pick for most of the game
  • BSolid Does the job with some help
  • CSituational Struggles against several bosses
  • DBottom Hard to use for beating the game
2 reads blended into one listreblend in Showing16/ 16

Board breakdown

Among Ghost Pokémon in Diamond and Pearl, Gengar (evolves by trade) does well in 10 of the 13 boss fights, Roark to Cynthia, 2 fights have no Ghost answer, and the versions differ in 7 fights.

With Giratina out of reach until the credits, which Ghost pick should you raise?

Take Gengar (evolves by trade), which handles 10 of 13 fights, starting with Maylene.

If you cannot link trade Haunter, raise Mismagius in Pearl (7 fights), Drifblim (as the Drifloon line) in Diamond (6 fights).

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Gengar (evolves by trade) has 10 of 13, first at Maylene.

Gym 1, RoarkGym 2, GardeniaGym 3, MayleneGym 4, Crasher WakeGym 5, FantinaGym 6, ByronGym 7, CandiceGym 8, VolknerElite Four, AaronElite Four, BerthaElite Four, FlintElite Four, LucianChampion, Cynthia
  • GengarGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: not on your team yetGym 3 Maylene: does wellGym 4 Crasher Wake: does wellGym 5 Fantina: does wellGym 6 Byron: does wellGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: does wellAaron: does wellBertha: does wellFlint: does wellLucian: does wellCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 2GastlyOld Chateau 2F100% of encounters#069GastlyLevel 25#070HaunterTrade#071Gengar
    Not yet: Roark, GardeniaDoes wellMayleneCrasher WakeFantinaByronCandiceVolknerAaronBerthaFlintLucianNo clear edgeCynthia
  • MismagiusGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: not on your team yetGym 3 Maylene: does wellGym 4 Crasher Wake: does wellGym 5 Fantina: does wellGym 6 Byron: no clear edgeGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: does wellBertha: does wellFlint: no clear edgeLucian: does wellCynthia: no clear edgeMismagius after badge 2MisdreavusAfter badge 1Eterna Forest20% of encounters at night#072MisdreavusDusk Stone#073MismagiusDusk Stone in Veilstone City
    Not yet: Roark, GardeniaDoes wellMayleneCrasher WakeFantinaCandiceAaronBerthaLucianNo clear edgeByron, Volkner, Flint, Cynthia
  • DrifblimGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Maylene: does wellGym 4 Crasher Wake: does wellGym 5 Fantina: does wellGym 6 Byron: has troubleGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: does wellBertha: no clear edgeFlint: no clear edgeLucian: no clear edgeCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 1DrifloonValley WindworksLv 22#065DrifloonLevel 28#066Drifblimfinal form by Maylene
    Not yet: RoarkDoes wellGardeniaMayleneCrasher WakeFantinaCandiceAaronHas troubleByronNo clear edgeVolkner, Bertha, Flint, Lucian, Cynthia

Best pair

DiamondPearl
Gengar + Drifblim11/13 togetherneeds a link trade
No tradePearlMismagius + Drifblim8/13 together

After the creditsOnly after you beat CynthiaCounted in no fight

  • GiratinaAfter the Hall of Fame
  • DusknoirAfter the Hall of Fame
  • BanetteAfter the Hall of Fame
  • RotomAfter the Hall of Fame
  • FroslassAfter the Hall of Fame
  • ShedinjaAfter the Hall of Fame

Where do Ghost picks come up empty, from Roark to Cynthia?

No Ghost Pokémon handles these 2 fights: Roark and Cynthia.

The best Ghost pick you can have by each fight, Roark to Cynthia. First with none: Roark.

Gyms

  1. Nothing yet

    Team

    1. GeodudeLv 12RockGround
    2. OnixLv 12RockGround
    3. CranidosLv 14RockAce

    No Ghost pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  2. Drifblimas Drifloon

    Team

    1. CherubiLv 19Grass
    2. TurtwigLv 19Grass
    3. RoseradeLv 22GrassPoisonAce

    Does well (1)Drifblimas DrifloonMoves: Gust

    Full fight

  3. DrifblimDiamond +1 morePearl +2 more

    Team

    1. MedititeLv 27FightingPsychic
    2. MachokeLv 27Fighting
    3. LucarioLv 30FightingSteelAce

    Does well (3)DrifblimMoves: GustGengar Trade to evolveMoves: Shadow Punch, Psychic and Focus BlastMismagiusPearl onlyMoves: Astonish, Aerial Ace and Thunder

    Full fight

  4. DrifblimDiamond +1 morePearl +2 more

    Team

    1. GyaradosLv 27WaterFlying
    2. QuagsireLv 27WaterGround
    3. FloatzelLv 30WaterAce

    Does well (3)DrifblimMoves: Thunder and FlyGengar Trade to evolveMoves: Thunder and Shadow PunchMismagiusPearl onlyMoves: Thunder and Astonish

    Full fight

  5. DrifblimDiamond +1 morePearl +2 more

    TeamGhost-type team

    1. DrifblimLv 32GhostFlying
    2. GengarLv 34GhostPoison
    3. MismagiusLv 36GhostAce

    Does well (3)DrifblimMoves: Shadow BallGengar Trade to evolveMoves: Shadow BallMismagiusPearl onlyMoves: Shadow Ball

    Full fight

  6. Gengar

    Team

    1. BronzorLv 36SteelPsychic
    2. SteelixLv 36SteelGround
    3. BastiodonLv 39RockSteelAce

    Does well (1)Gengar Trade to evolveMoves: Shadow Ball and Focus Blast

    No clear edge (1)MismagiusPearl only

    Has trouble (1)Drifblim

    Full fight

  7. DrifblimDiamond +1 morePearl +2 more

    Team

    1. SnoverLv 38GrassIce
    2. SneaselLv 38DarkIce
    3. MedichamLv 40FightingPsychic
    4. AbomasnowLv 42GrassIceAce

    Does well (3)DrifblimMoves: Fly and Silver WindGengar Trade to evolveMoves: Poison Jab, Focus Punch and Shadow BallMismagiusPearl onlyMoves: Aerial Ace, Thunder and Shadow Ball

    Full fight

  8. Gengar

    Team

    1. RaichuLv 46Electric
    2. AmbipomLv 47Normal
    3. OctilleryLv 47Water
    4. LuxrayLv 49ElectricAce

    Does well (1)Gengar Trade to evolveMoves: Shadow Ball, Focus Punch and Thunder

    No clear edge (2)MismagiusPearl onlyDrifblim

    Full fight

League

  1. DrifblimDiamond +1 morePearl +2 more

    Team

    1. DustoxLv 53BugPoison
    2. BeautiflyLv 53BugFlying
    3. VespiquenLv 54BugFlying
    4. HeracrossLv 54BugFighting
    5. DrapionLv 57PoisonDarkAce

    Does well (3)DrifblimMoves: FlyGengar Trade to evolveMoves: Psychic and ThunderMismagiusPearl onlyMoves: Aerial Ace and Thunder

    Full fight

  2. GengarPearl +1 more

    Team

    1. QuagsireLv 55WaterGround
    2. SudowoodoLv 56Rock
    3. GolemLv 56RockGround
    4. WhiscashLv 55WaterGround
    5. HippowdonLv 59GroundAce

    Does well (2)Gengar Trade to evolveMoves: Giga Drain and Focus PunchMismagiusPearl onlyMoves: Shadow Ball

    No clear edge (1)Drifblim

    Full fight

  3. Gengar Trade to evolve

    Team

    1. RapidashLv 58Fire
    2. SteelixLv 57SteelGround
    3. DrifblimLv 58GhostFlying
    4. LopunnyLv 57Normal
    5. InfernapeLv 61FireFightingAce

    Does well (1)Gengar Trade to evolveMoves: Shadow Ball, Focus Punch and Psychic

    No clear edge (2)MismagiusPearl onlyDrifblim

    Full fight

  4. Gengar Trade to evolvePearl +1 more

    Team

    1. Mr MimeLv 59Psychic
    2. GirafarigLv 59NormalPsychic
    3. MedichamLv 60FightingPsychic
    4. AlakazamLv 60Psychic
    5. BronzongLv 63SteelPsychicAce

    Does well (2)Gengar Trade to evolveMoves: Shadow Ball and Dark PulseMismagiusPearl onlyMoves: Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse

    No clear edge (1)Drifblim

    Full fight

  5. Closest: Gengar

    Team

    1. SpiritombLv 61GhostDark
    2. RoseradeLv 60GrassPoison
    3. GastrodonLv 60WaterGround
    4. LucarioLv 63FightingSteel
    5. MiloticLv 63Water
    6. GarchompLv 66DragonGroundAce

    No clear edge (3)Gengar Trade to evolveMismagiusPearl onlyDrifblim

    Full fight

Is a Ghost team worse off in Diamond without Mismagius?

No: Diamond lacks Mismagius, yet answers in all 7 fights where the versions differ, with only Gengar at Bertha and Lucian.

Each card can change a Ghost team: the two versions.

  • 7 fights where versions differ
    DiamondPearl
    Only hereMismagius
    Same open fights in both versions
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