What it does
Poltergeist is a high base power physical Ghost-type move with one condition: the target must be holding an item. In standard Scarlet/Violet, that means any held item — Mega Stones excluded (the move would fail on a Mega Stone holder). In Champions, that restriction is lifted: Poltergeist also works on Mega Stone holders, matching how the format's expanded item pool interacts with the move.
In Champions, Mega Stones are the single most common held item category. Almost every Mega Evolution user is carrying one. That override makes Poltergeist more reliably usable in Champions than in standard formats — the pool of valid targets is larger.
The base power is among the highest available for Ghost-type physical moves. With STAB from users like Aegislash, Golurk, or Runerigus, the raw damage output on a single hit is very high.
In doubles, Poltergeist is single-target and not subject to the ×0.75 spread penalty. Normal-type and Ghost-type Pokémon are immune to Ghost-type moves — do not click this into either.
Always verify the target has an item (including a Mega Stone) before clicking. A failed Poltergeist wastes your entire turn with no damage output.
Who runs it
Golurk at 77% and Aegislash at 73% are the top carriers. Both are physical Ghost-types with high Attack, and both need a big Ghost STAB move — this is it. Golurk pairs it with Earthquake for complementary coverage; Aegislash uses it alongside its blade-stance burst offense.
Runerigus at 49% is a Ground/Ghost physical attacker for whom Poltergeist serves as the Ghost STAB anchor. Trevenant at 39% uses it as its core damage output despite being Grass/Ghost-type.
Ceruledge at 24% is a fast Fire/Ghost physical attacker — Poltergeist is the highest-power option for single-hit burst when the target is carrying something. Spiritomb at 11% is more support-oriented but uses it as a Ghost-type threat when needed.
How to use it
Confirm the target has an item: At Team Preview, all items are unknown. As the game develops, you learn item information: when a berry activates, when a Scarf reveals itself, when Knock Off strips something. Before clicking Poltergeist in a critical turn, make sure you have enough information to confirm the target is not holding nothing.
Mega Stone window: In Champions, a Mega Evolution user that has not yet Mega-evolved is holding its Mega Stone and is a valid target. Turn 1 is often the best window — the opponent is carrying the stone, hasn't transformed yet, and cannot protect both incoming damage and the evolution in the same turn.
Knock Off coordination: If a teammate is clicking Knock Off on the same target in the same turn, and they move first, the item is gone — Poltergeist fails. In doubles, always factor in whether a teammate could accidentally remove the target's item before your move resolves.
Tips & strategy
Normal-type immunity: Normal-type Pokémon are completely immune to Ghost-type moves. Poltergeist will do nothing against Snorlax, Blissey, or any other Normal-type regardless of whether they have an item. Know your targets.
Aegislash stance logic: Aegislash switches to Blade Forme (high Attack) when it uses an attacking move. Poltergeist out of Blade Forme hits extremely hard, but the switch to Blade Forme means low Defense — the hit needs to either KO or deal enough that the exposure is worth it.
If you are not sure they have an item, do not click it: A wasted action on a failed Poltergeist can lose games. When item information is uncertain, choose a guaranteed-damage alternative and save Poltergeist for turns when you know the condition is met.