12 Times Pokemon Legitimately DIED

12. Ash And Pikachu (EP023: The Tower Of Terror)

In EP023 of the anime, following a crushing defeat at the hands of Saffron City Gym Leader Sabrina, Ash and his pals travel to known Pokémon burial ground, the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town in the hopes of finding and capturing a ghost Pokémon to take on the psychic Pokémon expert in a rematch.

Upon entry, they activate a prank set by a resident Gastly, Haunter and Gengar, causing them to flee back outside. Misty and Brock refuse to reenter the building, so Ash goes at it alone armed only with his Pikachu and Charmander in an attempt to capture one of the ghost Pokémon.

In the battle though, it becomes apparent that the ghostly pairing of Haunter and Gengar simply want to have fun and play, and when they realise Ash is unamused by their japery, they become despondent and sink into the floor. In an obvious reaction to seeing this, Ash and Pikachu dive at the Pokémon, crashing into the floor, eventually causing the chandelier above them to drop and crush them.

How not-dead were they? Well, the Haunter physically pulls their spirits from their motionless bodies and they all go for a little fly. They return to the bodies (and consciousness) after seeing Brock and Misty huddle over their lifeless forms.