In the Pokemon world, the sneaky Dark-type is known for easily outmaneuvering opponents, so here’s all about their weaknesses and resistances, so you can take the best counters into battle.
Dark-type Pokemon can be troublesome in battle due to their mystique and sneaky movesets, as it is essentially another element in Pokemon games, and therefore, can be quite damaging to those who are weak against it.
As most of them have two typings, here’s what you need to know to survive an encounter with a Dark type in any game from the Pokemon franchise.
Dark-type Pokemon weaknesses
Dark-type Pokemon have three primary weaknesses when it comes to moves and opposing Pokemon types:
Don’t forget that a Pokemon can have multiple types. For example, your chosen ‘mon may be a Dark and Dragon-type Pokemon, so be sure to take advantage of any other weaknesses they may have by being aware of their secondary type.
Dark-type Pokemon strengths & resistances
Dark-type Pokemon are resistant to both Ghost and other Dark-type creatures and moves, and they have immunity toward the Psychic type as well.
When using a Dark-type ‘mon, don’t put it up against Fighting, Dark, or Fairy opponents, as Dark moves won’t deal much damage. However, they can be great when battling Psychic and Ghost, so go ahead and exploit their advantages.
Best counters for Dark-type Pokemon
These are some of the best Pokemon you can use to counter a Dark-type:
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- Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
- Buzzwole (Bug/Fighting)
- Pheromosa (Bug/Fighting)
- Slither Wing (Bug/Fighting)
- Iron Valiant (Fairy/Fighting)
When coming up against Dark types, pure Fighting, Bug, or Fairy Pokemon will do great, but it’s better to find those who have two of those types.
Always bear in mind a Pokemon’s secondary type when selecting your counter Pokemon and moves. While the above examples are effective against Dark types, the opposing Pokemon may have resistances based on their primary/secondary type.
Best Tera Types for Dark-type Pokemon
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet‘s addition of Tera Types changed the battle rules, so here are the ones you should consider to make your Dark-type creatures stronger:
- Dark: Boosts the power of Dark-type moves on top of STAB
- Fairy: Eliminates the Dark-type weakness to Fairy moves, plus helps resist Fighting and Bug types, too
- Steel: Helps resist Fairy and Bug-type moves
Best Dark moves in Pokemon
There are 51 Dark-type moves and we’ve picked the most powerful special, physical, and status attacks you can use in battle:
| MOVE | CATEGORY | POWER | ACCURACY | PP | EFFECT | GEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baddy Bad | Special | 90 | 100% | 15 | Reduces damage from Physical attacks | Gen VII |
| Fiery Wrath | Special | 90 | 100% | 10 | May cause flinching | Gen VIII |
| Night Daze | Special | 85 | 95% | 10 | May lower the opponent’s Accuracy | Gen V |
| Dark Pulse | Special | 80 | 100% | 15 | May cause flinching | Gen IV |
| Hyperspace Fury | Physical | 100 | ∞ | 5 | Lowers the user’s Defense, but strikes through Protect or Detect | Gen VI |
| Foul Play | Physical | 95 | 100% | 15 | Uses the opponent’s Attack stat | Gen V |
| Kowtow Cleave | Physical | 85 | ∞ | 10 | Always hits | Gen IX |
| Crunch | Physical | 80 | 100% | 15 | May lower the opponent’s Defense | Gen II |
| Embargo | Status | X | 100% | 15 | The opponent can’t use items | Gen IV |
| Hone Claws | Status | X | X | 15 | Raises the user’s Attack and Accuracy | Gen V |
Best Dark-type Pokemon of all time
The Pokemon franchise has a total of 91 Dark-type creatures (up to Gen 9), and here are the 10 best of the ranking:
- Yveltal
- Hoopa
- Roaring Moon
- Darkrai
- Tyranitar
- Chien-Pao
- Hydreigon
- Greninja
- Grimmsnarl
- Umbreon
That’s all there is to know about Dark-type Pokemon. Go ahead and check our list of all the Cat or Dog Pokemon in the franchise, and learn more about other types such as Dragon, Ground, and Normal.
