Dark (type)

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If you were looking for the moves known as Dark moves in Japanese, see Shadow move.
If you were looking for the Pokémon surrounded by Dark Auras in Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness, see Shadow Pokémon.

The Dark type (Japanese: あくタイプ Evil type) is one of the eighteen types. Notable Trainers who specialize in Dark-type Pokémon are Karen of the Indigo Plateau Elite Four, Sidney of the Hoenn Elite Four, and Grimsley of the Unova Elite Four. Notably, the Dark type is the only type that has never had a Pokémon Gym specialize in it, although it is a recurrent type used by villainous teams and Elite Four members. Prior to changes in Generation IV, all Dark-type moves were special, but they may now also be physical depending on the attack.

The Dark type was introduced in Generation II, along with the Steel type.

Statistical averages

Overall

Stat
HP: 67.05
Attack: 89.64
Defense: 65.72
Sp.Atk: 70.69
Sp.Def: 63.62
Speed: 73.95
Total: 430.67


Fully evolved

Stat
HP: 76.61
Attack: 101.91
Defense: 78.35
Sp.Atk: 83.52
Sp.Def: 75.26
Speed: 80.22
Total: 495.87


Battle properties

Generations II to V

Offensive Dark Defensive
Power Types   Power Types
Ghost
Psychic
½× Dark
Ghost
½× Dark
Fighting
Steel
Bug
Fighting
None Psychic


Generation VI onwards

Offensive Dark Defensive
Power Types   Power Types
Ghost
Psychic
½× Dark
Ghost
½× Dark
Fairy
Fighting
Bug
Fairy
Fighting
None Psychic


Characteristics

Defense

The Dark type, along with the Steel type, was introduced in Generation II in order to balance the previously overpowered Psychic type. As such, Dark is designed to have a key immunity to Psychic moves. However, most Dark-type Pokémon have poor HP, Defense, and Special Defense stats, though there are others with high defensive stats, such as Tyranitar, Umbreon, Mandibuzz, and Drapion.

Prior to Generation VI, Dark/Ghost-type Pokémon had no weaknesses (excluding Fighting under immunity-negating conditions such as Foresight or Scrappy), as the resistances of the Dark type cover the weaknesses of Ghost, and vice-versa. Introduced in Generation VI, the Fairy type is super effective against Dark and not resisted by Ghost.

Dark pairs well with Poison defensively—the latter nullifies all of the former's weaknesses, while Dark removes Poison's weakness to Psychic, leaving a single Ground weakness.

Offense

Dark-type moves are especially useful when combating Psychic and Ghost types. Many of them involve the possession of an opponent's attributes, such as Knock Off and Foul Play. Dark had little use as neutral coverage until Steel lost its resistance to it in Generation VI. Despite not being very effective against Fairy, several Dark-type Pokémon have access to Steel and Poison-type moves to pose a threat. Dark-type attacks work very well with Fairy-type attacks since the rare Steel/Fairy is the only combination that resists both.

Despite being a special type prior to Generation IV, all previous Dark-type attacks became physical, which is helpful since most Dark-type Pokémon are physical attackers due to their typically high Attack. Nevertheless, some Dark types have notably higher Special Attack, such as Hydreigon, Houndoom, and Zoroark.

Contest properties

In Contests, Dark-type moves are typically categorized as Clever moves.

Pokémon

As of Generation VI, there are 45 Dark-type Pokémon or about 6.3% of all Pokémon (counting forms and Mega Evolutions that change typing as different Pokémon), making it the 6th rarest type.

Pure Dark-type Pokémon

# Name
197 Umbreon Umbreon
261 Poochyena Poochyena
262 Mightyena Mightyena
359 Absol Absol
359 Absol Mega Absol
491 Darkrai Darkrai
509 Purrloin Purrloin
510 Liepard Liepard
570 Zorua Zorua
571 Zoroark Zoroark

Pokéstar Studios opponents

# Name
N/A Monster Monster

Half Dark-type Pokémon

Primary Dark-type Pokémon

# Name Type 1 Type 2
198 Murkrow Murkrow Dark Flying
215 Sneasel Sneasel Dark Ice
228 Houndour Houndour Dark Fire
229 Houndoom Houndoom Dark Fire
229 Houndoom Mega Houndoom Dark Fire
302 Sableye Sableye Dark Ghost
302 Sableye Mega Sableye Dark Ghost
430 Honchkrow Honchkrow Dark Flying
461 Weavile Weavile Dark Ice
559 Scraggy Scraggy Dark Fighting
560 Scrafty Scrafty Dark Fighting
624 Pawniard Pawniard Dark Steel
625 Bisharp Bisharp Dark Steel
629 Vullaby Vullaby Dark Flying
630 Mandibuzz Mandibuzz Dark Flying
633 Deino Deino Dark Dragon
634 Zweilous Zweilous Dark Dragon
635 Hydreigon Hydreigon Dark Dragon
686 Inkay Inkay Dark Psychic
687 Malamar Malamar Dark Psychic
717 Yveltal Yveltal Dark Flying

Secondary Dark-type Pokémon

# Name Type 1 Type 2
130 Gyarados Mega Gyarados Water Dark
248 Tyranitar Tyranitar Rock Dark
248 Tyranitar Mega Tyranitar Rock Dark
274 Nuzleaf Nuzleaf Grass Dark
275 Shiftry Shiftry Grass Dark
318 Carvanha Carvanha Water Dark
319 Sharpedo Sharpedo Water Dark
319 Sharpedo Mega Sharpedo Water Dark
332 Cacturne Cacturne Grass Dark
342 Crawdaunt Crawdaunt Water Dark
434 Stunky Stunky Poison Dark
435 Skuntank Skuntank Poison Dark
442 Spiritomb Spiritomb Ghost Dark
452 Drapion Drapion Poison Dark
551 Sandile Sandile Ground Dark
552 Krokorok Krokorok Ground Dark
553 Krookodile Krookodile Ground Dark
658 Greninja Greninja Water Dark
675 Pangoro Pangoro Fighting Dark
720 Hoopa Hoopa Unbound Psychic Dark

Pokéstar Studios opponents

# Name Type 1 Type 2
N/A Brycen-man Brycen-man Dark Psychic
N/A Majin Majin Dark Ghost

Moves

Gen Move Category Contest Power Accuracy PP Target Description
IV Assurance Physical Beautiful 60 100% 10 (max 16)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
If the target has already taken some damage in the same turn, this attack's power is doubled.
II Beat Up Physical Clever Varies 100% 10 (max 16)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user gets all party Pokémon to attack the target. The more party Pokémon, the greater the number of attacks.
I Bite Physical Tough 60 100% 25 (max 40)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The target is bitten with viciously sharp fangs. It may make the target flinch.
II Crunch Physical Tough 80 100% 15 (max 24)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user crunches up the target with sharp fangs. It may also lower the target's Defense stat.
IV Dark Pulse Special Cool 80 100% 15 (max 24)
     
     
Anyone
The user releases a horrible aura imbued with dark thoughts. It may also make the target flinch.
IV Dark Void Status Clever 80% 10 (max 16)
     
     
All adjacent foes
Opposing Pokémon are dragged into a world of total darkness that makes them sleep.
IV Embargo Status Cute 100% 15 (max 24)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
It prevents the target from using its held item. Its Trainer is also prevented from using items on it.
III Fake Tears Status Clever 100% 20 (max 32)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user feigns crying to fluster the target, harshly lowering its Sp. Def stat.
II Feint Attack Physical Clever 60 % 20 (max 32)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user approaches the target disarmingly, then throws a sucker punch. It hits without fail.
III Flatter Status Clever 100% 15 (max 24)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
Flattery is used to confuse the target. However, it also raises the target's Sp. Atk stat.
IV Fling Physical Tough Varies 100% 10 (max 16)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user flings its held item at the target to attack. Its power and effects depend on the item.
V Foul Play Physical Clever 95 100% 15 (max 24)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user turns the target's power against it. The higher the target's Attack stat, the greater the damage.
V Hone Claws Status Cute % 15 (max 24)
     
     
Self
The user sharpens its claws to boost its Attack stat and accuracy.
VI Hyperspace Fury Physical Tough 100 % 5 (max 8)
     
     
All adjacent foes
Using its many arms, the user unleashes a barrage of attacks that ignore the effects of moves like Protect and Detect. This attack lowers the user's Defense.
III Knock Off Physical Clever 65 100% 20 (max 32)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user slaps down the target's held item, preventing that item from being used in the battle.
III Memento Status Tough % 10 (max 16)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user faints when using this move. In return, it harshly lowers the target's Attack and Sp. Atk.
IV Nasty Plot Status Cute % 20 (max 32)
     
     
Self
The user stimulates its brain by thinking bad thoughts. It sharply raises the user's Sp. Atk.
V Night Daze Special Cool 85 95% 10 (max 16)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user lets loose a pitch-black shock wave at its target. It may also lower the target's accuracy.
IV Night Slash Physical Beautiful 70 100% 15 (max 24)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user slashes the target the instant an opportunity arises. Critical hits land more easily.
VI Parting Shot Status Cool % 20 (max 32)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
With a parting threat, the user lowers the target's Attack and Sp. Atk stats. Then it switches with a party Pokémon.
IV Payback Physical Cool 50 100% 10 (max 16)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
If the user moves after the target, this attack's power will be doubled.
IV Punishment Physical Clever Varies 100% 5 (max 8)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
This attack's power increases the more the target has powered up with stat changes.
II Pursuit Physical Clever 40 100% 20 (max 32)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
An attack move that inflicts double damage if used on a target that is switching out of battle.
V Quash Status Clever 100% 15 (max 24)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user suppresses the target and makes its move go last.
V Snarl Special Tough 55 95% 15 (max 24)
     
     
All adjacent foes
The user yells as if it is ranting about something, making the target's Sp. Atk stat decrease.
III Snatch Status Clever % 10 (max 16)
     
     
Self
The user steals the effects of any healing or stat-changing move the opponent attempts to use.
IV Sucker Punch Physical Clever 80 100% 5 (max 8)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
This move enables the user to attack first. It fails if the target is not readying an attack, however.
IV Switcheroo Status Cool 100% 10 (max 16)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user trades held items with the target faster than the eye can follow.
III Taunt Status Clever 100% 20 (max 32)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The target is taunted into a rage that allows it to use only attack moves for three turns.
II Thief Physical Tough 60 100% 25 (max 40)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user attacks and steals the target's held item simultaneously. It can't steal if the user holds an item.
VI Topsy-Turvy Status Clever % 20 (max 32)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
All stat changes affecting the target turn topsy-turvy and become the opposite of what they were.
III Torment Status Tough 100% 15 (max 24)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
The user torments and enrages the target, making it incapable of using the same move twice in a row.
All details are accurate to Generation VII games. For details that have changed between generations, please see an individual move's page. Target data assumes user is in the lower left.

Abilities

Interacting with the Dark type

A Pokémon with Color Change, Protean, Imposter, or Multitype will become a Dark-type Pokémon if (respectively) it is hit with with a Dark-type move, uses a Dark-type move, is sent out against a Dark-type opponent, or is holding a Dread Plate.

Gen Ability Description
VI Dark Aura Powers up each Pokémon's Dark-type moves.
V Justified Boosts the Attack stat when it's hit by a Dark-type move.
V Rattled Raises Speed one stage upon being hit by a Dark, Ghost, or Bug move.
All details are accurate to Generation VI games. For details that have changed between generations, please see an individual Ability's page.

Exclusive Abilities

Only Dark-type Pokémon can have these Abilities. This does not include signature Abilities.

Trivia

  • Generation V introduced the most Dark-type Pokémon of any generation, with 16, and Generation VI introduced the fewest (minus Generation I) Dark-type Pokémon, with six.
  • Generation IV introduced the most Dark-type moves of any generation, with 11, and Generation VI introduced the fewest (minus Generation I) Dark-type moves, with three.
  • In Generation II, the Dark type saw one type change in a move (Bite), but no change in a Pokémon. The opposite is true for the Steel type, which saw one type change in a Pokémon family (Magnemite and Magneton), but no change in a move.
  • There has yet to be a Pokémon Gym that specializes in the Dark type.
    • The Fairy type, introduced in Generation VI, received its own gym before the Dark type, introduced in Generation II.
  • Despite Dark-type moves being special before Generation IV, every Dark-type move originating from before Generation IV was made into a physical move.

In other languages

Language Title
Japan Flag.png Japanese あく (悪) Aku
Mandarin Chinese 惡 / 恶 È
邪惡 / 邪恶 Xié'è
Denmark Flag.png Danish Mørke
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Duister
Donker
Finland Flag.png Finnish Pimeys
Pimeä
France Flag.png French Ténèbres
Germany Flag.png German Unlicht
Greece Flag.png Greek Σκοταδιού Skotadiou
Israel Flag.png Hebrew אופל Offel
Indonesia Flag.png Indonesian Kegelapan
Italy Flag.png Italian Buio
South Korea Flag.png Korean Ak
Norway Flag.png Norwegian Mørk
Poland Flag.png Polish Mroczny
Brazil Flag.png Brazilian Portuguese Sombrio
Noturno
Romania Flag.png Romanian Întuneric
Russia Flag.png Russian Тёмный Tyomnii
Spanish CELAC Flag.png Latin America Oscuridad
Spain Flag.png Spain Siniestro
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Mörker
Thailand Flag.png Thai มืด or ความมืด