Darkrai
ダークライ Darkrai
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Artwork from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
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| EV yield
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HP
0
| Atk
0
| Def
0
| Sp.Atk
2
| Sp.Def
0
| Speed
1
| Exp.
210
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Darkrai (Japanese: ダークライ Darkrai) is a Dark-type legendary Pokémon. It was first officially revealed in February of 2007.
It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
Biology
Physiology
Darkrai is a black, shadow-like creature. It has a small black head with a white substance erupting from its head covering one of its bright blue eyes, and also has a red growth around its neck. It has skinny arms and long black tatters hang from its shoulders. It has an hourglass figure and appears to be wearing an old, ripped cloak. It normally doesn't have any sort of legs, but it is able to extend stilt-like appendages in their place.
Gender differences
Darkrai is a genderless species.
Special abilities
Darkrai can trap people in nightmares. It can become a shadow to move quickly, but it is still susceptible to damage in this state. It is also capable of human speech. In The Rise of Darkrai, it was shown his power rivaled Palkia and Dialga's, though this may of been this particular Darkrai and not the species as a whole.
Darkrai is the only known Pokémon that learns Dark Void.
Behavior
This Pokémon "inhabits" people's dreams and causes them to have unending nightmares. In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, it is stated that the only way a person can wake from one of these nightmares is to be exposed to the Lunar Wing of Cresselia. Contrary to popular belief, this "unleashing of nightmares" is in fact a defense mechanism, rather than something of malicious intent.
In the 10th movie, Darkrai tried to protect Alamos Town from being destroyed by Dialga and Palkia and sacrificed itself in the process, although by the end of the movie it was revived. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2, however, portrays a Darkrai with a much more evil character, who wants a world enshrouded in darkness, going to the edge of almost destroying time and space to accomplish that. However, after it is recruited, it shows surprising loyalty, even going as far as to say that he will never leave the player, no matter the danger. This is mainly due to the fact that Darkrai lost its memory when it was attacked by Palkia while trying to escape through a dimensional hole. It is worth noting that this Darkrai's personality after being attacked by Palkia is similar to the original Darkrai, who was very loyal to those it cared about.
As seen in its first appearance in an episode, Darkrai do not only cause nightmares. They are also attracted to them. They also go around objects they are attracted to several times, as seen in the mentioned episode and Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia.
Habitat
Whilst Darkrai isn't nesting in the dreams of humans, it lingers around a lost island called Newmoon Island, which can only be reached by using a Member Card in Canalave City in the house above the Pokémon Center.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
Possibly dreams, characterized by its association with never-ending nightmares and the ability to learn the move Dream Eater.
In the anime
Darkrai co-starred in The Rise of Darkrai as one of the protagonists, taking the task of ceasing the fighting between Dialga and Palkia upon itself.
Darkrai made its anime debut in Sleepless in Pre-Battle!. Unlike the Darkrai in the film, this Darkrai was causing nightmares, much like in the games. According to Officer Jenny, it comes at a certain time every year. In the episode, however, it came earlier due to Team Rocket's machine that was causing nightmares. Cresselia is normally in the same place as Darkrai to stop it giving nightmares but due to Darkrai's early coming, the people in Canalave City had nightmares for several days. One night, it was concealing itself when Cresselia used its abilities to reveal it from the darkness. The two then battled and Darkrai hid itself once more in the shadows.
In the manga
Darkrai appeared in the manga adaptation of The Rise of Darkrai. In this canon, Darkrai is portrayed as a good character, unlike its appearance in the anime. This is more in line with the events of the film.
In the TCG
- Main article: Darkrai (TCG)
Other appearances
Darkrai was rumored to be featured as one of the Poké Ball Pokémon in the Super Smash Bros. Brawl demo at Whobby 2008. However, it was later confirmed to not be in the final version, appearing as a trophy instead.
Trophy Information
A Pitch-Black Pokémon. It becomes active on nights of the new moon. This legendary Pokémon has the power to lull people to sleep and fill their heads with dreams. Proverbs say that Darkrai will make people have terrifying dreams on moonless nights. A Dark-type Pokémon, Darkrai uses the Dark Void move, along with Embargo, which stops foes from using held items.
Game data
NPC appearances
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2: Darkrai is revealed to be the main antagonist of the game in the post-game story. He wants to cover the world in darkness, and was behind the collapse of the Temporal Tower in the main storyline of the game. His interference is also the reason the player was separated from Grovyle and turned into a Pokémon. In the post-game story, he turns his attention to distorting the fabric of space to cover the world in darkness.
Pokédex entries
| Gen
| Game
| Pokédex entry
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| I
| This Pokémon was not available in Generation I.
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| II
| This Pokémon was not available in Generation II.
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| III
| This Pokémon was not available in Generation III.
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| IV
| Diamond
| It can lull people to sleep and make them dream. It is active during nights of the new moon.
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| Pearl
| Folklore has it that on moonless nights, this Pokémon will make people see horrific nightmares.
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| Platinum
| To protect itself, it afflicts those around it with nightmares. However, it means no harm.
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Game locations
In side games
In events
Base stats
Type effectiveness
| Weak to
| Resistant to
| Immune to
| Normal effectiveness
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| Notes:
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Learnset
Side game data
Evolution
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| Does not evolve
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Darkrai
Dark
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Sprites
Trivia
- Darkrai is the only pure Dark-type Pokémon from Generation IV and currently the only Dark-type legendary.
- While in the tenth movie and Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Darkrai is portrayed as a hero; in the games it's the only Pokémon truly portrayed as evil, in a sense, especially in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2 (though the nightmare inducing effects are merely a self-defense mechanism, as it was in The Rise of Darkrai and in Platinum's Pokédex entry).
- The boy of the sailor who owns the boat that normally goes to Iron Island says "Dar... Dark... Is watching me..." He probably means Darkrai, as it is known to give its victims horrific nightmares.
- If Darkrai was the cause of the sailor's son's nightmares, it can be assumed Darkrai is aware that the player cured the boy using Cresselia's Lunar Wing: When the player takes the Member Card to the Harbor Inn, the innkeeper (presumably an illusion created by Darkrai) states that he has been waiting for the player's arrival.
- In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2, Darkrai is referred to as male, despite being genderless in the main series.
- In the early Japanese versions of Diamond and Pearl, Darkrai can be caught with the surf glitch. However, this glitch was fixed in other language versions. Another glitch has been discovered that allows the players to reach Darkrai.
- This has been remedied in Pokémon Platinum, however, as Darkrai itself will not appear on the island without the event ticket.
- Darkrai and Weavile are the fastest Dark-types, both having a base Speed of 125.
- Darkrai also has the highest Special Attack of any Dark-type, with a base stat of 135.
- Darkrai is one of the few Pokémon that can talk in the anime.
- Darkrai is the only legendary Pokémon and the only Dark-type that can learn Nightmare naturally.
- Darkrai has two different portrait pictures in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon.
- It is interesting to note that Darkrai was able to transform into its supposed opposite, Cresselia, in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon.
- Darkrai has similarities with Dusknoir. Both are villains in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2, but are portrayed as heroes in their debut appearances.
Origin
Darkrai's appearance suggests it is based on the concept of nightmares. It also resembles a shadow. It may possibly be based on the Boogie Man.
Name origin
Darkrai's name is a combination of the word dark and 暗い kurai, the Japanese word for "dark".
In other languages
Related articles
External links
Notes
Body size: 1
( Dark )
(Dark Power)
For other sprites and images, please see Darkrai images on Bulbagarden Archives.
