Darkrai (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
← #0490: Manaphy	Pokémon	#0492: Shaymin →
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Darkrai (disambiguation).

Darkrai Pitch-Black Pokémon ダークライ Darkrai #0491 Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Dark Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Ability Bad Dreams Cacophony Cacophony Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Cacophony
Gender ratio Gender unknown	Catch rate 3 (1.6%)
Breeding Egg Group No Eggs Discovered Hatch time 120 cycles Egg not obtainable
Height 4'11" 1.5 m Darkrai 0'0" 0 m {{{form2}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 111.3 lbs. 50.5 kg Darkrai 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form2}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield 210 Gen. IV Unknown IV 270 V+	Leveling rate Slow
EV yield Total: 3 Darkrai 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 2 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 1 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint {{{form2}}}
Pokédex color   Black	Base friendship 0
External Links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Darkrai (Japanese: ダークライ Darkrai) is a Dark-type Mythical Pokémon introduced in Generation IV.

It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

It was officially revealed in February 2007.

It is a member of the lunar duo with Cresselia.

Darkrai is the last Pokémon in the Hisui Pokédex.

Biology

Darkrai's extendable stilt-like appendages

Darkrai is a black, shadow-like Pokémon. It has a small head with a white fog-like ghostly plume billowing from its head covering one of its bright blue eyes, with the portion on its face resembling hair. It also has a red spiky growth around its neck. It has skinny arms and long black tatters hanging from its shoulders. It also has black, claw-like hands. It has the slight appearance of an hourglass figure and appears to be wearing an old, ripped cloak. It normally does not have any sort of legs, but it is able to extend stilt-like appendages in their place. In self-defense, Darkrai can retract its head and white "plume" into the pit atop its torso fringed by the aforementioned red growth.

Darkrai is known to "inhabit" dreams and causes the target to have unending nightmares, which can be stopped if exposed to a Lunar Feather from Cresselia. However, the "unleashing of nightmares" is actually a defense mechanism, instead of an intentionally malicious act. Darkrai is capable of flying at high speeds, and it can become a shadow in order to escape danger or contact with humans. It is also capable of some human speech. In The Rise of Darkrai, it was shown its power was weaker than that of Dialga and Palkia. Its relationship to its counterpart, Cresselia, can vary between individuals and canons, with some being antagonistic, as seen Sleepless In Pre-Battle! and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky, or cooperative, as seen in Nightfall? Nightmares! and A Midsummer Night's Light!. As seen in Sleepless In Pre-Battle!, Darkrai does not only cause nightmares; it is also attracted to them. It can also go around objects it is attracted to several times, as seen in the mentioned episode and Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia. Darkrai is said to be active during nights of the new moon. Darkrai possibly feeds off dreams, characterized by its association with never-ending nightmares.

Darkrai is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Dark Void.

In the anime

Main series

Darkrai in the anime

Major appearances

Darkrai (M10)

Darkrai debuted in The Rise of Darkrai as a protagonist. It took the task of holding off the fighting between Dialga and Palkia until Ash and Dawn could put the Oración disk in the Space-Time Towers music player to calm the two Legendary Pokémon down. It reappeared in a cameo in the ending credits of Arceus and the Jewel of Life.

Darkrai (recurring)

A Darkrai appeared in Nightfall? Nightmares! and A Midsummer Night's Light!, where it was a target of Matori and the Matori Matrix, along with Cresselia.

Darkrai's known moves are Dark Pulse and Dark Void, and its Ability is Bad Dreams.

Other

Darkrai made its main series debut in Sleepless In Pre-Battle!. Unlike the Darkrai in The Rise of Darkrai, this Darkrai was maliciously causing nightmares, much like the one in the games. According to Officer Jenny, it comes at a certain time every year. In the episode, however, it came earlier due to it being lured out by Team Rocket's machine, which was also causing nightmares. Cresselia is normally in the same place as Darkrai to stop it from giving nightmares, but due to Darkrai's early arrival, 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 League Unleashed!, a mysterious Trainer competed in the Lily of the Valley Conference with a Darkrai. In the following episode, Conway revealed that the Trainer, Tobias, had easily defeated eight Gym Leaders of the Sinnoh region using only Darkrai. In the Sinnoh League semifinals, this Darkrai was used against Ash, where it easily defeated Heracross, Torkoal, and Gible. However, it was defeated by Ash's Sceptile in The Semi-Final Frontier!.

In Pikachu, What's This Key?, Meowth, Wobbuffet, and Inkay visited a Darkrai courtesy of Klefki's keys. Darkrai scared them out of a dark world in which it resided.

In Dream a Little Dream from Me!, a Darkrai was the source of Pikachu, Meowth, and Squishy's nightmare. Darkrai eventually left as soon as it was spotted by Ash and his friends.

Minor appearances

A Darkrai appeared in the opening sequence of Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.

Pokédex entries

GOTCHA!

A Darkrai briefly appeared as a silhouette in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Darkrai in Pokémon Adventures

Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic

Darkrai plays a major role in Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic.

Movie adaptations

Main article: Darkrai (M10)

Darkrai plays a major role in the manga adaptation of The Rise of Darkrai.

Phantom Thief Pokémon 7

A Darkrai has a recurring role in Phantom Thief Pokémon 7.

Pocket Monsters DP

A Darkrai appeared in PMDP19.

A Darkrai appeared in PMDP29.

Pokémon Adventures

In Phew for Mew, Sird let out a beam of light from a Poké Ball in an attempt to recapture Deoxys. When Mewtwo's attack collided with the beam, it caused Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Silver to turn to stone. In Double Trouble with Dialga and Palkia IV, the beam was revealed to have been Darkrai. In The Final Dimensional Duel VIII, Sird was revealed to have released it into the Distortion World, where it clashed with Palmer's Cresselia and was briefly controlled by Charon. After escaping from Giratina's realm, it left to parts unknown.

A Darkrai appeared as a silhouette in a fantasy in Unplugging Rotom (Heat, Wash, Mow, Fan, Frost).

In the TCG

Main article: Darkrai (TCG)

Other appearances

Darkrai in Pokkén Tournament

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Darkrai appears as a trophy.

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.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U

Darkrai trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS

Darkrai appears as a Poké Ball Pokémon. It puts fighters to sleep and damages them by using Dark Void. It also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.

Trophy information

NA: This Dark-type Pokémon can cause people and other Pokémon to experience nightmares. While it is floating in the air, it tucks its legs in so far, it looks like they vanish! In battle it will use a move called Dark Void, which sucks in surrounding opponents and puts them into a deep sleep.

PAl: A Pokémon shrouded in mystery, Darkrai has the ability to implant nightmares into the minds of both humans and Pokémon. It has legs, but seems to prefer to float in the air. Its favourite move in this game is Dark Void. When this attack hits something, it creates a vortex that sucks in fighters and puts them to sleep.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Darkrai returns as a Poké Ball summon. As before, it uses Dark Void, which puts foes to sleep and damages them. Darkrai also appears as a Spirit.

Pokkén Tournament DX

Main article: Darkrai (Pokkén)

Darkrai is a playable character in the arcade and Nintendo Switch versions of Pokkén Tournament.

Game data

NPC appearances

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness: 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.
• PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond: Darkrai is the main antagonist in the game. He resided in Wish Park and wants to merge the Wish Park with PokéPark.
• Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia: Darkrai is the final boss, summoned by Blake Hall.

	Spoilers end here.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

Darkrai in PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond

In events

In-game events

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Events*		Enigma Berry (100%)

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

Darkrai is available in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

By leveling up

BDSP

LA

By TM

Generation VIII Other generations: IV - V - VI - VII - IX

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  TM01 TM01 Focus Punch Fighting Physical 150150 100}}100% 20 TM04 TM04 Calm Mind Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM11 TM11 Sunny Day Fire Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM12 TM12 Taunt Dark Status 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM13 TM13 Ice Beam Ice Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM14 TM14 Blizzard Ice Special 110110 070}}70% 5 TM15 TM15 Hyper Beam Normal Special 150150 090}}90% 5 TM17 TM17 Protect Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM18 TM18 Rain Dance Water Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM24 TM24 Thunderbolt Electric Special 09090 100}}100% 15 TM25 TM25 Thunder Electric Special 110110 070}}70% 10 TM29 TM29 Psychic Psychic Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM30 TM30 Shadow Ball Ghost Special 08080 100}}100% 15 TM31 TM31 Brick Break Fighting Physical 07575 100}}100% 15 TM32 TM32 Double Team Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 15 TM34 TM34 Shock Wave Electric Special 06060 00—}}—% 20 TM36 TM36 Sludge Bomb Poison Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM39 TM39 Rock Tomb Rock Physical 06060 095}}95% 15 TM40 TM40 Aerial Ace Flying Physical 06060 00—}}—% 20 TM41 TM41 Torment Dark Status 0000— 100}}100% 15 TM42 TM42 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM44 TM44 Rest Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM46 TM46 Thief Dark Physical 06060 100}}100% 25 TM52 TM52 Focus Blast Fighting Special 120120 070}}70% 5 TM56 TM56 Fling Dark Physical 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM57 TM57 Charge Beam Electric Special 05050 090}}90% 10 TM58 TM58 Endure Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM60 TM60 Drain Punch Fighting Physical 07575 100}}100% 10 TM61 TM61 Will-O-Wisp Fire Status 0000— 085}}85% 15 TM63 TM63 Nasty Plot Dark Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM65 TM65 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical 07070 100}}100% 15 TM66 TM66 Payback Dark Physical 05050 100}}100% 10 TM68 TM68 Giga Impact Normal Physical 150150 090}}90% 5 TM70 TM70 Flash Normal Status 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM73 TM73 Thunder Wave Electric Status 0000— 090}}90% 20 TM75 TM75 Swords Dance Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM77 TM77 Psych Up Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM78 TM78 Snarl Dark Special 05555 095}}95% 15 TM79 TM79 Dark Pulse Dark Special 08080 100}}100% 15 TM80 TM80 Rock Slide Rock Physical 07575 090}}90% 10 TM81 TM81 X-Scissor Bug Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM82 TM82 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM84 TM84 Poison Jab Poison Physical 08080 100}}100% 20 TM85 TM85 Dream Eater Psychic Special 100100 100}}100% 15 TM87 TM87 Swagger Normal Status 0000— 085}}85% 15 TM90 TM90 Substitute Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM93 TM93 Cut Normal Physical 05050 095}}95% 30 TM96 TM96 Strength Normal Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM98 TM98 Rock Smash Fighting Physical 04040 100}}100% 15 XTM100 TM100 Rock Climb Normal Physical 09090 085}}85% 20

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Darkrai Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Darkrai Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

By tutoring

BDSP

LA

Side game data

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: -22% IQ group: I
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group: Dark Poké Assist: Dark Field move: (Dark Power ×-) Browser entry R-257 It sends gusts of dark wind and lets loose dark pulses to attack.
Pokémon Rumble Attack ●●●●● Defense ●●●● Speed ●●●●●			Pokémon Rumble Blast Attack ●●●●● Defense ●●●● Speed ●●●●●
Pokémon Rumble Rush Walking Speed: 1.17 seconds Base HP: 53 Base Attack: 84 Base Defense: 57 Base Speed: 80
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: Darkrai came to the PokéPark in search of a comfortable place to stay. He's second to none when playing Dusknoir's Speed Slam.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond PokéPark Pad entry: He tried to ease his loneliness by inviting everyone to one world, but the incident with the Dark Vortex made him realize that he was not alone.
Pokémon Battle Trozei Dark Attack Power: ★★★★★ Power of Five Increases the damage dealt by matching five Pokémon.			Pokémon Shuffle Dark Attack Power: 80 - 145 20 #303 Sleep Charm Leaves the foe asleep. Swappable Skill(s): Spookify+
Pokémon GO Base HP: 172 Base Attack: 285 Base Defense: 198 Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 20 km Evolution Requirement: N/A Fast Attacks: Snarl, Feint Attack Charged Attacks: Focus Blast, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Sludge Bomb✝

Evolution

Unevolved Darkrai  Dark

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Front Back Front Back Front Back
Generation V Black White Black 2 White 2 Front Back Front Back
Generation VI X Y Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Front Back Front Back
Generation VII Sun Moon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon Front Back Front Back
Generation VIII Legends: Arceus

For other sprites and images, please see Darkrai images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Darkrai's effort value yield of 2 Special Attack and 1 Speed is unique.
• Darkrai has two different portrait pictures in both Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
• Sailor Eldritch's son says "Dar... Dark... Is watching me..." in his sleep before the player cures his nightmare. It is assumed that he is talking about Darkrai, as it is known to give its victims horrific nightmares.
• 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 players of other language releases to reach Darkrai without the Member Card.
  • This has been remedied in Pokémon Platinum, however, as Darkrai itself will not appear on the island without the event ticket.
• Darkrai was designed by Hironobu Yoshida.^[1]
• In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, Darkrai is the only non-Ghost type Pokémon capable of traveling through walls and all other terrain types without the All-Terrain Hiker IQ skill.
• Despite being a gender-unknown Pokémon, the Darkrai in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky is referred to as a male.

Origin

Darkrai's appearance and abilities suggest it is based on the concept of nightmares or a mare. Resembling a shadow, it may also have been inspired by the bogeyman, the Greek god Morpheus, genies (or jinn), or the Oneiroi, namely Phobetor. It might also be based on the Nocnitsa from Slavic folklore. The Nocnitsa is an evil spirit that torments children with horrible nightmares, slowly draining them of their life energy with each passing night. Supposedly, the only way to protect oneself from Nocnitsa is by placing a knife or special stone underneath a pillow. This is similar to how victims of Darkrai's nightmares can only be woken up with the Lunar Feather.

Name origin

Darkrai may be a combination of dark and 暗い kurai (dark).

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ダークライ Darkrai From dark and 暗い kurai French Darkrai Same as English/Japanese name Spanish Darkrai Same as English/Japanese name German Darkrai Same as English/Japanese name Italian Darkrai Same as English/Japanese name Korean 다크라이 Darkrai Transcription of Japanese name Mandarin Chinese 達克萊伊 Dákèláiyī Transcription of Japanese name Cantonese Chinese 達克萊伊 Daahthāklòihyī Transcription of Japanese name

More languages Russian Даркрай Darkray Transcription of English name Thai ดาร์กไร Dakrai Transcription of Japanese name

Related articles

• Lunar duo
• Darkrai (M10)
• Darkrai (Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky)
• Darkrai (Pokkén)
• Mythical Pokémon

References

External links

• Darkrai on Pokemon.com

Mythical Pokémon

Generation I

Generation II

Generation III

Generation IV

Generation V

Generation VI

Generation VII

Generation VIII

Generation IX

See also: Legendary Pokémon

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Pokémon

#0492: Shaymin →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.