Dark-type Pokemon: Weaknesses & Strengths Explained

In the world of Pokemon, the cunning Dark-type is notorious for effortlessly outsmarting its adversaries. Therefore, it is essential to understand their vulnerabilities and strengths in order to choose the most effective counters for battle.

The enigmatic and cunning movesets of Dark-type Pokemon make them a formidable opponent in battle, as they are considered a distinct element in Pokemon games. This can prove detrimental for those who are vulnerable to their attacks.

To prepare for encountering a Dark type in any game from the Pokemon franchise, it is important to understand that they typically have two typings.

Dark-type Pokemon Weaknesses

There are three main weaknesses that Dark-type Pokemon possess in terms of moves and opposing Pokemon types:

Bug
Fairy
Fighting

Remember, a Pokemon may have more than one type. For instance, your selected creature could be both a Dark and Dragon-type, so make sure to utilize any additional vulnerabilities they may possess by being mindful of their secondary type.

The Dark-type Pokemon Absol — The Pokemon Company

Dark-type Pokemon – strengths and resistances

Dark-type Pokemon have a natural defense against Ghost and other Dark-type creatures and moves, and they are also immune to attacks from Psychic-type Pokemon.

When utilizing a Dark-type Pokemon, it is not advisable to pit it against Fighting, Dark, or Fairy adversaries as their Dark moves will not be as effective. However, they can prove to be valuable assets in battles against Psychic and Ghost types, so it is recommended to take advantage of their strengths in those situations.

Top Counters for Dark-type Pokémon

Here are a few of the top Pokemon that are effective against Dark-types:

Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
Buzzwole (Bug/Fighting)
Pheromosa (Bug/Fighting)
Slither Wing (Bug/Fighting)
Iron Valiant (Fairy/Fighting)

When facing Dark types, it is beneficial to use pure Fighting, Bug, or Fairy Pokemon, but it is even more advantageous to have Pokemon that possess two of those types.

Remember to take into consideration a Pokemon’s secondary type when choosing your counter Pokemon and moves. Although the previously mentioned examples are successful against Dark types, the opposing Pokemon may possess resistances depending on their primary or secondary type.

Best Tera Types for Dark-type Pokemon

The inclusion of Tera Types in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet altered the battle regulations, thus it is important to take note of the following tips to enhance the strength of your Dark-type creatures.

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

Out of the 51 available Dark-type moves, we have carefully selected the most effective special, physical, and status attacks that can be utilized in battles.

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 currently includes 91 Dark-type creatures (up to Gen 9), and the following list features the top 10 ranked creatures within this type.

Yveltal
Touch
Roaring Moon
Darkrai
Tyranitar
Dog-Pao
Hydreigon
Greninja
Grimmsnarl
Umbreon

Now that you know everything about Dark-type Pokemon, be sure to also browse our comprehensive list of Cat and Dog Pokemon in the franchise. You can also expand your knowledge on other types like Dragon, Ground, and Normal.