Dark (type)

The Dark type was introduced in the second generation of Pokémon games as a measure to balance the types. In particular, its immunity to Psychic cut down that type's advantage by a long way. When paired with the Ghost type it was the only type combination to have no weaknesses before the Fairy type was introduced in Gen 6.

In Generations 2-3, all Dark type moves were categorized as Special.

89
Dark type Pokémon
16
Single type Pokémon
73
Dual type Pokémon
53
Dark-type moves

Attack pros & cons

Tick Dark moves are super-effective against:

Psychic Ghost

Cross Dark moves are not very effective against:

Fighting Dark Fairy

Defense pros & cons

Tick These types have no effect on Dark Pokémon:

Psychic

Tick These types are not very effective against Dark Pokémon:

Ghost Dark

Cross These types are super-effective against Dark Pokémon:

Fighting Bug Fairy

Dual-type attack pros & cons

This chart shows the strength of the Dark type against every type combination. The fraction of damage a Dark type move will deal is shown - ½ means 50% damage (not very effective), 2 means 200% (super-effective) and so on.

Nor Fir Wat Ele Gra Ice Fig Poi Gro Fly Psy Bug Roc Gho Dra Dar Ste Fai
Normal ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Fire ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Water ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Electric ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Grass ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Ice ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Fighting ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ¼ ½ ¼
Poison ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Ground ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Flying ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Psychic 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2
Bug ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Rock ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Ghost 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 2
Dragon ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Dark ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ¼ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ¼
Steel ½ 2 2 ½ ½
Fairy ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ¼ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ¼ ½

Effects of the Dark type

  • The ability Rattled raises the Pokémon's Speed one stage when hit by a Dark type attack.
  • The ability Justified raises the Pokémon's Attack one stage when hit by a Dark type attack.
  • The Dark Aura ability increases the power of Dark type moves for all Pokémon on the field by 33%.
  • If Pokémon with the abilities Dark Aura and Aura Break (i.e. Yveltal and Zygarde) are both in battle, the power of Dark type moves for all Pokémon on the field instead decreases by 25%.
  • The move Miracle Eye allows Psychic type moves to hit Dark type Pokémon.
  • The items Dread Plate and Dark Glasses increase the power of Dark type moves by 20% when held.
  • The Dark Gem increases the power of a Dark type move by 30% when held, and is then consumed.
  • The Colbur Berry, when held, neutralizes a super-effective Dark type move.

Other languages

English Dark
Japanese あく
German Unlicht
French Ténèbres
Italian Buio
Spanish Siniestro
Korean
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)

Dark Pokémon stat averages

75.1
HP
Ranked #6
94.8
Attack
Ranked #4
71.9
Defense
Ranked #12
74.7
Sp. Attack
Ranked #9
70.9
Sp. Defense
Ranked #14
78.2
Speed
Ranked #5

Notable Dark-type trainers

Karen

Karen
Elite Four
Gen 2, 4
Sidney

Sidney
Elite Four
Gen 3, 6
Grimsley

Grimsley
Elite Four
Gen 5
Nanu

Nanu
Island Kahuna
Gen 7
Piers

Piers
Spikemuth Gym Leader
Gen 8
Giacomo

Giacomo
Team Star Boss
Gen 9

Dark Pokémon

There are 89 Dark-type Pokémon.
See also:

Alolan Rattata Rattata
Alolan Rattata
#0019 / Dark · Normal
Alolan Raticate Raticate
Alolan Raticate
#0020 / Dark · Normal
Alolan Meowth Meowth
Alolan Meowth
#0052 / Dark
Alolan Persian Persian
Alolan Persian
#0053 / Dark
Alolan Grimer Grimer
Alolan Grimer
#0088 / Poison · Dark
Alolan Muk Muk
Alolan Muk
#0089 / Poison · Dark
Mega Gyarados Gyarados
Mega Gyarados
#0130 / Water · Dark
Galarian Moltres Moltres
Galarian Moltres
#0146 / Dark · Flying
Umbreon Umbreon
#0197 / Dark
Murkrow Murkrow
#0198 / Dark · Flying
Hisuian Qwilfish Qwilfish
Hisuian Qwilfish
#0211 / Dark · Poison
Sneasel Sneasel
#0215 / Dark · Ice
Houndour Houndour
#0228 / Dark · Fire
Houndoom Houndoom
#0229 / Dark · Fire
Mega Houndoom Houndoom
Mega Houndoom
#0229 / Dark · Fire
Tyranitar Tyranitar
#0248 / Rock · Dark
Mega Tyranitar Tyranitar
Mega Tyranitar
#0248 / Rock · Dark
Poochyena Poochyena
#0261 / Dark
Mightyena Mightyena
#0262 / Dark
Galarian Zigzagoon Zigzagoon
Galarian Zigzagoon
#0263 / Dark · Normal
Galarian Linoone Linoone
Galarian Linoone
#0264 / Dark · Normal
Nuzleaf Nuzleaf
#0274 / Grass · Dark
Shiftry Shiftry
#0275 / Grass · Dark
Sableye Sableye
#0302 / Dark · Ghost
Mega Sableye Sableye
Mega Sableye
#0302 / Dark · Ghost
Carvanha Carvanha
#0318 / Water · Dark
Sharpedo Sharpedo
#0319 / Water · Dark
Mega Sharpedo Sharpedo
Mega Sharpedo
#0319 / Water · Dark
Cacturne Cacturne
#0332 / Grass · Dark
Crawdaunt Crawdaunt
#0342 / Water · Dark
Absol Absol
#0359 / Dark
Mega Absol Absol
Mega Absol
#0359 / Dark
Honchkrow Honchkrow
#0430 / Dark · Flying
Stunky Stunky
#0434 / Poison · Dark
Skuntank Skuntank
#0435 / Poison · Dark
Spiritomb Spiritomb
#0442 / Ghost · Dark
Drapion Drapion
#0452 / Poison · Dark
Weavile Weavile
#0461 / Dark · Ice
Darkrai Darkrai
#0491 / Dark
Hisuian Samurott Samurott
Hisuian Samurott
#0503 / Water · Dark
Purrloin Purrloin
#0509 / Dark
Liepard Liepard
#0510 / Dark
Sandile Sandile
#0551 / Ground · Dark
Krokorok Krokorok
#0552 / Ground · Dark
Krookodile Krookodile
#0553 / Ground · Dark
Scraggy Scraggy
#0559 / Dark · Fighting
Scrafty Scrafty
#0560 / Dark · Fighting
Zorua Zorua
#0570 / Dark
Zoroark Zoroark
#0571 / Dark
Pawniard Pawniard
#0624 / Dark · Steel
Bisharp Bisharp
#0625 / Dark · Steel
Vullaby Vullaby
#0629 / Dark · Flying
Mandibuzz Mandibuzz
#0630 / Dark · Flying
Deino Deino
#0633 / Dark · Dragon
Zweilous Zweilous
#0634 / Dark · Dragon
Hydreigon Hydreigon
#0635 / Dark · Dragon
Greninja Greninja
#0658 / Water · Dark
Greninja (Ash-Greninja) Greninja
Ash-Greninja
#0658 / Water · Dark
Pangoro Pangoro
#0675 / Fighting · Dark
Inkay Inkay
#0686 / Dark · Psychic
Malamar Malamar
#0687 / Dark · Psychic
Yveltal Yveltal
#0717 / Dark · Flying
Hoopa (Hoopa Unbound) Hoopa
Hoopa Unbound
#0720 / Psychic · Dark
Incineroar Incineroar
#0727 / Fire · Dark
Guzzlord Guzzlord
#0799 / Dark · Dragon
Nickit Nickit
#0827 / Dark
Thievul Thievul
#0828 / Dark
Impidimp Impidimp
#0859 / Dark · Fairy
Morgrem Morgrem
#0860 / Dark · Fairy
Grimmsnarl Grimmsnarl
#0861 / Dark · Fairy
Obstagoon Obstagoon
#0862 / Dark · Normal
Morpeko (Full Belly Mode) Morpeko
Full Belly Mode
#0877 / Electric · Dark
Morpeko (Hangry Mode) Morpeko
Hangry Mode
#0877 / Electric · Dark
Urshifu (Single Strike Style) Urshifu
Single Strike Style
#0892 / Fighting · Dark
Zarude Zarude
#0893 / Dark · Grass
Overqwil Overqwil
#0904 / Dark · Poison
Meowscarada Meowscarada
#0908 / Grass · Dark
Lokix Lokix
#0920 / Bug · Dark
Maschiff Maschiff
#0942 / Dark
Mabosstiff Mabosstiff
#0943 / Dark
Bombirdier Bombirdier
#0962 / Flying · Dark
Kingambit Kingambit
#0983 / Dark · Steel
Brute Bonnet Brute Bonnet
#0986 / Grass · Dark
Wo-Chien Wo-Chien
#1001 / Dark · Grass
Chien-Pao Chien-Pao
#1002 / Dark · Ice
Ting-Lu Ting-Lu
#1003 / Dark · Ground
Chi-Yu Chi-Yu
#1004 / Dark · Fire