Everything pushes toward special damage here. Darkrai's Sp. Atk does the work, HP pays the price. But you're still getting 3 Sp. Atk and Speed EVs per KO. Near-impossible to catch, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
On a moonless night, a strange incident occurred in which every one of a village’s inhabitants suffered nightmares. The villagers attested that Darkrai appeared before them in these nightmares.
Darkrai's Dark typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting, Bug, and Fairy. It shrugs off Psychic-type attacks completely. With 70 HP and balanced defenses, Darkrai can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting, Bug, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Ghost, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
Amoonguss's Sludge Bomb hits Darkrai for 33-40%.
 AmoongussRecovers HP on switch via Regenerator, puts to sleep with Spore, threatens with Rage Powder GrassPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Darkrai View Amoonguss builds →Sludge Bomb33-40% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureImpish Moves View Altaria builds →
| ||
 Drifblim Ghost | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityAftermath ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Darkrai View Drifblim builds →Hex16-19% | ||
 Pelipper Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Darkrai View Pelipper builds →Hurricane57-67% | ||
 Haunter GhostPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemEviolite NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Darkrai View Haunter builds →Shadow Ball23-27% Sludge Bomb52-62% | ||
A Dark-type mythical at 600 base stats, Darkrai can't breed or evolve. Event distribution is the standard way to obtain one. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
One boost from Nasty Plot and Darkrai gets dangerous fast. The Timid nature targets max Sp. Atk and Speed, and Baddreams backs the whole approach. Dark Pulse and the remaining moves handle most of what's left standing.
Best Build
Darkrai best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Sludge Bomb
- Nasty Plot
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Void
- Dark Pulse
- Protect
- Dream Eater
Doubles Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Hypnosis
- Nasty Plot
- Dream Eater
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Sludge Bomb
- Nasty Plot
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Void
- Dark Pulse
- Protect
- Dream Eater
Doubles Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Hypnosis
- Nasty Plot
- Dream Eater
Legends: Arceus uses different battle mechanics.
Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Darkrai's coverage across 9 types all comes from technical machines, built on top of Foul Play and Dark Pulse for same-type damage. Dream Eater and Blizzard are the payoff moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Darkrai's coverage across 9 types all comes from technical machines, built on top of Dark Pulse and Crunch for same-type damage. Future Sight and Phantom Force are the payoff moves.
The offense anchors on Dark Pulse and Snarl, with coverage across 10 types adding reach. It's a workable movepool for Darkrai that handles most situations. Psychic and Giga Impact give it enough punch where it matters.
STAB runs through Foul Play and Dark Pulse for the basics, but Darkrai's real strength is the 10-type coverage spread. Normal and Psychic hit common defensive types, and the movepool keeps going.
No wild encounters for Darkrai in Scarlet & Violet. It's available in Diamond, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Darkrai is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also found in:
Darkrai doesn't appear in Legends: Z-A. Transfer it from Diamond, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Darkrai is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also found in:
Darkrai is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Clamberclaw Cliffs when your team is ready for the fight.
Best Locations to Catch Darkrai in Legends: Arceus
Darkrai doesn't appear in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Transfer it from Diamond, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Darkrai is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Special encounter in:
Then trade to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
Also found in:
At 600 BST, Darkrai is built different. We rank it A-Tier. As a Mythical Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a sweeper.
Bad Dreams damages sleeping opponents for 1/8 their max HP after each turn. That's the one you want on Darkrai. It's the only ability Darkrai has.
Darkrai is a special attacker with base 135 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 125 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the sweeper role.
Darkrai has answers, but so do you. Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.
Introduced in Diamond & Pearl, Darkrai shows up in 13 games across 7 generations. Mythical status keeps it locked behind events or specific story content in most appearances.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves