Special
Sweeper
600Elite
125Very Fast
ATier

Everything about Darkrai's stat line is built to win. 135 base Sp. Atk leads the way, and even its worst stat (70 HP) isn't a real liability. Psychic moves can't touch it, and only 2 types hit it super-effectively. Part of the Gen 4 roster.

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.

Base Stats
600Legend
HP70
C
Attack90
B
Defense90
B
Sp. Atk135
A
Sp. Def90
B
Speed125
A
Total600
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Darkrai yields +2 SpA, +1 Spe
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe+1
Details
Catch3LegendarySlow1.25M XP1.5m / 4'11"50.5kg / 111.3 lbs270Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It chases people and Pokémon from its territory by causing them to experience deep, nightmarish slumbers.

Heart Gold / Soul Silver

Darkrai Weakness

Good

Darkrai's Dark typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting and Bug moves. It shrugs off Psychic-type attacks completely. With 70 HP and balanced defenses, Darkrai can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.

Gen IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
STAB (2)i
2Weak
2Resist
1Immune
Scorei+1
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Bad DreamsDamages sleeping opponents for 1/8 their max HP after each turn.

A Dark-type mythical at 600 base stats, Darkrai can't breed or evolve. Event distribution is the standard way to obtain one.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Darkrai
#491Darkrai
Does not evolve
Breeding
Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

STAB runs through Dark Pulse and Sucker Punch for the basics, but Darkrai's real strength is the 11-type coverage spread. Ghost and Normal hit common defensive types, and the movepool keeps going.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Disable
8020Normal
Lv 1
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
Lv 11
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Lv 20
Hypnosis
7020Psychic
Lv 29
Feint Attack
6020Dark
Lv 38
Nightmare
10015Ghost
Lv 47
Double Team
15Normal
Lv 57
Haze
30Ice
Lv 66
Dark Void
5010Dark
Lv 75
Nasty Plot
20Dark
Lv 84
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
Lv 93
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM57
Charge Beam
509010Electric
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM79
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM60
Drain Punch
751005Fighting
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM63
Embargo
10015Dark
TM58
Endure+4
10Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
10020Normal
TM56
Fling
10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM01
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM83
Natural Gift
10015Normal
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM84
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
HM08
Rock Climb
908520Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
HM06
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
609510Rock
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM34
Shock Wave
6020Electric
TM82
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM49
Snatch+4
10Dark
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
30Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM25
Thunder
1207010Electric
TM73
Thunder Wave
10020Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
7515Fire
TM81
X-Scissor
8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Darkrai doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Tutor
Knock Off
6510020Dark
Tutor
Last Resort
1301005Normal
Tutor
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Tutor
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
Tutor
Snore
4010015Normal
Tutor
Spite
10010Ghost
Tutor
Sucker Punch+1
801005Dark
Tutor
Swift
6020Normal
Tutor
Trick
10010Psychic

Darkrai doesn't appear in HeartGold & SoulSilver. 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver.

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.

  • Watch for Lucario (Fighting) and Scyther (Bug) when using Darkrai. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Darkrai doesn't evolve. As a Mythical Pokemon, it stands on its own without an evolutionary line. It's a Dark type with 600 BST.

  • 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. But the speed tells the real story — base 125 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the sweeper role.

  • Darkrai appears in 13 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.

Introduced in Diamond & Pearl, Darkrai shows up in 13 games across 6 generations. Mythical status keeps it locked behind events or specific story content in most appearances.