Dark type
Pokémon.
Anti-Psychic / anti-Ghost — late-game cleaner type.
Dark stats
What defines the Dark type
Dark was introduced in Gen 2 specifically to counter Psychic's Gen 1 dominance. Dark Pokémon are usually offensive (Hydreigon, Tyranitar, Kingambit, Roaring Moon, Chien-Pao, Greninja, Bisharp), with Dark STAB hitting Psychic and Ghost super-effective. The Defiant ability (Bisharp, Kingambit) gives +2 Attack when any stat is lowered — turning Intimidate switches and Sticky Web into free boosts. Sucker Punch is the meta-defining priority Dark move: high BP (70) but only works when the target uses an attacking move that turn.
Best Dark-type Pokémon
Top 12 by Base Stat Total across all generations
Yveltal
Tyranitar
Darkrai
Hydreigon
Zarude
Roaring Moon
Guzzlord
Brute Bonnet
Iron Jugulis
Wo Chien
Chien Pao
Ting Lu
Dark offensive analysis
Dark hits Psychic and Ghost super-effective. Knock Off (65 BP base, 1.5× if target has an item — effectively 97.5 BP) is the most utility-rich move in the game: damages + removes item. Specs Sucker Punch + Pursuit (no — Pursuit removed in Gen 9) used to define Dark offense; now Pursuit's gone and Sucker Punch is the priority pick.
What Dark attacks hit super-effective
What resists Dark attacks
Strongest Dark moves
Top 12 attacking moves by base power (Gen 9)
| Move | Cat | BP | Acc | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foul Play | physical | 95 | 100 | The user turns the target's strength against it. The higher the target's Attack … |
| Kowtow Cleave | physical | 85 | 101 | The user slashes at the target after kowtowing to make the target let down its g… |
| Crunch | physical | 80 | 100 | The user crunches up the target with sharp fangs. This may also lower the target… |
| Dark Pulse | special | 80 | 100 | The user releases a horrible aura imbued with ill intent. This may also make the… |
| Jaw Lock | physical | 80 | 100 | This move prevents the user and the target from switching out until either of th… |
| Throat Chop | physical | 80 | 100 | The user attacks the target's throat, and the resultant suffering prevents the t… |
| Night Slash | physical | 70 | 100 | The user slashes the target the instant an opportunity arises. This move has a h… |
| Sucker Punch | physical | 70 | 100 | This move enables the user to attack first. This move fails if the target is not… |
| Knock Off | physical | 65 | 100 | The user slaps down the target's held item, making it unusable for that battle. … |
| Assurance | physical | 60 | 100 | This move's power is doubled if the target has already taken some damage in the … |
| Bite | physical | 60 | 100 | The target is bitten with viciously sharp fangs. This may also make the target f… |
| Brutal Swing | physical | 60 | 100 | The user swings its body around violently to inflict damage on everything in its… |
Dark defensive analysis
Dark resists Dark, Ghost, and is immune to Psychic. Weak to Fighting, Bug, Fairy. Pure Dark Pokémon like Greninja (Dark/Water) are glass cannons. Dark/Steel (Bisharp, Kingambit) drops Bug + Fighting (no, Fighting still hits 2×) — Kingambit specifically uses Tera Flying to flip the Fighting weakness into immunity.
Dark's weaknesses, resistances, and immunities
Weak to (2×)
Resists (½×)
Immune (0×)
Best Dark dual-type combos
Dark / Steel
Examples: Kingambit, Bisharp
Defiant + Supreme Overlord; only 2 weaknesses (Fighting, Fire, Ground)
Dark / Dragon
Examples: Hydreigon, Roaring Moon
Hyper Voice / Dark Pulse coverage; Dragon Dance setup
Dark / Ghost
Examples: Spiritomb, Sableye
Only weak to Fairy; Prankster utility / Stall sets
Dark / Water
Examples: Greninja, Crawdaunt
Protean type-changing; Adaptability Dark STAB
Dark type history & meta shifts
Dark was added Gen 2 explicitly to counter Psychic. Gen 4 introduced Sucker Punch (priority Dark). Gen 9 added Kingambit's Supreme Overlord (+10% Atk per fallen ally) — making Dark the premier late-game cleaning type. Tera Dark on Roaring Moon and Kingambit defines current OU.
Vibe in one line
Anti-Psychic / anti-Ghost; late-game cleaner; Sucker Punch priority.