Dark type

The type (あくタイプ Aku taipu in Japanese) is one of the eighteen Pokémon elemental types.

The Dark type was added in Generation II to counteract the Psychic type's dominance of the game, by being completely immune to it and able to hit Psychic super-effectively.

The Dark type is represented from traits that are considered feral and untameable, specifically that born from adverse and intense complex social conditions, to that of traits that evoke a negative leaning nature, from having a nocturnal day cycle, exhibitions of unusually cruel, crafty, and clever intelligence, belligerent aggressiveness, the sentient awareness and choice to harm and/or inflict ill will, and to that of the negative end of nature and reality, such as the shadows, declination, "the survival of the fittest", destruction, comings of darker times, and to the unknown but potentially dangerous aspects of the mysterious and enigmatic. It should be further noted that the type of Dark does not automatically associate with the concept of evil, as both evidence exists of cruelty capable of Pokemon not just of the type (Ekans, Fearow) and that it is the trainer that influences majorly how a Pokemon matures and acts.

Many Dark types are rather just born with features that define them as a type, as they understand of the powers that come with it, such as Absol and Sableye, and/or are defined so by the perspective of humans with necessary purpose in the environment and their species but whose actions and traits are at most taboo and are discouraged in human society.

Before Generation IV, every damage-inflicting Dark move was a special attack. All pre-existing Dark attacks that dealt damage changed to become physical in Generation IV, meaning that any Dark special attacks would be introduced from Generation IV onward. Non-damaging Dark moves work to disrupt the opponent in unique ways or raise user stats.

The Dark-type Pokémon, along with the Poison types, are mostly used by the criminal organizations.

The known famous Dark-type Trainers are: Karen, the fourth member of the Elite Four of the Johto Pokémon League; Sidney, the first member of the Elite Four of the Hoenn Pokémon League; Grimsley, a member of the Elite Four of the Unova Pokémon League and Nanu, an island Kahuna in Alola.

Dark-type moves

 * There are 31 Dark-type moves.
 * In Generation I, 1 move was introduced.
 * In Generation II, 5 moves were introduced.
 * In Generation III, 7 moves were introduced.
 * In Generation IV, 11 moves were introduced.
 * In Generation V, 5 moves were introduced.
 * In Generation VI, 2 moves were introduced.
 * In battles: Physical moves stand out.
 * 14 moves are of the Physical type.gif type.
 * 3 moves are of the Special type.gif type.
 * 14 moves are of the Other type.gif type.
 * In contests: Clever moves stand out.
 * 16 moves are of the [[File:Clever type.png]] type.
 * 7 moves are of the [[File:Tough type.png]] type.
 * 5 moves are of the [[File:Cool type.png]] type.
 * 3 moves are of the [[File:Cute type.png]] type.
 * 0 moves are of the [[File:Beautiful type.png]] type.

Effectiveness of Dark-type moves
Super effective against Pokémon of the types: and.

Not very effective against Pokémon of the types:, and.

Weaknesses and resistances of the Dark type
A type chart displaying the weaknesses and resistances of a Pokémon when damaged by a move. Empty fields are moves that do normal damage.

Dark-type-Pokémon Gym Leaders
There are no Gym Leaders that specialize in the Dark type.

Dark type records

 * Hoopa Unbound and Mega Gyarados are the tallest Dark type.
 * Alolan Rattata is the smallest Dark type.
 * Guzzlord is the heaviest Dark type.
 * Murkrow is the lightest Dark type.

Dark-type Pokémon
52 Pokémon are Dark type. (6.48% of all Pokémon)

Pure Dark-type Pokémon
11 Pokémon are pure Dark type. (21.15% of the Dark-type Pokémon)

Primary Dark-type Pokémon
22 Pokémon are primary Dark type. (42.31% of Dark-type Pokémon)

Secondary Dark-type Pokémon
19 Pokémon are secondary Dark type. (36.54% of Dark-type Pokémon)

Pokémon with Dark-type alternate formes
The following alternate formes of some Pokémon are also of the Dark type.

Relations with other types

 * They're strong against the type because of the fears, and the fears can affect one's rationality and concentration. The darkness of one's being/psyche is also explored to utterly be taxing to those who can read minds and hearts, as it is regarded to be a place to never cross into and can violate one's own, to where ones of unusual nature are not easily understood, and of how there are legends and themes that show that times of evil and darkness cannot be divined nor preempted by even the best seers and prophets.
 * They're strong against the type because evil can damage the soul.
 * They're weak against the type because philosophically, a warrior must overcome their fears - represented by Dark. The Fighting type also supposedly represents justice, which opposes evil, also represented by Dark types.
 * They're weak against the type because bugs operate well in darkness.
 * They're weak against the type because fairies represent light and the darkness disappears with light. Furthermore, light is a metaphor for goodness, which always triumphs over evil in fiction.

Trivia

 * If a Dual-type Pokémon is both Dark and Ghost type, both types cancel out each other's weaknesses with their resistances, leaving Pokémon like Spiritomb and Sableye with no weakness apart from Fairy.
 * So far this is the only Pokémon type not to be used in a Pokémon Gym.
 * The Dark type has the same efficacies over other types as the Ghost type.
 * While most types are represented quite straightforwardly (i.e. Grass-types based off plants, Fire-types being based on heat and flames) there is a rather loose definition of what represents a Dark-type. While most, such as Scrafty or Bisharp are associated with brutal, violent, "dirty" fighters (hence moves like Nasty Plot and Sucker Punch) some, such as Umbreon and Darkrai represent literal darkness, while others, such as Stunky and the Alolan form of Rattata are simply nocturnal animals. A few, most notably Absol and Greninja, are even portrayed as having noble and valiant qualities.