Dark type

The Dark-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 in Generation I, by being completely immune to it and able to hit Psychic-types super-effectively. It was also given to make the Fighting-type and Bug-type more dominant due to their downfall to Psychic-types in Generation I.

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 Pokémon not just of the type (Ekans, Fearow) and that it is the trainer that influences majorly how a Pokémon 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; Nanu, an island Kahuna in Alola; and Piers, the seventh Gym Leader of Galar.

Dark-type moves

• There are 40 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 Generation VII, 6 moves were introduced.
• In battles: Physical and Other moves stand out.
  • 14 moves are of the type.
  • 3 moves are of the type.
  • 14 moves are of the type.
• In contests: Clever moves stand out.
  • 16 moves are of the type.
  • 7 moves are of the type.
  • 5 moves are of the type.
  • 3 moves are of the type.
  • 0 moves are of the type.

List of Dark-type moves

Name	Category	Contest	Generation	Power
Assurance			Generation IV	60
Beat Up			Generation II	-
Baddy Bad		-	Generation VII	90
Bite			Generation I	60
Brutal Swing		-	Generation VII	60
Crunch			Generation II	80
Dark Pulse			Generation IV	80
Dark Void			Generation IV	-
Darkest Lariat		-	Generation VII	85
Embargo			Generation IV	-
Fake Tears			Generation III	-
False Surrender		-	Generation VIII	80
Feint Attack			Generation II	-
Flatter			Generation III	-
Fling			Generation IV	-
Foul Play			Generation V	95
Hone Claws			Generation V	-
Jaw Lock		-	Generation VIII	80
Knock Off			Generation III	65
Memento			Generation III	-
Nasty Plot			Generation IV	-
Night Daze			Generation V	85
Night Slash			Generation IV	70
Obstruct		-	Generation VIII	-
Parting Shot			Generation VI	-
Payback			Generation IV	50
Power Trip		-	Generation VII	20-860
Punishment			Generation IV	-
Pursuit			Generation II	40
Quash			Generation V	-
Snarl			Generation V	55
Snatch			Generation III	-
Sucker Punch			Generation IV	80
Switcheroo			Generation IV	-
Taunt			Generation III	-
Thief			Generation II	60
Throat Chop		-	Generation VII	80
Topsy-Turvy			Generation VI	-
Torment			Generation III	-

Effectiveness of Dark-type moves

×2

Super effective against Pokémon of the types: and .

½

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.

×4 Doubly super effective

×2 Super effective

½ Resistant

¼ Very resistant

×0 Immune

	Type of the move
	×2	½			×2	×2			½						×0
	×2	½	×2	½	×4	×2	½		½	½		×2			×0			½
		¼			×4	×2		×2	½						×0	½
		½				×2	½		½	½	×2	½			×0	×2	½	×2
		½		×2	×2				½	½	×0	×2			×0	×2
					×2	×0							×0	½	×0
	×4	½		½	×2	×2	×2	×2	½	½	½	×2		×2	×0			½
	×2	½		×0	×2	×2			½	×2		×2		½	×0	½		×2
	×2	½			×2	×4	×2		½			½			×0	×2	×2
	×2	½			×2	×4			×0						×0
		½							½	½	×2			½	×0
	×4				×2										×0
	×2	½			×2	×4	½	½	½	×2	×2		½	½	×0		×2	×2
		½	½			×4	×2	½	½	½	×2	½	½	×0	×0	½	½
	×2	½		×2	×2	×2	½		½	×2		½			×0		½	½

Dark-type-Pokémon Trainers

Competence	Category
Team Rocket Grunts	Team Rocket

Dark-type-Pokémon Gym Leaders

Leader	Location	Badge
File:Piers 1.png Piers	Spikemuth, Galar	Dark Badge
File:Marnie league card gym leader.jpg Marnie	Spikemuth, Galar	Dark Badge

Dark-type-Pokémon Kahunas

Competence	Category
Nanu	Kahuna

Dark-type-Pokémon Elite Four Members

Competence	Category
Karen	Johto Elite Four
Sidney	Hoenn Elite Four
Grimsley	Unova Elite Four

Dark type records

• Hoopa Unbound and Mega Gyarados are the tallest Dark type.
• Alolan Rattata and Morpeko are the smallest Dark type.
• Guzzlord is the heaviest Dark type.
• Murkrow is the lightest Dark type.
• Poochyena and Nickit evolve at the lowest level (18)
• Zweilous evolves at the highest level (64)
• Guzzlord has the most HP of all Dark-types (223)
• Mega Tyranitar has the most Attack & Defense of all Dark-types (164 & 150)
• Hoopa Unbound had the most Sp. Atk of all Dark-types (170)
• Umbreon, Hoopa Unbound and Mega Gyarados tie for the most Sp. Def of all Dark-types (130)
• Ash Greninja has the most Speed of all Dark-types (132)
• Mega Tyranitar has the highest base stat total of all Dark-types (700)

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)

Alolan Meowth	Alolan Persian	Umbreon	Poochyena	Mightyena	Absol
#052 ----	#053 ----	#197 ----	#261 ----	#262 ----	#359 ----
Darkrai	Purrloin	Liepard	Zorua	Zoroark	Nickit
#491 ----	#509 ----	#510 ----	#570 ----	#571 ----	#827 ----
Thievul
#828 ----

Primary Dark-type Pokémon

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

Alolan Rattata	Alolan Raticate	Galarian Moltres	Murkrow	Sneasel
#019 ----	#020 ----	#146 ----	#198 ----	#215 ----
Houndour	Houndoom	Galarian Zigzagoon	Galarian Linoone	Sableye
#228 ----	#229 ----	#263 ----	#264 ----	#302 ----
Honchkrow	Weavile	Scraggy	Scrafty	Pawniard
#430 ----	#461 ----	#559 ----	#560 ----	#624 ----
Bisharp	Vullaby	Mandibuzz	Deino	Zweilous
#625 ----	#629 ----	#630 ----	#633 ----	#634 ----
Hydreigon	Inkay	Malamar	Yveltal	Guzzlord
#635 ----	#686 ----	#687 ----	#717 ----	#799 ----
Impidimp	Morgrem	Grimmsnarl	Obstagoon	Zarude
#859 ----	#860 ----	#861 ----	#862 ----	zarude #893 ----

Secondary Dark-type Pokémon

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

Alolan Grimer	Alolan Muk	Tyranitar	Nuzleaf	Shiftry	Carvanha
#088 ----	#089 ----	#248 ----	#274 ----	#275 ----	#318 ----
Sharpedo	Cacturne	Crawdaunt	Stunky	Skuntank	Spiritomb
#319 ----	#332 ----	#342 ----	#434 ----	#435 ----	#442 ----
Drapion	Sandile	Krokorok	Krookodile	Greninja	Pangoro
#452 ----	#551 ----	#552 ----	#553 ----	#658 ----	#675 ----
Incineroar	Full Belly Mode Morpeko	Urshifu (Single Strike Style)
#727 ----	#877 ----	Urshifu #892 ----

Pokémon with Dark-type alternate formes

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

Mega Gyarados	Mega Houndoom	Mega Tyranitar	Mega Sableye	Mega Sharpedo	Mega Absol
#130 ----	#229 ----	#248 ----	#302 ----	#319 ----	#359 ----
Arceus	Ash-Greninja	Hoopa Unbound	Silvally	Gigantamax Grimmsnarl	Hangry Mode Morpeko
#493 ----	#658 ----	Hoopa Unbound #720 ----	#773 ----	#861 ----	#887 ----
Gigantamax Urshifu (Single Strike Form)
File:Gigantamax Urshifu (Single Strike Style).png #892 ----

Relations with other types

• They're strong against the Psychic type because of people's fear of either darkness or evil people, and fear is known to disrupt one's rationality and concentration. It can also be because of how easy it is to corrupt one's mind with wicked and malevolent thoughts, which is why Dark is the only weakness of Psychic to be immune to it as well.
• They're strong against the Ghost type because evil can damage the soul.
• They're weak against the Fighting 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 Bug type because bugs operate well in darkness. While criminals are active during darkness, when they least expect it, bugs can swarm over them.
• They're weak against the Fairy 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.
• The type was resisted by the Steel type; this is likely in reference to the idea of steel being used in security measures, like locks or even weapons for self defense, and to how some metals like silver are weaknesses of classical monsters and demons. In turn, so may the crafty and clever find ways to overcome security measures with figuring out their features.
• They resist themselves because it's hard for villains to recruit anyone who is already evil.

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.
• Prior to Generation VIII, it was 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 shady qualities. Others like Inkay and the Alolan form of Muk could reference how they produce dark things like ink and sludge. It could also describe how certain Pokémon can be sinful such as how the Alolan form of Persian is filled with pride, the Alolan form of Raticate is gluttonous, and the Galarian form of Moltres is wrathful .