Pokémon Types: Dark

When the games were introduced, there was no such thing as Dark Types. However, in the second Generation, they introduced one of the new types: Dark. Unlike the Steel Type, Dark Pokémon are not so resisting and rely more on attack. Dark Types are immune to Psychic Type attacks and moves. Dark Types have strong attack stats, and sometimes special attack, but have low defenses with the exception of Umbreon and Tyranitar.

In the third Generation, more Dark Types were added to the Pokédex. The most notable Dark Types are Absol, Shiftry, Sharpedo, Cacturne, and Crawdaunt. Shiftry and Cacturne are Dark/Grass types and Sharpedo and Crawdaunt are Water/Dark Types. Another Dark Type, Sableye, was introduced as a Ghost/Dark type, the only Pokémon to have no true Weakness.

In the fourth Generation, more Dark Types were introduced. The loved Weavile, the evolution of Sneasel, was introduced and had great speed. Hunchrow is another evolution from a second generation, Murkrow. Other Dark Types that were introduced are Drapion and Stuntank, Dark/Poison Types, Spiritomb, another Dark/Ghost type, and the first Dark Legendary, Darkrai.




Dark Types are usually Physical Sweepers. They have high Attack and tend to hit hard and if they have a secondary type, you can expect other types of attacks rather that Dark. A good way to counter them is by using fast or Bulky Pokémon that can out run them and hit them hard to take advantage of their defenses. However, some of them will throw you a curve ball. Tyranitar you will have to be wary for as it hits hard and has great defenses.


Since there are not a lot of Dark Types out there, your choice is very limited. You will have to use mostly multiple secondary types to help balance the team if you are going to use a Dark Team. A must Dark Type is Weavile, a Dark/Ice Type. This Pokémon is speedy and outruns most Pokémon and hits them hard. Hunchrow is another good choice as it too hits hard.

Houndoom is also good for a Special Sweeper, as it gets stab bonus for Flamethrower and Dark Pulse. Umbreon and Absol are two Pure Dark Pokémon that can hold their own. Umbreon is more Defensive while Absol is built more for attack.

Two other Poison types are Stuntank and Drapion. Stuntank is more Defensive of the two and Drapion is more attack based. As Poison Types, they can deal poison to your opponent. Of all these Dark Types, one Pokémon causes fear for trainers who go against Dark Trainers: Tyranitar. This Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon is a beast with great Attack and Defense stats. Tyranitar is a must for any trainer using Dark Types, or a good Pokémon to use as a Dark/Rock Type.

Final note: Since Dark Types are fewer in number that most, Dark Type Teams are often predictable and need diversity. Tyranitar, Weavile, and Houndoom are three Pokémon that are a must for a Dark Trainer. Other good choices are Sharpedo/Crawdaunt, Cacturne/Shiftry, Hunchrow, Umbreon/Absol, and Spiritomb/Sableye. Dark Pokémon shine better when used on teams with diversity or Teams that share its secondary Type.

the interesting thing about this type is that two of them "spiritomb and/or sableye" can be hacked to have wonder guard, and since they have no weaknesses you have to find another way to get rid of them

Those would be impossible to beat then, unless you use foresight and a Fighting move.

or use a status move like toxic because wonder guard can't guard against status moves

Seedot isn't Dark type. I know you were just showing the evolution line, but ... yesh.

Krobra wrote:Those would be impossible to beat then, unless you use foresight and a Fighting move.

*sigh*
-Status moves (Poison, burn, etc.)
-Fire Fang (effects Pokemon with Wonder Guard, even if it's not super-effective, like a Poryon that traced Wonder Guard. Idk why)
-Spikes and Stealth Rock
-Weather conditions (Sandstorm, hail, etc.)
-Beat Up
-Future Sight
-Doom Desire
-Struggle (The move that a Pokemon uses when it has no PP left for any moves. Although it has recoil lol)

And I think there are more.

I hate Dark Type Pokemon!

i think umbreon is good for defending, not for attacking

Sabrina why don't you like Dark types?

I don't like dark types accept darkrai
honestly if you look at all tyranitars weaknesses I don't think it's a good pokemon. It may be able to stay out for a few turns but most pokemon could learn a move it was weak against.

also it is 4x weak to fighting type moves

lol ya XD that's reeeallly bad lol

also, since he doesn't have that good speed, he can be hit rather easily

that's just another reason why I never use him XD

i saw a trainer in the anime use a darkrai in the sinnoh league (the latest japanese episode)

Yeah I wonder who that is.