NationalDex
darkrai
#491

Darkrai

Pitch-Black Pokémon

Dark

It can lull people to sleep and make them dream. It is active during nights of the new moon.

Base Stats

HP 70
Attack 90
Defense 90
Sp. Atk 135
Sp. Def 90
Speed 125
Total 600

Type Effectiveness

Abilities

Forms

Evolution Chain

Moves

Details

Category Pitch-Black Pokémon
Height 1.5 m
Weight 50.5 kg
Base Exp 270
Growth Rate Slow
Capture Rate 3
Base Happiness 0
Gender Genderless
Habitat
Egg Groups No Eggs
Mythical Pokémon

Sprites

darkrai Front Front
darkrai Back Back
darkrai Front Shiny Front Shiny
darkrai Back Shiny Back Shiny
darkrai Official Art Official Art
darkrai Official Art (Shiny) Official Art (Shiny)

Competitive

ubers Usage: 0.6%
Special Attacker
Item
Life Orb
Nature
Timid
EVs
HP 4
SpA 252
Spe 252

Strategy Overview

  • Darkrai is a frail special attacker that differs from Yveltal with its higher Speed tier, access to strong utility moves, and different coverage options.
  • Darkrai's inconsistency should be stressed, however; without landing Hypnosis, it can end up doing very little in a match. This alone is the greatest reason that players avoid using it when aiming for consistent teams.
  • On the flip side, if Darkrai's moves hit their targets, it can be a very difficult Pokemon to handle. Simply the threat of playing with the odds can force the opponent to react defensively to Darkrai, even if luck does not favor it.
  • Darkrai's stats and overall playstyle limit it to offensive teams, and it faces competition from Yveltal in this role, as Darkrai offers very little defensively in comparison.
  • While base 125 Speed is high, allowing Darkrai to outspeed Arceus formes and Mega Salamence and Speed tie with Marshadow, Darkrai still has to be wary of faster threats such as Mega Gengar, Ultra Necrozma, Deoxys-A, Mewtwo formes, and Choice Scarf Xerneas.
  • Even when accuracy is removed from the situation, Darkrai may lack the ideal coverage against Fairy-types or damage against Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Primal Kyogre. Magearna also heavily threatens Darkrai once something else is asleep, meaning that considerable effort and team support is required to get the most out of Darkrai's abilities.

Most Used Moves

Hypnosis
50.5%
Dark Void
15.2%

Most Used Items

Life Orb
20.4%
Leftovers
15.7%

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc