What are Dark Type Pokémon?
Dark type Pokémon were first introduced with the launch of Generation II and are one of the eighteen elemental types found in the world of Pokémon. All Pokémon are categorized into various types based on their characteristics and abilities. They can be a single type or two different types.
Dark type Pokémon are generally associated with dark and can often be found at night or in dark or hostile environments. The first Dark Type Pokémon is 0197 Umbreon. Later forms of Generation I Pokémon, Alolan, Galarian etc, also have Dark as their type.
To date there are 82 Dark type Pokémon including Pure Dark types that are only Dark type, and Half Dark types whose Primary or Secondary type is Dark.
What are Dark Type Pokémon Strengths and Weaknesses?
When in battle, all Pokémon types have strengths and weaknesses against other Pokémon types.
Dark Type Strengths:
When attacking – Dark type Pokémon moves are strong against Ghost and Psychic type Pokémon.
When being attacked – Dark type Pokémon have a resistance to attacks by Dark, Ghost and Psychic type Pokémon.
Dark Type Weaknesses:
When attacking – Dark type Pokémon moves are weak against Fairy, Fighting and Dark type Pokémon and will do very little damage.
When being attacked – Dark type Pokémon are weak to Bug, Fairy and Fighting type Pokémon.
Pokémon Trainers that specialise in Dark type Pokémon
Throughout the Pokémon game series, players encounter Pokémon Gym Leaders and Trainers that specialise in Dark type Pokémon.
Dark Elite Four
Grimsley – Unova Pokémon League (Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon)
Karen – Indigo Plateau (Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver)
Sidney – Ever Grande City (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)
Dark Gym Leaders
Marnie – Spikemuth Gym (Sword, Shield)
Piers – Spikemuth Gym (Sword, Shield)
Named Pokémon Trainers
Giacomo – Team Star Boss (Scarlet and Violet)
Trainer Classes
Deliquent – (Various Games)
Lumiose Gang – (X and Y)
Master Dojo Student – (Sword and Shield)
Punk Couple – (X and Y)
Punk Girl – (X and Y)
Punk Guy – (X and Y)
Roughneck – (Various Games)
Street Thug – (Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)
Team Aqua Grunt – (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)
Team Flare Grunt – (X and Y)
Team Galactic Grunt – (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum)
Team Magma Grunt – (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)
Team Plasma Grunt – (Black, White, Black 2, White 2)
Team Skull Grunt – (Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon)
Team Yell Grunt – (Sword and Shield)
Dark Type Pokémon in the TCG
While there are 18 different Pokémon types in the Pokédex and Video Game series, in the Trading Card Game (TCG) there are only 11 different Pokémon types. This means that in the TCG some categories contain more than one of the Game Pokémon types.
In the TCG, Dark Type Pokémon are referred to as Darkness type and were a standalone type from their introduction in the Neo Genesis expansion until the release of Sword and Shield when Poison type Pokémon were moved to this category. The Trading Cards for these Pokémon have the darkness symbol in the top right-hand corner, next to the HP.
To use the Lambaste move, one Colorless Energy card is required, while two Darkness Energy cards and one Colorless Energy are needed for the Headbang move. When deciding which cards to include in a deck, players should be aware of the qualities and requirements of their chosen Pokémon cards.
At the bottom of the card is detailed information about that card’s weakness, resistance and retreat cost.
Weakness
In the TCG, Darkness type Pokémon that are Dark type in the games, generally have a weakness to Grass types. The Scrafty card shows this weakness to Grass type Pokémon and attacks from these types do double damage. However, if the Darkness type Pokémon is a Poison type in the games then it has a weakness to Fighting type.
Resistance
Darkness type Pokémon cards have no common resistance across the TCG. Where a resistance is indicated on a card, attacks from those types have their damage reduced.
