No. 0491 · Generation IV · Sinnoh

Darkrai

The Pitch-Black Pokémon

Dark

Weak to Fighting Bug Fairy

Sprite

TL;DR. Darkrai is a pure dark-type Pokémon from Generation IV. Base Stat Total: 600. It can lull people to sleep and make them dream. It is active during nights of the new moon.

Dark

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

Height1.5 m

Weight50.5 kg

AbilitiesBad Dreams

Base stats

Stat spread.

Total of 600. Higher peaks mean specialized roles, flat spreads favor versatility.

HP 70

Attack 90

Defense 90

Sp. Attack 135

Sp. Defense 90

Speed 125

Total600

600 base stat total, the 25th-highest of all 1025 Pokémon species and 2nd among Dark-types.

135 base Special Attack, Darkrai's strongest stat, ranking 1st of 69 Dark-types.

Rankings computed across all 1025 base-species Pokémon (Mega and Gigantamax forms excluded). Source: National Pokédex base stats.

Pokémon GO

Darkrai in Pokémon GO.

Pokémon GO uses its own hand-tuned base stats, distinct from the main-series spread above. At a perfect 15/15/15, Darkrai reaches 3,739 CP at level 40 and 4,278 CP as a best buddy.

GO Attack285

GO Defense198

GO Stamina172

Max CP (L40)3,739

Max CP (L50)4,227

Best buddy (L51)4,278

Raid catch CP 2,048–2,136 (L20). Weather boosted 2,560–2,671 (L25).

Run the numbers: CP & HP calculator · PvP IV optimizer · Catch CP calculator

Shiny release

Shiny Darkrai first appeared on March 6, 2020, during Darkrai Special Raid Weekend.

March 6, 2020Darkrai
November 7, 2025Shadow

Recent raid runs

Last in raids: Jul 26, 2026, 5-star.

Dates	Raid	Event
Jul 26, 2026	5-star	Special GO Fest 2026: Global - Sunday Raid Event
Jul 12, 2026	5-star	Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global
Jul 6, 2026	5-star	The Road of Legends
Mar 7 to Mar 9, 2026	5-star	Pokémon 30th Anniversary: All Out
Nov 16, 2025	Shadow 5-star	Pokémon GO Wild Area: Global
Nov 7 to Nov 9, 2025	Shadow 5-starShiny debut	Pokémon GO Wild Area: Nagasaki · Nagasaki only

Full Darkrai GO history

Competitive

Darkrai in competitive play.

Darkrai is a Generation 9 Ubers-tier pick in Smogon singles.

Ubers

Choice Scarf

Dark Pulse / Trick / Sludge Bomb / Ice Beam

ItemChoice Scarf
NatureTimid
EVs252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
TeraDark

Nasty Plot

Nasty Plot / Sludge Bomb / Dark Pulse / Ice Beam

ItemLife Orb
NatureTimid
EVs252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
TeraPoison

Nasty Plot

Nasty Plot / Dark Pulse / Sludge Bomb / Ice Beam

ItemLeftovers
NatureTimid
EVs252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
TeraPoison

Choice Scarf

Dark Pulse / Sludge Bomb / Trick / Ice Beam

ItemChoice Scarf
NatureTimid
EVs252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
TeraPoison, Dark, Ghost

Pokémon GO Battle League

Ultra League #736 60.9 score

Master League #237 59.6 score

Build around it: GO PvP IV optimizer · Team builder · Ask Dia

Movesets via Smogon, GO ranks via PvPoke. Updated 2026-06-01.

Quick answers

Common questions about Darkrai.

Direct, sourced answers to the most-asked questions about Darkrai, each computed straight from its Pokédex data.

What type is Darkrai?

Darkrai is a pure Dark-type Pokémon. It has a single typing, which means a simpler matchup chart but also fewer resistances.

What is Darkrai weak to?

Darkrai takes 2× damage from Fighting, Bug, Fairy. It has no 4× weaknesses.

What is Darkrai resistant to?

Darkrai is immune to Psychic. It also resists Ghost, Dark.

How does Darkrai evolve?

Darkrai evolves into Mega Darkrai (Mega Evolve with Darkraiite (battle-only)).

What generation is Darkrai from?

Darkrai was introduced in Generation IV (the Sinnoh region). Its Pokédex number is #0491.

What are Darkrai's base stats?

Darkrai has HP 70, Attack 90, Defense 90, Special Attack 135, Special Defense 90, and Speed 125. Total base stat total: 600.

What are Darkrai's abilities?

Darkrai can have the ability Bad Dreams.

Is Darkrai legendary or mythical?

Yes. Darkrai is classified as a Mythical Pokémon. Mythicals are normally distribution-event exclusives, not available through standard gameplay.

What is Darkrai's best stat?

Darkrai's highest base stat is Special Attack at 135, which ranks 1st of 69 Dark-type Pokémon.

Is Darkrai good?

Darkrai has a base stat total of 600, the 25th-highest of all 1025 Pokémon species and 2nd among Dark-types. That puts it in pseudo-legendary or legendary territory.

See the full Q&A page for Darkrai →

Alternate forms

This Pokémon has forms.

Mega

Mega Darkrai

Sprites · Sound

Through the generations.

Darkrai as drawn across two decades of Pokémon games, plus the modern Pokémon HOME render. Hit the cry button to hear it.

Darkrai in HeartGold / SoulSilver — Gen IV HeartGold / SoulSilver

Darkrai in Black / White — Gen V Black / White

Darkrai in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon — Gen VII Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon

Darkrai 3D render in Pokémon HOME — HOME Modern 3D render

Type matchups

In battle.

Damage multipliers when Darkrai is hit by each attacking type. 4× is two stacked weaknesses, ¼× is two stacked resistances.

2× Weak to

Fighting Bug Fairy

½× Resists

Ghost Dark

0× Immune to

Psychic

Comparison

Darkrai vs. the average Dark-type.

Each base stat measured against the mean across all 69 Dark-type Pokémon.

Stat	Darkrai	Dark avg	Difference
HP	70	76	-6
Attack	90	94	-4
Defense	90	71	+19
Special Attack	135	73	+62
Special Defense	90	69	+21
Speed	125	77	+48
Total	600	460	+140

Ask Dia about Darkrai Compare it, check weaknesses, or get a quick competitive verdict.

Game appearances

Darkrai appears in 16 games.

Every mainline release where Darkrai is obtainable, has a dex entry, or is transferable. Grouped by generation.

Gen IV

2007 Diamond
2007 Pearl
2009 Platinum
2010 HeartGold
2010 SoulSilver

Gen V

2011 Black
2011 White
2012 Black 2
2012 White 2

Gen VI

2013 X
2013 Y
2014 Alpha Sapphire
2014 Omega Ruby

Gen VIII

2022 Legends: Arceus

Side games + live service

2016 Pokémon GO
2021 Pokémon UNITE

How to get it

How to get Darkrai.

Every main-series game Darkrai is in, newest first: how to get it, version exclusives and Shiny locks.

Generation IXObtainableEvent only

Scarlet · VioletEvent only
Legends: Z-AObtainable
- Trade(Version 2.0.0+)
- One-time encounterHyperspace Newmoon Nightmare (Only one) (Mega Dimension)
Needs Mega DimensionShiny locked

Generation VIIIObtainableEvent onlyNot in the game

Sword · ShieldNot in the game
Brilliant Diamond · Shining PearlEvent only
- EventNewmoon Island (requires Member Card) (Only one)
Legends: ArceusObtainable
- One-time encounterCoronet Highlands: near Clamberclaw Cliffs (Only one (Requires save data from Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl))
Shiny locked

Generation VIIEvent onlyNot in the game

Sun · Moon · Ultra Sun · Ultra MoonEvent only
Let's Go, Pikachu! · Let's Go, Eevee!Not in the game

Generation VIEvent only

X · Y · Omega Ruby · Alpha SapphireEvent only

Generation VTradeEvent only

Black · WhiteEvent only
Black 2 · White 2Trade

Generation IVTradeEvent only

Diamond · PearlEvent only
- EventNewmoon Island (requires Member Card (Never officially distributed)) (Only one)
PlatinumEvent only
- EventNewmoon Island (requires Member Card) (Only one)
HeartGold · SoulSilverTrade

Pokémon HOME: Send it to HOME from Legends: Arceus and Legends: Z-A. Event copies from Pokémon Bank, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, Scarlet and Violet can go up too. Most of those events have ended. From HOME it can move into Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet, Violet and Legends: Z-A.
Pokémon Champions: Not on the roster.

Pokémon anime