Dark-type Pokemon weaknesses, resistances & best counters

Dark-type Pokemon weaknesses, resistances & best counters
Images via The Pokemon Company

Written by 

Daniel Megarry

Published 

27th Nov 2023 16:16

Contents

Dark-type Pokemon are cool, calm, and collected, which is exactly how you'll feel in battle once you know their weaknesses and the best counters to defeat them in no time at all.

Just like the creepy Ghost-types, it's not always easy to figure out what Dark-type Pokemon are weak against or resistant to. Whether you're facing off against a shifty Zoroark or a foreboding Absol, here's everything you need to know to beat them.

Dark-type Pokemon weaknesses

Dark-type Pokemon are typically weak to Bug-type, Fairy-type, and Fighting-type attacks.

Having said that, it's important to remember that dual-type Pokemon don't always have the weaknesses you expect them to have. For example, the Ghost/Dark-type Sableye is only vulnerable to Fairy-type attacks.

Dark-type Pokemon resistances

Dark-type Pokemon are usually resistant to Dark-type and Ghost-type attacks

They are also immune to Psychic-type attacks, so there's no point trying to use those as they won't do any damage whatsoever.

Darkrai in Pokemon GO
Click to enlarge

What are Dark-types super effective against?

Dark-type Pokemon with Dark-type attacks will be super effective against Ghost-type and Psychic-type Pokemon.

The exception to this rule would be if your opponent's Pokemon has a secondary typing that cancels out this weakness, such as the Psychic/Fairy-type Gardevoir which takes normal damage from Dark-type attacks.

What are Dark-types not effective against?

Dark-type Pokemon with Dark-type attacks are not very effective against Dark-type, Fairy-type, and Fighting-type Pokemon. They can still deal a little bit of damage, but it won't be a lot.

Best counters to defeat Dark-type Pokemon

Some of the top counters you can use to defeat Dark-type Pokemon are Gardevoir, Sylveon, Pheromosa, Lucario, Volcarona, and Terrakion. Remember they'll need to have movesets that target your Dark-type opponent's weaknesses to be truly effective.

As always, the best counter to use will vary depending on the specific Pokemon you're fighting, which is especially true if they have a dual typing. For the most part, though, using a Bug-type, Fairy-type, or Fighting-type counter is a good idea.

That's everything you need to know about Dark-type Pokemon! Check out our roundup of all the events taking place this month as well as the upcoming Raid Boss schedule and the Spotlight Hour schedule.

Daniel Megarry
About the author
Daniel Megarry
Daniel is GGRecon’s Deputy Guides Editor. He graduated from university with a degree in Journalism & English Language before covering video games and LGBTQ+ culture at publications including Gay Times and Dexerto. His favourite games include Pokemon, Kingdom Hearts, Resident Evil, and anything Nintendo. You can reach him on [email protected].
Why trust GGRecon?

Established in 2019, we don’t just cover games - we live them. Our expert team is full of dedicated gamers, qualified journalists, and industry insiders who collectively boast decades of experience covering gaming and esports. This deep-rooted expertise allows us to provide authoritative and nuanced perspectives first-hand from a team who are playing, and researching every game covered on our website. 

Our foundation is built on a profound commitment to editorial independence, ensuring our content remains free from external influence and advertising pressures and is held to the highest level of editorial conduct, integrity, and quality. 

Every article on GGRecon comes from rigorous research, informed analysis, and a passion for gaming that resonates with our readers. We uphold these standards through a transparent editorial policy, accessible here, which governs our processes and maintains our accountability.

Trending
Pokemon GO Rediscover Kanto Special Research tasks & rewards
Everything you need to know about Pokemon GO Fest 2024 in Madrid
Pokemon GO events schedule for April 2024
Pokemon GO Raid Boss schedule for April 2024
Pokemon TCG Twilight Masquerade release date, cards & products