Darkrai (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
← #0490: Manaphy	Pokémon	#0492: Shaymin →
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Darkrai (disambiguation).

Darkrai Pitch-Black Pokémon ダークライ Darkrai #0491 Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Dark Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Ability Bad Dreams Cacophony Cacophony Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Cacophony
Gender ratio Gender unknown	Catch rate 3 (1.6%)
Breeding Egg Group No Eggs Discovered Hatch time 120 cycles Egg not obtainable
Height 4'11" 1.5 m Darkrai 0'0" 0 m {{{form2}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 111.3 lbs. 50.5 kg Darkrai 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form2}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield 210 Gen. IV Unknown IV 270 V+	Leveling rate Slow
EV yield Total: 3 Darkrai 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 2 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 1 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint {{{form2}}}
Pokédex color   Black	Base friendship 0
External Links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Darkrai (Japanese: ダークライ Darkrai) is a Dark-type Mythical Pokémon introduced in Generation IV.

It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

It was officially revealed in February 2007.

It is a member of the lunar duo with Cresselia.

Darkrai is the last Pokémon in the Hisui Pokédex.

Biology

Darkrai is a black, shadow-like Pokémon. It has a small head with a white fog-like ghostly plume billowing from its head covering one of its bright blue eyes, with the portion on its face resembling hair. It also has a red spiky growth around its neck. It has skinny arms and long black tatters hanging from its shoulders. It also has black, claw-like hands. It has the slight appearance of an hourglass figure and appears to be wearing an old, ripped cloak. It normally does not have any sort of legs, but it is able to extend stilt-like appendages in their place. In self-defense, Darkrai can retract its head and white "plume" into the pit atop its torso fringed by the aforementioned red growth.

Darkrai is known to "inhabit" dreams and causes the target to have unending nightmares, which can be stopped if exposed to a Lunar Feather from Cresselia. However, the "unleashing of nightmares" is actually a defense mechanism, instead of an intentionally malicious act. Darkrai is capable of flying at high speeds, and it can become a shadow in order to escape danger or contact with humans. It is also capable of some human speech, and can manifest dark energy for offensive purposes. However, in The Rise of Darkrai, it was shown that its power was weaker than that of Dialga and Palkia. Its relationship to its counterpart, Cresselia, can vary between individuals and canons, with some being antagonistic, as seen Sleepless In Pre-Battle! and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky, or cooperative, as seen in Nightfall? Nightmares! and A Midsummer Night's Light!. As seen in Sleepless In Pre-Battle!, Darkrai does not only cause nightmares; it is also attracted to them. It can also go around objects it is attracted to several times, as seen in the mentioned episode and Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia. Shadows of Almia also reveal Darkrai can use an ability called Dark Power to either trap humans or Pokémon in a Dark Void dimension of total darkness or teleport them to another location.

Darkrai is said to be active on nights of the new moon. Darkrai possibly feeds off dreams, characterized by its association with never-ending nightmares. As mentioned in the Sleep Style Dex, Darkrai has attempted to use Dark Void while it is asleep. It is theorized that Darkrai performs this move because it cannot contain its overflowing power. Darkrai has three different sleep styles it sleeps in: Floaty Arms-Crossed Sleep, Floaty-Stance Sleep, and Dark Void Sleep. Darkrai can be lured through a combination of Event Drowsy Power and Cresselia. The Eureka Seed can bring out the full power of Darkrai. Darkrai has been observed slumbering during the day of New Moon.

Darkrai is the only known Pokémon capable of learning and using the move Dark Void. It is also the only known Pokémon that can have Bad Dreams as an Ability.

Game data

NPC appearances

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness: Darkrai is revealed to be the main antagonist of the game in the post-game story. He wants to cover the world in darkness, and was behind the collapse of the Temporal Tower and Dialga's corruption into Primal Dialga in the main storyline of the game. His interference is also the reason the player was separated from Grovyle and turned into a Pokémon. In the post-game story, he turns his attention to distorting the fabric of space to cover the world in darkness.
• PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond: Darkrai is the main antagonist in the game. He resided in Wish Park and wants to merge the Wish Park with PokéPark. When the Dark Vortex threatens to destroy both dimensions, Darkrai sacrifices himself to stop it, but is later brought back by Reshiram and Zekrom during the post-game.
• Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia: Darkrai is the final boss, summoned by Blake Hall.

	Spoilers end here.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

In-game events

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Events*		Enigma Berry (100%)

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM

Generation IX Other generations: IV - V - VI - VII - VIII

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  TM006 TM006 Scary Face Normal Status 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM007 TM007 Protect Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM017 TM017 Confuse Ray Ghost Status 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM018 TM018 Thief Dark Physical 06060 100}}100% 25 TM023 TM023 Charge Beam Electric Special 05050 090}}90% 10 TM025 TM025 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM029 TM029 Hex Ghost Special 06565 100}}100% 10 TM030 TM030 Snarl Dark Special 05555 095}}95% 15 TM032 TM032 Swift Normal Special 06060 00—}}—% 20 TM034 TM034 Icy Wind Ice Special 05555 095}}95% 15 TM036 TM036 Rock Tomb Rock Physical 06060 095}}95% 15 TM042 TM042 Night Shade Ghost Special 0000— 100}}100% 15 TM043 TM043 Fling Dark Physical 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM047 TM047 Endure Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM049 TM049 Sunny Day Fire Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM050 TM050 Rain Dance Water Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM054 TM054 Psyshock Psychic Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM058 TM058 Brick Break Fighting Physical 07575 100}}100% 15 TM061 TM061 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical 07070 100}}100% 15 TM062 TM062 Foul Play Dark Physical 09595 100}}100% 15 TM070 TM070 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM073 TM073 Drain Punch Fighting Physical 07575 100}}100% 10 TM082 TM082 Thunder Wave Electric Status 0000— 090}}90% 20 TM083 TM083 Poison Jab Poison Physical 08080 100}}100% 20 TM085 TM085 Rest Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM086 TM086 Rock Slide Rock Physical 07575 090}}90% 10 TM087 TM087 Taunt Dark Status 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM088 TM088 Swords Dance Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM094 TM094 Dark Pulse Dark Special 08080 100}}100% 15 TM103 TM103 Substitute Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM105 TM105 X-Scissor Bug Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM107 TM107 Will-O-Wisp Fire Status 0000— 085}}85% 15 TM109 TM109 Trick Psychic Status 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM114 TM114 Shadow Ball Ghost Special 08080 100}}100% 15 TM120 TM120 Psychic Psychic Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM129 TM129 Calm Mind Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM135 TM135 Ice Beam Ice Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM140 TM140 Nasty Plot Dark Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM143 TM143 Blizzard Ice Special 110110 070}}70% 5 TM148 TM148 Sludge Bomb Poison Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM152 TM152 Giga Impact Normal Physical 150150 090}}90% 5 TM158 TM158 Focus Blast Fighting Special 120120 070}}70% 5 TM163 TM163 Hyper Beam Normal Special 150150 090}}90% 5 TM166 TM166 Thunder Electric Special 110110 070}}70% 10 TM171 TM171 Tera Blast Normal Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM174 TM174 Haze Ice Status 0000— 00—}}—% 30 TM177 TM177 Spite Ghost Status 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM181 TM181 Knock Off Dark Physical 06565 100}}100% 20 TM192 TM192 Focus Punch Fighting Physical 150150 100}}100% 20 TM199 TM199 Lash Out Dark Physical 07575 100}}100% 5 TM203 TM203 Psych Up Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM221 TM221 Throat Chop Dark Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM224 TM224 Curse Ghost Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Darkrai Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or an alternate form of Darkrai Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Side game data

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: -22% IQ group: I
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Body size: Standard (1 tile) How to Recruit: Boss of Distress Mountain Connected to: None Connection Orb Set: None Phrases Normal Have you had nightmares on a moonless night? If you have, that was my doing. Low HP (< 50%) Tsk… This wound seems bad…
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group: Dark Poké Assist: Dark Field move: (Dark Power ×-) Browser entry R-257 It sends gusts of dark wind and lets loose dark pulses to attack.
Pokémon Rumble Attack ●●●●● Defense ●●●● Speed ●●●●●			Pokémon Rumble Blast Attack ●●●●● Defense ●●●● Speed ●●●●●
Pokémon Rumble Rush Walking Speed: 1.17 seconds Base HP: 53 Base Attack: 84 Base Defense: 57 Base Speed: 80
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: Darkrai came to the PokéPark in search of a comfortable place to stay. He's second to none when playing Dusknoir's Speed Slam.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond PokéPark Pad entry: He tried to ease his loneliness by inviting everyone to one world, but the incident with the Dark Vortex made him realize that he was not alone.
Pokémon Battle Trozei Dark Attack Power: ★★★★★ Power of Five Increases the damage dealt by matching five Pokémon.			Pokémon Shuffle Dark Attack Power: 80 - 145 20 #303 Sleep Charm Leaves the foe asleep. Swappable Skill(s): Spookify+
Pokémon GO Base HP: 172 Base Attack: 285 Base Defense: 198 Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 20 km Evolution Requirement: N/A Fast Attacks: Snarl, Feint Attack Charged Attacks: Focus Blast, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Sludge Bomb†, Frustration, Return
Pokémon Sleep Sleep type: Dozing Pokémon type: Dark Points to befriend: 20 Specialty: All Berry: Wiki Berry ×1 Primary ingredient: Bean Sausage ×1 Possible ingredients: Bean Sausage Bean Sausage Main skill: Bad Dreams (Charge Strength M) Base carry limit: 28 Increases Snorlax's Strength by ?, but at the same time, reduces the Energy of helper Pokémon on your team that aren't Dark type by 12. It can lull people to sleep and make them have nightmares. It has been observed trying to use Dark Void even while it sleeps, but that may be because it can't contain its own overflowing power. Floaty Arms-Crossed Sleep Floaty-Stance Sleep Dark Void Sleep ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Evolution data

Unevolved  Dark

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Front Back Front Back Front Back
Generation V Black White Black 2 White 2 Front Back Front Back
Generation VI X Y Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Front Back Front Back
Generation VII Sun Moon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon Front Back Front Back
Generation VIII Legends: Arceus
Cross-Generation HOME

For other sprites and images, please see Darkrai images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

In animation

Main series

Major appearances

Darkrai (M10)

Darkrai debuted in The Rise of Darkrai as a protagonist. It took the task of holding off the fighting between Dialga and Palkia until Ash and Dawn could put the Oración disk in the Space-Time Towers music player to calm the two Legendary Pokémon down. It reappeared in a cameo in the ending credits of Arceus and the Jewel of Life.

Darkrai (recurring)

A Darkrai appeared in Nightfall? Nightmares! and A Midsummer Night's Light!, where it was a target of Matori and the Matori Matrix, along with Cresselia.

Darkrai's known moves are Dark Pulse and Dark Void, and its Ability is Bad Dreams.

Other

Darkrai made its animated series debut in Sleepless In Pre-Battle!. Unlike the Darkrai in The Rise of Darkrai, this Darkrai was maliciously causing nightmares, much like the one in the games. According to Officer Jenny, it comes at a certain time every year. In the episode, however, it came earlier due to it being lured out by Team Rocket's machine, which was also causing nightmares. Cresselia is normally in the same place as Darkrai to stop it from giving nightmares, but due to Darkrai's early arrival, the people in Canalave City had nightmares for several days. One night, it was concealing itself when Cresselia used its abilities to reveal it from the darkness. The two then battled and Darkrai hid itself once more in the shadows.

In League Unleashed!, a mysterious Trainer competed in the Lily of the Valley Conference with a Darkrai. In the following episode, Conway revealed that the Trainer, Tobias, had easily defeated eight Gym Leaders of the Sinnoh region using only Darkrai. In the Sinnoh League semifinals, this Darkrai was used against Ash, where it easily defeated Heracross, Torkoal, and Gible. However, it was defeated by Ash's Sceptile in The Semi-Final Frontier!.

In Pikachu, What's This Key?, Meowth, Wobbuffet, and Inkay visited a Darkrai courtesy of Klefki's keys. Darkrai scared them out of a dark world in which it resided.

In Dream a Little Dream from Me!, a Darkrai was the source of Pikachu, Meowth, and Squishy's nightmare. Darkrai eventually left as soon as it was spotted by Ash and his friends.

Minor appearances

A Darkrai appeared in the opening sequence of Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.

Pokédex entries

GOTCHA!

A Darkrai briefly appeared as a silhouette in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Pokémon Ranger: The Comic – Shadows of Almia

Darkrai plays a major role in Pokémon Ranger: The Comic – Shadows of Almia.

Movie adaptations

Main article: Darkrai (M10)

Darkrai plays a major role in the manga adaptation of The Rise of Darkrai.

Phantom Thief Pokémon 7

A Darkrai has a recurring role in Phantom Thief Pokémon 7.

Pocket Monsters DP

A Darkrai appeared in PMDP19.

A Darkrai appeared in PMDP29.

Pokémon Adventures

In Phew for Mew, Sird let out a beam of light from a Poké Ball in an attempt to recapture Deoxys. When Mewtwo's attack collided with the beam, it caused Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Silver to turn to stone. In Double Trouble with Dialga and Palkia IV, the beam was revealed to have been Darkrai. In The Final Dimensional Duel VIII, Sird was revealed to have released it into the Distortion World, where it clashed with Palmer's Cresselia and was briefly controlled by Charon. After escaping from Giratina's realm, it left to parts unknown.

A Darkrai appeared as a silhouette in a fantasy in Unplugging Rotom (Heat, Wash, Mow, Fan, Frost).

In the TCG

Main article: Darkrai (TCG)

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Darkrai appears as a trophy.

Trophy information

A Pitch-Black Pokémon. It becomes active on nights of the new moon. This legendary Pokémon has the power to lull people to sleep and fill their heads with dreams. Proverbs say that Darkrai will make people have terrifying dreams on moonless nights. A Dark-type Pokémon, Darkrai uses the Dark Void move, along with Embargo, which stops foes from using held items.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U

Darkrai appears as a Poké Ball Pokémon. It puts fighters to sleep and damages them by using Dark Void. It also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.

Trophy information

NA: This Dark-type Pokémon can cause people and other Pokémon to experience nightmares. While it is floating in the air, it tucks its legs in so far, it looks like they vanish! In battle it will use a move called Dark Void, which sucks in surrounding opponents and puts them into a deep sleep.

PAl: A Pokémon shrouded in mystery, Darkrai has the ability to implant nightmares into the minds of both humans and Pokémon. It has legs, but seems to prefer to float in the air. Its favourite move in this game is Dark Void. When this attack hits something, it creates a vortex that sucks in fighters and puts them to sleep.

Pokkén Tournament

Main article: Darkrai (Pokkén)

Darkrai is a Battle Pokémon in the arcade and Nintendo Switch versions of Pokkén Tournament. Its moves include Dark Pulse, Dark Void, Nasty Plot, Shadow Claw, Nightmare, and Dream Eater. During Synergy Burst, it can use the Burst Attack Infinite Eclipse.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Darkrai returns as a Poké Ball summon. As before, it uses Dark Void, which puts foes to sleep and damages them. Darkrai also appears as a Spirit.

Pokémon UNITE

Main article: Darkrai (UNITE)

Darkrai is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a melee Speedster.

Trivia

• Darkrai's effort value yield of 2 Special Attack and 1 Speed is unique.
• Darkrai has two different portrait pictures in both Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
• Sailor Eldritch's son says "Dar... Dark... Is watching me..." in his sleep before the player cures his nightmare. It is assumed that he is talking about Darkrai, as it is known to give its victims horrific nightmares.
• In the early Japanese versions of Diamond and Pearl, Darkrai can be caught with the Surf glitch. However, this glitch was fixed in other language versions. Another glitch has been discovered that allows players of other language releases to reach Darkrai without the Member Card.
  • This has been remedied in Pokémon Platinum, however, as Darkrai itself will not appear on the island without the event ticket.
• Darkrai was designed by Hironobu Yoshida.^[1]
• In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, as well as Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Darkrai is the only non-Ghost type Pokémon capable of traveling through walls and all other terrain types without the All-Terrain Hiker IQ skill.
• Despite being a gender-unknown Pokémon, the Darkrai in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky is referred to as a male.

Origin

Darkrai appears to be the personification of nightmares, bearing resemblance to folklore creatures such as the mare and other night hags. Similarly, some types of jinns are also associated with nightmares and sleep paralysis. It may also draw some inspiration from sleep deities and/or personifications, such as Morpheus.

Darkrai's appearance is that of a ghostly shadow, likely inspired by some popular descriptions of bogeyman as a dark and formless figure. It may also be inspired by common hallucinations of shadowy figures during sleep paralysis episodes. In contrast to its counterpart Cresselia's association with the crescent moon, Darkrai also appears to represent the new moon.

Darkrai shares some similarities with the nocnitsa from Slavic folklore, a type of evil spirit that often torments children with nightmares, gradually draining their life energy. Its physical appearance has many distinct depictions, some of which strongly resemble Darkrai—the most notable ones being: disheveled white hair, a body made out of shadows, and the absence of legs. Furthermore, in some regions it's said the nocnitsa can be stopped if one possesses a knife or a stone with a hole, similar to how a Lunar Feather can dispel Darkrai's nightmares.

Given its fabric-like texture in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and long and stilt-like legs, Darkrai appears to be inspired by a scarecrow, forming a contrast to Cresselia's bird-like design.

The black markings around its eyes could be seen to resemble eyebags, which could be caused by a lack of sleep resulting from nightmares.

Name origin

Darkrai may be a combination of dark and 暗い kurai (dark).

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ダークライ Darkrai From dark and 暗い kurai French Darkrai Same as English/Japanese name Spanish Darkrai Same as English/Japanese name German Darkrai Same as English/Japanese name Italian Darkrai Same as English/Japanese name Korean 다크라이 Darkrai Transcription of Japanese name Mandarin Chinese 達克萊伊 Dákèláiyī Transcription of Japanese name Cantonese Chinese 達克萊伊 Daahthāklòihyī Transcription of Japanese name

More languages Hindi डार्कराय Darkrai Transcription of its English/Japanese name Russian Даркрай Darkray Transcription of English name Thai ดาร์กไร Dakrai Transcription of Japanese name

Related articles

• Dark Power (Field Move)
• Lunar duo
• Darkrai (M10)
• Darkrai (Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky)
• Darkrai (Pokkén)
• Darkrai (UNITE)
• Incredible Machine
• Mythical Pokémon

References

External links

• Darkrai on Pokémon.com

Mythical Pokémon

Generation I

Generation II

Generation III

Generation IV

Generation V

Generation VI

Generation VII

Generation VIII

Generation IX

See also: Legendary Pokémon

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Pokémon

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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.