2025 Dark-type Pokémon Go: 12 Best Attackers & 6 Counters
If you want to build up a team to counter Psychic and Ghost-type Pokémons in trainer battles and raids, then we suggest you pick Dark-types. Not only do they deal super-effective damage to these Pokémon types, but they also strongly resist Psychic attacks.
As such, in this article, we present you with the 12 best dark-types in Pokémon Go. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Part 1. What Is the Top Dark-type Pokémon Go?
In Pokémon Go, the top Dark-type Pokémon is renowned for its outstanding combat capabilities, excelling in raids and PvP with remarkable damage and advantageous typing, making it a top choice for trainers.
16 Best Dark Attackers in Pokémon Go (PvE)
Here’s a detailed breakdown of these elite Dark-type PvE attackers, including their visual traits, most effective movesets, and the key reasons they dominate in Pokémon Go’s player-versus-environment content.
- Name
- Appearance
- Best Moveset
- Reason
- Mega Tyranitar
- Bite + Brutal Swing
- One of the strongest Dark attackers in the game. Huge stats and Brutal Swing make it top-tier for raids versus Psychic and Ghost Pokémon.
- Mega Houndoom
- Snarl + Foul Play
- High Attack plus Dark STAB moves. Also brings Fire coverage, so it fits many raid teams as a flexible Dark-type Pokémon Go option.
- Shadow Darkrai
- Snarl + Shadow Ball
- Already one of the best Dark attackers for Pokémon Go raids, the Shadow bonus further turns it into a glass cannon that melts bosses.
- Shadow Tyranitar
- Bite + Brutal Swing
- The shadow form of Dark Tyranitar in Pokémon Go hits much harder than regular, and Brutal Swing gives it strong Dark DPS with good bulk.
- Shadow Hydreigon
- Bite + Brutal Swing
- Hydreigon is already a top Dark attacker; the Shadow version boosts damage even more, making it one of the Best Dark-type Pokémon Go choices for raids.
- Yveltal
- Snarl + Dark Pulse
- Strong Legendary with great bulk. Its Snarl + Dark Pulse gives solid Dark-type raid damage and doubles as a strong pick when you need a Dark counter.
26 Best Dark-type Pokémon for PvP
Below is a comprehensive overview of these top Dark-type Pokémon for PvP, detailing their appearances, optimal movesets, and the key factors that make them stand out in player-versus-player combat.
However, do note that the entries for best PvP Dark-type Pokémons depend on the league (Great, Ultra, or Master) in which they are best suited.
- Name
- Appearance
- Best Moveset
- Reason
- Hydreigon
- Dragon Breath + Brutal Swing
- Fast Dragon Breath damage plus cheap Brutal Swing let Hydreigon pressure shields and hit many Psychic and Ghost types hard. Very strong in Ultra and Master.
- Umbreon
- Snarl + Foul Play
- One of the bulkiest Dark types. Spam Foul Play for Dark damage and Last Resort for neutral coverage. Great in Great and Ultra League.
- Sableye (Purified)
- Shadow Claw + Foul Play
- Tiny stats but incredible typing (Dark/Ghost) and moves. One of the best Dark-types for Pokémon Go PvP Great League.
- Alolan Muk
- Poison Jab + Dark Pulse
- Poison/Dark typing covers many meta-Pokémon. Poison Jab plus Dark Pulse hits common Fairies and Psychics.
- Tyranitar
- Smack Down + Brutal Swing
- In PvP, Tyranitar often acts more like a Rock wall, but Brutal Swing gives it a cheap Dark move. Great pick for Flying- and Ghost-types in Master League.
- Drapion
- Poison Sting + Crunch
- Drapion is a very strong Dark-type Pokémon Go option in Great and Ultra League thanks to its fast energy gain, solid bulk, and flexible charge moves.
Part 2. When & Where to Find Dark-type Pokémon Go?
Whether you’re after the best Dark-type Pokémon Go picks, curious about when Dark-types in Pokémon Go appear, or just want to boost your odds, this section will break everything down for you.
What Defines a Dark Type in Pokémon Go?
In Pokémon Go, a Pokémon is considered a Dark-type if it has “Dark” as one of its type attributes. The “Dark” label basically means it falls under the Dark-type category for match-ups, weaknesses, and strengths.
When to Find Dark-type Pokémon?
When Do Dark-type Pokémon Appear In Pokémon Go? Well, Dark-type Pokémon tend to appear more often in the wild during the night hours, roughly from around 8 PM to 2 AM local time.
Events also boost their appearance, so during special occasions or raids, you typically find more Dark‐type spawns than usual.
How to Get Dark-type Pokémon?
Nighttime Spawns
- Go out after dark and keep an eye on spawn clusters to increase your chances.
Specific Locations
- Places such as cemeteries, old movie theatres, or historic landmarks tend to have higher Dark type appearances.
In-Game Events
- Special events focused on Ghost, Dark, or Psychic types usually boost Dark‐type spawns and give extra chances for rare ones.
Raids
- Some raids feature strong Dark-type Pokémon as bosses; completing them gives you a chance to catch one.
Team GO Rocket Battles
- Battling with Team GO Rocket Grunts or bosses often rewards Dark‐type Pokémon or encounters.
Part 3. What Is Dark-type Weak Against in Pokémon Go?
Dark-type Pokémon can be very strong in battles, but they also have clear weaknesses that make them easier to defeat if you choose the right counters.
Knowing the Dark-type weakness in Pokémon Go, as well as counters for Dark-type Pokémons, should help you win raids, Gym battles, and PvP matches more easily.
Dark-type Pokémon's Weakness
In Pokémon Go, Dark types are weak to three types:
- Fighting
- Fairy
- Bug
This means these types deal super-effective damage to even the best Dark-types in Pokémon Go. On the flip side, Dark Pokémons resist Ghost, Dark, and Psychic attacks, making them strong choices in many battles.
Top 6 Counters for Defeating Dark-type Pokémon
- Name
- Type
- Best Moveset
- Reason
- Lucario
- Fighting / Steel
- Counter + Aura Sphere
- One of the strongest Fighting PvP attackers. Aura Sphere deals massive super-effective damage to Dark types.
- Machamp
- Fighting
- Counter + Dynamic Punch
- Machamp’s pure Fighting typing allows it to hit Dark types with strong, cheap charge moves.
- Mega Gardevoir
- Psychic / Fairy
- Charm + Dazzling Gleam
- Charm destroys Dark Pokémon very quickly. Mega Gardevoir boosts Fairy damage for your whole team in raids.
- Zacian (Hero Forme)
- Fairy
- Snarl + Play Rough
- A reliable Fairy-type with good bulk and strong Fairy damage. Great for both PvP and raids against Dark types.
- Mega Heracross
- Bug / Fighting
- Counter + Close Combat
- One of the best Fighting Megas. Its typing and high Attack make it a top-tier counter for Dark-type Pokémon Go battles.
- Volcarona
- Bug/Fire
- Bug Bite + Bug Buzz
- Volcarona’s Bug-type damage hits Dark types super hard, and Bug Buzz deals big finishing damage.
Part 4. How to Locate Dark-type Pokémon's Spawn Spots without Moving!
To catch Dark-types in Pokémon Go, you usually need to go out and explore. This often means traveling to remote spots or distant landmarks — not convenient for most trainers. Daily life limits free time, and what’s left is better spent resting at home.
For these trainers, we recommend using PoGoskill. PoGoskill is a location spoofer app that lets you catch the best Dark-types in Pokémon Go right from the comfort of your home! With just a tap, you can teleport to any location in the world and even create custom walking routes there. Even better, you can use the built-in Joystick mode to simulate your virtual movement in 360-degree freedom!
Key Features Include
- Auto-spin PokeStops: Automatically scans nearby PokeStops, ensuring you don’t run out of vital supplies while hunting.
- Device Compatibility: PoGoskill works flawlessly with iOS 26 and Android 16 devices.
- Cooldown Timer: Limit frequent teleportation based on the total distance travelled to keep your account safe from Niantic bans.
How To Use PoGoskill
-
Step 1Click on the Download button above and install PoGoskill.
-
Step 2Connect your device and choose Game Mode.
-
Step 3Find a high-activity area with many PokeStops on the PoGo map, start moving around to find Dark-type Pokémons.
FAQs About Best Dark-type Pokémon Go
What Is the Rarest Dark Pokémon?
The rarest Dark-type Pokémon in Pokémon Go is widely considered to be Galarian Moltres, due to its extremely low encounter rate and limited availability.
What Is the Strongest Non-Legendary Dark-type Pokémon?
Mega Tyranitar is the strongest, with sky-high attack and a Brutal Swing + Stone Edge moveset, delivering top-tier damage in both PvE raids and PvP battles, surpassing all other non-legendary Dark Pokémon.
What Is the Strongest Dark-type In Pokémon Go?
Mega Tyranitar is the strongest Dark-type in Pokémon Go, outshining even legendary Dark Pokémon. Its mega-evolved form grants massive stat boosts, making it the go-to for raids and gym attacks.
What Is the Best Moveset for Dark?
Bite (fast energy generation) and Brutal Swing (high-DPS charged move) form the best Dark-type moveset. This combo ensures consistent, powerful damage across most Dark Pokémon and battle scenarios.
How To Attract Dark-type Pokémon?
Play at night or during foggy weather, join Dark-themed events, fight Team Go Rocket, or use incense in quiet locations, such as near a graveyard, to increase Dark-type spawns.
What Is the Rarest Pokémon Type?
Ice-type Pokémon are generally considered the rarest overall type in Pokémon Go, appearing less frequently than others in the wild.
Final Thoughts
As seen above, building a strong team becomes much easier when you know the best Dark-types in Pokémon Go. Whether you want to focus on raids, PvP, or counters, Dark-types in Pokémon Go give you powerful advantages against Psychic and Ghost enemies.
Make sure to use PoGoskill Location Changer to speed up your hunt and play Pokémon Go from the warm, cozy indoors during this upcoming winter!
Best Pokemon Go Spoofer
- Play Pokemon GO safely with the Original App
- Enjoy Game Mode for PoGo spoofing
- Quickly find Pokémon, Raids, and Routes nearby
- Scan 2000+ PokéStops and Gyms in 1 Second
- Compatible with latest iOS 18 & Android 15
18.6K
Reviews
36.8K
Downloaded Users