Dark-type Pokémon
Added in Gen 2 to break Psychic — still broken today.
About Dark-type Pokémon
Dark was added in Gen 2 specifically as a counter to the overpowered Psychic type of Gen 1. Game Freak gave it immunity to Psychic, resistance to Ghost and Dark itself, and moves like Crunch and Pursuit (which hit fleeing Psychics for double damage). The anti-Psychic niche worked so well that Dark has remained one of the strongest offensive types for every generation since.
Competitive role
Dark is a pivot and revenge-killer type. Most viable Dark mons run Knock Off (65 BP, removes target's item) as their primary STAB — the move is so valuable it's become the most-used attack in competitive play. Sucker Punch is a priority Dark move that only works on attacking targets.
Signature STAB moves
Knock Off (65 BP + item removal) is the most valuable attack in the game. Crunch (80 BP, 20% Def drop) is the physical nuke. Dark Pulse is the special option. Sucker Punch is +1 priority but fails if target isn't attacking.
Did you know?
Dark-type moves were originally called 'Evil' moves in Japan (悪 — aku, meaning 'evil' or 'vice'). The English localization team changed it to 'Dark' to avoid religious associations, which is why Dark Pulse feels thematically unrelated to most Dark mons.
All Dark-type Pokémon (69)
#0197umbreon
#0198murkrow
#0215sneasel
#0228houndour
#0229houndoom
#0248tyranitar
#0261poochyena
#0262mightyena
#0274nuzleaf
#0275shiftry
#0302sableye
#0318carvanha
#0319sharpedo
#0332cacturne
#0342crawdaunt
#0359absol
#0430honchkrow
#0434stunky
#0435skuntank
#0442spiritomb
#0452drapion
#0461weavile
#0491darkrai
#0509purrloin
#0510liepard
#0551sandile
#0552krokorok
#0553krookodile
#0559scraggy
#0560scrafty
#0570zorua
#0571zoroark
#0624pawniard
#0625bisharp
#0629vullaby
#0630mandibuzz
#0633deino
#0634zweilous
#0635hydreigon
#0658greninja
#0675pangoro
#0686inkay
#0687malamar
#0717yveltal
#0727incineroar
#0799guzzlord
#0827nickit
#0828thievul
#0859impidimp
#0860morgrem
#0861grimmsnarl
#0862obstagoon
#0877morpeko full belly
#0892urshifu single strike
#0893zarude
#0904overqwil
#0908meowscarada
#0920lokix
#0942maschiff
#0943mabosstiff
#0962bombirdier
#0983kingambit
#0986brute bonnet
#0993iron jugulis
#1001wo chien
#1002chien pao
#1003ting lu
#1004chi yu
#1005roaring moon