Dark (type)

The **Dark type** is one of the eighteen types.

## Battle properties

As of Generation VII, Dark-type Pokémon are immune to opposing Pokémon's moves that gain priority due to the Ability Prankster.

## Characteristics

### Defense

The Dark type, along with the Steel type, was introduced in Generation II in order to balance the previously overpowered Psychic type, and the Ghost type, who had no type resistant to it. As such, Dark is designed to have a resistance to Ghost, a key immunity to Psychic moves and a resistance to itself. However, most Dark-type Pokémon have poor Template:Stat, Template:Stat, and Template:Stat stats, though there are others with high defensive stats, such as Tyranitar, Umbreon, Mandibuzz, and Drapion.

Prior to Generation VI, Dark/Ghost-type Pokémon had no weaknesses (excluding Fighting under immunity-negating conditions such as Foresight or Scrappy), as the resistances of the Dark type cover the weaknesses of Ghost, and vice-versa. Introduced in Generation VI, the Fairy type is super effective against Dark and not resisted by Ghost. As of Generation VII, Dark-types are also unaffected to any opposing priority status moves caused by the Ability Prankster.

Weaknesses to Fighting and Bug types results in the Dark-type alone offering little defensive utility outside of it's aforementioned characteristics, due to it's vulnerability to common Fighting coverage and U-turn coupled with usually poor defensive stats among Pokémon of this type, therefore it performs better defensively if paired with types such as Poison - the latter nullifies all of the former's weaknesses, while Dark removes Poison's weakness to Psychic, leaving a single Ground weakness.

### Offense

Dark-type moves are especially useful when combating Psychic and Ghost types. Many of them involve the possession of an opponent's attributes, such as Knock Off and Foul Play. Dark had little use as neutral coverage until Steel lost its resistance to it in Generation VI. Despite not being very effective against Fairy, several Dark-type Pokémon have access to Steel and Poison-type moves to pose a threat. Dark-type attacks work very well with Fairy-type attacks since the rare Steel/Fairy is the only combination that resists both.

Despite being a special type prior to Generation IV, all previous Dark-type attacks became physical, which is helpful since most Dark-type Pokémon are physical attackers due to their typically high Template:Stat. Nevertheless, some Dark types have notably higher Template:Stat, such as Hydreigon, Houndoom, and Zoroark.

With a neutral hit on Steel and no immunity against it, Dark is considered to be one of the best offensive types available as of Generation VI.

### Contest properties

In Contests, Dark-type moves are typically categorized as Clever moves.

## Pokémon

### Pure Dark-type Pokémon

There are no Pure Dark-type Pokémon in Generation 1.

### Half Dark-type Pokémon

#### Secondary Dark-type Pokémon

There are no Secondary Dark-type Pokémon in Generation 1.

## Abilities

### Interacting with the Dark type

A Pokémon with Color Change, Protean, Imposter, RKS System, or Multitype will become a Dark-type Pokémon if (respectively) it is hit with a Dark-type move, uses a Dark-type move, is sent out against a Dark-type opponent, is holding a Dark Memory, or is holding a Dread Plate or Darkinium Z.

Since Generation VII, Dark-type Pokémon are also immune to opposing Pokémon's moves that gain priority due to Prankster.

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### Exclusive Abilities

Currently, no Abilities are exclusive to Dark types. This does not include signature Abilities.