Darkrai Pokemon GO sprite
#0491

Darkrai

B
Tier B Poison Attacker
#12 overall · 15.385 DPS
Max CP
4,227
Best
Snarl
Sludge Bomb
Mythical Fog

Darkrai is a Mythical Dark-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO, originally from the Sinnoh region (#491, Generation 4). With a max CP of 4,227 and base stats of 285/198/172 (Atk/Def/Sta), Darkrai has a total stat product of 655. Darkrai's best moveset is Snarl and Sludge Bomb, making it a competitive Poison-type attacker for raids.

Darkrai is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting-type moves. It resists Psychic, Dark, Ghost-type attacks. Darkrai is a 20.0 km buddy Pokemon.

Stats

Max CP
4,227
Lv.40: 3,739 Lv.50: 4,227
Attack 285
Defense 198
Stamina 172
Total 655
Buddy 20.0 km Gen 4 · Sinnoh 2nd Move: 100,000 Dust · 100 Candy

Rankings

Raid Attacker
Poison Attacker
B
#12
15.4
DPS
277
TDO
Snarl
Sludge Bomb
Dark Attacker
B
#14
15.4
DPS
278
TDO
Snarl
Dark Pulse
Ghost Attacker
B
#17
15.9
DPS
285
TDO
Snarl
Shadow Ball

Moves

Fast Moves

Dark
11
DPS
11.0 PWR 10 EN 1.0s DUR 10 EPS Fog
Dark
Snarl STAB
11
DPS
11.0 PWR 13 EN 1.0s DUR 13 EPS Fog

Charged Moves

Dark
Dark Pulse STAB
26.7
DPS
80.0 PWR 50 EN 3.0s DUR
Fighting
40
DPS
140.0 PWR 100 EN 3.5s DUR
Ghost
33.3
DPS
100.0 PWR 50 EN 3.0s DUR
Poison
Sludge Bomb Elite
34
DPS
85.0 PWR 50 EN 2.5s DUR

Best Moveset Analysis

For raids and gym battles, Darkrai's best offensive moveset is Snarl combined with Sludge Bomb, achieving 15.4 DPS and 277 TDO as a Poison-type attacker (ranked #12, Tier B). Alternatively, Darkrai can serve as a Dark-type attacker with Snarl and Dark Pulse (#14, Tier B).

Among fast moves, the highest DPS option is Feint Attack (11 DPS), while Snarl generates energy the fastest (13 EPS). Note that Sludge Bomb is an Elite TM move and cannot be obtained through regular TMs.

Raid Guide

Darkrai as Raid Boss

Not Currently in Raids

Darkrai is not currently available as a raid boss. When Darkrai returns to raids, here are the best counters to defeat it. A 100% IV Darkrai from raids would have 2136 CP at level 20, or 2671 CP at level 25 with weather boost.

Best Counters to Beat Darkrai

Darkrai is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting-type moves, so counters with these move types will deal the most damage.

How to Get Darkrai

Darkrai can be encountered in the wild in Pokemon GO.

A Shadow version of Darkrai is available from Team GO Rocket. Shadow Darkrai knows Frustration as its charged move, which can be removed with a Charged TM. Purifying costs 20,000 Stardust and 20 Candy, and the purified form learns Return. Walking Darkrai as your buddy earns 1 candy every 20.0 km.

Darkrai Catch CP

These are the possible CP values when encountering Darkrai in different scenarios. The range shows minimum (lowest IV floor) to maximum (100% perfect IV).

Wild Catch
Level 1–30
96 – 3,232 CP
Wild (Weather Boost)
Level 1–35
96 – 3,499 CP
Raid Catch
Level 20
2,099 – 2,190 CP
Raid (Weather Boost)
Level 25
2,611 – 2,724 CP
Egg Hatch
Level 20
2,099 – 2,190 CP
Research Encounter
Level 15
1,587 – 1,656 CP
GO Battle League
Level 20
2,099 – 2,190 CP

A 100% IV Darkrai from raids or eggs will show 2,136 CP at level 20. If you see this number, don't hesitate — it's a perfect catch!

Trainer Tips

Darkrai is a Dark-type Pokemon with a stat total of 655. With its high Attack stat (285), Darkrai is best suited for offensive roles in both raids and PvP.

Watch out for Bug, Fairy, Fighting-type moves when using Darkrai. These types deal super effective damage that can cut into Darkrai's performance.

Darkrai's moves get a damage boost in Fog weather. Take advantage of weather conditions to maximize your DPS in raids and gym battles.

Unlocking a second charged move costs 100,000 Stardust and 100 Candy. With 4 charged moves available, a second move gives Darkrai much better coverage in PvP battles.

Should I Invest in Darkrai?

Power-Up Costs

Level 20 → 40 (Standard)
135,000 Stardust
15 Candy
Level 40 → 50 (XL Candy)
0 Stardust
0 XL Candy
Total (20 → 50)
135,000 Stardust

Verdict

Situational
Darkrai is a solid but not elite Poison-type attacker, sitting at Tier B (#12) in raid performance. With a max CP of 4,227 and base stats of 285/198/172, it can fill a role on your team if you lack stronger Poison-type counters. The best moveset is Snarl paired with Sludge Bomb. Consider investing if you need a Poison-type attacker now, but hold off on XL Candy investment as better alternatives exist. A useful stepping stone rather than an endgame pick.

Shadow vs Regular: Shadow Darkrai deals 20% more damage but takes ~20% more. For raids, Shadow is generally the better investment. For PvP, evaluate matchups carefully — the bulk loss can be significant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best moveset for Darkrai in Pokemon GO?
Darkrai's best moveset is Snarl (fast) and Sludge Bomb (charged), providing 15.4 DPS as a Poison-type attacker.
What are Darkrai's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?
Darkrai is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting-type moves. On the other hand, Darkrai resists Psychic, Dark, Ghost-type attacks.
What is Darkrai's max CP in Pokemon GO?
Darkrai's maximum CP is 4,227 at level 50 (with XL Candy), or 3,739 at level 40. A 100% IV Darkrai caught from raids or eggs (level 20) will have 2,136 CP, or 2,671 CP with weather boost (level 25).
What CP is a 100% IV Darkrai?
A perfect 15/15/15 IV Darkrai has the following CP at key levels: 1,602 CP at level 15 (research encounters), 2,136 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches), 2,671 CP at level 25 (weather-boosted raids), and 4,227 CP at level 50 fully powered up.
Is Shadow Darkrai better than regular?
Shadow Darkrai deals 20% more damage than its regular counterpart but also takes 20% more damage. For raids, Shadow Darkrai is generally better due to the higher DPS output. For PvP, it depends on the matchup — the extra damage taken can be a significant drawback in extended battles where survivability matters. Shadow Darkrai comes with Frustration, which should be replaced with a Charged TM before powering up.
How to get Darkrai in Pokemon GO?
Darkrai can be found in the wild, though it may be rare depending on your biome and current events.

Max CP per Level

L1 52 CP
L5 504 CP
L10 1,068 CP
L15 1,602 CP
L20 2,136 CP
L25 2,671 CP
L30 3,205 CP
L35 3,472 CP
L40 3,739 CP
L50 4,227 CP

Pokedex Info

Pokedex Number #491
Generation Gen 4
Region Sinnoh
Height 1.50 m
Weight 50.50 kg
Buddy Distance 20.0 km
Tradable No
2nd Charged Move 100,000 Dust / 100 Candy
Shadow Move Frustration
Purified Move Return
Purification Cost 20,000 Dust / 20 Candy