Darkrai is a Mythical Dark-type Pokémon (#491, Generation 4) that caps at 4,227 CP at level 50, built on 285/198/172 base stats — an offensive, glass-cannon build — high Attack, thin bulk.
It ranks among the better Poison-type attackers (#12), a solid budget option if you don't have the premium picks.Its best all-round moveset is Snarl paired with Sludge Bomb.
Defensively, it takes extra damage from Bug, Fairy and Fighting and resists Psychic, Dark and Ghost — worth remembering when you field it or plan a team around beating it.
Stats
Type Chart
Rankings
Snarl
Sludge Bomb
Snarl
Dark Pulse
Snarl
Shadow Ball
Moves
Fast Moves
Charged Moves
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.
Forms & Variants
Raid Guide
Darkrai as Raid Boss
5-Star Raids Active Now Shiny AvailableDarkrai is currently available as a 5-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO. A 100% IV Darkrai from raids will have 2136 CP at level 20, or 2671 CP at level 25 with weather boost. View full raid guide →
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.
Darkrai as Raid Counter
Darkrai is an effective raid counter against the following Pokemon.
How to Get Darkrai
Darkrai can be encountered in the wild in Pokemon GO.
Darkrai is currently available as a 5-Star Raids raid boss. After defeating it in a raid, you can catch it at level 20 (2136 CP for a perfect 15/15/15 IV) or level 25 with weather boost (2671 CP).
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).
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
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.