Darkrai Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Darkrai in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Darkrai
Darkrai is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Dark typing. The best counter is Mega Lucario (Mega) with Force Palm and Aura Sphere, dealing 35.833 DPS.
Darkrai can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Darkrai is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting -type attacks. Avoid using Psychic, Dark, Ghost-type moves as Darkrai resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Darkrai is Mega Lucario (35.833 DPS), Mega Blaziken (35.750 DPS), and Shadow Blaziken (31.750 DPS).
Catching Darkrai: After defeating Darkrai, the catch encounter will have a CP between 2099 and 2190 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2611-2724 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Darkrai from raids will have exactly 2190 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Darkrai?
The best counter for Darkrai is Mega Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere, dealing 35.833 DPS. Other top options include Mega Blaziken (35.750 DPS) and Shadow Blaziken (31.750 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Darkrai?
Darkrai can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Darkrai weak to?
Darkrai is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting-type attacks. It resists Psychic, Dark, Ghost-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Darkrai be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Darkrai's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Darkrai from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Darkrai from raids will have 2190 CP at level 20, or 2724 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 2099. If you see 2190 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Darkrai worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Darkrai is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Darkrai?
For the best moveset for Darkrai itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Darkrai stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Darkrai without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Darkrai can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Pheromosa (29.250 DPS) and Kartana (27.429 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Darkrai in raids?
Weather boost information for Darkrai is not currently available. Dark-type Pokemon are typically boosted in specific weather conditions. When weather boosted, the raid is harder but the catch encounter is level 25 with higher CP.