View source for Darkest Day

{{samename|Eternatus previously known as the Darkest Day in the anime|Leon's Eternatus}}
[[File:Darkest Day Galar.png|thumb|250px|{{ga|Victor}} and [[Hop]] confronting Eternamax {{p|Eternatus}} during the Darkest Day]]
The '''Darkest Day''' (Japanese: '''ブラックナイト''' ''Black Night'') is a black storm that covered the [[Galar]] region 3,000 years prior to the events of [[Pokémon Sword and Shield]]. During the course of the story, [[Rose]] deliberately causes another occurrence in an ill-advised effort to replenish Galar's [[Dynamax]] energy.

==History==
[[File:Zacian and Zamazenta rescue SwSh.png|thumb|left|250px|{{p|Zacian}} and {{p|Zamazenta}} arriving to help {{ga|Gloria}} and Hop to stop {{p|Eternatus}}]]
3,000 years ago, when {{p|Eternatus}} attempted to stay alive by absorbing [[Galar]]'s energy, it caused a red light to appear. This resulted in the Darkest Day. This phenomenon, in the form of a black storm, caused Pokémon to [[Dynamax]] and [[Gigantamax]]. However, they went berserk in the process, almost destroying the region. The event ended when Eternatus was defeated by {{p|Zacian}}, {{p|Zamazenta}}, and the two [[Ancient Galarian Kings]].

In the present day, [[Rose]] aims to use Eternatus to bring about a second Darkest Day above [[Hammerlocke Stadium]] to avert the Dynamax energy shortage predicted to happen after a thousand years. [[Sonia]] has also conducted research into the Darkest Day. She learns that the event was connected to one Pokémon and that the two heroes of Galar were not humans, but rather Pokémon.

Rose awakens Eternatus during the time the {{player}} and [[Leon]] are about to have their Championship Match. However, he could not control it, so Eternatus caused the Darkest Day to happen again, affecting all the {{cat|Power Spots}} in the region. When the player defeats Eternatus for the first time, it absorbs all of the energy in Galar to achieve its Eternamax state, further speeding up the Darkest Day. The player and [[Hop]] then bring out the [[Rusted Sword]] and [[Rusted Shield]] with the hopes of stopping Eternatus. This results in Zacian and Zamazenta awakening and coming to their aid. The four work together to defeat Eternatus in a [[Max Raid Battle]] before the player {{pkmn2|caught|catches}} it, thus putting an end to the second Darkest Day.
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===Hammerlocke vault tapestries===
The [[Hammerlocke]] vault contains a series of tapestries describing the Darkest Day, which are shown from the perspective of the two heroes who stopped it.

<gallery>
File:Hammerlocke Vault tapestry 1.png|The first tapestry depicting a [[Wishing Star]] falling out of the sky
File:Hammerlocke Vault tapestry 2.png|The second tapestry depicting a disaster amid a black storm
File:Hammerlocke Vault tapestry 3.png|The third tapestry depicting the two heroes using the sword and shield
File:Hammerlocke Vault tapestry 4.png|The fourth tapestry depicting the two heroes being crowned as kings
</gallery>

====Circhester tapestry====
The Bob's Your Uncle restaurant in [[Circhester]] contains a ripped part of tapestry, presenting the two heroes standing before two tombstones with sword and shield symbols on an altar similiar to the one in the [[Slumbering Weald]].

==In the anime==
===Main series===
[[File:Darkest Day anime.png|thumb|250px|The Darkest Day in the {{pkmn|anime}}]]
In ''[[JN027|Toughing It Out!]]'', [[Sonia]] told {{Ash}} and [[Goh]] the story of the Darkest Day.

In ''[[JN044|Sword and Shield: "From Here to Eternatus!"]]'', the Darkest Day began again after {{TP|Leon|Eternatus}} emerged from the [[Energy Plant]] core. [[Rose]] also revealed that "Darkest Day" was what people used to call Eternatus, before he gave it its current name.

In ''[[JN045|Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken!]]'', {{an|Leon}} battled Eternatus but failed to {{pkmn2|caught|catch}} it. As it assumed its {{DL|List of Pokémon with form differences|Eternatus|Eternamax}} form, Ash and Goh started battling it, but they were outmatched as well. However, using the [[Rusted Sword]] and [[Rusted Shield]] that Goh had found in the [[Slumbering Weald]], they were able to summon {{OBP|Zacian|recurring}} and {{OBP|Zamazenta|recurring}} to their aid and defeat Eternatus. Goh then caught Eternatus, ending the Darkest Day. Eternatus's {{i|Poké Ball}} was subsequently sealed away by [[Professor Magnolia]] to prevent the disaster from occurring again.
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===Pokémon Evolutions===
[[File:Darkest Day Evolutions.png|thumb|left|250px|The Darkest Day in [[Pokémon Evolutions]]]]
The Darkest Day was featured in a series of flashbacks in ''[[PE01|The Champion]]''. [[Leon]] recalled how he had been unable to stop {{p|Eternatus}}, but {{ga|Victor}} and [[Hop]], with the help of {{p|Zacian}} and {{p|Zamazenta}}, had succeeded in it, with Victor ending the event by catching Eternatus.
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==In the manga==
===Pokémon Adventures===
[[File:Darkest Day Adventures.png|thumb|300px|The Darkest Day in [[Pokémon Adventures]]]]
===={{MangaArc|Sword & Shield}}====
The Darkest Day was first mentioned in ''[[PASS06|Watch Out!! Strong Rivals]]'', where [[Sonia]] told {{Henry}} and {{Casey}} about it.

In ''[[PASS13|Glittering!! The Tapestry in the Vault]]'', Sonia and Henry examined the tapestries in the [[Hammerlocke]] vault, depicting the events of the Darkest Day.

In ''[[PASS24|Unbelievable!! The Shocking Truth]]'', Sonia told [[Leon]] how she had found out that [[Rose|Chairman Rose]] had teamed up with [[Sordward]] and [[Shielbert]], their intention being to start a new Darkest Day.

In ''[[PASS25|Rumble!! The Horrific Darkest Day]]'', once Leon had relayed Sonia's discoveries to the [[Galar]] [[Gym Leader]]s, they, along with Henry, Casey, [[Hop]], [[Marnie]], and [[Bede]], decided to confront Chairman Rose at [[Rose Tower]] regarding this information. However, Rose wasn't at the tower, instead contacting the {{tc|Gym Challenger}}s through a giant screen from the [[Hammerlocke Stadium]] [[Energy Plant]]. He had originally intended to wait for the [[Galar League|Champion Cup]] to begin before starting the Darkest Day, so that he'd have all of Galar's attention, but due to the circumstances having unexpectedly changed, he chose to start the cataclysm immediately. As such, {{cat|Power Spots}} around the [[region]] started to react, and multiple Pokémon around Galar began to [[Dynamax]] uncontrollably. Soon afterwards, {{p|Eternatus}} was sighted in Hammerlocke, as it perched itself atop the Hammerlocke Stadium's tallest tower. Meanwhile, {{tc|Macro Cosmos's|Macro Cosmos employees}} stationed around Galar started fighting against the rampaging Dynamax Pokémon to keep them in check.

In ''[[PASS27|Shock!! Chairman Rose's Plan]]'', Sordward and Shielbert confronted Eternatus atop Hammerlocke Stadium, but their Pokémon failed to defeat it, and the [[Rusted Sword]] and [[Rusted Shield|Shield]] they had stolen from [[Slumbering Weald]] a year earlier didn't do anything, forcing Rose to battle Eternatus himself, only to be defeated as well. In ''[[PASS28|Splash!! The Return of the Two Pokémon]]'', the Gym Leaders who had come to Hammerlocke started fighting Eternatus. Meanwhile, the Rusted Sword and Shield were retrieved by Casey's {{p|Falinks}} and {{p|Stunfisk}} and given to Henry to be repaired. While the Gym Leaders seemed to be able to defeat Eternatus, the pressure it exuded didn't lessen, and moments later, it transformed into its more powerful {{form|Eternatus|Eternamax}} form. At the same time, Henry realized, to his horror, that he was unable to repair the artifacts.

Eternamax Eternatus proceeded to defeat the Gym Leaders, but the tide of the battle changed when {{p|Zacian}} and {{p|Zamazenta}} appeared, having woken up in Slumbering Weald in response of the start of the Darkest Day. His mind warped by Eternatus's poison, Henry refused to give the artifacts to the [[legendary heroes]], even as they started to be pulled towards Eternatus. In [[PASS30]], Zacian and Zamazenta attacked Eternatus with {{m|Giga Impact}}, resulting in a bright burst of light. When it faded, the [[Legendary Pokémon]], the artifacts, and Henry had all disappeared. Following this, Rose turned himself in and resigned as the Chairman of the Galar League.

In [[PASS39]], while on {{rt|6|Galar}}, Marnie spotted the sky darkening again, indicating that Eternatus had reappeared and the Darkest Day had restarted. This time, however, the cataclysm was more widespread than before, causing Dynamax Pokémon to also appear on the [[Isle of Armor]] and at the [[Crown Tundra]]. At the [[Crown Shrine]], the appearance of a [[Gigantamax]] {{p|Butterfree}} and a Gigantamax {{p|Corviknight}} temporarily interrupted {{p|Calyrex}}'s reunion with its steed, {{p|Spectrier}}, but both of them were eventually defeated by [[Peony]], while {{form|Calyrex|Shadow Rider}} Calyrex defeated a group of Dynamax Pokémon at [[Freezington]]. Elsewhere in Galar, Leon and the Galar Gym Leaders set out to protect the people of Galar from the cataclysm once more.

== Trivia ==
* Any [[Dusk Ball]] used during the Darkest Day always has a 3× catch modifier.
* After the Darkest Day starts, the minimum [[level]] for all [[wild Pokémon]] in the [[Wild Area]] and the [[Isle of Armor]] becomes 60. It stays this way for the rest of the game.

==In other languages==
{{langtable|color={{dark color}}|bordercolor={{dark color dark}}|textcolor=FFF
|zh_yue=闇夜 ''{{tt|Amyeh|Dark Night}}''
|zh_cmn=闇夜 ''{{tt|Ānyè|Dark Night}}''
|cs=Nejtemnější den
|fi=Pimein päivä
|fr=Nuit Noire
|de=Finstre Nacht
|it=Notte Oscura
|ko=블랙 나이트 ''Black Night''
|pl=Najmroczniejszy Dzień
|pt=Dia Mais Sombrio
|es=Negra Noche
}}

==See also==
* {{p|Zacian}}
* {{p|Zamazenta}}
* {{p|Eternatus}}
* [[Dynamax]]
* [[Gigantamax]]
* [[Myths and legends involving Legendary and Mythical Pokémon]]
* [[Leon's Eternatus]]
* [[Legendary heroes]]
* [[Ancient Galarian Kings]]
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{{Project Games notice}}

[[Category:Pokémon Sword and Shield]]
[[Category:Macro Cosmos]]

[[fr:Nuit Noire]]
[[it:Notte Oscura]]
[[ja:ブラックナイト]]
[[zh:闇夜]]