Darkrai (Japanese: ダークライ Darkrai) is a Dark-type Mythical Pokémon introduced in Generation IV.
It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
It was officially revealed in February 2007.
It is a member of the Lunar duo with Cresselia.
Biology
Darkrai's extendable stilt-like appendages
Darkrai is a black, shadow-like Pokémon. It has a small head with a white fog-like ghostly plume billowing from its head covering one of its bright blue eyes, with the portion on its face resembling hair. It also has a red spiky growth around its neck. It has skinny arms and long black tatters hanging from its shoulders. It also has black, claw-like hands. It has the slight appearance of an hourglass figure and appears to be wearing an old, ripped cloak. It normally does not have any sort of legs, but it is able to extend stilt-like appendages in their place. In self-defense, Darkrai can retract its head and white "plume" into the pit atop its torso fringed by the aforementioned red growth.
Darkrai is known to "inhabit" dreams and causes the target to have unending nightmares, which can be stopped if exposed to a Lunar Wing from Cresselia. However, the "unleashing of nightmares" is actually a defense mechanism, instead of an intentionally malicious act. It can become a shadow and escape danger or contact with humans. It is also capable of some human speech. In The Rise of Darkrai, it was shown its power was weaker than that of Dialga and Palkia. Its relationship to its counterpart, Cresselia, can vary between individuals and canons, with some being antagonistic, as seen Sleepless In Pre-Battle! and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky, or cooperative, as seen in Nightfall? Nightmares! and A Midsummer Night's Light!. As seen in Sleepless In Pre-Battle!, Darkrai does not only cause nightmares; it is also attracted to them. It can also go around objects it is attracted to several times, as seen in the mentioned episode and Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia. Darkrai is said to be active during nights of the new moon. Darkrai possibly feeds off dreams, characterized by its association with never-ending nightmares. Darkrai is the only known Pokémon that learns Dark Void.
In the anime
Main series
Major appearances
Darkrai debuted in The Rise of Darkrai as a protagonist. It took the task of holding off the fighting between Dialga and Palkia until Ash and Dawn could put the Oración disk in the Space-Time Towers music player to calm the two Legendary Pokémon down. It reappeared in a cameo in the ending credits of Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
Darkrai (recurring)
A Darkrai appeared in Nightfall? Nightmares! and A Midsummer Night's Light!, where it was a target of Matori and the Matori Matrix, along with Cresselia.
Darkrai's known moves are Dark Pulse and Dark Void, and its Ability is Bad Dreams.
Other
Darkrai made its main series debut in Sleepless In Pre-Battle!. Unlike the Darkrai in The Rise of Darkrai, this Darkrai was maliciously causing nightmares, much like the one in the games. According to Officer Jenny, it comes at a certain time every year. In the episode, however, it came earlier due to it being lured out by Team Rocket's machine, which was also causing nightmares. Cresselia is normally in the same place as Darkrai to stop it from giving nightmares, but due to Darkrai's early arrival, the people in Canalave City had nightmares for several days. One night, it was concealing itself when Cresselia used its abilities to reveal it from the darkness. The two then battled and Darkrai hid itself once more in the shadows.
In League Unleashed!, a mysterious Trainer competed in the Lily of the Valley Conference with a Darkrai. In the following episode, Conway revealed that the Trainer, Tobias, had easily defeated eight Gym Leaders of the Sinnoh region using only Darkrai. In the Sinnoh League semifinals, this Darkrai was used against Ash, where it easily defeated Heracross, Torkoal, and Gible. However, it was defeated by Ash's Sceptile in The Semi-Final Frontier!.
In Pikachu, What's This Key?, Meowth, Wobbuffet, and Inkay visited a Darkrai courtesy of Klefki's keys. Darkrai scared them out of a dark world in which it resided.
In Dream a Little Dream from Me!, a Darkrai was the source of Pikachu, Meowth, and Squishy's nightmare. Darkrai eventually left as soon as it was spotted by Ash and his friends.
Minor appearances
A Darkrai appeared in the opening sequence of Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.
Pokédex entries
GOTCHA!
A Darkrai briefly appeared as a silhouette in GOTCHA!.
In the manga
Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic
Darkrai plays a major role in Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic.
Movie adaptations
- Main article: Darkrai (M10)
Darkrai plays a major role in the manga adaptation of The Rise of Darkrai.
Phantom Thief Pokémon 7
A Darkrai has a recurring role in Phantom Thief Pokémon 7.
Pocket Monsters DP
A Darkrai appeared in PMDP19.
A Darkrai appeared in PMDP29.
Pokémon Adventures
In Phew for Mew, Sird let out a beam of light from a Poké Ball upon seeing Deoxys leaving for space. Thinking that Sird was trying to retrieve Deoxys, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Silver tried to stop her, and Mewtwo charged into the light of the Poké Ball. Within moments, the five Pokédex holders were turned into stone, and a black shadow appeared in front of Sird. When Sird reappeared in front of her Team Galactic colleagues in Double Trouble with Dialga and Palkia IV and explained what happened, the black shadow was revealed to be Darkrai, though Sird still did not reveal its name. Darkrai later reappeared in The Final Dimensional Duel VIII, where it was revealed that Sird had released it into the Distortion World. It first faced its arch-rival Cresselia. Charon later took control of the Pokémon, and, along with Giratina and Heatran, used it in a battle against the Sinnoh Legendary Pokémon in the climax of the chapter. Darkrai was later freed from the control of Charon, and departed to parts unknown.
A Darkrai appeared as a silhouette in a fantasy in Unplugging Rotom (Heat, Wash, Mow, Fan, Frost).
In the TCG
- Main article: Darkrai (TCG)
Other appearances
Darkrai in Pokkén Tournament
Darkrai appears as a trophy.
Trophy information
A Pitch-Black Pokémon. It becomes active on nights of the new moon. This legendary Pokémon has the power to lull people to sleep and fill their heads with dreams. Proverbs say that Darkrai will make people have terrifying dreams on moonless nights. A Dark-type Pokémon, Darkrai uses the Dark Void move, along with Embargo, which stops foes from using held items.
Darkrai trophy in
Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
Darkrai appears as a Poké Ball Pokémon. It puts fighters to sleep and damages them by using Dark Void. It also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.
Trophy information
NA: This Dark-type Pokémon can cause people and other Pokémon to experience nightmares. While it is floating in the air, it tucks its legs in so far, it looks like they vanish! In battle it will use a move called Dark Void, which sucks in surrounding opponents and puts them into a deep sleep.
PAl: A Pokémon shrouded in mystery, Darkrai has the ability to implant nightmares into the minds of both humans and Pokémon. It has legs, but seems to prefer to float in the air. Its favourite move in this game is Dark Void. When this attack hits something, it creates a vortex that sucks in fighters and puts them to sleep.
Darkrai returns as a Poké Ball summon. As before, it uses Dark Void, which puts foes to sleep and damages them. Darkrai also appears as a Spirit.
- Main article: Darkrai (Pokkén Tournament)
Darkrai is a playable character in the arcade and Nintendo Switch versions of Pokkén Tournament.
Game data
NPC appearances
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Spoilers end here.
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Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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Generation IV
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Sinnoh #—
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Johto #—
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Diamond
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It can lull people to sleep and make them dream. It is active during nights of the new moon.
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Pearl
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Folklore has it that on moonless nights, this Pokémon will make people see horrific nightmares.
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Platinum
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To protect itself, it afflicts those around it with nightmares. However, it means no harm.
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HeartGold
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It chases people and Pokémon from its territory by causing them to experience deep, nightmarish slumbers.
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SoulSilver
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Generation V
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Unova #—
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Black
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To protect itself, it afflicts those around it with nightmares. However, it means no harm.
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White
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Black 2
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To protect itself, it afflicts those around it with nightmares. However, it means no harm.
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White 2
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Generation VI
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Kalos #—
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Hoenn #—
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X
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It chases people and Pokémon from its territory by causing them to experience deep, nightmarish slumbers.
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Y
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It can lull people to sleep and make them dream. It is active during nights of the new moon.
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Omega Ruby
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It chases people and Pokémon from its territory by causing them to experience deep, nightmarish slumbers.
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Alpha Sapphire
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It can lull people to sleep and make them dream. It is active during nights of the new moon.
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Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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In side games
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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In events
Games
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Event
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Language/Region
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Location
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Level
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Distribution period
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DP
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Cinema Darkrai
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Japanese
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Japan
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50
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July 14 to September 9, 2007
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DP
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Toys "R" Us Darkrai
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English
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United States
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50
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May 31 to June 1, 2008
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DP
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Nintendo World Store Darkrai
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English
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United States
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50
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June 1 to 30, 2008
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DP
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Alamos Darkrai
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French
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France
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50
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July 3 to 6, 2008
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DP
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Alamos Darkrai
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Italian
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Italy
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50
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July 12 to September 14, 2008
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DP
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Alamos Darkrai
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Spanish
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Spain
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50
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July 22 to August 24, 2008
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DP
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Alamos Darkrai
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English
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Europe
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50
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August 6 to 31, 2008
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DP
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Alamos Darkrai
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German
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Germany
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50
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September 6 to November 2, 2008
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DP
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Alamos Darkrai
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English
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Australia
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50
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October 30 to November 9, 2008
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DP
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Nintendo of Korea Darkrai
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Korean
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South Korea
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50
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November 8 to 9, 2008
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BW
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Winter Vacation Darkrai
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Japanese
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Japan
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50
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December 27, 2010 to January 10/11, 2011
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BW
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Homeplus Darkrai
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Korean
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South Korea
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50
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September 3 to 25, 2011
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BW
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Winter 2011 Darkrai
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English
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Europe
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50
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November 14, 2011 to January 31, 2012
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BW
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Winter 2011 Darkrai
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German
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Europe
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50
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November 14, 2011 to January 31, 2012
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BW
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Winter 2011 Darkrai
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French
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Europe
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50
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November 14, 2011 to January 31, 2012
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BW
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Winter 2011 Darkrai
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Italian
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Europe
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50
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November 14, 2011 to January 31, 2012
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BW
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Winter 2011 Darkrai
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Spanish
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Europe
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50
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November 14, 2011 to January 31, 2012
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BW
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May 2012 Darkrai
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English
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Wi-Fi
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50
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May 9 to June 10, 2012
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XY
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Wonderland Darkrai
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Japanese region
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Online
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50
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April 19 to September 30, 2014
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XY
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Wonderland Darkrai
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Taiwanese region
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Online
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50
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August 7 to September 30, 2014
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XYORAS
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Mysterious World Darkrai
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All
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South Korea
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50
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December 20, 2014 to January 18, 2015
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XYORAS
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February 2015 Darkrai
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PAL region
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Online
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50
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February 13 to May 5, 2015
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XYORAS
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Pokémon 20th Anniversary Darkrai
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American region
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Online
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100
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May 1 to August 31, 2016 September 27 to October 31, 2016
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XYORAS
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Pokémon 20th Anniversary Darkrai
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PAL region
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Online
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100
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May 1 to August 31, 2016 September 1 to 30, 2016
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SMUSUM
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Alamos Darkrai
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Korean region
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Online
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50
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June 6 to August 31, 2018
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In-game events
Held items
Stats
Base stats
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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70
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130 - 177
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250 - 344
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90
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85 - 156
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166 - 306
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90
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85 - 156
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166 - 306
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135
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126 - 205
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247 - 405
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90
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85 - 156
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166 - 306
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125
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117 - 194
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229 - 383
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Total: 600
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
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Pokéathlon stats
Type effectiveness
Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
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This Pokémon is unavailable within Generation VIII. Click on the generation numbers above to see Darkrai's learnsets from other generations.
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Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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Trivia
- Darkrai's effort value yield of 2 Special Attack and 1 Speed is unique.
- Darkrai has two different portrait pictures in both Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
- Sailor Eldritch's son says "Dar... Dark... Is watching me..." in his sleep before the player cures his nightmare. It is assumed that he is talking about Darkrai, as it is known to give its victims horrific nightmares.
- In the early Japanese versions of Diamond and Pearl, Darkrai can be caught with the Surf glitch. However, this glitch was fixed in other language versions. Another glitch has been discovered that allows players of other language releases to reach Darkrai without the Member Card.
- This has been remedied in Pokémon Platinum, however, as Darkrai itself will not appear on the island without the event ticket.
- Darkrai was designed by Hironobu Yoshida.[1]
- In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, Darkrai is the only non-Ghost type Pokémon capable of traveling through walls and all other terrain types without the All-Terrain Hiker IQ skill.
- Despite being a gender-unknown Pokémon, the Darkrai in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky is referred to as a male.
Origin
Darkrai's appearance and abilities suggest it is based on the concept of nightmares or a mare. Resembling a shadow, it may also have been inspired by the bogeyman, the Greek god Morpheus, genies (or jinn), or the Oneiroi, namely Phobetor.
Name origin
Darkrai is a combination of dark, and 暗い kurai (dark).
In other languages
Language
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Title
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Meaning
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Japanese
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ダークライ Darkrai
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From dark and 暗い kurai (dark)
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French
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Darkrai
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Same as Japanese name
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Spanish
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Darkrai
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Same as Japanese name
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German
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Darkrai
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Same as Japanese name
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Italian
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Darkrai
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Same as Japanese name
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Korean
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다크라이 Darkrai
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Transliteration of Japanese name
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Mandarin Chinese
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達克萊伊 Dá Kè Lái Yī
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Transliteration of Japanese name
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Cantonese Chinese
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達克萊伊 Daat Haak Loi Yi
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Transliteration of Japanese name
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More languages
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Russian
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Даркрай Darkray
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Transcription of English name
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Thai
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ดาร์กไร Dakrai
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Transcription of Japanese name
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Related articles
Notes
External links
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
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