The Most Popular Dark-type Pokémon, Ranked

Choose the Dark-type Pokémon you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 7, 2024 06:34
As the Pokémon universe continues to grow, the introduction of new creatures and types can sometimes overwhelm players trying to find their favorites among the extensive roster. Among these are the Dark-type Pokémon, known for their cunning and versatility in battle. Identifying which of these Pokémon stand out as fan favorites helps new and veteran players alike focus their attention and training strategies. This ranking gathers input from Pokémon enthusiasts around the world, reflecting which Dark-type Pokémon capture the hearts of the community the most. Your votes directly influence the live updates of the rankings, providing a current snapshot of popular opinion. Whether you're here to see where your favorites stand or to discover a new Pokémon to champion, your participation shapes the outcome.

What Is the Most Popular Dark-type Pokémon?

  1. 1
    27
    votes
    With its sleek design and popularity as a fan-favorite in the Pokémon franchise, Umbreon is widely considered the most popular Dark-type Pokémon. Its signature move, Foul Play, allows it to use an opponent's strength against them, making it a formidable opponent in battle.
    Umbreon is a Dark-type Pokémon and is one of the most beloved Eeveelutions. It is known for its sleek and mysterious appearance, with predominantly black fur and yellow rings on its ears, tail, and forehead. Umbreon has bright, piercing red eyes that can see clearly even in the darkest of nights. It is often associated with shadows and moonlight, possessing the ability to manipulate them to its advantage in battles.
    • Type: Dark
    • Height: 0.98 m (3' 03")
    • Weight: 27.0 kg (59.5 lbs)
    • Ability: Synchronize
    • Hidden Ability: Inner Focus
  2. 2
    37
    votes
    As one of the most powerful Dark-type Pokémon, Tyranitar is a fan-favorite due to its intense battle capabilities and intimidating appearance. It is known for its signature move, Crunch, which can cause massive damage to opponents.
    Tyranitar is a powerful Dark/Rock-type Pokémon known as the Armor Pokémon. It is the final evolution of Larvitar and has become one of the most popular Dark-types in the Pokémon franchise. With its daunting appearance and immense strength, Tyranitar has gained a reputation as a formidable force on the battlefield.
    • Height: 6'07" (2.0 m)
    • Weight: 445.3 lbs (202.0 kg)
    • Ability: Sand Stream
    • Base Stats (Total): 600
    • HP: 100
  3. 3
    28
    votes
    As a legendary Dark-type Pokémon, Darkrai has captured the attention of fans with its unique abilities and mysterious backstory. Its signature move, Dark Void, puts opponents to sleep and leaves them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
    Darkrai is a Dark-type Pokémon known as the Pitch-Black Pokémon. It is characterized by its grim appearance and mysterious nature. Darkrai is said to be able to manipulate dreams and create nightmares, often haunting the dreams of humans and other Pokémon. It is mainly known for its elusive and hard-to-catch nature, making it one of the most challenging Pokémon to obtain in Pokémon Violet.
    • Type: Dark
    • Category: Pitch-Black Pokémon
    • Ability: Bad Dreams
    • Height: 4'11" (1.5m)
    • Weight: 111.3 lbs (50.5 kg)
  4. 4
    21
    votes
    With its fiery design and powerful moves, Houndoom has become a fan-favorite Dark-type Pokémon. Its signature move, Fire Fang, allows it to inflict both Fire and Dark-type damage on opponents.
    Houndoom is a Dark/Fire-type Pokémon introduced in Generation II. It resembles a large dog with black fur, red eyes, and a pair of prominent horns on its head. Houndoom is known for its ferocity and powerful fire-based attacks.
    • Type: Dark/Fire
    • Pokédex Number: #229
    • Abilities: Early Bird, Flash Fire, Unnerve (Hidden)
    • Height: 4'07" (1.4m)
    • Weight: 77.2 lbs (35.0 kg)
  5. 5
    20
    votes
    As a Dark-type Pokémon with the ability to disguise itself as other Pokémon, Zoroark has gained popularity for its deceptive abilities and unique design. Its signature move, Night Daze, can cause confusion and lower the accuracy of opponents.
    Zoroark is a Dark-type Pokémon known for its deceptive and illusionary abilities. It is a bipedal fox-like Pokémon with red and black fur, vibrant red eyes, and a sleek and agile body. Zoroark possesses the unique ability to create illusions so convincing that it can transform into the appearance of other Pokémon or even objects.
    • Type: Dark
    • Pokedex Number: 571
    • Height: 1.6m (5'3")
    • Weight: 81.1kg (178.6 lbs)
    • Abilities: Illusion
  6. 6
    20
    votes
    With its elegant and mysterious appearance, Absol has become a fan-favorite Dark-type Pokémon. Its signature move, Super Luck, increases the critical hit ratio of its attacks, making it a formidable opponent in battle.
    Absol is a Dark-type Pokémon known as the Disaster Pokémon. It is characterized as a quadrupedal creature with white fur and a large scythe-like horn projecting from its forehead. Absol is believed to possess the ability to sense disasters and warns people by appearing before calamitous events occur. However, due to its appearance being associated with disasters, it is often misunderstood and feared by humans.
    • Pokédex Number: #359
    • Type: Dark
    • Abilities: Pressure, Super Luck (Hidden)
    • Height: 3'11'' (1.2m)
    • Weight: 103.6 lbs (47kg)
  7. 7
    10
    votes
    While Greninja is primarily a Water-type Pokémon, its Dark-type abilities have made it a popular choice among fans. Its signature move, Night Slash, allows it to deal massive damage to opponents.
    Greninja is a Dark/Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VI. It is the final evolution of Froakie and is known for its swift movements and unique ninja-like appearance. Greninja's tall and slender body allows it to move effortlessly both in and out of water. It wears a scarf-like appearance that can transform into a large, fringed collar during battles, aiding in its deceptive and agile fighting style. With its ability called Protean, it can change its typing to match the move it uses, making it unpredictable and versatile in battles.
    • Type: Dark/Water
    • Height: 4'11" (1.5 m)
    • Weight: 88.2 lbs (40.0 kg)
    • Ability: Protean
    • Base stats - HP: 72
  8. 8
    8
    votes
    With its quick speed and sharp claws, Weavile has become a popular Dark-type Pokémon. Its signature move, Ice Shard, allows it to deal both Ice and Dark-type damage to opponents.
    Weavile is a Dark/Ice type Pokémon introduced in Generation IV. It is a bipedal, weasel-like Pokémon with a cunning and agile nature. It has a sleek, black body covered in bright red feathers on its head and ears. Weavile is known for its impressive speed and unparalleled agility, making it a formidable opponent in battles. Its razor-sharp claws and ice-cold strategy make it a fearsome force to be reckoned with.
    • Type: Dark/Ice
    • Abilities: Pressure, Pickpocket (Hidden)
    • Base Stats: 70 HP, 120 Attack, 65 Defense, 45 Special Attack, 85 Special Defense, 125 Speed
    • Evolutionary Line: Sneasel -> Level up with the Night Slash move, holding Razor Claw -> Weavile
    • Height: 1.1m (3'7")
  9. 9
    11
    votes
    As a Dark-type Pokémon with a shark-like appearance, Sharpedo has gained popularity for its unique design and powerful attacks. Its signature move, Crunch, can cause massive damage to opponents.
    Sharpedo is a Dark/Water-type Pokémon that resembles a shark. It has a sleek and muscular body with a blue and white color scheme. This Pokémon has a large mouth filled with sharp, fang-like teeth that it uses to attack its prey. Known for its exceptional speed and predatory nature, Sharpedo is feared by many and considered a formidable opponent.
    • Type: Dark/Water
    • Height: 1.8m
    • Weight: 88.8kg
    • Ability: Rough Skin
    • Hidden Ability: Speed Boost
  10. 10
    13
    votes
    With its sharp blades and powerful moves, Bisharp has become a popular Dark-type Pokémon. Its signature move, Iron Head, can cause massive damage to opponents and has a high critical hit ratio.
    Bisharp is a Dark/Steel-type Pokémon that resembles a humanoid chess piece. It has a black, armor-like body with red accents and a large, blade-like crest on its head. Bisharp is known for its cunning nature and strategic battle style.
    • Height: 1.6 m
    • Weight: 70.0 kg
    • Type: Dark/Steel
    • Ability: Defiant/Inner Focus
    • Base Experience: 172

Missing your favorite Dark-type Pokémon?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for popular Dark-type Pokémon

  1. Design and Aesthetics
    A Pokémon's visual appearance, color scheme, and overall design can play a significant role in determining its popularity. Dark-type Pokémon often feature intimidating, mysterious, or sinister designs that may appeal to fans.
  2. In-game performance and competitive viability
    The Pokémon's base stats, movepool, abilities, and overall strength within the game's battles can heavily influence its popularity among players. Stronger or more versatile Dark-type Pokémon are likely to be more popular than their weaker counterparts.
  3. Lore and backstory
    A Pokémon's Pokédex entries, in-game story events, and additional media content can contribute to its popularity if they offer a compelling or unique backstory that resonates with fans.
  4. Availability in games
    The ease of obtaining a specific Dark-type Pokémon within the games, either through in-game events, special distributions, or within the wild, can impact its popularity. Pokémon with limited availability may be considered more exclusive and, therefore, more popular.
  5. Iconic Pokémon battles
    Dark-type Pokémon that have featured in memorable battles within the games, anime, or movies can gain an increased fan following based on these appearances.
  6. Popularity in the Pokémon Anime
    If a Pokémon has been featured prominently in the Pokémon anime series or movies, with main characters having them on their teams or being important to the storyline, they will likely gain more popularity among the fanbase.
  7. Fanbase
    Dark-type Pokémon that have developed a dedicated fanbase online through social media, fan art, and forums can contribute to the overall perception of their popularity.
  8. Inclusion in spin-off games, merchandise, and collaborations
    Pokémon that are heavily promoted in spin-off games, merchandise, and various collaborations can boost their popularity through increased exposure.
  9. Nostalgia factor
    For many fans, their favorite Dark-type Pokémon may come from earlier generations of the franchise. These Pokémon can often hold a nostalgic value, making them more popular among long-time players.
  10. Unique typing combinations
    Dark-type Pokémon with interesting or rarely-seen dual typing (e.g., Ghost/Dark, Psychic/Dark) can make them stand out and contribute to their popularity.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Dark-type Pokémon. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Dark-type Pokémon is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 2126 views
  • 183 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Movers & Shakers

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Dark-type Pokémon once every 24 hours. The rank of each Dark-type Pokémon is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular dark-type pokémon

Dark-type Pokémon have been a fan favorite ever since they were introduced in the second generation of Pokémon games. These powerful creatures are known for their cunning and unpredictable nature, making them a formidable opponent in battles. With their unique abilities and movesets, Dark-type Pokémon have become a staple in many competitive teams. From fan favorites like Umbreon and Tyranitar to the more recent additions like Incineroar and Grimmsnarl, the Dark-type Pokémon have continued to capture the hearts of Pokémon fans worldwide. So, which Dark-type Pokémon reigns supreme as the most popular? Let's take a look at the results of our StrawPoll and find out!

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