Darkrai Raid Counters Guide

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Darkrai

Best Darkrai counters are strong Fighting and Fairy types, such as Machamp, Togekiss, Hariyama, Heracross, Toxicroak, Breloom and Gardevoir. Darkrai is weak to Fighting, Fairy, and Bug type moves. Darkrai is boosted by Fog weather. Darkrai perfect CPs from raids are:

  • 2048 – 2136 CP for a regular encounter (Level 20)
  • 2560 – 2671 CP for a weather boosted encounter (Level 25, Fog )

Due to relatively high defense, a high Attack stat and 22500 HP in raids, Darkrai is difficult to take down in smaller groups. A best case scenario is a super difficult trio under Cloudy weather that boosts strong Fighting types, but a duo is not possible.

That being said, our recommendation is that you have 2 – 6 high level trainers for Darkrai raids. For groups larger than 6, consider splitting into smaller groups for better raid rewards.

Darkrai is transferable but not tradable. Darkrai is a Dark-type Mythical Pokémon that was introduced in Generation IV, being a counterpart to Cresselia in the Lunar Duo.

Darkrai Raid Counters

A list of best Darkrai counters in Pokemon GO, calculated from simulating hundreds of possible Pokemon and move set combinations.

# Pokemon Fast Move Charge Move Time to win Deaths
1. Pheromosa Bug Bite Bug Bug Buzz Bug 562.40s 37.00
2. Lucario Counter Fighting Aura Sphere Fighting 589.19s 33.00
3. Conkeldurr Counter Fighting Dynamic Punch Fighting 628.10s 23.83
4. Machamp Counter Fighting Dynamic Punch Fighting 647.87s 27.83
5. Terrakion Smack Down Rock Sacred Sword Fighting 676.22s 28.67
6. Hariyama Counter Fighting Dynamic Punch Fighting 687.40s 27.17
7. Buzzwole Counter Fighting Superpower Fighting 706.43s 21.83
8. Breloom Counter Fighting Dynamic Punch Fighting 659.96s 36.00
9. Meloetta (Pirouette) Low Kick Fighting Close Combat Fighting 720.58s 21.40
10. Zacian (Hero) Quick Attack Normal Play Rough Fairy 721.60s 21.33
11. Zacian Metal Claw Steel Play Rough Fairy 720.97s 23.33
12. Xurkitree Thunder Shock Electric Dazzling Gleam Fairy 673.22s 39.33
13. Togekiss Charm Fairy Dazzling Gleam Fairy 743.80s 21.00
14. Blaziken Counter Fighting Focus Blast Fighting 707.65s 33.25
15. Heracross Counter Fighting Megahorn Bug 722.07s 27.50
16. Sirfetch'd Counter Fighting Close Combat Fighting 711.24s 34.33
17. Gardevoir Charm Fairy Dazzling Gleam Fairy 710.56s 33.00
18. Yanmega Bug Bite Bug Bug Buzz Bug 736.91s 22.50
19. Toxicroak Counter Fighting Dynamic Punch Fighting 719.31s 32.33
20. Bewear Low Kick Fighting Superpower Fighting 774.12s 20.00
21. Tapu Bulu Rock Smash Fighting Dazzling Gleam Fairy 760.05s 26.17
22. Emboar Low Kick Fighting Focus Blast Fighting 754.56s 29.00
23. Tapu Koko Volt Switch Electric Dazzling Gleam Fairy 769.83s 25.75
24. Genesect (Normal) Fury Cutter Bug X-Scissor Bug 740.09s 35.00
25. Primarina Charm Fairy Moonblast Fairy 777.78s 23.50
26. Genesect (Douse) Fury Cutter Bug X-Scissor Bug 738.59s 35.60
27. Genesect (Burn) Fury Cutter Bug X-Scissor Bug 740.20s 35.25
28. Sylveon Charm Fairy Dazzling Gleam Fairy 800.48s 21.00
29. Scyther Fury Cutter Bug Bug Buzz Bug 763.85s 24.00
30. Granbull Charm Fairy Play Rough Fairy 770.48s 27.67
31. Ursaring Counter Fighting Play Rough Fairy 800.96s 23.50

Our Darkrai counters are solely derived from simulations run on the Go Hub Simulator. Simulations are always run with level 30 Pokémon against a Tier 5 raid boss, averaging all movesets and simulating lag and rejoining.

Results will vary with different movesets (such as Breloom receiving a preference against Dark Pulse move sets, while Hariyama will be better against Focus Blast). Results contain some unreleased Pokémon.

Important note: Prioritize Gardevoir and Togekiss versus Focus Blast. Fairy types take reduced damage from Fighting and they perform better than Machamp and Hariyama.

As we’ll go in-depth in the next section (moves breakdown), 60% of Darkrai’s move pool consists of Dark moves, which means that 60% of time Darkrai deals reduced damage to Fighting and Fairy types.

Taking reduced damage converts into more opportunities to activate charge moves, and in turn, into more damage. Hence why Machamp, Togekiss and Hariyama rule the top 3 spots. Once Conkledurr gets released, it will be an amazing Darkrai counter as well, but for now this is the list.

With Mega Pokémon included

# Pokemon Fast Move Charge Move Time to win Deaths
1. Beedrill (Mega) Bug Bite Bug X-Scissor Bug 476.61s 25.67
2. Lopunny (Mega) Low Kick Fighting Focus Blast Fighting 536.26s 21.50
3. Charizard (Mega Y) Fire Spin Fire Blast Burn Fire 588.98s 23.50
4. Pheromosa Bug Bite Bug Bug Buzz Bug 562.40s 37.00
5. Lucario Counter Fighting Aura Sphere Fighting 589.19s 33.00
6. Conkeldurr Counter Fighting Dynamic Punch Fighting 628.10s 23.83
7. Altaria (Mega) Dragon Breath Dragon Dazzling Gleam Fairy 658.39s 21.17
8. Blastoise (Mega) Water Gun Water Hydro Cannon Water 651.08s 25.33
9. Machamp Counter Fighting Dynamic Punch Fighting 647.87s 27.83
10. Gengar (Mega) Lick Ghost Focus Blast Fighting 627.77s 37.83
11. Latios (Mega) Dragon Breath Dragon Dragon Claw Dragon 655.63s 32.50

Shiny Darkrai

Shiny Darkrai is available in Pokémon GO and can be obtained from Raids. It looks like this:

Moves breakdown

Darkrai’s has access to the following moves:

Fast moves Charge moves
  • Snarl Dark
  • Feint Attack Dark
  • Dark Pulse Dark
  • Shadow Ball Ghost
  • Focus Blast Fighting

As most top Darkrai counters resist its Dark type moves (the only ones that benefit from STAB), there are only a handful moves that are considered to be a threat to the top counters. Watch out for Shadow Ball move sets if you are using counters like Gardevoir, as that will destroy her easily. Beyond that, the most difficult charge move to face is Shadow Ball, as it hits like a truck.

Charge moves

Darkrai’s move pool is consistently easy to counter, provided that you have appropriate Pokemon at your disposal:

  • If Darkrai has Dark Pulse, you should prioritize Fighting types. They take reduced damage and easily land charge moves regardless of dodging. In order not to waste Revives, be careful with squishy ones like Breloom.
  • Versus Focus Blast you should always prioritize Gardevoir and Togekiss. Due to their dual typing, they take 2x reduced damage from Focus Blast. Gardevoir and Togekiss are best counters to Darkrai when it has Focus Blast.
  • Treat Shadow Ball in the same way like Dark Pulse and use Fighting types. Do not use Gardevoir as it takes increased damage from Ghost moves and will melt easily.

Feint Attack vs Snarl

There is no real difference between Feint Attack and Snarl in the long run, as they are very similar. Feint Attack has a higher DPS, while Snarl has a higher energy gain. Snarl is overall better, but it will not matter much here.

Halloween 2021 Exclusive move: Sludge Bomb

In case you missed it, Darkrai that knows the attack Sludge Bomb will be appearing in five-star raids from Friday, October 22, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, November 5, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time. Read more about Darkrai’s performance with Sludge Bomb here: Sludge Bomb Darkrai analysis: trick or treat?

Weather Effects

Weather Pro Con
Sunny
Windy
Partly Cloudy
Cloudy Boosts Fairy and Fighting counters Boosts Focus Blast Fighting
Snow
Rainy Boosts Bug counters
Fog Boosted Raid Boss for a Level 25 counter Boosts Dark and Ghost Type moves

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