Dark-types were first introduced during the second generation of Pokémon. Since then, Pokémon with this typing have commonly been among the best designed Pokémon in their respective regions. With black as their signature color, Dark-types are sleek and cool, and the typing itself blends fabulously with others to craft unique aesthetics.
Despite being known as the “Evil-type” in Japanese, Dark-type Pokémon are cute just as often as they are menacing. The greatest Dark-types are the ones that look like they could be up to trouble one moment, and sweet enough to hug the next. There have been amazing Dark-type Starter Pokémon like Greninja and Incineroar, and imposing Dark-type Legendary Pokémon like Urshifu and the Treasures of Ruin.
10
Drapion Makes Purple as Intimidating as It Can Be
Drapion’s Poison-Typing Is More Evident Than Its Dark-Typing
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The evolved form of Skorupi, Drapion has one of the most striking silhouettes of any Dark-type. Its extended neck, matching arms and tail, and bulky body, combined with its mean expression, instantly make Drapion come off as a villainous Pokémon. This makes it unnecessary for it to have a traditionally grim palette, and it instead gets by with a mix of dark and light purples, blue, and white.
Everything about Drapion’s design is well-thought-out. It’s based on scorpions, and scorpions are both poisonous and widely feared, so it couldn’t be anything except a Poison/Dark-type. And, while its Posion-typing is what’s most obvious from its color scheme, the Drapion looking as vicious as it does is a clear sign of its Dark-typing.
9
Houndoom Is One of the Original Dark-Type Pokémon
Houndoom Is a Fiery Hellhound
Johto’s roster of Dark-type Pokémon was the first fans ever got to see. Of this initial batch, almost no Pokémon represented the new typing better than Houndoom. The evolved form of Houndour, Houndoom may have Fire as a secondary typing, but everything about its design makes it a quintessential Dark-type.
Houndoom’s fur is primarily black, with orange acting as the perfect complementary color, and its white parts being appropriate given they’re meant to look like bones. With its palette, sharp angles, skull-shaped color, Houndoom is intimidating but, being a big dog, it’s also easily lovable. Mega Houndoom is over-designed in comparison to the original, but it makes its inspirations from hellhounds even more evident.
8
Greninja Is a Dark-Type Because of Its Theming
Greninja Is an Amphibian Ninja
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Greninja was the first Dark-type Starter Pokémon, and it set a high bar for all that came after it. While the fully evolved form of Froakie is a Water-type first and foremost, its ninja-like aesthetic is key to its appeal. Greninja wraps its tongue around its neck like a scarf, its thighs resemble the pants of a pop-culture ninja, and its humanoid shape allows it to pose like a stealthy assassin.
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Greninja’s palette doesn’t scream Dark-type at all, but it is pleasant. Its blues, yellows, and whites are well-balanced, and the pink of its tongue pops well. Greninja’s Battle Bond form is even more well-crafted, with it gaining an awesome water shuriken on its back, and black and red in its color scheme to better represent its dual-typing.
7
Morpeko Is a Fantastic Re-Invention of the Regional Electric Rodent
Morpeke Has 2 Forms That Go Perfectly Together
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Morpeko is one of the cutest Pokémon in all of Galar. Fulfilling the role of Generation VIII’s electrical rodent, it’s an Electric/Dark-type, as is immediately obvious from its yellow, brown, and black fur. Inspired by two of the cutest rodents, hamsters and guinea pigs, Morpeko looks original and magical, with all their best traits put together.
Morpeko’s main form is known as its Full Belly Mode. When it’s hungry, Morpeko enters its Hangry Mode and gains an entirely new palette and slight alternations to its physical build. Hangry Mode Morpeko looks like a Dark-type and nothing else, with it turning black and purple and gaining red eyes.
6
Sableye Represents the Hoenn Region Better Than Nearly Any Other Pokémon
Sableye Has Some of the Most Unique Features of Any Dark-Type
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Sableye is equal parts creepy and adorable. A short, stubby ghost, with a wide, sharp, toothy grin, Sableye is a huggable purple goblin. Besides the white of its fans, the only other colors in its palette come from the red ruby on its chest and the blue sapphires that are its eyes.
Sableye’s jewels are a cute nod to the games in which it first appeared, Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire. They also become its defining features when it Mega Evolves. Mega Sableye loses the ruby on its stomach, has rubies replace its previous eyes, and gains a giant ruby to act as a shield.
5
Scraggy’s Attempts to Look Tough Just Make It Adorable
Scraggy Is a Hilariously Precious Fighting/Dark-type
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Scraggy is visually unlike any other Dark-type. It doesn’t have any black in its palette, it isn’t at all intimidating, and everything about it is representative of its Fighting-typing. It’s a small, oddly shaped, humanoid lizard, with the red, orange, and yellow palette commonly seen among Fighting-type Pokémon.
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Scraggy not looking like a Dark-type doesn’t change that it’s one of the cutest in the Pokémon franchise. The way it tries to look strong and imposing, in spite of its bulbous head, buck teeth, and skinny physique, is hysterical. Its most creative feature is its shedded skin, which Scraggy has to hold up like a pair of loose-fitting pants.
4
Zoroark Is One of Unova’s Biggest Faces
Zoroark Is Based on Mythical Kitsune
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Any Pokémon with a red and black color palette and a humanoid shape is all but guaranteed to become a fan-favorite. This is certainly the case for Zoroark, who’s one of the most popular Pokémon from Generation V. The evolved form of Zorua, Zoroark’s specific features do well to take advantage of everything it has going for it.
Zoroark is based on Kitsune, a mythical breed of supernatural foxes. It has a long red mane that’s kept tied by a blue pearl, sharp angles, and a michievous grin on its face. Zoroark’s pearl is only a small detail, but it works amazingly to brighten up what’s otherwise a desaturated palette, and it matches Zoroark’s eyes.
3
Darkrai Is One of the Most Popular Mythical Pokémon Ever
Darkrai’s Spectral Appearance Ties Into Its Mastery Over Nightmares
Prior to the introduction of the Treasures of Ruin, Dark-type Legendary Pokémon were few and far between. Of those that do exist, the Mythical Darkrai represents the typing best. Introduced in Generation IV, Darkrai is the master of nightmares, and its design is tailored to make it look the part.
Darkrai primarily looks like a black spirit, but its red collar and white “hair” make its palette more visually interesting. Its shoulder spikes, tail, and “hair” all appear like billowing smoke, and these soft angles are contrasted by the sharpness of its lower body. These also aren’t its only sharp angles, as Darkrai has blades on its upper arms and razor-sharp fingers.
2
Absol Is One of the Sleekest & Coolest Pokémon of All TIme
Absol Looks Like So Much More Than Just a Normal Dark-Type Pokémon
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When Absol was first introduced in Generation III, many fans believed it to be a Legendary Pokémon. This speaks volumes about just how cool and mysterious Absol looks, as it’s just a normal, single-stage Dark-type. Absol embodies the design philosophies of Hoenn, taking inspiration from both normal felines and Bai Ze of Chinese mythology to appear as a wholly original magical creature.
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Absol has dark blue fur, a bright white coat, and red eyes. Its well-proportioned, looking strong enough for combat, but small enough to keep as a pet, and it has stand-out features like its massive tuft, its scythe-like tail, and its matching horn. As Mega Absol, it becomes even more beautiful and elegant than it already was and sprouts wings.
1
Umbreon Stands Out as One of the Most Beloved Eeveelutions
Umbreon Looks Like It Would Make a Better Pet Than Any Other Dark-Type
The Eeveelutions all have charming designs known for winning over fans who’ve never watched an episode of the Pokémon anime or played a single game. Among this iconic group of Pokémon, the Dark-type Umbreon frequently appears to be among the most popular. This is for good reason, as its design is simplistic, yet genius.
One of the original Dark-types, Umbreon looks like a cross between a cat and a fox, just like most of its siblings. Its fur is primarily black, but it has red eyes and perfectly placed gold circles spread across its body. Umbreon shows just how cute Dark-types can be, and its flawless proportions and sleek aesthetic prove heavy details aren’t what make a great Pokémon.
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Pokémon
- Release Date
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1997 – 2022
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC