Darkrai never spawns in the wild in Pokémon GO. The only reliable way to get it is through the 5-star legendary raids, sometimes with special paid challenges as a bonus. Here's everything you need to know to defeat it, catch it, and—ideally—walk away with a Shiny.
1. Participate in legendary raids
The 5-star legendary raids are the primary method for crossbreeding Darkrai. These raids only appear during specific events, often centered around’Halloween in October. To learn more about this type of content, you can also check out our guide on Legendary Raids.
How do I join a legendary raid?
- Get yourself a Raid pass. You get one each day by spinning the PhotoDiscs in the Arenas. The Premium Raid Pass, which is available in stores, works too.
- Wait until the’hatched raid egg. For a 5-star raid like the one at Darkrai, the egg is colored black.
- When the Pokémon hatches from the egg, Go to the Arena and press it.
- Choose a raid private (with your friends) or public (team up with other players), then use your Raid Pass.
- Select the Pokémon on your team and tap « loan ".
- Let the battle begin—good luck!
Which Pokémon should you use to beat Darkrai?
Darkrai is a Darkness-type Pokémon, vulnerable to the following types Fairy, fight and Bug. It is resistant to the following types Spectrum, Psych and Darkness. Build your team around these weaknesses to maximize your damage. Here are the best counters, along with the recommended attacks:
- Terrakion (Combat/Rock): Counter + Holy Blade. Big DPS Fight.
- Lucario (Fighting/Steel): Against + Sphere Aura (one Elite Attack CT (required for Aura Sphere).
- Togekiss (Fairy/Flight): Charm + Magical Radiance.
- Heracross (Fighting/Bug): Against + Close Combat.
- Machamp (Combat): Against + Dynamic Punch.
A little bonus: by cloudy weather, your Fairy- and Fighting-type Pokémon gain a damage boost. Now is the perfect time to step up the fight.
To read this table:
- 2 in green: effective attacks
- 1/2 in red: attacks with low effectiveness
- 0 in black: completely ineffective attacks
To learn more, check out the article on Darkness type weaknesses.
2. Participate in long-distance raids to get Darkrai
If there is no raid Darkrai is located near you, the long-range raids are the solution. They require a Long-Range Raid Pass, recognizable by its color blue and purple.
This pass can be purchased at Pokémon GO store and can also be earned as a reward during certain special events. Warning: You cannot carry any of these more than three at a time.
3. Take part in special events on Pokémon GO
Darkrai appears regularly at events highlighting the Darkness-type Pokémon. The most reliable period remains that of’Halloween, usually in October, even though nothing is guaranteed from one year to the next.
Monitor the official announcements and the in-game event calendar. That way, you'll be notified as soon as Darkrai reappears in raids.
Darkrai's Stats and Attacks in Pokémon GO
Darkrai is classified in the category Pokémon Black Total. It measures 1.5 m to 50.5 kg. His base stats make him one of the best Shadow-type attackers in the game:
- Attack : 285
- Defense : 198
- Endurance : 172
- Max PC (Level 40): approximately 3739
It is not found in eggs, and the buddy distance is 20 km.
Here are the attacks available in Pokémon GO :
| Kind | Attack | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate | Bite | Darkness |
| Immediate | feint | Normal |
| In charge | Vibrobscur | Darkness |
| In charge | Ball’Ombre | Spectrum |
| In charge | Exploforce | fight |
| In charge | Yuck Bomb | Poison |
The optimal combination remains Feint + Vibrobscur for the best DPS on offense. You can unlock a second charged attack with Candies and Stardust for greater versatility in battle.
Does Darkrai have a Shiny form?
Yes, Darkrai does indeed have its chromatic form (shiny), available only through the raids.
the Shiny is still very rare to obtain. During the special events, the rate rises to about one chance in 20. If you're on a losing streak with raids, the article on Why do some players never get a Shiny? might help you understand.
Some capture tips you need to know to get Darkrai on Pokémon GO
Once Darkrai Now that you've defeated it in a raid, all that's left is to capture it. Here's how to stack the odds in your favor:
- Uses Baies Framby Dorées With every throw: they significantly increase your capture rate.
- Prefers the Ultra Ball classic Poké Balls for a better capture bonus.
- Aim for the throws Excellent to further reduce the chances that Darkrai escapes. Our Guide to Great Pitches can help you practice.
Is it possible to get Darkrai through trades in Pokémon GO?
Yes, you can get a Darkrai via a exchange with another player. But this option comes at a real cost in Poussière d’Étoiles, because it's a legendary Pokémon. The amount varies depending on your level of friendship and whether or not you already have Darkrai in your Pokédex :
- Legendary unregistered between just “Good Friends”: up to 1 000 000 from *Stardust*.
- Legendary already in your Pokédex between Best Friends : only 800 Stardust.
Take your friendship to the maximum level Before you get started: the cost difference is huge. For a Pokémon you want to optimize for battle, raids are still the more reliable option.
Also, be sure to set up a Stardust Stock by catching as many Pokémon as possible every day.
To increase your opportunities to connect with others, feel free to add friends on Pokémon GO and to check out our Pokémon GO promo codes to take advantage of additional bonuses.
Have you ever managed to catch Darkrai ? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
English