Introduced in Generation II to combat the prowess of Psychic-type Pokémon, Dark-type Pokémon have become a mainstay with many fan favorites, including Umbreon and pseudo-legendary Pokémon Tyranitar and Hydreigon. In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, a few new Dark-type Pokémon were introduced, including a new evolution for an already existing evolutionary line.
Dark-type Pokémon generally excel at offense with a solid defense. Many Dark-type attacks inflict effects, such as flinching from Bite or lowering Defense from Crunch. A Dark-type can represent a solid addition to your team.
Also check: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Best Paldean Normal Types
The best Dark-type Paldean Pokémon in Scarlet & Violet
Below, you will find the best Paldean Dark Pokémon ranked by their Base Stats Total (BST). This is the accumulation of the six attributes in Pokémon: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. Each Pokémon listed below has at least a 450 BST. Note that all Dark-type Pokémon hold an immunity to Psychic.
The list will not include legendary, mythical, or Paradox Pokémon. All four 570 BST hyphenated legendary Pokémon – Chien-Pao (Dark and Ice), Chi-Yu (Dark and Fairy), Ting-Lu (Dark and Ground), and Wo-Chien (Dark and Grass) – are Dark-type, but will not be on the list.
Click the links for the best Grass-type, best Fire-type, and best Water-type Paldean Pokémon.
1. Kingambit (Dark and Steel) – 550 BST
No stranger to these lists, Kingambit is one of the strongest non-legendary, mythical, or Paradox Pokémon in Paldea. The Dark- and Steel-type has what can, at first, seem like a cumbersome evolution as you must equip your Bisharp with a Leader’s Crest and then defeat three Bisharp also holding the item. Since Pawinard evolves into Bisharp at level 52, that is the earliest you can attain Kingambit.
As a Dark- and Steel-type, Kingambit is a physically strong Pokémon. It has 135 Attack, 120 Defense, and 100 HP. However, while Special Attack is respectable at 85, the same can’t be said for 60 Special Attack and 50 Speed. Luckily, you’ll have plenty of physical attacks and enough Defense to take a hit and faint your opponent with little worry.
Due to its typing, Kingambit holds weaknesses to Ground and Fire with a double weakness to Fighting. However, Kingambit is a rare two-immunity Pokémon with immunities to Poison and Psychic.
2. Meowscarada (Grass and Dark) – 530 BST
Another familiar name for these lists, Meowscarada is the final evolution of the Grass-type starter Sprigatito. Level 16 triggers its evolution into Floragato, and level 36 into Meowscarada (the starters all evolve at those levels). Meowscarada is the fastest of the starters with 123 Speed to pair with 110 Attack, making it fast and powerful. Its other attributes are decent with 81 Special Attack, 76 HP, and 70 Defense and Special Defense.
Meowscarada holds seven weakness, and one of those is a double weakness. It holds weaknesses to Fighting, Flying, Fire, Fairy, Ice, and Poison, with a double weakness to Bug. Sprigatito-Floragato-Meowscarada is definitely the starter line for a challenge run.
3. Mabostiff (Dark) – 505 BST
The canine Mabostiff is the only pure Dark-type Pokémon on this list. It evolves at level 30 from Maschiff, basically a puppy version of the final evolution. Mabostiff is also the last Paldean Dark-type to have over 500 BST. While it may not look it, Mabostiff is decently fast with 85 Speed, but packs 120 Attack and 90 Defense. While its 60 Special Attack and 70 Special Defense are low, it has 80 HP. Luckily, since most attacks that Dark-type Pokémon are weak to are physical, the 90 Defense plays more than the 70 Special Defense.
As a pure Dark-type, Mabostiff holds weaknesses to Fighting, Bug, and Fairy with an immunity to Psychic.
4. Bombirdier (Flying and Dark) – 485 BST
One of the several new bird Pokémon introduced in Scarlet & Violet, Bombirdier is a non-evolving Pokémon that looks to based on a white stork and the story of the stork delivering babies. This is aided by Bombirdier dropping objects instead of attacking, almost like Delbird’s Present attack.
The stork is fairly well-rounded with 103 Attack, 85 Defense and Special Defense, 82 Speed, 70 HP, and a low 60 Special Attack. It will at least fare the same against physical and special attacks with identical ratings. As a Flying- and Dark-type, Bombirdier holds weaknesses to Rock, Electric, Ice, and Fairy. While being Flying-type reverted the damage from Fighting and Bug to normal damage, it added the weaknesses to Rock, Electric, and Ice which tend to have stronger Pokémon.
5. Lokix (Bug and Dark) – 450 BST
Lokix, like Kingambit, holds a unique type combination as the only Pokémon that is Bug- and Dark-type. Its design is almost like that of a Transformers character or, more to the point, Beast Wars. Lokix is pretty fast and powerful with 102 Attack and 92 Speed. While its 78 Defense and 71 HP are decent, it’s rather paltry when it comes to the special departments with 55 Special Defense and 52 Special Attack.
Lokix holds the second-most weaknesses on the list after Meowscarada. It holds weaknesses to Flying, Rock, Bug, Fire, and Fairy. The Fighting weakness is reverted to normal damage thanks to its Bug typing.
Now you know the best Dark-type Paldean Pokémon in Scarlet & Violet. Which will you add to your team?
Also check: Pokemon Scarlet & VIolet Best Paldean Grass Types
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