Overview
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Darkrai has a high sSpeed and Special Attack stats, which allowing it to outspeed (remove space) and hit most of the non-boosted meta and hit hard. with its nice natural strength. This is helped by its STAB Dark Pulse, which hits large proportions of the metagame for at least neutral damage. ItDarkrai can also provide support, being able to lower both the opponent a's Attack and Special Attack stats with Snarl or Will-O-Wisp or Snarl (rearranged to match order of when SAtk+Atk were mentioned), or prevent status with Taunt. It has nice natural bulk and a few common resistances, to Dark and Ghost, as well as an immunity to Psychic.
Despite this, Darkrait heavily relies on its sSpeed to function, (AC) so has to be wary of speed control. Defensively, it is weak to twohree common types, Fairy and, Fighting, as well asnd Bug. It also has a slight 4MMSfour-moveslot syndrome, because if it wants to use a status move, such as Taunt or Will-O-Wisp, Darkrait has to lose coverage. Despite its power, Darkrai often needs help, (RC) in form of chip damage, (RC) to score KO's.
Speedy Attacker
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name: Speedy Attacker
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Protect
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Ice Beam / Taunt / Will-oO-Wisp
ability: Bad Dreams
item: Life orb
evs: 100 HP / 252 SAtk / 152 Spe (I assume this is Speed EVs since you reference it in the Set Details section, and Speed EVs are written like Spe. If you meant Special Defense EVs, they are written like SpD, with a capital D)
nature: Timid
Moves
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Dark pPulse, its main STAB move, has decent neutral coverage across the tier and a nice chance to flinch. Focus bBlast is the preferred coverage move, (AC) as it hits Pokemon that resist Dark-type like Scrafty, Tyranitar, (AC) and Terrakion which resist dark,for super effectively damage. Protect can block fFake outs andOut, status, and can be used to scout for moves. The last move should eiIce Beam is an option for ther be Ice Beam, for last slot that provides extra coverage, and allowing its Darkrai to hit Thundurus, Togekiss and Amoongus for super effective damage. However, tTaunt can be used to prevent tTrick rRoom and status or w, and Will-o-wO-Wisp can be used to cripple physical attackers.
Set Details
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A Timid nature and 152 sSpeed EVs allows Darkrait to outspeed Mega Lucario, the next fastest relevant threat, whilst max s. However, 252 Speed EVs allows d Darkrai to sSpeed tie with Weavile, and 232 EVs lets Darkrait outspeed (remove space) Greninja, but these two threats are not as common. Max sSpecial aAttack and Life Orb increases it Darkrai's power as much as possible, which is increased even more with Life Orb. The . The remaining EVs arest is put into HP, (RC) to maximise itze Darkrai's overall bulk, which and allows Darkra it to live a jJolly Mega Kangaskhan rReturn at full health.
Usage Tips
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Darkrai's main job is too outspeed (remove space) the opponent's Pokemon and deal out damage, whilst. Taunt and Will-O-Wisp should only be used in necessary situations, to either prevent a status or KO by a physical attacker. Darkrai is a good lead against Trick Room teams, (AC) as it can hit most users with super effective STAB Dark Pulse or Taunt stop them with Taunt. Although it has decent natural bulk, Darkrait does not want to switch in and possibly take a hit, it prefers to switch in after a KO, to and revenge kill. Protect should be used for blocking Fake Outs or letting your teammate deal with a threatening opposing Pokemont. This is very important because Darkrai has two common weaknesses, to Fighting- and Fairy-type. ItDarkrai is best used end-game (add -) after the foes are weakened and possible threats are removed.
Team Options
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Amoonguss is a good partner, as it can redirect moves aimed at Darkrai whilst, resistings two of Darkrai's weaknesses, in Fighting- and Fairy-types, (AC) and can use Spore to put Darkrai in an advantageous situation. Togekiss is also good for redirecting moves, (AC) as it 4x resists two of Darkrai's weaknesses, to Bug- and Fighting-types. Wide gGuard users are helpful, as they blocking Pixilate Hyper Voices, of these, Aegislash can threaten Fairies with its Steel STAB. Other Steel-types, such as Aegislash, Scizor or, and Mega Mawile can also threaten Fairy-types with their sSteel-type STAB moves. Cresselia can take out Fighting-types with its Psychic STAB moves or increase Darkrai's strength with Helping Hand whilst, and Talonflame can also hit Fighting-types but with its priority Brave Bird. Darkrai also works well with offensive Pokemon such as Mega Gardevior, who appreciates burns and threatens Fighting-types with either one of its STABs moves, Thundurus, who checks Keldeo and faster attackers, and theLatios and Lati'as, both of which provide Tailwind support and can hit Fighting-types with their Psychic STAB moves. Darkrai also works well with physical attackers, as it can OHKO 3three main Intimidators,: Landorus-T, Salamence, (AC) and Scrafty.
Other Options
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Sludge Bomb hits Fairy-types super effectivelych as Sylveon and Azumarill, (AC) who resist itDarkrai's Dark-type STAB move, for such as Sylveon and Azumarill, whilstper effective damage. Psychic hits Fighting- and Poison-types (added because you mentioned Venusaur, who is not a Fighting-type) such Hitmontop, (AC) and Conkeldurr, and Mega Venusaur., and Thunderbolt hits Pokemon such as Charizard-Y, Keldeo, (AC) and Gyarados and. Blizzard could be used instead of Ice Beam on a hHail teams, (AC) as it hits both the opposing Pokemonts. ItDarkrai also has a lot of support options, such as Thunder Wave, (AC) which could be used if your team has sSpeed issues or, Hypnosis could be used, which is an option to activate itDarkrai's Bad Dreams ability, Band Dreamisable, which could be used in conjunction with Protect to stop a super effective hit or block a status. ItDarkrai could utilise Substitute, but it has to be wary of Pixilate Hyper Voice or Bug Buzz. Disable could be used in conjunction with protect to stop a super effective hit or status. (This seems irrelevant - why should I use Substitute and why does this move in particular mean that Darkrai should be extra-weary (since you already mentioned) of moves like these?) Lastly, a bulky set with Snarl and Will-O-Wisp could work by lowering the opponents asing Pokemon's Special Attack and Attack stats.
Checks & Counters
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**Type Advantage** Fairiy-types such as Mega Mawile, Azumaril, Sylveon, (AC) or Mega Gardevior can all live a hit and OHKO Darkrai with their STAB moves, however, the first two have to be wary of burns whilst, and the latter gets 2HKO'd by Dark Pulse. Togekiss can redirect and live any hit or lower Darkrai's sSpeed with Thunder Wave, (AC) but has to watch out for Taunt and Ice Beam. Hitmontop, Keldeo, Heracross, (AC) and Conkeldurr can all live a hit and OHKO back, the latteand Conkeldurr gets an aAttack raise from Guts if burnt. Both Breloom and Conkeldurr can finish off a weakened Darkrai with priority mMach pPunch, (AC) and Genesect or Volcarona can take a hit and OHKO back with their Bug-type STAB moves.
**Speed Control** Darkrai depends on its sSpeed, (AC) so has to be careful against potential Thunder Wave users, such as Thundurus or Klefki, who can live a hit or outspeed (remove space) Darkrai due to pPrankster. Pokemon that use Icy Wind and Electroweb, such as Suicune and Rotom-W, will also lower Darkrai's sSpeed, making it more manageable for the opponent.. This cannot be Taunted and users such as Suicune and Rotom-W can live any hit. Darkrai dislikes Trick Room, (AC) as its main niche is with its sSpeed. Although itAromatisse stops most setters (of what?), Aromatisse resists Darkrai's STAB moves, can live any hit, cannot be Taunted due to its ability, Aroma Veil, (AC) and can OHKO in return with Moonblast.
**Speed** Both Scarf Genesect and Landorus-T can outspeed and deal heavylarge amounts of damage to Darkrait with U-Tturn, or Superpower with the latter, and other Scarf Pokemon, such as Salamence or Rotom-W can deal heavylots of damage to Darkrai with their STAB moves. Pokemon that naturally outspeed (remove space) can do heavy damage tothreaten Darkrai as well, including, (RC) Shaymin-S's Seed Flare, Mega Manetric's Thunderbolt, (AC) and Mega Gengar's Sludge Bomb. Priority, such as Talonflame's Brave Bird, (RC) or Mach Punch from Fighting-types, (AC) also do heavya lot of damage to Darkrai.
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