GP : Fireflame479
[OVERVIEW]
* Darkrai's great Special Attack stat of 135 alongside a respectable Speed stat of 125, allows it to be a good offensive threat in the metagame, able to outspeed everything up to maximum Speed Arceus.
* Darkrai's access to Nasty Plot and great coverage options such as Thunder and Sludge Bomb, allow it to punch holes through teams, letting it hit common switch-ins like Ho-Oh, Primal Kyogre, and Xerneas.
* Darkrai has access to a tremendously high 160 Base Power Dark-type Z-move, which can break through the likes of Primal Kyogre and Ho-Oh without the risk of missing the inaccurate Thunder.
* However, its mediocre defensive stats make it prone to priority attackers such as Extreme Killer Arceus and Mega Lucario, faster threats like Mega Gengar, Deoxys-A, Tapu Koko, Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Mewtwo X, and common Choice Scarf users, namely Xerneas.
* Darkrai also faces competition from other Dark-types in the tier like Yveltal and Arceus-Dark, which can fit better in multiple playstyles thanks to their natural bulk and overall consistency, unlike Darkrai, whose fragility but good offensive stats fits it best in offensive teams.
* Darkrai's lack of a reliable method of inducing sleep, which makes it hard for Darkrai and its teammates, to setup, which cripples its viability.
[SET]
name: Darkinium Z Special Attacker
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Sludge Bomb
item: Darkinium Z
ability: Bad Dreams
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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* Nasty Plot raises Darkrai's Special Attack through the roof, allowing it to score many OHKOes when used in conjunction with its Z-Move.
* Dark Pulse is Darkrai's primary Dark-type STAB move, a staple on any Darkrai set due to its high Special Attack stat.
* Focus Blast Blast's coverage allows Darkrai to deal super effective damage to common switch-ins such as Tyranitar, Arceus-Dark, and Blissey.
* Sludge Bomb is required to deal heavy damage to Fairy-type switch-ins such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy.
* Darkinium Z allows Darkrai to drop a 160 Base Power Black Hole Eclipse, which allows Darkrai to OHKO support Arceus formes and Primal Groudon as well as Primal Kyogre and Ho-Oh after Stealth Rock damage at +2 Special Attack.
Set Details
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* 252 Speed EVs along with a Timid nature allow Darkrai to outspeed everything up to support Arceus formes, while also being able to Speed tie with opposing Darkrai.
* 252 Special Attack EVs maximize Darkrai's power output.
* Darkinium Z gives Darkrai a 160 Base Power Dark-type STAB ,move that allows it to pick off Pokemon like Primal Kyogre and Ho-Oh, without OHKOing them with Thunder, which is unreliable due to its poor accuracy.
Usage Tips
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* Darkrai should set up Nasty Plot on switches, as it forces a lot of them on Ghost-types like Lunala and Giratina-O, which allows it to pressure the opposing team.
* Due to Darkrai's unfortunate natural bulk, it should be switched in through doubleswitches, when predicting a switch, and by free switches after sacking a teammate.
* There are times when it's better to go for a coverage move like Sludge Bomb, predicting Pokemon like Choice Scarf Xerneas, or Focus Blast, expecting a switch into Magearna, over going for Nasty Plot.
* Darkrai can use Black Hole Eclipse to surprise and secure OHKOes like Primal Kyogre and Ho-Oh at +2 Special Attack; however, Darkrai must be careful on not wasting it, as the move can only be used once.
Team Options
========
* Early entry hazards game are really important for Darkrai, as it relies on them to deal damage on Pokemon such as Ho-Oh on the switch to 2HKO it with unboosted Dark Pulse, as well as OHKO typical switch-ins such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy with Sludge Bomb. This makes Pokemon like Excadrill, Cloyster, and Deoxys-S really good partners.
* Primal Groudon is able to switch Darkrai's checks, such as Xerneas, Magearna, and Ho-Oh, making it an excellent teammate, that can also provide entry hazard support if needed.
* Pokemon like Extreme Killer Arceus and Sword Dance Arceus-Ground that appreciate Darkrai's ability to check Ghost-types make them great teammates for Darkrai, as they can clean late-game after Darkrai has weaken or taken down Pokemon like Giratina-O and Choice Scarf Lunala.
* Mega Gengar can trap checks to Darkrai such as Xerneas, Magearna, and Arceus-Fairy and proceed to KO them.
* Late-game setup sweepers such as Mega Salamence can clean up after Darkrai has finished punching holes through the opposing team.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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* Darkrai can go with Hypnosis over Sludge Bomb so it can improve its matchup versus Arceus-Dark and other Arceus formes in general.
* Darkrai could forego Darkinium Z and go with a Life Orb set with Thunder as coverage to hit common switch-ins such as Yveltal and Primal Kyogre; however, the previously mentioned set simply outperforms this set.
* Fightinium Z with Focus Blast + Nasty Plot is also a set of choice that allows Darkrai to OHKO Tyranitar without the risk of missing, while also scoring a guranteed OHKO on Chople Berry Tyranitar.
* Firium Z with Incinerate is also a niche set that allows Darkrai to OHKO Magearna at +2 Special Attack, which can provide room for other teammates like Xerneas to sweep.
* A Choice Scarf set is also a decent option with Dark Pulse, Trick, Ice Beam or Hypnosis, and Haze. Trick cripples Pokemon like Magearna that usually checks Darkrai, while Haze takes advantage of Darkrai's tremendous Speed to outspeed standard Geomancy Xerneas at +2 and eliminate its boosts from Geomancy.
* Sucker Punch is also a possible option that Darkrai can run, as it can catch Pokemon like Mega Gengar, Deoxys-A, and Lunala off guard and deal heavy damage
* Darkrai may carry Ice Beam as coverage, which can OHKO Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, and Zygarde unboosted, though it should be holding a Choice Scarf whenever carrying the move. since its main purpose is to revenge kill Mega Salamence.
* Substitute with Leftovers is a possible set Darkrai can run that allows it to create more opportunities to setup Nasty Plot; however, setting up Substitute is only helpful to prevent Darkrai from being poisoned, which it doesn't care much about, since it only requires a few turns to deal heavy damage to the opposing team.
* Darkrai can carry Taunt for some form of stallbreaking; however, it is better off running coverage moves to hit common switch-ins.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Magearna and Klefki**: Due to their great defensive typing, both Magearna and Klefki are able to easily switch into any of Darkrai's attacks. Magearna can OHKO it with Fleur Cannon, and Klefki can deal heavy damage with Play Rough and can also set up Spikes and dual screens on Darkrai.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Arceus-Fairy and Unaware Clefable can take +2 Sludge Bomb from Darkrai and proceed to OHKO it with their respective STAB moves, while Scarf Xerneas can outspeed and OHKO Darkrai with Moonblast.
**Faster Attackers**: Pokemon that can outspeed and revenge KO Darkrai such as Mega Gengar, Deoxys-A, Tapu Koko, and Pheramosa can easily check Darkrai. Mega Gengar can trap and revenge KO Darkrai with Focus Blast or Sludge Wave if weakened enough, while Tapu Koko and Pheramosa can OHKO Darkrai with their respective STAB moves, and Deoxys-A can KO with Superpower.
**Priority Moves** Priority moves such as Extreme Speed and Bullet Punch can allow Extreme Killer Arceus, Rayquaza, as well as Mega Lucario, and Mega Scizor to outspeed and deal heavy damage to Darkrai.
**Chansey and Blissey**: Both of these Pokemon have extremely high Special Defense and HP stats allowing them to dust off any damage done by Darkrai other than Focus Blast, which can 2HKO both at +2 Special Attack.
**Ho-Oh**: Thanks to its great Special Defense stat, Ho-Oh can switch into Darkrai after it consumes its Z=Move; otherwise, it gets OHKOed by +2 Black Hole Eclipse.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can easily take a hit from Darkrai after sacking something to Black Hole Eclipse and proceed to OHKO it with its STAB Origin Pulse.
**Tyranitar**: Tyranitar can easily switch into a Dark Pulse from Darkrai and proceed to set up Stealth Rock, but it must be wary of Focus Blast if not holding a Chople Berry.
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