Is Darkrai viable in Gen 9 OU?

Darkrai is ranked #24 in Gen 9 OU with 8.82% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Darkrai in Gen 9 OU?

Zamazenta has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 69.3% of 114.63024938356097 relevant encounters. Standard error is 7.4 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Darkrai matchup checks ranked in Gen 9 OU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Darkrai was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Darkrai counters

Gen 9 OU · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0491 Darkrai

Dark

USAGE 8.8% #24

BASE STATS

HP 70

ATK 90

DEF 90

SPA 135

SPD 90

SPE 125

BST600

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

FightingBugFairy

½×

GhostDark

0×

Psychic

Moves

Dark Pulse 99.3% Ice Beam 73.8% Sludge Bomb 48.9% Nasty Plot 38.0% Focus Blast 32.0% Knock Off 27.7% Will-O-Wisp 25.9% Trick 22.0%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 22.8% Black Glasses 14.0% Choice Scarf 13.9% Choice Specs 13.8% Leftovers 12.3% Focus Sash 7.4% Mirror Herb 5.6% Life Orb 4.4%

Tera Types

Poison 47.7% Dark 27.7% Ghost 17.9% Fairy 2.7% Electric 1.6% Fighting 0.8% Ground 0.6% Ice 0.6%

Common Teammates

Ogerpon-Wellspring20.7%

Alomomola19.4%

Landorus-Therian17.7%

Kyurem16.7%

Browse Gen 9 OU teams using Darkrai →

Explore Darkrai + Zamazenta teams 40 score Explore Darkrai + Kingambit teams 18 score Explore Darkrai + Great Tusk teams 6 score Explore Darkrai + Gholdengo teams 5 score Explore Darkrai + Ting-Lu teams 4 score Explore Darkrai + Kyurem teams 3 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Darkrai + Great Tusk 36.5% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Zamazenta

Fighting OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

114.63

39.5

69.3% Standard error 7.44 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Zamazenta Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Darkrai: 444-524 (129 - 152.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Zamazenta counters → Teams with Zamazenta →

Kingambit

DarkSteel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

82.157

17.8

55.7% Standard error 9.46 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Darkrai Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kingambit: 476-560 (117.8 - 138.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Kingambit counters → Teams with Kingambit →

Great Tusk

GroundFighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

92.832

5.6

40.4% Standard error 8.71 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Great Tusk Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Darkrai: 474-560 (137.7 - 162.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Great Tusk counters → Teams with Great Tusk →

Gholdengo

SteelGhost SOFT CHECK View matchup

98.029

5.1

38.7% Standard error 8.41 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Darkrai: 226-268 (65.6 - 77.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Gholdengo counters → Teams with Gholdengo →

Ting-Lu

DarkGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.308

3.6

46.8% Standard error 10.81 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ting-Lu Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Darkrai: 175-207 (50.8 - 60.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Ting-Lu counters → Teams with Ting-Lu →

Kyurem

DragonIce SOFT CHECK View matchup

28.158

3.2

40.1% Standard error 9.24 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Kyurem Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Darkrai: 180-213 (52.3 - 61.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Kyurem counters → Teams with Kyurem →

Samurott-Hisui

WaterDark SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.573

-0.6

41.9% Standard error 10.62 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Sharpness Samurott-Hisui Razor Shell vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Darkrai: 193-228 (56.1 - 66.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Samurott-Hisui counters → Teams with Samurott-Hisui →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

72.029

-2.3

27.0% Standard error 7.34 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Gliscor Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Darkrai: 159-187 (46.2 - 54.3%) -- 54.3% chance to 2HKO

View Gliscor counters → Teams with Gliscor →

Dragapult

DragonGhost SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.606

-6.5

34.4% Standard error 10.22 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragapult Dragon Darts (2 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Darkrai: 186-222 (54 - 64.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragapult counters → Teams with Dragapult →

Ranked #24 with 8.82% usage. Sorted by conservative score.