Monotype Analysis: Dark

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Introduction

Dark has been an influential type in Monotype as of late, with some good usage in Monotype Premier League alongside a win rate only matched by extremely anti-metagame types such as Dragon and very consistent types like Flying and Water. Its ability to outright counter a specific few types like Psychic boosts its viability as an anti-metagame pick for tournament play. However, it's very easy to exploit with common, tried-and-true types and builds such as Fairy as well as Water featuring Calm Mind Z-Move Keldeo. Dark's success can be attributed to a sturdy core in Alolan Muk + Tyranitar + Mega Sableye + Mandibuzz, which can wall a large portion of the metagame. It also has access to tools like stallbreaker Hydreigon, which can single-handedly dismantle defensive cores like Toxapex + Swampert + Mantine on Water-type teams, and Greninja, which commonly acts as a revenge killer with a plethora of coverage moves that's capable of forcing menaces like Mega Lopunny out but can opt for a more offensive set if need be. Hyper offensive Dark teams have been an option for quite a while now with threats like Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar and Swords Dance Bisharp, but haven't had the consistency throughout SM to be a reliable pick for tournament play.

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Defensive Core

Although the defensive core on Dark struggles with major metagame threats like Mega Diancie, it still has the ability to check a large portion of the metagame. The core offers Stealth Rock, Defog, status, bulky setup support, and momentum control. Tyranitar, the Stealth Rock setter, demolishes a plethora of hazard removers that includes Crobat, Mantine, and Staraptor and has the potential to cripple pivotal defensive threats like Suicune with Toxic. Mandibuzz holds the entire core together, beating threats that the rest of the core falls flat against such as Mega Lopunny, Mega Scizor, and Belly Drum Azumarill. It also provides Defog support and can potentially stallbreak alongside Hydreigon. Mega Sableye has the potential to outright prevent types such as Normal, Rock, Bug, Dragon, Fighting, Grass, and Water from getting Stealth Rock up. It also has a Ghost typing that helps force prediction from Choice-locked Fighting-types, notably including Keldeo. The core is great at wearing down other teams with status support in Will-O-Wisp from Mega Sableye and Toxic from Tyranitar. Alolan Muk is a secondary check to special attackers thanks to a fantastic defensive typing, good 105 / 100 special bulk, and recovery in Iapapa Berry + Recycle. It can also quickly end games with Curse, especially when playing against types that don't have many physical attackers like Electric. The defensive core stops any offensive player looking to grab momentum with Choice-locked pivots like Greninja and Victini by scouting them with Protect.

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Offensive Pokémon

• / Hydreigon @ Dragonium Z / Life Orb
• Ability: Levitate
• EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
• Timid Nature
• IVs: 0 Atk
• - Roost
• - Taunt
• - Dark Pulse
• - Draco Meteor

Stallbreaker Hydreigon has cemented itself as an important staple for nearly every balance Dark team in the current generation because of Taunt + Roost, high Special Attack, and a great offensive typing that makes it hard to switch into. Hydreigon is most commonly known for its ability to completely destroy the infamous Swampert + Mantine + Toxapex core that's typically found on Water-type teams. It also has potential against other balance cores like Zapdos + Mantine + Skarmory on Flying-type teams and Celesteela + Ferrothorn + Heatran on Steel-type teams, but struggles for various reasons. For example, Discharge from Zapdos and a powerful Heavy Slam from Celesteela hinder Hydreigon's ability to break defensive cores. Hydreigon's Dragon typing gives Dark players some sort of counterplay to Water-types, notably Suicune and Choice-locked Keldeo, that otherwise freely wreak havoc. Its ability, Levitate, is useful for playing mind games against wallbreakers like Nidoking as well. Make sure to keep in mind during the teambuilding phase that Hydreigon can run other threatening options like Life Orb and Fire Blast instead of Draco Meteor!

• Greninja @ Choice Scarf
• Ability: Protean
• EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
• Naive Nature
• - U-turn
• - Ice Beam
• - Gunk Shot
• - Spikes

Choice Scarf Greninja is an extremely important Pokémon that Dark relies on to force out threats like Mega Lopunny and Tapu Koko. It also has the potential to revenge kill other terrifying setup sweepers like Mega Altaria and Swords Dance Tapu Bulu thanks to its blazing fast Speed tier coupled with Choice Scarf. Spikes is very important for chipping threats like Mega Lopunny and can do more specific and useful things like break Dugtrio's Focus Sash so it can't trap and remove Greninja, which allows Greninja to reliably deal with Swords Dance Garchomp and Landorus, preventing them from running through the team. Greninja's wide movepool gives it a plethora of coverage to run over Spikes. For example, it can opt for Hydro Pump and 252 Special Attack EVs to force out threats like Mega Diancie, run Toxic Spikes, or run Rock Slide to revenge kill Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y. If the team already has a means of keeping faster Pokémon in check and is lacking Hydreigon, Greninja can opt for a wallbreaking Life Orb set to tear down defensive cores. However, other Choice Scarf users like Krookodile can't provide the same support that Greninja can.

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Dark: Hyper Offense

Although balanced Dark teams almost never see any sort of variation, hyper offensive builds range from Focus Sash spam to hyper offense + Mandibuzz and allow the builder to be very creative. The traditional Stealth Rock setter, Tyranitar, is extremely slow and easy to take advantage of, so hyper offensive teams tend to opt for Krookodile as the Stealth Rock setter. Krookodile not only has a much better Speed tier, but also utility in Knock Off, Intimidate, and Taunt, which gives it an easier time early-game. Mega Tyranitar is easily the most threatening setup sweeper on Dark, boasting incredible defensive stats that let it tank extremely powerful attacks like Scald from Choice Specs Keldeo and Horn Leech from Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu. Mega Tyranitar is still able to threaten defensive cores with its powerful STAB attacks, formidable Attack stat, and potential to boost to more dangerous levels with Dragon Dance. It also flips matchups like Electric, having enough bulk to find setup opportunities extremely easily and sweep after a boost or two. Bisharp can dismantle entire defensive cores like Porygon2 + Staraptor + Chansey on Normal after even a single Swords Dance and threaten offensive teams with a strong STAB priority move in Sucker Punch. Be creative when crafting a hyper offense team, keeping in mind that you have plenty of creative options like Crawdaunt and Mega Sharpedo to work with!

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Get out there!

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