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In the World of Pokémon, there lives a vast number and variety of amazing creatures to befriend and collect. Every week, we will be focusing on a single one of these Pokémon or evolutionary line and talking about what makes it special. This week's Pokémon of choice is Darkrai!
Darkrai, introduced in Generation IV, is the Pokémon world's representation of darkness and the embodiment of nightmares. This Dark type can put both Pokémon and humans into a deep sleep with its signature Dark Void attack and then can enter their dreams, bringing ceaseless nightmares until it decides to leave or is extracted. This power is represented by Darkrai's in-game ability Bad Dreams, which inflicts damage on sleeping Pokémon passively every turn. Darkrai has a counterpart in Cresselia, which has the power to cure nightmares with its sparkling feathers.
There has been a good deal of variety in the portrayal of Darkrai in the different forms of Pokémedia. In the Pokémon anime, Darkrai made its first appearance in the movie Rise of Darkrai. Although it is feared and attacked on sight by many of the movie's characters, this Darkrai actually wanted to help and brought nightmares as a defense mechanism rather than out of malice. On the other hand, Darkrai has been portrayed as a main villain of several spin-off games. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky, Darkrai appears as the manipulative final boss who was the true cause of the collapse of Temporal Tower and of the protagonist transforming into a Pokémon. After the main-story, Darkrai pretends to be a Cresselia in order to gain the trust of the protagonist but only wants to destroy them. A Darkrai is also the sinister final boss of PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond, and another was fought in Pokémon Rangers: Shadows of Almnia under the control of that game's Big Baddie Blake Hall. The trend of Darkrai appearing as a final boss was continued in the television show, in which it is used by the trainer Tobias in the Sinnoh League's Lily of the Valley Conference. Tobias reportedly swept through every one of his battles using only Darkrai until facing Ash. Although defeating the majority of Ash's Pokémon single-handedly, Tobias's Darkrai was defeated by Ash's Sceptile.
Darkrai has always been a force to be reckoned with in battle. While its defensive stats are not spectacular by Legendary Pokémon standards, its extremely high Special Attack and Speed cannot be overlooked. Despite powerful stats, the source of Darkrai's real power has historically been its Dark Void attack, which is able to put all adjacent enemies to sleep. Trainers often used this as an opportunity to raise Darkrai's stats even more with Nasty Plot, or would opt to go straight for direct damage on a helpless opponent with one of Darkrai's many powerful attacks. Darkrai received a considerable nerf in Gen VII, with Dark Void's accuracy dropping from a potent 80% to only 50%.
Here are some questions to consider to get conversation rolling. You don't have to answer all of them or any of them in your post as long as you're staying on topic and within global forum rules.
Previous Pokémon of the Week
Darkrai, introduced in Generation IV, is the Pokémon world's representation of darkness and the embodiment of nightmares. This Dark type can put both Pokémon and humans into a deep sleep with its signature Dark Void attack and then can enter their dreams, bringing ceaseless nightmares until it decides to leave or is extracted. This power is represented by Darkrai's in-game ability Bad Dreams, which inflicts damage on sleeping Pokémon passively every turn. Darkrai has a counterpart in Cresselia, which has the power to cure nightmares with its sparkling feathers.
There has been a good deal of variety in the portrayal of Darkrai in the different forms of Pokémedia. In the Pokémon anime, Darkrai made its first appearance in the movie Rise of Darkrai. Although it is feared and attacked on sight by many of the movie's characters, this Darkrai actually wanted to help and brought nightmares as a defense mechanism rather than out of malice. On the other hand, Darkrai has been portrayed as a main villain of several spin-off games. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky, Darkrai appears as the manipulative final boss who was the true cause of the collapse of Temporal Tower and of the protagonist transforming into a Pokémon. After the main-story, Darkrai pretends to be a Cresselia in order to gain the trust of the protagonist but only wants to destroy them. A Darkrai is also the sinister final boss of PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond, and another was fought in Pokémon Rangers: Shadows of Almnia under the control of that game's Big Baddie Blake Hall. The trend of Darkrai appearing as a final boss was continued in the television show, in which it is used by the trainer Tobias in the Sinnoh League's Lily of the Valley Conference. Tobias reportedly swept through every one of his battles using only Darkrai until facing Ash. Although defeating the majority of Ash's Pokémon single-handedly, Tobias's Darkrai was defeated by Ash's Sceptile.
Darkrai has always been a force to be reckoned with in battle. While its defensive stats are not spectacular by Legendary Pokémon standards, its extremely high Special Attack and Speed cannot be overlooked. Despite powerful stats, the source of Darkrai's real power has historically been its Dark Void attack, which is able to put all adjacent enemies to sleep. Trainers often used this as an opportunity to raise Darkrai's stats even more with Nasty Plot, or would opt to go straight for direct damage on a helpless opponent with one of Darkrai's many powerful attacks. Darkrai received a considerable nerf in Gen VII, with Dark Void's accuracy dropping from a potent 80% to only 50%.
Here are some questions to consider to get conversation rolling. You don't have to answer all of them or any of them in your post as long as you're staying on topic and within global forum rules.
- Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
- How is this Pokémon in-game?
- How is this Pokémon in competitive play? Are there any interesting strategies you like to use for them?
- Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
- How do you think this Pokémon would interact with our world?
- If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon and if so, what would you change?
- Does Darkrai effectively represent all things dark and nightmarish, or could GF have done better?
- What are some other ways that GF could have represented nightmares, both as ideas and as in-game mechanics?
- Are Darkrai and Cresselia appropriate as counterparts to each other?
- How do you feel about Darkrai being portrayed as one of the most popular "final boss" Pokémon in the whole franchise? Is it well deserved or was it overused?
- Did Darkrai deserve the competitive nerf it received in Gen VII? Was it too much, or is Darkrai still too strong?
Previous Pokémon of the Week
Pokémon of the Week #1: Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, & Venusaur
Pokémon of the Week #2: Scraggy & Scrafty
Pokémon of the Week #3: Gulpin & Swalot
Pokémon of the Week #4: Porygon, Porygon2, & Porygon-Z
Pokémon of the Week #5: Emolga
Pokémon of the Week #6: Rufflet & Braviary
Pokémon of the Week #7: Ditto
Pokémon of the Week #8: Wynaut & Wobbuffet
Pokémon of the Week #9: Sneasel & Weavile
Pokémon of the Week #10: Murkrow & Honchkrow
Pokémon of the Week #11: Houndour & Houndoom
Pokémon of the Week #12: Exeggcute & Exeggutor
Pokémon of the Week #13: Gastly, Haunter, & Gengar
Pokemon of the Week #14: Smoochum & Jynx
Pokémon of the Week #15: Beldum, Metang, & Metagross
Pokémon of the Week #16: Bidoof
Pokémon of the Week # 17: Deerling & Sawsbuck
Pokémon of the Week #18: Munchlax & Snorlax
Pokémon of the Week #19: Hoppip, Skiploom, & Jumpluff
Pokémon of the Week #20: Nincada, Ninjask, & Shedinja
Pokémon of the Week #21: Pumpkaboo & Gourgeist
Pokémon of the Week #22: Mudkip, Marshtomp, & Swampert
Pokémon of the Week #23: Froakie, Frogadier, & Greninja
Pokémon of the Week #24: Rattata & Raticate
Pokémon of the Week #25: Mimikyu
Pokémon of the Week #26: Mareep, Flaaffy, & Ampharos
Pokémon of the Week #27: Delibird
Pokémon of the Week #28: Espeon
Pokémon of the Week #29: Rowlet, Dartrix, & Decidueye
Pokémon of the Week #30: Popplio, Brionne, & Primarina
Pokémon of the Week #31: Litten, Torracat, & Incineroar
Pokémon of the Week #32: Woobat & Swoobat
Pokémon of the Week #33: Vulpix & Ninetales
Pokémon of the Week #34: Mewtwo
Pokémon of the Week #35: Shellos & Gastrodon
Pokémon of the Week #36: Weedle, Kakuna, & Beedrill
Pokémon of the Week #37: Alomomola
Pokémon of the Week #38: Pidove, Tranquill, & Unfezant
Pokémon of the Week #2: Scraggy & Scrafty
Pokémon of the Week #3: Gulpin & Swalot
Pokémon of the Week #4: Porygon, Porygon2, & Porygon-Z
Pokémon of the Week #5: Emolga
Pokémon of the Week #6: Rufflet & Braviary
Pokémon of the Week #7: Ditto
Pokémon of the Week #8: Wynaut & Wobbuffet
Pokémon of the Week #9: Sneasel & Weavile
Pokémon of the Week #10: Murkrow & Honchkrow
Pokémon of the Week #11: Houndour & Houndoom
Pokémon of the Week #12: Exeggcute & Exeggutor
Pokémon of the Week #13: Gastly, Haunter, & Gengar
Pokemon of the Week #14: Smoochum & Jynx
Pokémon of the Week #15: Beldum, Metang, & Metagross
Pokémon of the Week #16: Bidoof
Pokémon of the Week # 17: Deerling & Sawsbuck
Pokémon of the Week #18: Munchlax & Snorlax
Pokémon of the Week #19: Hoppip, Skiploom, & Jumpluff
Pokémon of the Week #20: Nincada, Ninjask, & Shedinja
Pokémon of the Week #21: Pumpkaboo & Gourgeist
Pokémon of the Week #22: Mudkip, Marshtomp, & Swampert
Pokémon of the Week #23: Froakie, Frogadier, & Greninja
Pokémon of the Week #24: Rattata & Raticate
Pokémon of the Week #25: Mimikyu
Pokémon of the Week #26: Mareep, Flaaffy, & Ampharos
Pokémon of the Week #27: Delibird
Pokémon of the Week #28: Espeon
Pokémon of the Week #29: Rowlet, Dartrix, & Decidueye
Pokémon of the Week #30: Popplio, Brionne, & Primarina
Pokémon of the Week #31: Litten, Torracat, & Incineroar
Pokémon of the Week #32: Woobat & Swoobat
Pokémon of the Week #33: Vulpix & Ninetales
Pokémon of the Week #34: Mewtwo
Pokémon of the Week #35: Shellos & Gastrodon
Pokémon of the Week #36: Weedle, Kakuna, & Beedrill
Pokémon of the Week #37: Alomomola
Pokémon of the Week #38: Pidove, Tranquill, & Unfezant