How GOOD was Darkrai ACTUALLY? - History of Darkrai in Competitive Pokemon (Gens 4-7)

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Darkrai is today’s Pokemon for our competitive history series! Join False Swipe Gaming in this brief overview of Darkrai in competitive Pokemon!
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FULL RESEARCH SOURCES HERE
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0:00 - Intro
0:50 - DPP/Gen 4
4:06 - BW/Gen 5
8:13 - XY/Gen 6
11:26 - SM/Gen 7
14:03 - Outro
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Directed by Kellen
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Written By
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Edited By
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VFX Intro By
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Sound Designed by
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Game Capture Artist:
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Chris Mims
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DISCLAIMERS ON FORMATS COVERED:
Notice I said POPULAR formats, meaning a format where there is a significant amount of people who compete in it for tournaments and so on and so forth.
For the record, I do not care what rules or formats people play their battles by nor am I saying these formats are the only formats that should be played. The way you play Pokemon is between you and your opponent. I just like examining popular tournament formats.
Songs Used (List of ALL Songs used for this series. Some may or may not make it into the video):
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Resources and Historical References
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Aaron Cybertron Zheng:
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Pokemon Battle Historia:
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Nintendo Cup 2000 Team Construction:
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Sprites From:
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[@OrangeyChocolate]

Dark Void got nerfed because of Smeargle? That's like a kid's friend breaking a window, but the kid gets in trouble because it was his football that broke the window.

[@Sleeper800]

And then the football gets nerfed to 50% accuracy

[@OrangeyChocolate]

@@Sleeper800 Basically, Game Freak let some of the air out of Darkrai's ball so it couldn't be kicked as far.

[@jacurururur8848]

@@OrangeyChocolate even though you literally can't use it in official Pokemon tournaments

[@firepeaguy]

@@Sleeper800 omg it's a shiny GIR

[@Sleeper800]

@@firepeaguy :)

[@sbcistheboss]

Dark Void should not have been nerfed to the point that Darkrai uses hypnosis instead. 70% accuracy is more fair than 50%, especially for a signature move.

[@lyg483]

Or maybe 85% to one target and 60% in double battles. Edit: btw guys, I want to see how good was magic bounce... i mean, how good was Xatu actually.

[@antonioiniguez1615]

sbcistheboss yeah. At the very most, 75%

[@Kosecant]

Smeargle can’t even learn signature moves any more, they nerfed it because smeargle was using it but also made him unable to learn it so why was it needed?

[@futureDreamer4]

Facts

[@The_Pikaboi]

Dark Void was 80%, meanwhile Spore is 100%

[@cryingwithrage]

The dumb part is that Dark Void will now fail if any other pokemon besides Darkrai uses it. The accuracy nerf was pointless.

[@Marcusjnmc]

no . . . it wasn't, one of the most played things in sun/moon battle spot is unrestricted battle royal, a spread 80% sleep move in that would be ridiculous & ruin games

[@sephikong8323]

@@Marcusjnmc How many people play Battlespot ?

[@MakoShiruba]

@@Marcusjnmc Then make it 70%. The problem is that Darkrai is solely reliant on it's sleep. You can also make it a single target move too and keep the 80% hitrate

[@Marcusjnmc]

@@MakoShiruba even 70% will take out 2 opponents in every match turn 1 on average, & darkrai isn't reliant on sleep at all, bad dreams is, darkrai is inherently both fast & strong with a decent typing, great coverage moves & set up moves, it is only reliant on sleep to be relevant and dominate other mons in the Ubers tier, which is a thing we made up to play on simulators & is irrelevant to the actual game. Not to mention Darkrai was that good in a simulator modded with sleep clause, it's far more busted in the actual game with that speed & power & no sleep clause.

[@Marcusjnmc]

@@sephikong8323 you think the people who actually make the games care about the concurrent playerbase on showdown over the people who actually play the games they make ?

[@The_Pikaboi]

The Dark Void nerf still makes zero sense to this day. Like now that smeargle cant use it darkrai should get his niche back.

[@Metroid4ever]

agreed. Smeargle being able to Sketch the move was the problem, not Darkrai or the move itself. GF are just morons. Whenever they nerf something, they go way too aggressive and do more harm than good.

[@thomasliu5814]

Even if they're scared of dark void smeargles, they can just say no dark void user allowed instead of darkrai not allowed

[@BottomOfTheDumpsterFire]

Seriously, Smeargle should be able to use amazing moves, just give him a -1 to priority if it's a unique move.

[@D-Havoc]

Well... there's also the issue of targeting all pokemon on the opponent's side with Double battles and triple battles. And before you give me the "but it's not 1000% accurate" counterargument, understand that has never stopped Rock Slides from succeeding.

[@rollingapples6579]

DeeperHavoc I thought Darkrai wasn’t even allowed in most VGC anyway. Plus it was because of Smeargle that the move got a nerf. The accuracy didn’t need to be changed.

[@d.ritzer]

*How GOOD was Dark Void ACTUALLY?* - History of Dark Void in Competitive Pokemon (Gens 4-7)

[@joseluistrejo1859]

And Gen 7 make it inferior and useless because Smeargle has the blame since gen 6.

[@mathewricafrente5984]

I think nerfing Dark Void's accuracy from 80% to 50% was a bit too much

[@patrickstar8132]

They could've... I dunno... Made it exclusive to Darkrai? Like I mean they made Hyperspace fury exclusive to hoopa-u despite the fact that smeargle couldn't use it. I know that Darkrai would have maybe replace smeargle but it would take up a restricted slot which isn't favorable with all the tapus and fairies running around and misty and electric terrain nullifying sleep... [Edit: Yes I know that mythicals are banned in vgc.]

[@drunkenpumpkins7401]

Darkrai can't replace Smeargle since Darkrai is a mystical Pokemon. Mythical Pokemon are banned from VGC.

[@Bladius_]

@@patrickstar8132 I always thought tagging "Increase dark void(/sleep move) accuracy" on to "Bad Dreams" would be a reletively smooth fix since it's a unique ability So it's unchanged on Darkrai, but unusable on smeargle; who can fall back on spore anyway.

[@the-renegade]

I feel bad for Darkrai in generation seven, heh. Dark Void, 50% accuracy??? 😶

[@edwardrobinson5470]

Same

[@borby4584]

They could’ve (and *should*’ve) just had it been “this move can only be used by Darkrai”, and then Smeargle wouldn’t have abused it like it used to

[@Stoic_Revanchist]

@@borby4584 I agree. I used to be an active VGC player and Dark Void in gen 6 was absurd being able to sleep 2 pokemon at the same time... however since Smeargle can no longer use Dark Void, the nerf to Dark Void itself its an overkill

[@edwardrobinson5470]

@@borby4584 I agree that's better than nerfing it so much that hynosis is better.

[@mattkarge]

@@borby4584 spore

[@rell660]

Darkrai gets credited for making me do my first ever Google search related to competitive battling. When in middle School my friend had one and kept dark voiding me. What pissed me off is how it always went first. I searched and found out Jolteon was faster, I thunder waved Darkrai and beat my friend in the battle (He didn't know type advantages etc... just spammed dark void). Let's just say after I revealed that weakness he was no longer top dog at the lunch table. This also propelled Jolteon into being one of my top 5 fave Pokemon. Edit: This is when I was in 7th or 8th Grade, now I'm 26.

[@bb2fiddler]

I knew this one dbag back in gen 4 who always used to sweep 5 enemies with darkrai, then bring out his giratina for the 6th and PP stall it with pressure and spite... I still have rage nightmares about it

[@Lauren_C]

@@bb2fiddler One person I battled had a team of many legendaries. His last Pokémon was hks Arceus. The look on my opponent's face when Arceus got outsped and OHKOd by my Cloyster (after 3 layers of Spikes, and with Shell Smash in effect) was priceless. The strategically challenged players tend to grossly underestimate the impact of chip damage, particularly from hazards or weather, and this battle gave the perfect example. Had I not taken the time to get spikes up, I wouldn't have secured the KO on the Arceus.

[@wallyy6223]

U still play?

[@bb2fiddler]

@@Lauren_C Haha yeah it is so much fun stomping uber noobs with UU teams

[@lordofalasebesque1833]

Had a very similar story with my friend who hacked one onto his game. At the time, one of my favorite pokemon was Primape, and with it's typing, vital spirit ability preventing sleep, and his inability to understand basic type coverage, combined with my choice scarf, it utterly dominated darkrai every time. one of my prouder pokemon moments.

[@swordsmancs]

Me, a dude whos favorite Pokémon is Darkrai, learning about Dark Void’s nerf: “look how they massacred my boy”

[@Grandflea02]

Darkrai is my favourite legendary/mythical I hate the dark void nerf...

[@red4900]

Same

[@TheDarkraiDimension491]

Same

[@ekul2k3]

Favourite Pokémon since I was 8, I fell you

[@aberomoa5149]

Darkrai: Inflicting Sleep status is my most recognizable trait and part of my design overall. Smeargle: Imma end this Pokémon's whole career! *Dark Void Nerfed to 50% accuracy* *Smeargle also can no longer, by any means, legaly learn Dark Void* Darkrai: Can I get Dark Void back to 80% accuracy? GameFreak: *NO*

[@luminous3558]

Meanwhile spore exists

[@naturalharmoniagropius4486]

@@luminous3558 Overcoaters, People with Goggles, and Grass types joined the chat

[@kazoorion7993]

@@luminous3558 Spore actually got nerfed since Gen 6, though.

[@123christianac]

@@naturalharmoniagropius4486 I'm pretty sure two of those were added recently...

[@EvidLekan]

Sap sipper pokemons: i dont feel sleeply at all

[@Patterrz]

Look how they massacred my boy in gen 7

[@notvex3987]

F to pay respect

[@blockmore1]

@@notvex3987 F

[@JayMafia258]

F

[@whitespirit1000]

@@notvex3987 💔

[@tigagirl4045]

@@notvex3987 not just a big F, but I titanic F

[@Xnaut314]

You forgot that Darkrai completely rigged the Sinnoh League in the anime too.

[@noble0155]

How the heck did they forget that? Lol

[@yellowpie]

Good ol’ trollbias

[@rosanirodrigues557]

Xnaut314 Ash did defeated Darkrai.

[@shadowtitanx3962]

@@rosanirodrigues557 Still got his ass handed to Latios. To the point where we think that Tobias used a Gameshark to have 6 Legendaries.

[@Marcusjnmc]

@@shadowtitanx3962 he beat Latios too , but couldn't do more since Darkrai took out over half his team

[@kierenbuckley370]

Rise of Darkrai is actually a really good movie

[@skyblade7438]

I honestly cried a bit when Darkrai died, but I was a kid at the time. Still a great film.

[@AlphaladZXA]

One of the better movies for sure, its probably my favorite one beside the entei movie

[@EdmacZ]

All of the Diamond and Pearl movies were good (As good as Pokémon movies go at least).

[@definitelybritish7001]

My favorite one tbh. I really loved the DP Anime and the movies

[@cruzikin3116]

Skyblade 743 Same Buddy. Same Buddy.

[@notsocooldude7720]

The dark void accuracy drop from 80% to 50% was basically the same as removing it from the game entirely

[@AppleBiscuits]

"Let's just nerf dark void because Smeargle is too good with it." "Sure boss, sleep's been ruining VGC for too long." "And then make sure Smeargle can't learn it." "Why nerf it then? It'll only affect Darkrai." "Can't hear you, busy designing more power creep!"

[@robertharris6092]

But gen 7 didn't have power creep...

[@Wannabechefguy]

@@robertharris6092 *Z-Moves, Tapus, UBs enter your meta*

[@robertharris6092]

@@Wannabechefguy eh. Not really anything special in comparison to wht already exists. And z-moves work on any pokemon so its a even buff accross the board.

[@luukjansen4221]

@@robertharris6092 Have you ever played competitive Pokemon in gen 7, tapus and UBs are everywhere and we also should not forget magearna, marshadow and the necrozma formes. No NEw PowEr CrEeP

[@TimG57867]

Thanks to Z moves Smogon’s BL tiers are more bloated than ever. LOL

[@onetruewildcard]

It took two years after this videos creation but finally in Pokemon Legands, Dark Void got an accuracy buff (90% accurate).

[@Lonewulf321]

That’s because sleep doesn’t work the same in PLA

[@knox9739]

Which game

[@Lonewulf321]

@@knox9739 PLA like he said

[@dylanogg347]

@@knox9739 Pokémon Legends: Arceus, in case the acronym had you confused.

[@spiritblox1]

Im assuming this has been changed back in sv

[@RobotHunter1234]

Dark Void: 50% accuracy Confuse Ray: 100% accuracy y

[@theflaminggroundon632]

Don't forget about spore, that move still exist

[@deltawarrior2323]

X

[@James-ym9sv]

Confusion is not as bad as sleep.

[@GravityIsFalling]

You sounding like sleep and confusion are on the same power level

[@scrittle]

@@GravityIsFalling 'Wild Golbat' - Need I say more?

[@StickMaster500]

The Dark Void nerfed banished Darkrai into the Shadow Realm

[@invaderzim1842]

Hello there

[@dededeisdosh4450]

At least he can chill with Giratina there

[@kribyy7784]

@@dededeisdosh4450 That's reverse world

[@ronswanson7371]

Turki Alamri General Kenobi

[@Dz73zxxx]

@@dededeisdosh4450 and torture giratina with its dark pulse. Killing a demon with a cursed creature...seems legit

[@mior8394]

Literally every Pokemon that were nerfed: This sucks! Darkrai: You thought you all had it worse? Look at this! MY SIGNATURE MOVE WAS NERFED ALL BECAUSE OF A DOG BORN FROM A BRUSH!

[@gimme_eliter4k720]

Not to mention one that eventually learned another sleep move that was even better than his

[@Dexuz]

@@gimme_eliter4k720 Not exactly, Spore doesn't affect Grass-types, whereas Dark Void hits everyone.

[@Not_interestEd-]

@@Dexuz but spore has a significantly higher accuracy rate.

[@Dexuz]

@@Not_interestEd- A higher yet counterable hit rate. Dark Void Smeargle was used even in Smogon singles, despite having the Spore option.

[@DJTileTurnip]

How WAS this video not available to be watched when uploaded ACTUALLY?

[@gotdamn4989]

DJ Tile Turnip ^

[@lightvoid7089]

Idk, all i know is that this video was meant for me

[@robertharris6092]

Dont patrons get early access?

[@PotatotheTroll]

It was asleep and it wasn't running Sleep Talk.

[@theartistknownas9910]

Because KZbin nerfed it to only be available to 50% of FSG Subscribers

[@jonthedon9497]

Dark void: 50% accuracy Spore: 100% accuracy *Confused Unga Bunga*

[@ShiningJudgment666]

Spore has trash distribution as not many Pokemon learn it and the ones that do for the most part aren't great. Also as of Gen 6, it has no effect on Grass types as they're not affected by powder moves.

[@D-S-G.]

*sending someone to the fu#**#ing** shadow realm* : 50% funny fumes: 100

[@butteredsalmonella]

amogus

[@ShiningJudgment666]

@@thefakenewspaper9377 Yet Dark Void is only usable with Darkrai as it does nothing if another Pokemon uses it so why the accuracy nerf to the point Hypnosis becomes the better choice of Sleep move for Darkrai? I don't get it.

[@dr.dylansgame5583]

@@ShiningJudgment666 Yeah it honestly makes no logical sense even from a balance perspective no matter what way you slice it. And yet i see people defending this when outside of a glass cannon sleep chipping was it's only other reliable set. Anything else wouldn't work too well gonna miss running that since i could run it tanky unlike the glass cannon build.

[@anthonyk3952]

Dark Void's accuracy nerf was not needed in the slightest. Sure, VGC Smeargle abused the move, but don't forget that on top of the massive accuracy nerf, Gen 7 made it so the move always fails if used by anyone other than Darkrai. And since Darkrai itself is a mythical Pokemon, and as such, always banned from VGC, there was no need to gut the move's accuracy.

[@Rodolphin]

It makes you think why was Dark Void Smeargle was legal in the first place. It’s funny that GF banned Mythicals from VGC because not everyone will have them but apparently everyone has a Darkrai so they can teach Dark Void to Smeargle.

[@CocoLocoToco]

couldnt smeargle just use spore

[@anthonyk3952]

@@CocoLocoToco Yes, it could. However Dark Void was preferred in doubles since it's a spread move. The tradeoff of it was imperfect (80%) accuracy for a move that could sleep both targets. And since there's no sleep clause in VGC, you can see why it would prefer Dark Void over Spore

[@mysterysecret6815]

The nerf was 100% needed. And the nerf was 100% used to target both Smeargle and Darkrai. Yes the intention was to also nerf Darkrai as a 600-base stat mythical legendary shouldn’t be on par with Mega Rayquaza.

[@anthonyk3952]

@@mysterysecret6815 The nerf to Smeargle makes perfect sense. The nerf to Darkrai does not. Darkrai is a mythical Pokemon, which means that it is always banned in VGC as well as cart singles/doubles online. As for Smogon, which have absolutely 0 impact on GameFreak decisions, has sleep clause for singles and Dark Void is banned in Ubers doubles. Explain how the nerf to a move that can only be used by a single mythical Pokemon was needed.

[@dreamlanderjoel8162]

The Dark Void nerf might be dumbest nerf in all of Pokemon. They reduced it's accuracy from 80 to 50 so that Smeargle could no longer abuse it in VGC, but they also made it so that Dark Void would fail if used by a Pokemon other than Darkrai, meaning that Smeargle can't even use the move anymore. So they essentially nerfed Darkrai for no reason.

[@gimme_eliter4k720]

Also smargle has spore now

[@mysterysecret6815]

No it was not. And yes they nerf Darkrai for the intention of nerfing Darkrai because as a 600-base stat mythical legendary, Darkrai shouldn’t be on par with Mega Rayquaza.

[@idunnohonestly9519]

@@mysterysecret6815 with sleep clause, its way worse than m-ray pre-nerf, and without, still worse, because if it’s outsped, it can’t do anything

[@idunnohonestly9519]

@@mysterysecret6815 and smeargle Gets spore now, so the smeargle nerf never even happened

[@diegoxavier9107]

@@idunnohonestly9519 Spore, unlike Dark Void, can't hit two targets. Also, it gets shut down by grass types, Overcoat, and Safety Goggles, two of which are popular

[@mikroangel1922]

Gen 4: Oh my god it's so good one of the best Uber. Gen 5: Now it have more checks, but it's still one of the best pokémon to use. Gen 6: Meh... certainly not bad, but now can be countered more well Gen 7: Who?

[@gengarzilla1685]

Darkrai was always inferior to Yveltal. People just didn't see that because the Dark Void obscured this. Now that it misses 50% of the time, the truth is known.

[@frozenvoltz6739]

@@gengarzilla1685 People always prefered Darkrai over yveltal in gen 6 because at leats he can do something to prevent Xerneas from using it as setup fodder unlike Yveltal and the fact that it can provide support from its team with sleep and last one is simply because sleep is basically the best status move in the game why do you think there are sleep clause?

[@pixiel1xie]

Gengarzilla this pokemon is obviously worse when you take away one of its best tools! Like bruh you know dark void was a part of darkrai right?

[@gengarzilla1685]

And Extreme Speed was totally Arceus's signature move.

[@jambon2730]

And now darkrai would just be a simply uu mon...

[@metheguy1232]

"The best Xerneas counter, Klefki, dominated Darkrai even harder." Only in Pokemon ladies and gentlemen

[@davidlindsay8937]

Darkrai on Friday the 13th 😏 I see what you did there FSG

[@Radiant_Emerald]

Lmao, nice.

[@MultiWilliam25]

I didn't even realize that, bravo.

[@kdaahri6857]

Please explain bud

[@Ob1tuber]

That was the day before my birthday

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Pre nerf Dark Void Literally everyone: *ZZZZZZZZ* Nerfed Dark Void Literally everyone: What is sleep?

[@minaly22]

More like, Nerfed Dark Void; Literally everyone: WOKE

[@Archer690Channel]

i sleep/realshit would be a more funny joke

[@shadowtitanx3962]

Tbh, Terrains in OU made Sleep nonexistent.

[@TheGundamDude8045]

@@shadowtitanx3962 only, elec and misty.

[@ElectroBlastLuigi]

Now that you did Darkrai, it's only a matter of time you'll do Cresselia

[@Toniblast]

He said He cant do Cresselia right now ir Will be a really long video Cress is the queen of vgc

[@Toniblast]

@Labyrinth9000 ok... Do you play vgc? Cresselia had almost no usage in vgc19 because of restricted lengendarys and z moves

[@Toniblast]

@Labyrinth9000 Hyper offensive trash players Will never understand how to use Cresselia

[@Marcusjnmc]

Cresselia is a Big video , ig they could ignore every VGC result that isn't 1st place '.' xP sadly that means my name won't show up in that one

[@Marcusjnmc]

@Labyrinth9000 Cresselia has so many sets, people even used choice scarf skill swap/ice beam cresselia at one point, also calm mind/icy wind cresselia, & gravity/thunder wave cresselia & moonlight/sunny day cresselia , not to mention loads and loads of trick room cresselia, & it has even more singles sets too, like burn orb psycho swap cresselia. It's simply hella bulky & very versatile. Dropped in usage with the new Rock/Steel trickoom setter & so many Incineroar running around though.

[@oscarzxn4067]

Darkrai: (exists) Smeargle: i'm about to end this man's whole career

[@Shigeru0508]

But then, everything changed when the Dark Void nerf attacked...

[@joseluistrejo1859]

How the mighty have been fallen...

[@charlesbrownjr5618]

Dark void Nerf: I'm gonna stop you right there

[@milliondollarmistake]

if you're going to just spout shitty memes we've all heard a million times can you at least please check to make sure everything is spelled correctly?

[@oscarzxn4067]

@@milliondollarmistake fixed, but relax man, I didnt insult you or anything.

[@darianclark3980]

Darkrai: The Best Mythical Pokemon of All Time! Until a pair of keys n a painter(Klefki and Smeargle) ruined its career at both Gen 6 and 7.

[@orshteinbok7762]

The keys isnt as dominant against it now with prankster not affecting dark types

[@darianclark3980]

@@orshteinbok7762 it was a joke

[@orshteinbok7762]

@@darianclark3980 i know i just wanted to mention

[@darkerm76]

Ganefreak Logic man

[@robertharris6092]

@@orshteinbok7762 i despise prankster but god making darks just flat out unaffected by any move affected by prankster is idiotic. It makes them way to unreliable and unpredictable.

[@scorpioncox8978]

Darkrai: You took everything from me! Smeargle: I don't even know who you are. Edit: Damn. Didn't expect to hit 600 likes in a single day. Guess that's the magic of the internet

[@mayborneflower]

Darkrai: You will!

[@orshteinbok7762]

*Darkrai used All out Pummeling*

[@Toniblast]

@@orshteinbok7762 wasting an z move on a mon with sash???

[@orshteinbok7762]

@@Toniblast yup cuz y not right

[@DaffyTaffy93]

Endgame would be proud sir

[@SrMissileMonkey]

Darkrai. also the pokemon used by Tobias to bs his way through the Sinnoh League.

[@kombokhan]

I still wish Heracross would have been the one to defeat Darkrai with Sleep Talk. And then Sceptile could have beaten something else.

[@SrMissileMonkey]

@@kombokhan could have. wish he did. at the time even, idt he knew Darkrai put people to sleep first before annihilating them in one shot, even with how good he was during that run.

[@aminadabbrulle8252]

@@kombokhan Well, Darkrai can live Megahorn from max attack Heracross... With max HP and defense investment.

[@kombokhan]

@@aminadabbrulle8252 Who would actually do that though? Lmao. Timid nature SpAtk and Spd for days lol

[@aminadabbrulle8252]

@@kombokhan Obviously, that's why I added that after three dots.

[@aran.m977]

I remember asking my brother when I was a young kid what pokemon is the strongest and he said "Darkrai is the strongest pokemon" and since that day I was knowing Darkrai as THE strongest pokemon and was always the pokemon I had in mind if I ever thought about strong pokemon

[@microwave8931]

"Let's nerf Darkrai in a fairy-dominated generation"

[@TheBestFormOfHumor]

Genius

[@Ashelybee]

"man darkrai it's too strong-oh yeah mewtwo really needs 2 mega evolutions now"

[@Breakaway-ic5gj]

@@Ashelybee Mewtwo's two Megas didn't make it OP, and without them he is useless now in Gen 8

[@theultimatepokefan448]

@@Ashelybee Rayquaza: *Nervous Sweating*

[@mysterysecret6815]

Except Darkrai was still overpowered in fairy dominated generation? For being a 600-base stat mythical legendary, Darkrai has no business being as strong as it is considering how trash Mew, Jirachi, Victini… are in comparison.

[@WingedFish66]

I really don't get why they nerfed Dark Void so needlessly hard when, in the exact same gen, they made it so only Darkrai could use the move (like Hoopa-Unbound's Hyperspace Fury where it fails if anything else tries to use it). They basically just screwed over Darkrai for no reason

[@mysterysecret6815]

Because Darkrai was simply overpowered and they shouldn’t have a 600-base stat mythical legendary be on par with Mega Rayquaza while other 600-base stat legendaries such as Mew and Jirachi are absolutely trash in comparison.

[@timothylawrence8929]

@@mysterysecret6815 Darkrai isn’t even usable in VGC though

[@psyduck1264]

This video reminded me of how hard to beat Darkrai was in Mystery Dungeon. Oh god no...

[@ouuuboy5299]

Dark memories 😂😂😂

[@thisislesbomaya]

fuking cresellia eating all my reviver seeds

[@pikminman13]

How bad was Cresselia in MD actually?

[@vasco35]

pikminman13 BAD

[@Nightwing_.]

Fukin cresselia kept using slash on aggron and mismagius and kept dying

[@genuineangusbeef8697]

They could've pretty much solved Dark Void's problem by dividing its accuracy by the amount of foes it's facing.

[@jaretco6423]

I get that Dark Void being nerfed needs to be a thing since does make Darkrai kinda broken. But lowering it to 50% instead of just around 70% is just ridiculous and it's even has worst accuracy than Hypnosis now. That's stupid.

[@mysterysecret6815]

It’s not that ridiculous considering the move is still overpowered in doubles. And yes, Dark void is banned in doubles UBERS even after the nerf. Yea This is with Xerneas, Primals, and Mega Rayquaza existing yet dark void was still banned.

[@ChainsSSB]

@@mysterysecret6815 pretty sure Dark Void is banned in doubles Ubers because of sleep clause, not necessarily because it's overpowered.

[@mysterysecret6815]

@@ChainsSSB Nope. In both Gen 8 and Gen 7 doubles Ubers there is no sleep clause. So yes it was banned because even after nerf it is too overpowered.

[@ttt7337jjj]

Literally as accurate as zap cannon

[@Charliezard7]

It wasn’t nerfed because of Darkrai. It was because of smeargle

[@SharKing319]

Here's how I think Gen 7's Dark Void mega-nerf went down: they reduced its accuracy to 50% to make it less reliable for Smeargle in VGC, and *THEN* they decided to make the move literally unusable for anything other than Darkrai to wipe it from VGC entirely, and in the process, they forgot to undo the accuracy nerf after defeating the entire point of it.

[@megashuckleyt8098]

Q:How GOOD was Darkrai ACTUALLY?- History of Darkrai in Competitive Pokemon (Gens 4-7) A: How GOOD was Dark Void ACTUALLY?- History of Dark Void Accuracy nerfs Competitive Pokemon (Gens 4-7)

[@minaly22]

Hopefully Spore will be next!

[@kazoorion7993]

Seriously, the fact that both Spore AND Dark Void got nerfed is such an outrage.

[@Marcusjnmc]

@@kazoorion7993 not really, sleep is such a stong mechanic to abuse, remember in the actual games there is no sleep clause

[@kazoorion7993]

@@Marcusjnmc You say as if I was talking about Gen 1 sleep mechanics.

[@Marcusjnmc]

@@kazoorion7993 it's strong even with the 1 turn stun, 33% next turn wake, & guaranteed wake mechanics with carry over when switching. Especially on a pokemon like Darkrai that can take advantage itself & has such a high speed stat.

[@EricKingOfScots]

To this day I don't see why they had to neuter Dark void's accuracy when they ALSO changed it to only work when Darkrai used it.

[@mysterysecret6815]

It is to nerf Darkrai. They decided they didn’t want Darkrai being considered as broken as Mega Ray so they needed to nerf Darkrai.

[@almostdangerous1412]

Instead of nerfing the accuracy of dark void, they should’ve just taken it away from smeargle entirely

[@benmiller3354]

Didn't they do that too?

[@drakebudasz8837]

They did both 😂

[@luminous3558]

Or make it single target because sleeping all opponents is bs anyway

[@Marcusjnmc]

it would still be the same broken move . . it's correct to balance it even if it's not used in official competition, like why make the game a shitty casual experience for anybody facing darkrai in a double battle or battle royal ?

[@Marcusjnmc]

@Ice so they shouldn't make any balance improvements to their game because they fucked up with balance in other parts of their game ? & a bunch of abilites got small nerfs in gen 7 besides. That's still a positive even with other unbalanced things being added.

[@frozenvoltz6739]

So Darkrai got nerfed because of one the weakest pokémon used his signature move Wow

[@Super_Smash_Dude]

It makes no sense:/

[@joeschmoe5063]

What's even better they made it so smeargle can't even use dark void but still nerfed it oblivion

[@NeroAngelo616]

Smeargle is an Outer God that even GF feared.

[@gengarzilla1685]

That whole debacle exposed how reliant Darkrai had become on this one move. Not a good trait for competitive battling if you ask me. A good, consistent Pokémon wouldn't have completely disappeared from the map after one direct nerf, just look at Gengar managing to crawl back into SM OU for a while even after losing Levitate. Vastly different environments, yes, but you see my point. My point being, Dark Void was Darkrai's crutch. Take that away and all you've got, like I had believed since Gen 6, is fundamentally inferior competition for Yveltal. Dark Void's nerf simply exposed that thought. Now it's just the offensive stats and Nasty Plot that keeps it away from OU.

[@lukebytes5366]

@@gengarzilla1685 it's the signature move of the lord of nightmares. That's like saying you ripped off someone's arm and tell everyone he sucks at fighting because he was too reliant on his arms. Dark void was darkrai's arms.

[@cookiedaishi6650]

All popular move for all Darkrai noob player: -Dark Void -Dream eater -Nightmare -Dark pulse/Thunderbolt /Focus punch We know who you are

[@Sheamusownscena10]

Put a scarf mon near it and unless it has focus sash, pure cancer, it is toast. Easily one of the most annoying Pokemon to deal with in Battle Spot

[@artolas]

I thought it was a ghost type for years

[@classarank7youtubeherokeyb63]

I miss my years in Sinnoh.

[@yuvalwh]

Tru dat

[@cookiedaishi6650]

@@classarank7youtubeherokeyb63 wait for a gen 4 remake

[@elquednau]

Go to free battles and Darkrai is your worst enemy everything else probably isn't EV, IV trained

[@dramaticScar]

I feel you... This one time my Florges managed to defeat it... i was so proud

[@Takananoshi]

A lot of people forget magic bounce exists and set themselves asleep tho

[@viniciuslima7464]

Say hello to Lum Berry Mewtwo

[@phteven2617]

Pheromosa?

[@keyblade5916]

I defeated one with my Aegislash. Lucky call lol

[@charlesbrownjr5618]

Darkrai: you get put to sleep, you get put to sleep, everyone gets put to sleep! Smeargle: hippity hoppity your move is now my property Game freak: so, Dark void smeargle is too good, better hardcore nerf the accuracy AND make it so only Darkrai can use the move Darkrai: wynaut just make it so only I can use the move and keep the accuracy? Game freak: Pokemon logic Darkrai: oh no not the ultimate weapon

[@Silver-Arm]

"The incredible popular Klefiki" That's something I never thought I'd hear about ubers

[@SpeakUltimateTruth]

Darkrai was once a staple in all my Uber teams, one of my absolute favorite Pokémon. The Dark Void nerf was criminal.

[@RzfX15]

Grateful for the bonus upload as always, FSG! Never experienced actually using Darkrai myself due to it being an event-only though, but I always knew of how infamous it was in competitive

[@acc3209]

Mystery Dungeon fans... ASSEMBLE

[@50subswithnovids28]

I guess you could say he was a NIGHTMARE! Ok I'll leave now...

[@JustInCaseD]

Sorry I couldn’t be here sooner, Cresselia was too busy eating my reviver seeds in Dark Crater

[@mr.krustykrust]

Manaphy’s arc made my cry

[@EteamProductions]

I only played Red and Blue Teams can I join in

[@pikapuffin368]

Golduck!...wait wrong game.

[@JanusHoW]

As of this comment, Darkrai has been allowed into Gen 9 OU after 16 years...and with all the power creep and how Dark Void is STILL a laughable 50% accuracy, it might even fall to UU.

[@bryanc1772]

Darkrai wouldn’t last long in UU. Would probably get immediately quickbanned or be top of the suspect test council rader Its power is broken for UU standards with those crazy speed and special attack stats For OU standards it’s acceptable at least now in Gen 9 The Metagame seems more ready now than ever to ensure it doesn’t get out of control

[@xy394]

@@bryanc1772 And Magearna is banned from OU so no Magearna isn't needed to stop Darkrai XD

[@steeltalongranduer2303]

Darkrai’s gen 5 sprite movement is terrifying like it’s aura is warping around it like a nightmarish tornado. In gen 6 it’s just like *float* like what?

[@KurumiTokisakiNightmareSpirit]

Darkrai is my 2nd favorite mythical mon after Meloetta. *How GOOD was Meloetta ACTUALLY?*

[@huseyintok02]

It's the 2nd most favorite Mythical for me too after Shaymin!!🌠

[@chuyrenteria6252]

You don’t vote here: wait until he types in the community tab for you to do your vote.

[@thishandleisntakenyethaha]

Chuy Renteria whats the community tab

[@demi-femme4821]

@@chuyrenteria6252 Even then, he's not taking requests for Pokémon with multiple forms right now.

[@AwakeningShadows]

Darkrai was my first mythical pokemon

[@MikeDaddy]

Hard prediction, this list will mostly be about Dark Void

[@stephenveerasammy3074]

I was definitely not expecting this! Dang you put out content fast

[@Darkraisvictim]

I've been waiting for this video for 3 years!

[@OrionJunqueras]

This is mu favourite mon!!! Thank you a lot!!!!!

[@UnluckyDarkZodiac]

😍 Ah, my favorite Pokémon ever! I discovered it through the movie before the games, but still love it all the same. It was the one that got me fully into drawing human Pokémon. I had no idea Dark Void was nerfed at one point! I had often switched it out for Ice Beam when I fight the E4s that use dragons for type coverage. I’ll have to figure out how to add coverage for the fairy type, too... I’m more casual than competitive, but it would be nice to see what works. I wish he had Phantom Force, too. When I saw it, I thought it was awesome and fits like Darkrai moves around in the shadows. Now if only I had the ability to give the Pokémon a proper nickname in-game, I’d be set. But until then, the Darkrai plushie I gave a name to will do.

[@Kurto.]

You have a darkrai plushie. Now I wana get one.,

[@UnluckyDarkZodiac]

@@Kurto. i had gotten mine at a convention a few years ago, but there might be some online if you can't go to one. ^__^ The one I have is small, but i still love it.

[@yuvalwh]

Darkrai my favorite pokemon off all time, thank you so much for this video!

[@munchrai6396]

This was probably the best video you guys have made for this series and not just because its on my favorite Legendary/Mythical. The fact that you actually addressed the infuriating limbo status that plagues things like Darkrai, Reshiram and Mega Kangaskan is really refreshing even if it brings Kangaskan's viability into question. Mega Kangaskan is a Pokémon that suffered from a very detrimental nerf in gen 7 because its Parental Bond ability was cut from 50% additional damage to 25%, which makes it virtually unusable in Ubers and I still think might have made it OK for OU

[@chaos8408]

I feel as if Dark Void should be buffed to 80% accuracy ONLY if it used by Darkrai, 50% for other users.

[@BladeTNT2018]

how would that work?

[@user-pp6pr5fg8w]

@@BladeTNT2018 Were you not paying attention? Coding is a thing, you know?

[@BladeTNT2018]

I know that

[@NanaKyoto]

Who else got their Darkrai legally through Gen IV's mystery gift?

[@JustInCaseD]

✋still got Spacial Rend on it too

[@kazoorion7993]

Unfotunally, where I live there was no way to get an Event Darkrai like the ones from Toy R Us so I get to get one either by Action Replay or by glitches.

[@steel5897]

I technically got it legally, as I used a distribution cart for it and changed the DS's date and time to get it to work. That's legal, right? :D

[@primosdesegundograu1204]

I got it using the tweaking glitch back in 2017. It can be transferred to gen 6 if you level it up to 50 and delete pursuit from the movelist.

[@flametitan100]

I got mine from Platinum's Hotel Key Event, and a second from a Gen V distribution event.

[@phoenixmeme8784]

rewatching this video makes me think that fsg should do a "darkrai theorem" video, exploring the effect of status in different games and pokemon that would try to focus putting a status on others

[@KingcupXI]

I dont know why you are posting new videos every Friday. I am loving it

[@Galiaverse]

So basically... They should have added a new effect to Bad Dreams that increased the accuracy of Dark Void to 80%. Then Smeargle's still nerfed and Darkrai isn't trapped in Limbo.

[@123christianac]

Smeargle can't even use Dark Void anymore. It will fail if he tries.

[@coot33]

Smeargle cannot now longer use dark void anyways .

[@Galiaverse]

@@123christianac Sooo... they heavily nerfed the move mostly due to a non-Mythical busting the meta... but now it can't even use it, and the move's still heavily nerfed... ...Should I even be surprised?

[@Suika_Ibuki_The_Drunk_Oni]

You could say Darkrai was a real NIGHTMARE In the scene! ...Anyone?

[@SmokerFace12]

I still have bad dreams about it

[@chaosbreaker657]

I guess it's in his NASTY PLOT

[@yahayabusa306]

Another friday video. Love you FSG

[@YarnLalms711]

I swear, these Friday uploads always surprise me and are always cool

[@moonjelly5]

How much does Darkrai hate Smeargle for abusing Dark Void so much that it has to be nerfed actually?

[@shadowtitanx3962]

Gen 5 VGC: Banned Gen 6 VGC: Not Banned. And, Troll Freak f'd up Darkrai hard when Gen 7 came out. Even then, Magearna is a solid counter for Darkrai.

[@doremysweet860]

@@shadowtitanx3962 video literally said that magearna is not even a check for darkrai because it cant switch in safely

[@trent800]

Doremy Sweet that’s some sets assault vest with some special def investment easy counters

[@futureDreamer4]

My favorite mythical Pokemon. However G.F needs to increase the accuracy of dark void again and prevent Smeargle or any other Pokemon from using his signature move. Darkrai is a mythical he should get better treatment.

[@luckyghost7777]

Rise of Darkrai was such a good movie not just a Pokémon movie but a movie in general

[@JesseNightingale]

I wasn't notified of this upload damnit!

[@jeffreyrowland6362]

R.I.P Dark Void (2008-2016)

[@goldenhydreigon4727]

Darkrai: You took everything from me! Smeargle: I don't even know who you are.

[@reneantoniorodriguezippoli7561]

Legends Arceus: Dark Void with 90% accuracy

[@bijeshstha206]

Props to the writer. Such a beautifully written script :)

[@Nightcrawl7]

coming back to this video i realized this was released on my birthday, and darkrai being my favorite pokemon lol

[@megabytegaming2175]

Anyone notice how lively the gen 5 sprite is compared to the gen 6 and 7 models.

[@Grandflea02]

"Darkrai is way too good to ever drop to OU" Greninja, Mega Mawile, and Mega Sableye were all staples of gen 6 Ubers, yet fell to OU in gen 7, so I'd say there's a chance for Darkrai to do the same.

[@OutlandishMayhem]

Update, Darkrai has still not fallen to OU. It has been too much for the tier. Every. Single. Time. Even with whatever the hell is going on with Scarlet/Violet.

[@ivanzegarra9765]

​@@OutlandishMayhemStill a W for Darkrai I guess, being nerfed into oblivion and still being too good for a meta so powercrept is something else

[@OutlandishMayhem]

@@ivanzegarra9765 a very staraptor-esque story, constantly too good for a tier no matter the generation but not good enough for the tier above

[@cokeeeater]

It's so fun to encounter darkrai in battle spots nowadays. Always manage to calm mind on it with mewtwo y

[@jacokzielinski5690]

Nice Vid!

[@openinginawe5518]

I legit only think of Tobais,The 10th and Explorers of sky Pokken too but it's not major character in that. Cresslia scares me just as much.

[@JonkoSlunko]

Dark void, one of the cheapest sleep moves next to spore.

[@cruzikin3116]

JonkoSlunko Was one of the cheapest. They nerfed it 50% accuracy.

[@Super_Smash_Dude]

Spore deserves a nerf.

[@edwardrobinson5470]

How about Lovely kiss Sleep powder?

[@kazoorion7993]

@@Super_Smash_Dude It was already nerfed in Gen 6, though.

[@Super_Smash_Dude]

@@kazoorion7993 Doesn't Spore have an accuracy of 100%?

[@MyBlackguy]

I love these Friday uploads. Come on iiiiinnn!!!

[@YourBoyNobody530]

You could use gravity to increase the accuracy of dark void in doubles or even singles to near 100% which can bring back the sweeps of old

[@Yokai_Yuri]

Darkrai gets nerfed and mewtwo keeps getting buffed so he csn compete with new threats each generation. Seems fair.

[@ScourgeTheGreat]

tbf there's not really anything wrong with the mewtwo buffs, really more pokemon should be buffed just in general, because power creep (See: Tauros)

[@gengarzilla1685]

Tauros didn't fall to power creep, it was just a mediocre Pokémon who unfairly benefits from Gen 1's utterly absurd design flaws.

[@whateverfc]

just imagine Victreebel crying seeing those Gen 4 - 5 mon's having there videos before him

[@esteban8471]

My first Pokémon movie and my favorite Mythical Pokémon. Darkrai Forever.

[@parad0x765]

Hands down the coolest Mythical pokemon, being based on Morpheus is sick, sadly the dark void drop 😢

[@ymir4552]

Darkrai is my favorite dark pokemon and the massive nerf for his dark void and even hipnosis make me really sad and didn't even drop to OU. I have never seen darkrai again in a uber team ever again when there are more broken uber legends and darkrai just living in the shadow realm.

[@vincentmitchell7658]

Darkrai is my all time favorite dark type pokemon and mine is a total beast!

[@tylerc4229]

I asked for Darkrai and I received, you're the man!

[@goldenhydreigon4727]

Okay... *_NOW WHEN GENESECT?_*

[@the-renegade]

I want that to happen, heh.

[@iliketoruinlifescausemines4642]

The only legendary/mythical i would have on my playthroughs, what with it been my favourite Pokemon and favourite type

[@benjaminesterly9421]

Some of my favorite runs through a Pokémon were when I got darkrai as early as possible using the void in diamond and pearl. Rest In Peace Dark Void and Darkrai.

[@acc3209]

How unbelievably nice was this unexpected update actually??? My god, thanks a lot

[@deltalord6969]

I was so early the video had 2 views 10 likes and wasn't even available yet

[@TheOnlyGBeast]

imma just say this in gen 7, they banned dark void entirely they also nerfed it to 50% accuracy like why do both, that makes no sense

[@Metroid4ever]

Because GF are morons who want the meta to be balanced and yet want power creep too.

[@opgroundzero2.0]

@Labyrinth9000 50% accuracy isn't the answer

[@kazoorion7993]

@Labyrinth9000 The accurasy dropping wasn't even a need.

[@azelfdaboi5265]

@Labyrinth9000 50% is too low, maybe 75-70%

[@bryanc1772]

Dark Void was too OP weather it was Smeargle or Darkrai using it. Sure the nerf was harsh but jesus nothing could reability check Darkrai if it put everything to sleep.

[@regigigas502]

How INSANE was FSG to cover this ACTUALLY

[@LagrimaArdiente]

I did not receive a notif for this, which sucks cuz I _love_ Darkrai.

[@Sleeper800]

Gen 5 Darkrai: Gets unresisted coverage from two moves, brutal sleep mechanics, and has the stats to be great in Ubers. Smogon: Better test it in OU. Gen 7 Darkrai: Dark Void nerfed to be almost unusable, Fairy types added last gen, Megas and Tapus causing the power level of OU to be higher than ever. Smogon: Nah. No test.

[@lordpyron3934]

Is likely still too strong for OU because of it’s speed and special attack.

[@trent800]

Lord Pyron tapus would beat it outright it would not be dominant in OU compared to Lando T ash greninja and heatran

[@Godslayer5656]

Trent That would be until Darkrai would begin to use Sludge bomb and everything would fall apart.

[@gengarzilla1685]

Yeah, Darkrai still has no place in OU as long as it has that move.

[@patrickstar8132]

@@trent800it would still be an incredibly hard to face offensive threat. Nasty plot is stupidly good on a pokemon with such high spatk, and it can use z moves (poisonium z/darkium Z/ Fightinium Z) to break past it's checks and counters. Defensive teams will have a very hard time with it especially since the one thing that I think will do well against the nast plot set is AV magearna, which is already tasked with dealing with mons like specs ash gren and also has no recovery and an be worn down with spikes until it's in range of a NP boosted Z-Focus Blast. It also has other sets I can see it using like LO/Specs and even scarf to better deal with offense and other scarfers like weakened lele, kart, etc. It's coverage options like sludge bomb, thunderbolt, and focus blast along with z moves and access to NP will allow it to break through would be checks/counters like magearna, heatran, fini, clefable, and pex far too easily and a scarf set I can see giving offensive teams trouble as well.