Type counters guide

Best Counters for Dragon / Dark Pokémon

Find practical counter Pokémon, attacking types, and defensive matchup notes for Dragon / Dark.

DragonDark
Dragon type iconDark type icon

Dragon / Dark

Quick answer

Fairy is the strongest answer because both Dragon and Dark are weak to Fairy, creating a 4x weakness. Ice, Fighting, and Bug are strong secondary attacking types.

Best move types

Fairy×4Ice×2Fighting×2Bug×2

Biggest weakness

Fairy×4

Type matchup table

Fairy type iconFairy4x
Ice type iconIce2x
Fighting type iconFighting2x
Bug type iconBug2x
Dragon type iconDragon2x
Normal type iconNormal1x
Poison type iconPoison1x
Ground type iconGround1x
Flying type iconFlying1x
Rock type iconRock1x
Steel type iconSteel1x
Fire type iconFire0.5x
Water type iconWater0.5x
Electric type iconElectric0.5x
Grass type iconGrass0.5x
Ghost type iconGhost0.5x
Dark type iconDark0.5x
Psychic type iconPsychic0x

Recommended practical counters

Togekiss Pokémon sprite

Togekiss

#0468

Resists both STABsStrong special attacker
FairyFlying
  • Deals 4x damage with Fairy-type attacks
  • Has STAB Fairy-type attacks
  • Is immune to the target's Dragon 0x STAB attacks
  • Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
  • Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety
Best typeFairy×4

Safe into Dragon 0x, Dark 0.5x

120 offense · 80 Speed

Florges Pokémon sprite

Florges

#0671

Resists both STABs
Fairy
  • Deals 4x damage with Fairy-type attacks
  • Has STAB Fairy-type attacks
  • Is immune to the target's Dragon 0x STAB attacks
  • Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety
Best typeFairy×4

Safe into Dragon 0x, Dark 0.5x

112 offense · 75 Speed

Sylveon Pokémon sprite

Sylveon

#0700

Resists both STABsBudget option
Fairy
  • Deals 4x damage with Fairy-type attacks
  • Has STAB Fairy-type attacks
  • Is immune to the target's Dragon 0x STAB attacks
  • Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety
Best typeFairy×4

Safe into Dragon 0x, Dark 0.5x

110 offense · 60 Speed

Strong theoretical counters

Best move types to use

Fairy×4Ice×2Fighting×2Bug×2Dragon×2

Move availability depends on game version and learnset data, so this page recommends move types rather than guaranteed moves.

Fairy type pageIce type pageFighting type pageBug type pageDragon type page

What not to use

Psychic×0Fire×0.5Water×0.5Electric×0.5Grass×0.5Ghost×0.5Dark×0.5

These attacking types are resisted or blocked by the defender's typing, so they are usually lower-priority choices unless they provide a special battle role.

Pokémon with Dragon / Dark typing

Deino Pokémon sprite

Deino

DarkDragon
Zweilous Pokémon sprite

Zweilous

DarkDragon
Hydreigon Pokémon sprite

Hydreigon

DarkDragon
Guzzlord Pokémon sprite

Guzzlord

DarkDragon
Roaring Moon Pokémon sprite

Roaring Moon

DragonDark

Battle caveats

  • This ranking uses modern Gen 6+ type matchups, STAB value, defensive switch-in safety, and base stats.
  • Abilities, held items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and format rules can change real battle outcomes.
  • Coverage moves can punish obvious counters, so treat this as type-based guidance rather than a full matchup simulator.
  • Move availability depends on game version and learnset data; this page recommends attacking types rather than guaranteed moves.

Related pages

Dragon / Dark weakness chartDragon / Dark PokémonFairy type pageIce type pageFighting type pagePokémon type chartSpeed tiers

FAQ

What is the best counter for Dragon / Dark?

Dragon / Dark is best countered by Pokémon that can use Fairy (4x) attacks while avoiding bad defensive matchups into Dragon / Dark STAB attacks. Because this is a 4x weakness, even moderate attackers can create pressure if they can enter safely.

What type is best against Dragon / Dark?

Fairy is the strongest attacking type against Dragon / Dark, dealing 4x damage under the modern Gen 6+ type chart.

How many useful attacking types hit Dragon / Dark super-effectively?

Dragon / Dark has 5 super-effective attacking options: Fairy, Ice, Fighting, Bug, and Dragon. Use the highest multiplier first, then choose a Pokémon that is not exposed to Dragon / Dark STAB attacks.

Are abilities included in this counter ranking?

No. The ranking uses base typing and base stats. Abilities, items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and special move rules can change the real matchup.

Does Terastallization change Dragon / Dark counters?

Yes. Terastallization can replace the defensive typing used here, so the recommended counter types may change completely in formats where Tera is active.

What should I avoid using against Dragon / Dark?

Avoid relying on Psychic, Fire, Water, Electric, and Grass attacks unless they have a special role or unusually high power.

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