Dark · Special move · Gen 4
Dark Pulse
Dark Pulse is a Dark-type special move introduced in Generation 4. It has 80 base power and 100% accuracy, with 15 PP (24 with PP Max). 205 Pokémon and forms can learn it.
Type
Dark
Category
Special
Power
80
Accuracy
100%
PP
15 (max 24)
Priority
0
Effect
20% chance to make the target flinch. Has a 20% chance to make the target flinch.
- Targets
- Any one Pokémon (even non-adjacent)
- Properties
- Pulse move (Mega Launcher)
- Scarlet & Violet
- Usable (147 Pokémon)
- Pokémon Champions
- Usable (73 Pokémon)
- Legends: Z-A
- Usable (97 Pokémon)
Type matchups as a Dark attack
2× vsPsychicGhost
½× vsFightingDarkFairy
Pokémon that learn Dark Pulse
205 Pokémon and forms (Mega Evolutions share their base form's moves). ✓ = can learn it in that game by any method; “Gens” lists every main-series generation it could be learned in.
| Pokémon | Type | Champions | S/V | Z-A | Gens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Blastoise | Water | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 |
 Alolan Rattata | Dark/Normal | 7–8 | |||
 Alolan Raticate | Dark/Normal | 7–8 | |||
 Ekans | Poison | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Arbok | Poison | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Vulpix | Fire | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Alolan Vulpix | Ice | ✓ | 7–9 | ||
 Ninetales | Fire | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Alolan Ninetales | Ice/Fairy | ✓ | ✓ | 7–9 | |
 Jigglypuff | Normal/Fairy | ✓ | ✓ | 9 | |
 Wigglytuff | Normal/Fairy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 9 |
 Meowth | Normal | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Alolan Meowth | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 7–9 | |
 Galarian Meowth | Steel | ✓ | ✓ | 8–9 | |
 Persian | Normal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Alolan Persian | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7–9 |
 Alolan Grimer | Poison/Dark | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Muk | Poison | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Alolan Muk | Poison/Dark | ✓ | 7–9 | ||
 Gastly | Ghost/Poison | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Haunter | Ghost/Poison | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Gengar | Ghost/Poison | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Alolan Marowak | Fire/Ghost | ✓ | 7–8 | ||
 Koffing | Poison | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Weezing | Poison | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Galarian Weezing | Poison/Fairy | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Gyarados | Water/Flying | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Galarian Moltres | Dark/Flying | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Mewtwo | Psychic | ✓ | ✓ | 9 | |
 Mew | Psychic | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Crobat | Poison/Flying | ✓ | 4–8 | ||
 Umbreon | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Murkrow | Dark/Flying | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Misdreavus | Ghost | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Gligar | Ground/Flying | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Steelix | Steel/Ground | ✓ | ✓ | 4–8 | |
 Hisuian Qwilfish | Dark/Poison | ✓ | ✓ | 9 | |
 Sneasel | Dark/Ice | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Skarmory | Steel/Flying | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Houndour | Dark/Fire | ✓ | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | |
 Houndoom | Dark/Fire | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–7, 9 |
 Larvitar | Rock/Ground | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Pupitar | Rock/Ground | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Poochyena | Dark | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Mightyena | Dark | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Nuzleaf | Grass/Dark | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Shiftry | Grass/Dark | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Sableye | Dark/Ghost | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Mawile | Steel/Fairy | ✓ | ✓ | 4–8 | |
 Aggron | Steel/Rock | ✓ | ✓ | 4–8 | |
 Carvanha | Water/Dark | ✓ | 4–8 | ||
 Sharpedo | Water/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 4–8 | |
 Cacnea | Grass | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Cacturne | Grass/Dark | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Seviper | Poison | ✓ | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | |
 Crawdaunt | Water/Dark | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Shuppet | Ghost | ✓ | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | |
 Banette | Ghost | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–7, 9 |
 Duskull | Ghost | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Dusclops | Ghost | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Absol | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 4–8 | |
 Glalie | Ice | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Deoxys | Psychic | ✓ | 5–7, 9 | ||
 Mismagius | Ghost | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Honchkrow | Dark/Flying | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Stunky | Poison/Dark | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Skuntank | Poison/Dark | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Spiritomb | Ghost/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Lucario | Fighting/Steel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Skorupi | Poison/Bug | 4–8 | |||
 Drapion | Poison/Dark | 4–8 | |||
 Croagunk | Poison/Fighting | 4–8 | |||
 Toxicroak | Poison/Fighting | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Weavile | Dark/Ice | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Gliscor | Ground/Flying | ✓ | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | |
 Porygon-Z | Normal | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Dusknoir | Ghost | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Rotom | Electric/Ghost | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 |
 Rotom-Heat | Electric/Fire | ✓ | |||
 Rotom-Wash | Electric/Water | ✓ | |||
 Rotom-Frost | Electric/Ice | ✓ | |||
 Rotom-Fan | Electric/Flying | ✓ | |||
 Rotom-Mow | Electric/Grass | ✓ | |||
 Heatran | Fire/Steel | ✓ | ✓ | 4–9 | |
 Giratina | Ghost/Dragon | ✓ | 4–9 | ||
 Darkrai | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | |
 Arceus | Normal | ✓ | 4–7, 9 | ||
 Hisuian Samurott | Water/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 9 | |
 Purrloin | Dark | ✓ | 5–8 | ||
 Liepard | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 5–8 | |
 Sandile | Ground/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 | |
 Krokorok | Ground/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 | |
 Krookodile | Ground/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 |
 Scraggy | Dark/Fighting | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 | |
 Scrafty | Dark/Fighting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 |
 Sigilyph | Psychic/Flying | 5–8 | |||
 Yamask | Ghost | ✓ | 5–8 | ||
 Galarian Yamask | Ground/Ghost | ✓ | 8 | ||
 Cofagrigus | Ghost | ✓ | ✓ | 5–8 | |
 Trubbish | Poison | ✓ | 5–8 | ||
 Garbodor | Poison | ✓ | ✓ | 5–8 | |
 Zorua | Dark | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Hisuian Zorua | Normal/Ghost | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Zoroark | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 | |
 Hisuian Zoroark | Normal/Ghost | ✓ | ✓ | 9 | |
 Gothita | Psychic | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Gothorita | Psychic | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Gothitelle | Psychic | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Frillish | Water/Ghost | 5–8 | |||
 Jellicent | Water/Ghost | 5–8 | |||
 Elgyem | Psychic | 5–8 | |||
 Beheeyem | Psychic | 5–8 | |||
 Litwick | Ghost/Fire | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 | |
 Lampent | Ghost/Fire | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 | |
 Chandelure | Ghost/Fire | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 |
 Druddigon | Dragon | 5–8 | |||
 Pawniard | Dark/Steel | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Bisharp | Dark/Steel | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Vullaby | Dark/Flying | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Mandibuzz | Dark/Flying | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Deino | Dark/Dragon | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Zweilous | Dark/Dragon | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Hydreigon | Dark/Dragon | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 | |
 Tornadus | Flying | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Thundurus | Electric/Flying | ✓ | 5–9 | ||
 Genesect | Bug/Steel | ✓ | 5–8 | ||
 Frogadier | Water | ✓ | 6–7 | ||
 Greninja | Water/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6–7, 9 |
 Litleo | Fire/Normal | 6–7 | |||
 Pyroar | Fire/Normal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6–7, 9 |
 Pancham | Fighting | 6–8 | |||
 Pangoro | Fighting/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 6–8 | |
 Furfrou | Normal | ✓ | ✓ | 6–7 | |
 Espurr | Psychic | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 | |
 Meowstic | Psychic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 |
 Meowstic-F | Psychic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 |
 Inkay | Dark/Psychic | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 | |
 Malamar | Dark/Psychic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 |
 Clauncher | Water | ✓ | ✓ | 9 | |
 Clawitzer | Water | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 |
 Helioptile | Electric/Normal | ✓ | 6–8 | ||
 Heliolisk | Electric/Normal | ✓ | ✓ | 6–8 | |
 Tyrunt | Rock/Dragon | ✓ | 6–8 | ||
 Tyrantrum | Rock/Dragon | ✓ | ✓ | 6–8 | |
 Amaura | Rock/Ice | ✓ | 6–8 | ||
 Aurorus | Rock/Ice | ✓ | ✓ | 6–8 | |
 Phantump | Ghost/Grass | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 | |
 Trevenant | Ghost/Grass | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 |
 Pumpkaboo | Ghost/Grass | ✓ | 6–8 | ||
 Pumpkaboo-Super | Ghost/Grass | 6–8 | |||
 Gourgeist | Ghost/Grass | ✓ | ✓ | 6–8 | |
 Gourgeist-Super | Ghost/Grass | 6–8 | |||
 Noibat | Flying/Dragon | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 | |
 Noivern | Flying/Dragon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6–9 |
 Yveltal | Dark/Flying | ✓ | 6–8 | ||
 Hoopa | Psychic/Ghost | ✓ | ✓ | 6–7, 9 | |
 Incineroar | Fire/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 7–9 | |
 Golisopod | Bug/Water | ✓ | ✓ | 7–8 | |
 Sandygast | Ghost/Ground | ✓ | |||
 Palossand | Ghost/Ground | ✓ | |||
 Mimikyu | Ghost/Fairy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7–9 |
 Guzzlord | Dark/Dragon | 7–8 | |||
 Necrozma | Psychic | ✓ | 7–9 | ||
 Naganadel | Poison/Dragon | 7–8 | |||
 Blacephalon | Fire/Ghost | 7–8 | |||
 Inteleon | Water | ✓ | ✓ | 8–9 | |
 Nickit | Dark | ✓ | |||
 Thievul | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 8 | |
 Sinistea | Ghost | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Polteageist | Ghost | ✓ | ✓ | 8–9 | |
 Hatenna | Psychic | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Hattrem | Psychic | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Hatterene | Psychic/Fairy | ✓ | ✓ | 8–9 | |
 Impidimp | Dark/Fairy | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Morgrem | Dark/Fairy | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Grimmsnarl | Dark/Fairy | ✓ | ✓ | 8–9 | |
 Perrserker | Steel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 8–9 |
 Runerigus | Ground/Ghost | ✓ | ✓ | 8 | |
 Morpeko | Electric/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 8–9 |
 Duraludon | Steel/Dragon | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Urshifu | Fighting/Dark | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Zarude | Dark/Grass | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Spectrier | Ghost | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Calyrex-Shadow | Psychic/Ghost | ✓ | 8–9 | ||
 Overqwil | Dark/Poison | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 9 |
 Meowscarada | Grass/Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 9 | |
 Lokix | Bug/Dark | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Armarouge | Fire/Psychic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 9 |
 Maschiff | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | 9 | |
 Mabosstiff | Dark | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 9 |
 Bombirdier | Flying/Dark | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Tatsugiri | Dragon/Water | ✓ | |||
 Kingambit | Dark/Steel | ✓ | ✓ | 5–9 | |
 Brute Bonnet | Grass/Dark | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Flutter Mane | Ghost/Fairy | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Iron Jugulis | Dark/Flying | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Wo-Chien | Dark/Grass | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Chien-Pao | Dark/Ice | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Ting-Lu | Dark/Ground | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Chi-Yu | Dark/Fire | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Roaring Moon | Dragon/Dark | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Fezandipiti | Poison/Fairy | ✓ | 9 | ||
 Archaludon | Steel/Dragon | ✓ | ✓ | 8–9 | |
 Terapagos | Normal | ✓ | 9 |
Dark Pulse FAQ
What does Dark Pulse do?
Dark Pulse is a Dark-type special move with 80 power. Has a 20% chance to make the target flinch.
Which Pokémon can learn Dark Pulse?
205 Pokémon and forms can learn Dark Pulse in at least one game: 147 in Scarlet & Violet, 73 in Pokémon Champions and 97 in Legends: Z-A. Examples: Blastoise, Alolan Rattata, Alolan Raticate, Ekans, Arbok and Vulpix.
Is Dark Pulse in Pokémon Champions?
Yes — 73 Pokémon can use Dark Pulse in Pokémon Champions, with the same numbers as in Scarlet & Violet.
What is Dark Pulse super effective against?
As a Dark-type attack, Dark Pulse is super effective against Psychic and Ghost, not very effective against Fighting, Dark and Fairy (unless its effect says otherwise).
Move data and effect text from Pokémon Showdown (MIT), generation from PokéAPI; learnsets for Gen 1–9, Pokémon Champions and Legends: Z-A from Showdown. Unofficial fan site.