The Darkness archetype in Pokémon Pocket has long been a captivating presence in the metagame, characterized by its dramatic highs and lows. While its dominance has been fleeting, often surging to the top before quickly declining, dedicated players remain steadfast in their belief that Darkness decks possess untapped potential. For those eager to harness this potential and build a truly competitive Darkness deck, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to what we believe is the only META-relevant Darkness deck in Pokémon Pocket. Here’s everything you need to know to dominate the game with this archetype.
The Best Darkness Deck in Pokemon Pocket
In the current Pocket META, the Scolipede and Weezing combo stands out as the only competitive Darkness deck. To construct this powerful deck, ensure you include key support cards like Venipede, Whirlipede, and Koffing to synergize with the duo. Complement them with strategic trainer cards such as Koga, Sabrina, Professor’s Research, and Poké Ball for consistent plays. Add X Speed for agility and Leaf for energy alignment to round out your strategy. This setup ensures a balanced and effective approach in the META.
| Card | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Venipede | 2 |
| Whirlipede | 2 |
| Scolipede | 2 |
| Koffing | 2 |
| Weezing | 2 |
| Koga | 2 |
| Leaf | 2 |
| Sabrina | 1 |
| Professor’s Research | 2 |
| X Speed | 1 |
| Poke Ball | 2 |
Darkness-Type Deck’s Synergies
- Venipede and Whirlipede evolve into Scolipede. (Whirlipede also poisons the opponent, setting up Scolipede’s ultimate attack.)
- Koffing and Weezing are the backup poison lineup. (Weezing’s ability can substitute for Whirlipede’s poison effect.)
- Koga and Leaf assist with retreats. (They allow you to swap Scolipede in and out to maximize damage output.)
Tip
Use the old Koffing from the Genetic Apex expansion, as the new version’s higher retreat cost doesn’t align with the deck’s strategy.
Why Scolipede’s Deck Is the Ideal Darkness Lineup
The Scolipede and Weezing team brings a refreshing level of consistency to the Darkness archetype, setting it apart from traditional Arbok-Weezing decks. Scolipede shines as the new standout for two main reasons: its evolution is perfectly timed to complement the deck’s progression, and it boasts immunity to Sabrina’s disruptive tactics, making it a reliable choice in competitive play.
Scolipede Has a Curve-Friendly Evolution
Scolipede, a Stage Two Pokémon, stands out for its ability to attack early with its primary move, which requires just two Energy cards. Its evolutionary line supports a seamless progression, as both Venipede and Whirlipede can launch effective attacks with only one Energy each. This makes the entire line well-suited for maintaining momentum and playing efficiently on curve.
Sabrina Cannot Hurt Scolipede
Scolipede’s ultimate 120-damage attack thrives on strategic retreats. To maximize its potential, you’ll need to Bench Scolipede, use another Pokémon to poison your opponent, and then bring Scolipede back into play for a devastating strike. Interestingly, when an opponent uses Sabrina to disrupt Scolipede, it often plays right into your hands by perfectly aligning with its retreat-and-attack strategy. This synergy makes Scolipede a powerful and versatile choice in battle.
Darkness Decks’ Performance in the META
An analysis of ten recent Pokémon Pocket tournaments, each featuring over 100 players and at least one Darkness-type deck, reveals a challenging outlook for the archetype. Darkness decks, on average, finished in 61st place, falling short of breaking into the top 50 in any event. These results suggest the archetype may struggle to compete at higher levels of play.
The META standing of this archetype has been notably inconsistent. Prior to the release of Mythical Island, Arbok-Weezing lineups enjoyed a brief surge in popularity within the metagame but quickly fell out of favor. Similarly, Scolipede experienced a short-lived rise to prominence, marking the second unsuccessful attempt by this archetype to establish a lasting foothold in competitive play.
How One Card Ruined Darkness Decks
Darkness-type cards, traditionally vulnerable to Fighting-types, faced little resistance during the Genetic Apex era. However, the release of the Mythical Island mini-set brought a significant shift in the META with the introduction of Golem—a powerful counter to Darkness archetypes. Before Golem’s arrival, cards like Scolipede held the potential to dominate, but the new dynamics have effectively shut down their competitive viability.
Today, Golem-based strategies dominate PvP matches and tournaments, leaving Darkness-type decks struggling to stay relevant. This imbalance is unlikely to be addressed until the next expansion, and even then, Darkness-type cards may continue to face challenges as Golem is expected to retain its status as a central figure in the META.