The Darkness type has been a fascinating archetype in Pokemon Pocket, with its presence in the metagame fluctuating wildly—rising to the top briefly before falling back down. Despite this inconsistency, many Pokemon Pocket players remain optimistic, convinced that Darkness decks hold untapped potential. To support these fans in crafting a genuinely competitive Darkness deck, we’ve compiled what we believe to be the only META-relevant Darkness deck in Pocket. Here’s everything you need to know.
Related
Pokemon TCG Pocket: Best Celebi Deck Build
Players looking to utilize Celebi in their Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket battles can find the best deck build through this guide.
The Best Darkness Deck in Pokemon Pocket
In the current Pocket META, the only viable Darkness deck is the Scolipede and Weezing setup. To build this deck, pair the duo with the following cards: Venipede, Whirlipede, Koffing, Koga, Leaf, Sabrina, X Speed, Poke Ball, and Professor’s Research.
|
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.)
Why Scolipede’s Deck Is the Ideal Darkness Lineup
Unlike Arbok-Weezing decks, the Scolipede and Weezing team offers greater consistency. Scolipede, the new star of the Darkness archetype, stands out for two key reasons: its evolution aligns perfectly with the curve, and it remains unaffected by Sabrina.
Scolipede Has a Curve-Friendly Evolution
Although Scolipede is a Stage Two Pokemon, it can attack early with its primary move, which requires only two Energies. Additionally, its pre-evolutions, Venipede and Whirlipede, can both attack using just one Energy, making them excellent for playing on curve.
Sabrina Cannot Hurt Scolipede
Scolipede relies on frequent retreats to unleash its ultimate 120-damage attack. To do so, you need to Bench it, poison the enemy with another Pokemon, and bring Scolipede back into play. Consequently, when an opponent uses Sabrina on Scolipede, it often works in your favor by aligning perfectly with its strategy.
I analyzed ten recent Pokemon Pocket tournaments, each with over 100 players and at least one using a Darkness-type deck. The results don’t favor the archetype: Darkness decks averaged a position of 61.3, failing to crack the top 50.
The archetype’s META standing has been inconsistent. Before Mythical Island’s release, Arbok-Weezing lineups briefly peaked in the metagame before quickly fading. Scolipede’s fleeting fame marks the second time this archetype has attempted—and failed—to make a significant impact.
How One Card Ruined Darkness Decks
Darkness cards are weak to Fighting-type Pokemon, which wasn’t a significant issue during the Genetic Apex era. However, the launch of the Mythical Island mini-set shifted the balance by introducing a Darkness-countering card: the new Golem. Without Golem’s release, Scolipede and other Darkness cards had the potential to shine in the META, but that’s no longer the case.
Currently, Golem lineups dominate PvP matches and tournaments, making it nearly impossible for the Darkness archetype to thrive. The unfortunate reality is that this situation is unlikely to change until the next expansion, and even then, the Darkness-type Pokemon may struggle to regain popularity, as Golem is expected to remain a key player.
