Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have finally been released, and the vast, open region of Paldea is there for gamers to explore. With 400 Pokemon to battle, catch, and collect players can once again achieve their goal of becoming a Pokemon master.
One of the coolest types of Pokemon designs is the menacing dark-type. There are close to 40 of them found in Scarlet & Violet. They pop up everywhere across Paldea and here are the best locations to find them in the 2022 entry to the Pokemon franchise.
10 Great Crater Of Paldea
The Great Crater of Paldea is the home of dark-type Pokemon in the game with a lot of them being found in this post-game area. Of course, the new Paradox Pokemon are accessible in this location and two of them are dark-type: Brute Bonnet (Scarlet), and Iron Jugulis (Violet). Head here to complete the dark collection.
Also available here are Sneasel, Weavile, Sabeleye, Bisharp, Lokix, Murkrow, Honchkrow, and Deino. This is truly the home of these dark-type Pokemon. A must-visit in the quest to complete the Pokedex.
9 West Province Area 2
This area of Paldea is also home to a lot of dark types in Generation 9. Maschiff, Mabosstiff, Stunky (only in Scarlet), Bombirdier, Lokix, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Sabeleye, and Deino are all located among this grassy and mountainous terrain. Make sure to come at night to get the best chance of catching one.
Murkrow is a Pokemon found everywhere throughout the game, and surprisingly the Darkness Pokemon has its uses in battle. Get on Koriadon and travel to the western areas and search high and low for the Pokemon of the dark.​​​​​​​
8 West Province Area 3
A lot of the same Pokemon from Area 2 can also be found further inland in Area 3, but not as many. Maschiff, Mabosstiff, Lokix, Murkrow, Bombirdier, Deino, and Sabeleye are found here, to name a few.
A very elusive set of Pokemon that aren't found in many locations in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet can be found in West Province Area 3. Zorua and Zoroark are tricky ones to find as they disguise themselves as different Pokemon altogether. A very useful Pokemon competitively due to its illusion ability.
7 Casseroya Lake
This watery area of Paldea is home to many Pokemon found in Generation 9, and there are also a few dark types found in this location. Mabosstiff, Zoroark, and Bombirdier are found here. They are higher leveled and evolved; gamers will need some powerful Pokemon if they are to catch the dark types of the lake.
Only found in this area and also only available in Scarlet is the dark/poison type Pokemon Stunktank, a competitive beast with high defense. It is certainly one to add to the roster. A fixed spawn of Spiritomb is also on the island, which is level 49; make sure to train up before taking it on.
6 North Province Area One
Bombirdier, Sneasel, Weavile, and Deino can all be found in this northern area of Paldea, leaking over from the icy Glaseado Mountain. Maybe one of these will be a shiny Pokemon, but make sure to look carefully as some don't look much different than their original color.
Deino is the pick of the lot here. The dragon/dark type evolves into Zwelious at level 50 and then into the pseudo-legendary Hydreigon at 64. An absolute monster in the game with 600 total in-game stats, there is nothing this dragon cannot do and gamers should do everything they can to find it in Paldea.
5 North Province Area Two & Area Three
Found in this area of the map are a few dark types: Houndoom, Umbreon, Bombirdier, Sabeleye, Bisharp, Deino, and Zweilous. Houndoom is only found in Area 2 in the wild if gamers do not want to evolve it from a Houndoom.​​​​​​​
Umbreon has a rare spawn here, which is a difficult 'mon to obtain. Eevees are rare and gamers will need eight of them to obtain all the eeveelutions. With a 2% chance of spawning at night, good luck and have the dusk balls at the ready.
4 Asado Desert
Asado Desert is home to many dark types and many of them can only be found here. This harsh location has a lot of unique Pokemon found in the game and the player will certainly need to search high and low here to complete the Pokedex.
Sandile, Krokorok, Cacnea, and Cacturne are found here, and also Lokix, which is everywhere in Paldea! Krokorok, of course, evolves into Krookodile, which is an amazing Pokemon with a cool design and great stats, certainly one to add to that roster and will be great against the Elite Four.
3 South Province
Houndour, Maschiff, Mabosstiff, Bombirdier, Sabeleye, Pawiniard, Deino, and Zwelious can all be found in southern Paldea. Pawniard is certainly one to acquire if gamers want to use its new evolution.
The dark/steel type still evolves into Bisharp at level 50, but new in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet is Kingambit, which can be acquired if Bisharp levels up after it defeats three wild Bisharp that leads a pack of Pawniard. A unique method of evolution and the rewards are massive as Kingambit is a great Pokemon with an amazing design and brilliant stats.
2 Tagtree Thicket
Pawniard can also be found in the mysterious forest of Tagtree Thicket along with Zoroua. But uniquely here is Impidimp and its evolved form of Mogrem, which cannot be found anywhere else in Paldea.
Returning from Pokemon Sword & Shield is the unique typing of dark/fairy which is found within this evolution line. Grimmsnarl, the final form in this line, is one of the best fairy types in the whole of the franchise and gamers will certainly need to add it to the party to take on those powerful dragon types.​​​​​​​
1 Glaseado Mountain
Found in this chilling location are the dark-type Pokemon: Sneasel, Weavile, Sabeleye, Deino, and Zwelious. Weavile is the one to grab in this area.
The dark/ice type is a fan-favorite that was first introduced in the Generation 4 games Diamond & Pearl and it evolves from Sneasel when leveled up while holding a razor claw. It can be tricky to acquire, so gamers may want to find the fixed spawn of Weavile in Glasaedo Mountain, which is at level 45.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet is currently available on Nintendo Switch.