What draws you to the Darkness aspiring Gym Leader? Do you do a lot of shopping at Hot Topic, like Piers? Did your perpetual loneliness lead you to turn down a gig with the Elite Four, like Nanu? Whatever brings you here, welcome! Darkness Pokémon have some of the strongest attacks in Gym Leader Challenge, combined with some of the best damage modifiers. This lethal combination makes any Darkness type deck truly frightening to play against! Piloting a Darkness deck takes a lot of finesse, however, as each attacker has its own unique strength and needs to be used at just the right time. Think you have what it takes to be a Darkness type Gym Leader?
Support Pokémon
Darkness Pokémon have a little bit of everything available to them in the support category. Galarian Weezing is arguably the best Ability lock Pokémon in the format because of Koffing (SHF)‘s quick and reliable Ascension Attack. Galarian Weezing can shut down Ability reliant decks like Grass and Water all by itself! Liepard gives Darkness much needed consistency, while Thievul, Golbat and Crobat offer modest draw support in addition. Hydreigon‘s Dark Squall Ability allows you to rain as many Darkness Energy as you want from your hand to your Pokémon in play. With Poison Pokémon cast as Darkness type ever since Sword and Shield, Darkness can also utilize a Poison-heavy strategy with Pokémon like Toxicroak, Galarian Weezing and Garbodor.
Attackers
Guzzlord makes a strong case for “The Best Attacker in GLC,” with its gnarly Red Banquet attack, which takes a bonus Prize every time it takes a knock out. Many Darkness decks are built around Guzzlord as the main attacker. With Fighting Fury Belt or Cape of Toughness attached, Guzzlord can reach a dizzying 190-200 HP as well! Guzzlord pairs well with low maintenance attackers like Hoopa, Weavile, Zoroark (BKT) and Spiritomb who aren’t as Energy hungry as Guzzlord. For the late game, you won’t find a better closer than Galarian Moltres. Its Fiery Wrath can do up to 270 damage if your opponent has taken five Prizes! Even after the opponent has taken two Prizes, Galarian Moltres will usually be netting a KO, especially with a damage buff like Dark Claw or Muscle Band.
Decklists
Turbo
Source: David “doublesquare”
03/2026
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Pokémon: 11
1 Purrloin WHT 55
1 Liepard BRS 91
1 Toxel PFL 67
1 Toxtricity PFL 68
1 Zubat SIT 103
1 Golbat BST 90
1 Crobat BST 91
1 Galarian Moltres EVS 93
1 Guzzlord CEC 136
1 Hoopa DAA 111
1 Spiritomb UNB 112
Trainer: 39
1 Arven OBF 186
1 Ball Guy SHF 57
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Klara CRE 145
1 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Lysandre AOR 78
1 Marnie SSH 169
1 N FCO 105
1 Piers DAA 165
1 Raihan EVS 152
1 Teammates PRC 141
1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
1 Dark Patch ASR 139
1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Night Stretcher ASC 196
1 Poké Pad ASC 198
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Professor's Letter BKT 146
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball MEG 131
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Dark Claw DEX 92
1 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Hustle Belt CES 134
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 PokéStop PGO 68
Energy: 10
7 Darkness Energy SVE 7
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Hiding Darkness Energy DAA 175
1 Rainbow Energy CES 151
Shadow Pump
Source: subject00147
03/2026
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Pokémon: 14
1 Marnie's Morpeko DRI 137
1 Morpeko PAR 121
1 Deino SSP 117
1 Zweilous PAL 139
1 Hydreigon DAA 110
1 Purrloin WHT 55
1 Liepard BRS 91
1 Toxel PFL 67
1 Toxtricity PFL 68
1 Zorua WHT 61
1 Zoroark WHT 62
1 Bombirdier JTG 101
1 Galarian Moltres EVS 93
1 Guzzlord CEC 136
Trainer: 34
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Avery CRE 130
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Klara CRE 145
1 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Marnie CPA 56
1 Professor's Research BLK 85
1 Janine's Secret Art PRE 112
1 Piers CPA 58
1 Brock's Scouting JTG 146
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
1 Dark Patch DEX 93
1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Poké Pad ASC 198
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Professor's Letter XY 123
1 Quick Ball SSH 179
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Rare Candy MEG 125
1 Nest Ball PAF 84
1 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Wishful Baton BUS 128
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Parallel City BKT 145
Energy: 12
8 Darkness Energy XY 138
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Hiding Darkness Energy DAA 175
1 Recycle Energy UNM 212
Sablelock
Source: Kris Hill “Ghouls”
03/2026
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Pokémon: 9
1 Alolan Grimer UNM 127
1 Alolan Muk TEU 84
1 Purrloin WHT 55
1 Liepard BRS 91
1 Galarian Moltres EVS 93
1 Sableye DEX 62
1 Spiritomb UNB 112
1 Team Rocket's Murkrow ASC 126
1 Yveltal TEU 95
Trainer: 43
1 Acerola BUS 112
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Bellelba & Brycen-Man CEC 186
1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
1 Delinquent BKP 98
1 Explorer's Guidance TEF 147
1 Gladion CIN 95
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Klara CRE 145
1 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Lt. Surge's Strategy HIF 60
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Peonia CRE 149
1 Xerosic's Machinations SFA 64
1 Acro Bike PRC 122
1 Battle Compressor PHF 92
1 Counter Catcher CIN 91
1 Energy Retrieval WHT 82
1 Enhanced Hammer PHF 94
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Lana's Fishing Rod CEC 195
1 Nest Ball SUM 123
1 Night Stretcher ASC 196
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Poké Pad ASC 198
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Reset Stamp UNM 206
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Tag Call CEC 206
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball MEG 131
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Yell Horn DAA 173
1 Float Stone PLF 99
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Rescue Scarf DRX 115
1 PokéStop PGO 68
1 Tropical Beach BWP 28
Energy: 8
5 Darkness Energy GEN 81
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Hiding Darkness Energy DAA 175
Looking for more ideas or feedback on your deck?
Head over to Tricky Gym Discord’s glc-decklists channel for threads on every archetype to discuss strategy, get suggestions, and browse decklists!
