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, using Beast Ring, Dark Patch, and Double Colorless Energy or Twin Energy Energy to power it up. 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
Shadow Pump
Source: subject00147
09/2025
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1 Bombirdier JTG 101
1 Deino SSP 117
1 Zweilous PAL 139
1 Hydreigon DAA 110
1 Galarian Moltres EVS 93
1 Guzzlord CEC 136
1 Marnie's Morpeko DRI 137
1 Morpeko PAR 121
1 Nickit CPA 46
1 Thievul EVS 105
1 Purrloin WHT 55
1 Liepard BRS 91
1 Zorua EVS 102
1 Zoroark WHT 62
1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
1 Dark Patch ASR 139
1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Nest Ball PAF 84
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Professor's Letter XY 123
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rare Candy MEG 125
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Wishful Baton BUS 128
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Parallel City BKT 145
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Avery CRE 130
1 Brock's Scouting JTG 146
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Janine's Secret Art PRE 112
1 Klara CRE 145
1 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Marnie CPA 56
1 Piers CPA 58
1 Raihan CRZ 140
8 Basic Darkness Energy SVE 7
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”
09/2025
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1 Alolan Grimer UNM 127
1 Alolan Muk TEU 84
1 Galarian Moltres EVS 93
1 Morpeko BST 98
1 Purrloin WHT 55
1 Liepard BRS 91
1 Sableye DEX 62
1 Team Rocket's Murkrow DRI 127
1 Yveltal TEU 95
1 Acro Bike CES 123
1 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Energy Retrieval WHT 82
1 Enhanced Hammer TWM 148
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Lana's Fishing Rod CEC 195
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Nest Ball PAF 84
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84
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 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
1 Ultra Ball MEG 131
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Rescue Scarf DRX 115
1 PokéStop PGO 68
1 Tropical Beach PR-BLW BW28
1 Acerola BUS 112
1 Arven OBF 186
1 Bellelba & Brycen-Man CEC 186
1 Clay CEC 188
1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
1 Delinquent BKP 98
1 Explorer's Guidance PRE 107
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
1 Klara CRE 145
1 Lt. Surge's Strategy UNB 178
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Peonia CRE 149
1 Team Flare Grunt GEN 73
1 Xerosic's Machinations SFA 64
5 Basic Darkness Energy SVE 7
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
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!
