TL;DR
- Darkrai requires Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl save data and completed main story
- Find Request 93 at Professor Laventon’s board after clearing space-time rift
- Navigate to Celestica Ruins southeast area during nighttime only
- Use battle initiation items rather than direct Poke Ball throws
- Prepare with status-inflicting moves and high-level Pokemon for easier capture
Capturing Darkrai represents one of Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ most challenging post-game objectives, requiring specific conditions and strategic preparation.
Among mythical Pokemon, Darkrai stands apart with its distinctive sinister aesthetic compared to traditionally cute designs like Celebi, Shaymin, and Jirachi. Its pure Dark typing provides unique defensive advantages, resisting Ghost and Dark moves while being vulnerable only to Fighting, Bug, and Fairy attacks. The creature excels as a special attack sweeper with impressive base stats focused on Speed and Special Attack rather than balanced distribution.
Historically, Darkrai has maintained extreme scarcity in Western regions since its 2006 debut in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. According to Serebii records, North American players had only four distribution opportunities over sixteen years, with some requiring physical visits to retail locations rather than convenient digital downloads.
This limited availability makes Darkrai’s inclusion in Pokemon Legends: Arceus particularly significant for completionists. However, accessing this content demands meeting specific prerequisites that many players might overlook during their initial playthrough.
Is Darkrai in Pokemon Legends: Arceus?
Yes, Darkrai becomes available for capture after completing the main storyline, but with a critical additional requirement: players must have save data from either Pokemon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl on their Nintendo Switch profile.
Recent Pokemon titles increasingly reward multi-game engagement through cross-save bonuses. This pattern includes Mew and Jirachi accessibility in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, plus Shaymin’s availability in Pokemon Legends: Arceus alongside Darkrai. These interconnected rewards encourage players to explore multiple titles within the franchise ecosystem.
To initiate the capture process, players must first resolve the space-time rift crisis above Mount Coronet. Afterwards, visit Professor Laventon’s laboratory and check the request board for The Darksome Nightmare (Request 93). Accepting this mission triggers an automatic encounter with Cael, a Pearl Clan member who provides essential background about Darkrai’s behavior and location.
How to catch Darkrai and finish request 93, The Darksome Nightmare
Successfully capturing Darkrai demands careful preparation and execution. The mythical Pokemon exclusively appears during nighttime hours in the southeastern sector of Celestica Ruins within a distinctive circular valley formation. Approaching this location triggers an automatic cutscene beginning the encounter sequence.
Darkrai initially displays hostile behavior, making direct Poke Ball throws ineffective. Trainers should utilize battle-initiation items or strategically position themselves outside Darkrai’s aggression radius to attempt captures after it emerges from its subterranean hiding.
While technically possible to catch Darkrai without engaging in combat, most players find greater success by initiating battles. Pelting Darkrai with items to start a controlled encounter provides significantly improved capture odds compared to risky outside-of-battle attempts.
Pro Tip: Come prepared with Pokemon that can inflict sleep or paralysis status conditions. These effects dramatically increase catch rates. Also consider using Ultra Balls or specialized capture items obtained through advanced progression systems for optimal results. The encounter typically requires 10-15 minutes for experienced players who understand the game’s stealth mechanics.
Common mistakes include attempting capture during daytime hours, lacking the required save data, or approaching without proper item preparation. Ensure you’ve completed all main story objectives and verified your Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl save data exists before attempting this challenging encounter. For more advanced battle strategies, consult our class specialization guide for tactical insights applicable to Pokemon battles.
Action Checklist
- Verify Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl save data exists on your Switch profile
- Complete main story and clear space-time rift above Mount Coronet
- Check request board in Professor Laventon’s lab for The Darksome Nightmare
- Travel to Coronet Highlands during nighttime and locate circular valley southeast of Celestica Ruins
- Use battle items to initiate combat rather than direct Poke Ball throws
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Here’s how to find and get Darkrai in Pokemon Legends: Arceus Complete guide to catching Darkrai in Pokemon Legends: Arceus with save data requirements and battle strategies