Dark/Steel strategy: dual immunity with a 4× Fighting alarm
Dark/Steel and Steel/Dark are the same defensive pairing; this page uses dark-steel as the canonical URL. Dark/Steel is a powerful defensive-offensive pairing that blocks Poison and Psychic while pressuring Fairy, Ghost, and Psychic targets. Representative Pokémon include Pawniard, Bisharp, Kingambit. The standard type chart gives this combination 4× weak to Fighting and 2× weak to Fire, Ground. It is immune to Poison, Psychic. Its main defensive value comes from no ¼× resistance; ½× resists Normal, Grass, Ice, Flying, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel, but stats, ability, item, and format still decide whether a real Pokémon can use those entries repeatedly.
Offensive plan
Dark STAB threatens Psychic and Ghost targets, while Steel STAB pressures Fairy, Ice, and Rock targets. Fighting is the severe 4× weakness, and Fire and Ground also deal 2× damage. The typing is strongest when teammates or abilities stop Fighting coverage from becoming a free answer.
Counterplay and defensive risks
To counter Dark/Steel, start with the chart pressure: Fighting, Fire, Ground. If a 4× weakness is listed, preserve that attack type before revealing it; if there is no 4× weakness, repeated 2× pressure and hazard chip usually matter more than a single surprise hit. Scout for abilities, Terastallization, weather, recovery, and pivot moves before assuming the visible multiplier ends the exchange.
Team-building advice
Dark/Steel needs Fighting counterplay before anything else, plus Fire and Ground support. Fairy, Ghost, Flying, Water, and Ground-immune partners can help, while Dark/Steel gives the team Poison and Psychic immunities. Use the Team Calculator to check whether the rest of the six stacks the same Fighting, Fire problem, then compare the full defensive chart before choosing moves or teammates.
Read the best Pokémon type combinations guide for a side-by-side defensive comparison.
Continue with Type Chart, Dual Type Calculator, Steel/Fairy guide, and Psychic/Dark guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dark/Steel weak to?
Dark/Steel is 4× weak to Fighting and 2× weak to Fire, Ground under the standard type chart.
Is Steel/Dark a different type combination?
No. Steel/Dark and Dark/Steel use the same two types, so they share the same weaknesses, resistances, and immunities.
What is Dark/Steel immune to?
It is immune to Poison, Psychic.