#0198 · Johto · Generation 2

Murkrow

Darkness Pokémon · Dark/Flying-type

Murkrow is a Dark/Flying-type Pokémon, the Darkness Pokémon, number 198 (#0198) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 2 and comes from the Johto region. It is 0.5 m tall and weighs 2.1 kg.

Murkrow is the Darkness Pokémon, a crow in a witch's hat that people shun because seeing one at night is said to bring bad luck. It cannot resist anything shiny, and the Pokédex says it will give sparkling gifts to Trainers it likes.

How to pronounce Murkrow

Murkrow is pronounced MUR-kroh. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Murkrow said out loud:

In Japanese it is ヤミカラス (Yamikarasu).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Murkrow is a black crow with a crooked yellow beak and three feathery tufts on its head that look like a witch's nose and hat. Its tail feathers are shaggy like a broom, and the crest is smaller on females. It is 0.5 m (1'08") tall and weighs 2.1 kg (4.6 lbs). It wakes at dusk and is active through the night.

Behaviour

Murkrow has a weakness for shiny things, hides its finds in secret stashes and will raid Meowth and Gabite for more. When chased it leads people down dark mountain trails and loses them there. The Legends: Arceus Pokédex mentions a chant people use to drive off its bad luck.

Habitat

The Pokédex lists Murkrow as a forest Pokémon, and Bulbapedia says it lives in flocks called murders. In Scarlet and Violet it is wild across Paldea's South, East and West Provinces and Tagtree Thicket.

Powers

Its Abilities are Insomnia, which stops it falling asleep, Super Luck, which raises its critical-hit rate, and the hidden Prankster, which lets its status moves go first. It fights with Foul Play, Sucker Punch and Wing Attack, and spoils enemies with Mean Look and Taunt. With base Attack 85 and Speed 91 but Defense and Special Defense of only 42, it hits hard and breaks easily.

Name origin

Murkrow may combine 'murky' or 'murder' (a group of crows) with 'crow'. Its Japanese name, Yamikarasu (ヤミカラス), likely joins yami (darkness) and karasu (crow).

Design inspiration

Murkrow seems to be based on the carrion crow, and its crest, hooked beak and broom-like tail make it a witch's familiar in flight. Bulbapedia links its ability to repeat words to the way crows and ravens copy sounds. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Murkrow evolves into Honchkrow when a Dusk Stone is used on it.

In the games

Murkrow has no major story role, though in Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness it and a Shuppet form Team Ebony. It debuted in Gold and Silver, appears in 2 star Tera Raids in Scarlet and Violet, and is not in Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

Paul's Murkrow debuted in 'Top-Down Training!' and later evolved. In 'Mimikyu Unmasked!' three Murkrow keep stealing Jessie's malasadas and then take her Mimikyu's rag.

Fun facts

• Bulbapedia notes that of all the Pokémon using a Dusk Stone, Murkrow alone is not part Ghost.
• Despite debuting in Johto's generation, Murkrow could only be found in Kanto in Gold, Silver and Crystal.
• In the Spaceworld '97 demo, Bulbapedia says its early design had a more pointed witch-hat crest.
• It mirrors Misdreavus: both have base HP 60 and Special Attack 85, and the National Pokédex order flips after evolution, with Honchkrow (430) after Mismagius (429).

Sources: Bulbapedia: Murkrow (Pokémon) · Serebii: Murkrow (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 60
• Attack: 85
• Defense: 42
• Sp. Atk: 85
• Sp. Def: 42
• Speed: 91

Murkrow’s base stat total is 405. Its highest stat is Speed.

Type matchups

What is Murkrow weak to?

Murkrow takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Ice (2×), Rock (2×), Fairy (2×) moves.

It resists Grass (½×), Ghost (½×), Dark (½×).

It is immune to Ground, Psychic moves.

Evolution

How does Murkrow evolve?

Murkrow evolves into Honchkrow (Dusk Stone).

The whole family: Murkrow, Honchkrow.

Abilities

• Insomnia: Prevents sleep.
• Super Luck: Raises moves' critical hit rates one stage.
• Prankster (hidden ability): Raises non-damaging moves' priority by one stage.

Moves

Moves Murkrow learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (46)

Murkrow can learn 46 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Mud-Slap, Scary Face, Protect, Acrobatics, Confuse Ray, Thief, Facade, Aerial Ace, Hex, Snarl, Icy Wind, Air Cutter, Night Shade, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, U-turn, Foul Play, Air Slash, Sleep Talk, Thunder Wave, Rest, Taunt, Dark Pulse, Fly, Substitute, Tailwind, Shadow Ball, Heat Wave, Psychic, Calm Mind, Nasty Plot, Giga Impact, Hurricane, Hyper Beam, Brave Bird, Tera Blast, Haze, Spite, Uproar, Dual Wingbeat, Lash Out, Double-Edge, Feather Dance, Psychic Noise.

Egg moves (9):Brave Bird, Confuse Ray, Drill Peck, Feather Dance, Flatter, Perish Song, Screech, Sky Attack, Whirlwind.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Flying.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 30 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 35.
• Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 1 Speed effort value.
• Base experience yield: 81.

Pokédex entries

Widely shunned as a bearer of ill fortune. Upon crossing paths with this creature, I've been told one must chant ”Workrum, Workrum—bad luck, don't come” as a protective incantation. (Legends: Arceus)

It searches for shiny things for its boss. Murkrow's presence is said to be unlucky, so many people detest it. (Ultra Moon)

It has a weakness for shiny things. It's been known to sneak into the nests of Gabite—noted collectors of jewels—in search of treasure. (Ultra Sun)

Seen as a symbol of bad luck, it's generally disliked. Yet it gives presents—objects that sparkle or shine—to Trainers it's close to. (Moon)

They awaken at dusk and take wing in the twilight, leading to the expression, “Get home before the Murkrow fly.” (Sun)

Murkrow was feared and loathed as the alleged bearer of ill fortune. This Pokémon shows strong interest in anything that sparkles or glitters. It will even try to steal rings from women. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Lightest Dark type: 2.1 kg.
• Lightest Dark type in Gen 2: 2.1 kg.
• Shortest Dark type in Gen 2: 0.5 m.
• Taller than 19% of all Pokémon (0.5 m).
• Heavier than 8% of all Pokémon (2.1 kg).
• Base stat total 405, ranked #605 of 1,025.
• One of 7 Pokémon that are both Dark and Flying.
• One of 51 black Pokémon.
• Number 47 of 100 Pokémon introduced in Generation 2 (Johto).
• Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
• Can learn 61 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 30: about 3.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 13 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Murkrow (Pokémon), Serebii: Murkrow (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (MUR-kroh): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Dark-type Pokémon · Flying-type Pokémon · Dark/Flying weaknesses and matchups · Johto region guide · Insomnia ability · Super Luck ability · Prankster ability · Compare Murkrow · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 2 Dark-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Flying-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Pokémon list · Black Pokémon list · Flying egg group · Pokémon that start with M · What does the Dusk Stone evolve? · Bird Pokémon

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