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{{Infobox archetypearchseries| image = Darklight-TF06MADU-JPEN-VG-artwork.png| caption = "[[Dark Grepher]]"in the artwork of "[[Darklight]]".
| ja_name = ダーク
| romaji = Dāku| trans = Dark
| en_name = Dark
| fr_name = Ténèbres
| it_name = Oscuro
| ko_name = 다크
| pt_name = Sombrio
| pt_name2= Negro
| es_name = Oscuro
* [[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]
* [[Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL]]
* [[Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V]]
| manga = * [[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (manga)|Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]
}}
The '''Dark counterparts''' , also called '''Dark Monsters'''<ref name="monsterArt">[[Official Card Game Art Works]]</ref>, are a [[series]] of [[DARK]]-[[Attribute]] [[Monster Card|monsters]] that is identified are primarily identifiable as DARK versions of pre-existing monsters, by an existing non-DARK counterpart and 「ダーク」 in sharing their Japanese namenames with the addition of the word "Dark". Dark counterparts also These monsters typically have a twisted, or sinister appearance compared to their original forms, which can be especially striking if the their original form was that of a benevolent monsterforms had bright colors. All Almost all Dark counterparts share the same [[ATK]], [[DEF ]], and [[Level ]] with their non-DARK counterpartcounterparts, as well as having related effects that typically support DARK-Attribute monsters.
Dark counterparts were first released in formally introduced to the ''[[OCG]]'' and in ''[[TCGPhantom Darkness]]'' in ; when ''[[Phantom Darkness]]'', but dated back to was released in the anime with "''[[Rainbow Dark DragonTCG]]". The ''TCG'' , additional exclusive Dark counterpart monsters counterparts were added to the booster pack, which were later introduced in into the ''OCG'' in the ''[[Extra Pack]]''.
On [[Upper Deck Entertainment]]'s site, a product blurb for ''Phantom Darkness'' described this series as the following: "''The sinister [[Yubel]] has twisted the strongest monsters into Dark versions of their former selves, giving new power to DARK monsters.''"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.upperdeck.com/Yugioh/en/products/boosters/PTDN.aspx |title=Phantom Darkness |publisher=Upper Deck Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202142525/http://entertainment.upperdeck.com/Yugioh/en/products/boosters/PTDN.aspx |archivedate=2 February 2008 |accessdate=25 June 2021}}</ref> ==Members=={| class="wikitablesortable"! Dark Counterpartcounterpart !! Original Cardmonster
|-
| [[Dark Armed Dragon]]|| [[Armed Dragon LV7]]
|-
| [[The Dark End DragonCreator]]|| [[Light End DragonThe Creator]]
|-
| [[Dark General FreedDoriado]]|| [[Freed the Matchless GeneralElemental Mistress Doriado]]
|-
| [[Dark GrepherGeneral Freed]]|| [[Warrior Dai GrepherFreed the Matchless General]]
|-
| [[Dark HorusGrepher]]|| [[Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8Warrior Dai Grepher]]
|-
| [[Dark NephthysHonest]]|| [[Sacred Phoenix of NephthysHonest]]
|-
| [[Dark Rebellion Xyz DragonHorus]]|| [[Odd-Eyes Pendulum Horus the Black Flame DragonLV8]]
|-
| [[Dark SimorghNephthys]]|| [[Simorgh, Bird Sacred Phoenix of DivinityNephthys]]
|-
| [[Dark ValkyriaSimorgh]]|| [[Dunames Dark WitchSimorgh, Bird of Divinity]]
|-
| [[Dark VoltanisValkyria]]|| [[Voltanis the AdjudicatorDunames Dark Witch]]
|-
| [[Darklord ZeratoDark Voltanis]]|| [[Archlord ZeratoVoltanis the Adjudicator]]
|-
| [[Darknight ParshathDarklord Zerato]]|| [[Airknight ParshathArchlord Zerato]]
|-
| [[Knight of Dark DragonDarknight Parshath]]|| [[Paladin of White DragonAirknight Parshath]]
|-
| [[Number 10: Dark Illumiknight]]|| [[Number 10: Illumiknight]]
|-
| [[Rainbow Paladin of Dark Dragon]]|| [[Rainbow Paladin of White Dragon]]
|-
| [[The Rainbow Dark CreatorDragon]]|| [[The CreatorRainbow Dragon]]
|}
==Playing Style=Disputed cards==="[[Dark Elf]]" is commonly mistaken as a Dark counterpart due to its name, its shared appearance with "[[Mystical Elf]]" with a darker color scheme, and having the opposite [[original ATK and DEF]] of that monster. However, its existence greatly predates this series' debut in ''[[Phantom Darkness]]'', and it was introduced as a [[recolored counterpart]].
"[[Shadowpriestess of Ohm]]" is occasionally mistaken as a Dark counterparts have no external support but are highly playable counterpart, due to its release in ''Phantom Darkness'' with a [[DARK]]-related effect, as well as its passing resemblance to "[[Lady of Faith]]" (whose Japanese name is translated as "High Priestess"), "[[Doriado]]", and powerful, particularly "[[Dark Armed DragonElemental Mistress Doriado]]". However, it shares only its Level with "Doriado", which supported one its overall appearance cannot be confirmed as similar enough, and its ''TCG'' and Japanese names lack the word "Dark". Additionally, "Elemental Mistress Doriado" has been ruled out as a counterpart due to the existence of the most competitive tournament Decks around ("[[Teleport Dark Armed|Tele-DADDoriado]]")with its name and related effect.
It is possible to assume "[[Arcana Force EX - The Dark Ruler]]" is a Dark counterparts usually have effects similar counterpart to "[[Arcana Force EX - The Light Ruler]]" due to their counterparts (with shared names/appearances and the exceptions of former being a DARK monster in the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'' anime. However, "The Dark Ruler" possesses multiple physical dissimilarities that go beyond its mildly different color scheme, such as having two eyes on its main head. "[[Dark GrepherMirror Force]]" and might be viewed as a Dark counterpart to "[[Dark ValkyriaMirror Force]]", whose counterparts due to their shared names and similar effects. However, they are [[Normal MonsterTrap Card]]s), but reworked to go with the theme of manipulating DARK monsters you own or control, typically either Summoning them, sending them to the Graveyard, or banishing them (from the Graveyard) to trigger effectsand there are many other "Mirror Force"-inspired cards.
==Disputed CardsPlaying style==Dark counterparts have no external support but are highly playable and powerful, particularly "[[Dark Armed Dragon]]", which supported one of the most competitive tournament Decks around ("[[Teleport Dark Armed|Tele-DAD]]"). "Dark Armed Dragon" can also be supported by "[[Monarch]]" Spell/Trap cards, such as being searched by "[[Return of the Monarchs]]" or being revealed while in your hand to activate "[[Tenacity of the Monarchs]]", due to having 2800 ATK and 1000 DEF.
Although they do not explicitly support Dark counterparts, several cards released in ''[[Phantom Darkness]]'' work very well with them. "[[Shadowpriestess of OhmDoomsday Horror]]" is occasionally placed within this series, since she is a gains power from banished DARK monster monsters and can "reload" your Graveyard with an effect related to other the banished DARK monsters and bears a strong resemblance to another existing card (. "[[Lady of FaithEscape from the Dark Dimension]]" can Special Summon one of the banished DARK monsters, and "[[Elemental Mistress DoriadoAllure of Darkness]]"), as well as having been released in ''increases your draw power while banishing another DARK monster. "[[Phantom Veil of Darkness]]" can also vastly increase a DARK-user'' alongside many of s draw power while flooding the Dark counterparts. However they possess differences in ATK and level, and Graveyard with DARK monsters to use as a result, she is not a Dark counterpartresource.
"[[Dark ElfDestiny HERO]]" almost fitswas a fantastic choice for the deck, as wellcards like "[[Destiny HERO - Malicious]]", "[[Destiny HERO - Plasma]]" and "[[Destiny HERO - Disk Commander]]" would have fantastic effects for DARK monsters, as it is obviously a Dark counterpart and could easy be sent to the Graveyard with "[[Mystical ElfDestiny Draw]]" with practically and then "Destiny HEROs" like "Malicious" or "[[Destiny HERO - Fear Monger]]" could manipulate the same design. Graveyard for cards like "Dark Armed Dragon", "The key difference is that the ATK and DEF of "Dark ElfCreator" are inverted from , and "Mystical ElfDarklord Zerato".
==SimilarReferences ==The "[[Lightray]]" [[Series]] can be thought of as the inverse of Dark Counterparts, as they represent [[LIGHT]] versions of existing monsters that exhibit synergy. "[[Warrior Dai Grepher]]" has both a [[DARK]] counterpart and a "[[Lightray]]" counterpart.<references/>
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