Darkrai has played the villain in much of the world's mythology, for it is a god of darkness who induces nightmares. More often than not, it is seen as a villainous megalomaniac who wishes to shroud the world in darkness, which is meant metaphorically and literally; a world without sunlight where evil deeds reign free. It does induce nightmares, but deals them equally to all, for it loves to see innocents tormented as they sleep.

Yet in the land of Sinnoh, a small, secretive group gives prayers and offerings to Darkrai, who they see in a very different light. It is a god of nightmares, but inflicts them only on the wicked, and does so not out of malice but to encourage villains to repent so they can once again sleep soundly at night. It is also seen as god of the dead, for death has often been called eternal sleep. They reject reincarnation or an afterlife, but believe in an eternal slumber. To them, it is Darkrai who judges the dead, leaving some of them to dream pleasantly and punishing others with eternal nightmares. To them, Darkrai is a god of justice, and its draconian punishments are seen as necessary to preserve order in society and keep evil at bay.

Few individuals have paused to understand the theology of this group, and most instantly consider them cultists or horrible villains because of the identity of their god. Although many gods and shrines coexist peacefully in Sinnoh, Darkrai's faith has been persecuted by them all; their temples were burned, their congregations forced at swordpoint to renounce their god. Today, their services are held in the underground beneath the isolated island Darkrai calls home, and they remain steadfast in their belief that Darkrai will reward their righteousness and punish their persecutors.