03/29/24, 05:05
#554 | Darumaka | Pokédex Strategy Moves Database | Maractus | #556 |
This article gives you ideas of how to use Darmanitan in battle in the Pokémon Black, Pokémon White and Pokemon B2W2 Games. It lists popular movesets used by competitive battlers, as well as a description on how to use each set to help you understand why the moves were chosen. These popular sets are usually the best to use in battle and so reading this guide will help you in your team building.
Gen 5: OverviewNormal Opinions:
Darmanitan hits like a truck. A Sheer Force-boosted Flare Blitz hurts things that are even resistant to it. Base 95 speed is good enough to give it options. Base 105 hp means that it can use those Flare Blitzes and take the residual damage. However, grounded fire type means that it gets hurt by every type of entry hazard. While 105 base hp is nice, 55 base defenses means that it cant take too many hits. Sheer Force is also a double-edged sword, as Darmanitan can´t use a Nitro Charge set.
Daruma Mode Opinions:
105/105/105 defenses are very nice, 140 special attack is very nice. Adequate special move pool. However, this mode can only be activated when the user drops below a certain amount of hp, which is hindering. Fire/Psychic has 5 weaknesses and 6 resistances compared to it´s normal 3:5. Not a good choice to use.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Sheer Force | Jolly / Adamant | choice scarf | 4 | 252 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 252 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
95 base speed is ideal for a Choice Scarf set.
The first move is a simple choice, Flare Blitz. Flare Blitz puts a dent in most Pokemon. Starmie and other frail Pokemon resistant to it still get hurt hard.
The second move, Superpower, OHKO´s Blissey, Evo Stone Chansey, and Heatran, all of which love to switch in to a Darmanitan locked on Flare Blitz. Be wary of using Superpower blindly though, as Burungeru can come in for free and cause your team problems.
The last two move slots are mainly for type coverage. Earthquake is recommended for the first spot. Aside from the great type coverage, the only two types resistant to it, Grass and Bug, will most likely not be switching into Darmanitan. U-turn is used for scouting, as Darmanitan can cause a lot of switches. Both moves can be swapped for Stone Edge, as Gyarados and airborne dragons walk all over this set without it.
Additional Comments
As for the nature, Jolly is recommended as Darmanitan needs the speed boost. However, Adamant can be used if you want that extra power, though it is not recommended.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Sheer Force | Adamant / Jolly | choice band | 4 | 252 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 252 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
As if Darmanitan isn´t scary enough, someone decided to slap a Choice Band on it, making Darmanitan a humongous offensive threat. The move pool is the same as the choice scarf set. Flare Blitz is amazing, as it takes a huge chunk out of anything that decides to come in on. Superpower is used for type coverage and it also hurts most Pokemon, although Darmanitan will most likely have to switch out next turn. Earthquake is for its great type coverage. U-turn is used for scouting. Stone edge can be switched for either move to hurt Gyarados and the flying dragons.
Additional Comments
Darmanitan reaches a massive 624 attack with a Choice Band. While the choice scarf set is more common, this set is highly underrated, and with the right support can destroy the opponents team. This thing hurts everything, even things that are resistant to it. It can 2HKO Burungeru, which is one of Darmanitan´s checks.
Fire Punch can be used over Flare Blitz if the recoil is unappealing. However, there is a notable difference in power.
Ability | Nature | Item | HP | Atk. | Def. | SpAtk. | SpDef. | Speed | |
Sheer Force | Adamant / Jolly | leftovers / life orb | 212 | 252 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | |
There are no current set statistics analysed |
Darmanitan causes a lot of switches. While this pokemon is generally choiced, this highly unpredicted set eliminates predicting switches and allows Darmanitan to use the right attack on its counter.
The first move is substitute. Setting up a substitute is great way to scout. This also allows Darmanitan to utilize Focus Punch instead of Superpower.
Flare Blitz is recommended for the second move, as it is Darmanitan´s most powerful attack. However, if the accumulative passive damage isn´t appealing, then Fire Punch can a plausible alternative, although the difference in power is huge.
The third slot should go to Focus Punch, as the sub-punch strategy is still highly effective.
The 4th move is used for type coverage. Stone Edge is recommended due to the fact that Gyarados, flying dragons, and Burungeru wall this entire set without it, forcing a waste of a sub. Stone Edge also gets the boost from Sheer Force. If you think that the low accuracy will be too unreliable, then Earthquake can be used instead, where you can still hit Burungeru. Payback can also be used for that awesome Fighting/Dark combination.
If you want Darmanitan to have a little more survivability, then leftovers is the item of choice. If you´re looking for power, then life orb should be used. With Sheer Force, life orb doesn´t have recoil. However, Life orb should really only be used if Darmanitan doesn´t pack Flare Blitz. Life orb should also be used with Stone Edge and not Earthquake, as life orb will not recoil for Stone Edge but will for Earthquake.
Additional Comments
For the nature, Adamant is recommended, as this set is not designed to outspeed and the extra power is needed for some KOs and 2HKOs. However, Jolly is another option.
The hp EVs give Darmanitan the ability to create 101 subs, which mean they wont be broken by Seismic toss. max attack is used for killing power. the rest is dumped into speed. Max hp is also an option, but the minimum hp needs to be 404.
Darmanitan loves spikes or rocks support, as it can help it get some important 2HKOs on the switch or OHKOs from the start. Nattorei is a great partner for this. Not only is it a great support poke, but it lures out other fire types that Darmanitan can come in on and immediately threaten, mainly other scarfed Darmanitan. Darmanitan also needs teammates to take on Gyarados or flying dragons that can wall its entire set. Starmie is a good teammate for this as it can come in on Earthquake or Waterfall or setups and threaten with the respective super effective move. Starmie can also Rapid Spin, which can remove entry hazards that plague Darmanitan. Jolteon can also perform Starmie´s job minus rapid spin support, but Starmie is generally a better teammate for Darmanitan. Shaymin can also come in and threaten both Gyarados and the flying dragons (if it has Hp ice).
Another interesting teammate is Burungeru, who can come in and status any of Darmanitan´s counters with toxic or burn. The Fire/Water/Grass core returns with something other than Heatran.
For the choice scarf set, teammates that can eliminate faster scarfed pokes can really help Darmanitan sweep. Choice Scarf Starmie is a great choice for this, as it can eliminate a lot of the common scarfed pokes in OU. Scarfed Flygon can also be used as it resists 2 out of 3 of Darmanitan´s weaknesses and threaten a lot of pokes.
Paralysis support can be wonderful for Darmanitan, allowing it to out speed checks and other scarfed pokemon. Multi-scale Dragonite is a good choice for this, as it resists almost all of Darmanitan´s weaknesses.
On the Offensive side, a great partner to Darmanitan is Roobushin. After your opponent has to deal with the onslaught of a banded Darmanitan, taking on Roobushin is not easy. Roobushin´s Mach Punch is also good for taking out foes that Darmanitan weakened with Flare Blitz. Scizor and Lucario can also pick off pokemon weakened by Darmanitan.
Other OptionsExpert Belt- Can be used to fake a Choiced Set, which can catch the opponent off guard.
Life Orb- Can be used instead of Choice Band in order to have the ability to change moves while maintaining a significant offensive threat.
Will–O–Wisp- Can be used behind a sub, meaning that Gyarados will be crippled after it breaks Darmanitan´s sub. However, Darmanitan´s mediocre defences means that it can´t stay in after it statuses.
Toxic- Darmanitan also has access to Toxic, but again, its mediocre defences mean it can´t stay in after it statuses.
Torment- Can be used if you feel risky and decide to make a Daruma mode set, but this is very had to pull off and isn´t recommended.
A daruma mode set with Psychic/Substitute/Rest/Focus Blast can be used, but it is not recommened due to the nature of daruma mode, and Darmanitan can´t hurt anything with special attacks when not in daruma mode.
Usual CountersAs stated in this entire analysis, Gyarados and Flying Dragons are great counters to Darmanitan, as those without Stone Edge are completely walled. Gyarados is the best counter, as the intimidate boost plus its typing really hurt Darmanitan. Be careful of the Banded set though as a banded Flare Blitz will still hit Gyarados hard. Scarfed Flygon is also a good counter to Darmanitan, resisiting it´s entire movepool except Superpower and can threted Darmanitan with Earthquake. Multiscale Dragonite and Salamence are other good checks to Darmanitan, and can set up on the switch. Bulky Waters are also good checks to Darmanitan. Vaporeon, Suicune, and Burungeru can come in on Flare Blitzes and Superpowers and threaten/set up. They need to be careful of switching into the banded sets however, as a banded Flare Blitz can put them in the 2HKO range.
While the banded set is scary, it also makes Darmanitan slower than some notable pokemon, like Starmie. While Starmie might not be able to switch into a banded Darmanitan, it can come in off of fodder and threaten to KO with surf.
OpinionDarmanitan is a great pokemon. While it doesn´t have access to the widest movepool, it does its job by hitting everything hard. The scarfed set is great, as a fast pokemon that hits like a truck is always appreciated on any team. The banded set is highly underrated, as it scores 2HKOs on most of Darmanitan´s checks. All in all, Darmanitan is a beast, and is a powerhouse in the metagame.
Credit goes to Serebii for the move list and stats.
Special thanks to dragonknight for the edits