Skeleton by dingbat
Overview
########
Darmanitan is almost the definition of a hard-hitting Fire-type, sporting an impressive base 140 Attack alongside a Sheer Force-boosted STAB Flare Blitz. To augment its sheer power, it has a solid base 95 Speed, putting it above many Pokemon in UU. Its ability Sheer Force is also useful, boosting the power of not only Flare Blitz, but also useful coverage moves such as Rock Slide. Darmanitan also has some great options for coverage, including Superpower and Earthquake. Sadly, Darmanitan has subpar bulk and no access to recovery moves. As if that weren't enough, its best STAB move, Flare Blitz, further limits its bulk due to its heavy recoil effect.
Choice Scarf
########
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Earthquake / Superpower
ability: Sheer Force
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is Darmanitan's most powerful STAB move, hitting most Pokemon in the tier for heavy damage, especially when boosted by Sheer Force. Rock Slide is a valuable coverage move that is also boosted by Sheer Force, primarily hitting other Fire-types and Mega Aerodactyl. U-turn is useful for gaining momentum, giving a free switch for whatever Pokemon the opponent sends in. Earthquake is recommended in the last slot for hitting Poison-, Steel-, Fire-, and Electric-types super effectively, but Superpower can be used, as it hits Normal- and Dark-types super effectively while retaining coverage against Rhyperior, but it misses out on coverage against Poison- and Electric-types such as Nidoqueen and Mega Ampharos, respectively.
Set Details
========
The given Attack and Speed EVs maximize Darmanitan's cleaning and revenge killing capabilities. The remaining 4 EVs are invested in Special Defense to give Porygon-Z and Porygon2 an Attack boost from Download instead of a Special Attack boost. Sheer Force increases the power of Darmanitan's moves that have secondary effects, including Flare Blitz and Rock Slide. Choice Scarf is used alongside a Jolly nature in order to outspeed threats such as Mega Beedrill, Mega Sceptile, and Mega Aerodactyl.
Usage Tips
========
Darmanitan is best used as a revenge killer and late-game cleaner. In the early-game, Darmanitan should be spamming U-turn to wear down its counters and gain momentum to clean more easily in the late-game. You should try to avoid locking Darmanitan into Flare Blitz if the opponent has a Choice Scarf Hydreigon, as it will be able to come in and retaliate with a powerful STAB Draco Meteor. Also, try to avoid using Flare Blitz too much, as the recoil will quickly wear Darmanitan down.
Team Options
========
A spinner or Defogger makes for a good partner for Darmanitan, as it is weak to Stealth Rock, which will quickly wear it down in conjunction with Flare Blitz recoil. Tentacruel and Mega Blastoise make for good partners, as Darmanitan can beat Grass-types for them and Mega Blastoise and Tentacruel can take on Fire-types; Blastoise can also beat Ground-types, which makes Darmanitan's job easier. Pokemon such as Nidoqueen and Forretress can provide Stealth Rock support to help Darmanitan clean in the late-game more easily. Pokemon that can take on Rhyperior and bulky Water-types make for good teammates, as they otherwise wall Darmanitan. Grass-types such as Shaymin and Roserade make for good teammates in this right, and they can absorb status thanks to Natural Cure. Roserade can provide entry hazard support in the form of Toxic Spikes and Spikes. Finally, Pokemon that can handle faster Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Mienshao are appreciated. Fairy-types such as Aromatisse and Florges can handle them well.
Wallbreaker
########
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Earthquake / Superpower
move 4: U-turn / Superpower
ability: Sheer Force
item: Choice Band / Life Orb
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is Darmanitan's most powerful STAB move that is further boosted by Sheer Force. Rock Slide gets excellent coverage alongside Flare Blitz, notably hitting other Fire-types super effectively, and it receives the boost from Sheer Force. U-turn is used to give a free switch to a teammate if the foe switches out, therefore gaining momentum, or to switch out of a foe Darmanitan can't beat. Earthquake is useful to hit Rhyperior and Steel-, Fire-, Poison-, and Electric-types, especially Mega Ampharos, super effectively. Superpower, however, can be used, as it also hits Rhyperior and Steel-types, as well as Normal- and Dark-types such as Snorlax and Umbreon, respectively. Though it has higher Base Power, remember that Superpower also lowers Darmanitan's Attack and Defense.
Set Details
========
252 Attack and Speed EVs alongside a Jolly nature maximize Darmanitan's wallbreaking power and Speed. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in Special Defense to force an Attack boost on Porygon-Z and Porygon2 instead of a more threatening Special Attack boost. Sheer Force increases the power of moves with secondary effects by 30%, boosting Flare Blitz and Rock Slide. A Jolly nature is chosen over an Adamant nature to outspeed Pokemon such as Roserade, Krookodile, and Entei. The item choice is up to personal preference: Life Orb allows Darmanitan to switch moves at the cost of a little power and recoil from moves not boosted by Sheer Force (U-turn, Earthquake, and Superpower), but Choice Band grants more power and no recoil at the cost of not being able to switch moves.
Usage Tips
========
Darmanitan can try to bluff the Choice Scarf set to lure in a Pokemon and KO it with a boosted move, but you must be careful to reveal the item at the right time. Try to bring Darmanitan in off of a U-turn, Volt Switch, or fainted teammate, as Darmanitan is used as a revenge killer and likes to save its HP for when it's using Flare Blitz. Be wary of the amount of recoil Darmanitan takes when using Flare Blitz, as the damage will quickly wear it down, especially if you failed to keep Stealth Rock and other entry hazards off of the field.
Team Options
========
A spinner or Defogger is helpful to clear the field of entry hazards so Darmanitan won't be worn down as easily, especially because its most powerful STAB move has recoil. Tentacruel and Blastoise are good in this role, as they can clear entry hazards and break down Ground-, Rock-, and Fire-types, which are a nuisance to Darmanitan. Crobat also makes for a good partner in that it can clear entry hazards with Defog and form a U-turn core with Darmanitan. Grass-types such as Roserade and Shaymin make for good partners for their ability to take on bulky Water-types and Rhyperior. Pokemon such as Hydreigon appreciate the wallbreaking power Darmanitan brings, especially against Fairy-types such as Florges and Aromatisse. That said, Florges and Aromatisse make for good partners due to their ability to take on Hydreigon, one of Darmanitan's best offensive checks.
Other Options
########
Fire Punch is an option over Flare Blitz to avoid taking recoil damage, but it is much weaker than Flare Blitz and takes away much of Darmanitan's wallbreaking power. Zen Headbutt is an option to hit Fighting- and Poison-types hard without taking recoil damage, but it actually deals less damage than a STAB Flare Blitz and has redundant coverage. It is, however, boosted by Sheer Force. A Belly Drum set with Substitute and Salac Berry can be used to try to sweep, but it requires far too much support to be used effectively.
Checks & Counters
########
**Defensive Walls**: Some defensively oriented Pokemon such as Suicune, Rhyperior, and Swampert avoid 2HKOs from any of Darmanitan's moves and can KO it. Hippowdon and Vaporeon can also tank a Flare Blitz and KO back, although they do not want to switch into a Choice Band Flare Blitz.
**Arcanine**: Physically defensive Arcanine can capably switch into any of Darmanitan's moves and heal off the damage with Morning Sun, although it must be wary of switching into a Rock Slide or Earthquake, especially when Stealth Rock has been set up.
**Entry Hazards**: Stealth Rock will wear down Darmanitan significantly, as it takes around 25% every time it switches into them. Spikes also wear Darmanitan down quickly, as it is grounded.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster attackers, as well as strong priority move users, can limit Darmanitan's wallbreaking and sweeping capabilities. Those include Hydreigon, Mega Aerodactyl, Mienshao, and Entei.
########
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Earthquake / Superpower
ability: Sheer Force
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
========
========
========
########
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Earthquake / Superpower
move 4: U-turn / Superpower
ability: Sheer Force
item: Choice Band / Life Orb
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
========
========
========
########
########
**Defensive Walls**: Some Defensive-oriented Pokemon such as Suicune, Rhyperior, and Swampert avoid 2HKOs from any of Darmanitan’s moves and KO it back; others like Hippowdon and Vaporeon can also tank a Flare Blitz and KO back, although they do not want to switch into a Choice Banded Flare Blitz.
**Arcanine**: Physically Defensive Arcanine can capably switch into any of Darmanitan's moves and heal off the damage with Morning Sun, although it must be wary of switching into a Rock Slide or Earthquake, especially when switching into Stealth Rocks.
**Stealth Rocks**: Stealth Rocks will help wear down Darmanitan significantly, as it takes around 25% every time it switches into them.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster attackers, as well as strong Priority-users, can dent Darmanitan’s wallbreaking/sweeping capabilities. Those include, but are not limited to Hydreigon, Mega Aerodactyl, and Entei.
Overview
########
Darmanitan is almost the definition of a hard-hitting Fire-type, sporting an impressive base 140 Attack alongside a Sheer Force-boosted STAB Flare Blitz. To augment its sheer power, it has a solid base 95 Speed, putting it above many Pokemon in UU. Its ability Sheer Force is also useful, boosting the power of not only Flare Blitz, but also useful coverage moves such as Rock Slide. Darmanitan also has some great options for coverage, including Superpower and Earthquake. Sadly, Darmanitan has subpar bulk and no access to recovery moves. As if that weren't enough, its best STAB move, Flare Blitz, further limits its bulk due to its heavy recoil effect.
Choice Scarf
########
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Earthquake / Superpower
ability: Sheer Force
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is Darmanitan's most powerful STAB move, hitting most Pokemon in the tier for heavy damage, especially when boosted by Sheer Force. Rock Slide is a valuable coverage move that is also boosted by Sheer Force, primarily hitting other Fire-types and Mega Aerodactyl. U-turn is useful for gaining momentum, giving a free switch for whatever Pokemon the opponent sends in. Earthquake is recommended in the last slot for hitting Poison-, Steel-, Fire-, and Electric-types super effectively, but Superpower can be used, as it hits Normal- and Dark-types super effectively while retaining coverage against Rhyperior, but it misses out on coverage against Poison- and Electric-types such as Nidoqueen and Mega Ampharos, respectively.
Set Details
========
The given Attack and Speed EVs maximize Darmanitan's cleaning and revenge killing capabilities. The remaining 4 EVs are invested in Special Defense to give Porygon-Z and Porygon2 an Attack boost from Download instead of a Special Attack boost. Sheer Force increases the power of Darmanitan's moves that have secondary effects, including Flare Blitz and Rock Slide. Choice Scarf is used alongside a Jolly nature in order to outspeed threats such as Mega Beedrill, Mega Sceptile, and Mega Aerodactyl.
Usage Tips
========
Darmanitan is best used as a revenge killer and late-game cleaner. In the early-game, Darmanitan should be spamming U-turn to wear down its counters and gain momentum to clean more easily in the late-game. You should try to avoid locking Darmanitan into Flare Blitz if the opponent has a Choice Scarf Hydreigon, as it will be able to come in and retaliate with a powerful STAB Draco Meteor. Also, try to avoid using Flare Blitz too much, as the recoil will quickly wear Darmanitan down.
Team Options
========
A spinner or Defogger makes for a good partner for Darmanitan, as it is weak to Stealth Rock, which will quickly wear it down in conjunction with Flare Blitz recoil. Tentacruel and Mega Blastoise make for good partners, as Darmanitan can beat Grass-types for them and Mega Blastoise and Tentacruel can take on Fire-types; Blastoise can also beat Ground-types, which makes Darmanitan's job easier. Pokemon such as Nidoqueen and Forretress can provide Stealth Rock support to help Darmanitan clean in the late-game more easily. Pokemon that can take on Rhyperior and bulky Water-types make for good teammates, as they otherwise wall Darmanitan. Grass-types such as Shaymin and Roserade make for good teammates in this right, and they can absorb status thanks to Natural Cure. Roserade can provide entry hazard support in the form of Toxic Spikes and Spikes. Finally, Pokemon that can handle faster Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Mienshao are appreciated. Fairy-types such as Aromatisse and Florges can handle them well.
Wallbreaker
########
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Earthquake / Superpower
move 4: U-turn / Superpower
ability: Sheer Force
item: Choice Band / Life Orb
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is Darmanitan's most powerful STAB move that is further boosted by Sheer Force. Rock Slide gets excellent coverage alongside Flare Blitz, notably hitting other Fire-types super effectively, and it receives the boost from Sheer Force. U-turn is used to give a free switch to a teammate if the foe switches out, therefore gaining momentum, or to switch out of a foe Darmanitan can't beat. Earthquake is useful to hit Rhyperior and Steel-, Fire-, Poison-, and Electric-types, especially Mega Ampharos, super effectively. Superpower, however, can be used, as it also hits Rhyperior and Steel-types, as well as Normal- and Dark-types such as Snorlax and Umbreon, respectively. Though it has higher Base Power, remember that Superpower also lowers Darmanitan's Attack and Defense.
Set Details
========
252 Attack and Speed EVs alongside a Jolly nature maximize Darmanitan's wallbreaking power and Speed. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in Special Defense to force an Attack boost on Porygon-Z and Porygon2 instead of a more threatening Special Attack boost. Sheer Force increases the power of moves with secondary effects by 30%, boosting Flare Blitz and Rock Slide. A Jolly nature is chosen over an Adamant nature to outspeed Pokemon such as Roserade, Krookodile, and Entei. The item choice is up to personal preference: Life Orb allows Darmanitan to switch moves at the cost of a little power and recoil from moves not boosted by Sheer Force (U-turn, Earthquake, and Superpower), but Choice Band grants more power and no recoil at the cost of not being able to switch moves.
Usage Tips
========
Darmanitan can try to bluff the Choice Scarf set to lure in a Pokemon and KO it with a boosted move, but you must be careful to reveal the item at the right time. Try to bring Darmanitan in off of a U-turn, Volt Switch, or fainted teammate, as Darmanitan is used as a revenge killer and likes to save its HP for when it's using Flare Blitz. Be wary of the amount of recoil Darmanitan takes when using Flare Blitz, as the damage will quickly wear it down, especially if you failed to keep Stealth Rock and other entry hazards off of the field.
Team Options
========
A spinner or Defogger is helpful to clear the field of entry hazards so Darmanitan won't be worn down as easily, especially because its most powerful STAB move has recoil. Tentacruel and Blastoise are good in this role, as they can clear entry hazards and break down Ground-, Rock-, and Fire-types, which are a nuisance to Darmanitan. Crobat also makes for a good partner in that it can clear entry hazards with Defog and form a U-turn core with Darmanitan. Grass-types such as Roserade and Shaymin make for good partners for their ability to take on bulky Water-types and Rhyperior. Pokemon such as Hydreigon appreciate the wallbreaking power Darmanitan brings, especially against Fairy-types such as Florges and Aromatisse. That said, Florges and Aromatisse make for good partners due to their ability to take on Hydreigon, one of Darmanitan's best offensive checks.
Other Options
########
Fire Punch is an option over Flare Blitz to avoid taking recoil damage, but it is much weaker than Flare Blitz and takes away much of Darmanitan's wallbreaking power. Zen Headbutt is an option to hit Fighting- and Poison-types hard without taking recoil damage, but it actually deals less damage than a STAB Flare Blitz and has redundant coverage. It is, however, boosted by Sheer Force. A Belly Drum set with Substitute and Salac Berry can be used to try to sweep, but it requires far too much support to be used effectively.
Checks & Counters
########
**Defensive Walls**: Some defensively oriented Pokemon such as Suicune, Rhyperior, and Swampert avoid 2HKOs from any of Darmanitan's moves and can KO it. Hippowdon and Vaporeon can also tank a Flare Blitz and KO back, although they do not want to switch into a Choice Band Flare Blitz.
**Arcanine**: Physically defensive Arcanine can capably switch into any of Darmanitan's moves and heal off the damage with Morning Sun, although it must be wary of switching into a Rock Slide or Earthquake, especially when Stealth Rock has been set up.
**Entry Hazards**: Stealth Rock will wear down Darmanitan significantly, as it takes around 25% every time it switches into them. Spikes also wear Darmanitan down quickly, as it is grounded.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster attackers, as well as strong priority move users, can limit Darmanitan's wallbreaking and sweeping capabilities. Those include Hydreigon, Mega Aerodactyl, Mienshao, and Entei.
Overview
########
########
- Has a decently fast speed tier
- Can dish out a ton of damage with its STAB Flare Blitz, regardless of which set it uses
- Has Sheer Force, which powers up its moves that have secondary effects (Flare Blitz, Rock Slide, etc.)
- Has an acceptable variety of coverage moves to back up its STAB
- Has mediocre bulk and no recovery options
- Its main STAB, Flare Blitz, greatly limits Darmanitan’s durability on the field, due to its recoil effect
########
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Earthquake / Superpower
ability: Sheer Force
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
- Flare Blitz is Darmanitan’s STAB move of choice, and its high base power is further powered up by Sheer Force.
- Rock Slide provides solid coverage alongside Flare Blitz, hitting Fire-types harder while getting the Sheer Force boost.
- U-turn is used to allow another teammate to switch into a threat that Darmanitan cannot defeat, or to gain momentum for your team.
- Earthquake allows Darmanitan to deal more damage to Rhyperior while still dealing Super-Effective damage on many Steel-, Fire-, Poison- and Electric-type Pokemon.
- Superpower is a fine alternative to Earthquake, as it also hits Rhyperiors, Steel-, Normal- and Dark-types, and has greater initial power, however at the cost of stat drops.
========
- The 252 Attack and 252 Speed EVs are applied to maximize Darmanitan’s Speed and Attack stats; the 4 Special Defense EVs are applied to force Attack boost downloads from the Porygons.
- Sheer Force boosts Darmanitan’s moves that have secondary effects by 30%, meaning Flare Blitz and Rock Slide are boosted
- Jolly Nature, combined with the Choice Scarf item, allows Darmanitan to outspeed Mega Beedrill, Mega Sceptile, Mega Alakazam, and Mega Aerodactyl.
========
- U-turn is a great way for Darmanitan to scout switches and provide momentum for the team.
- Do not spam Flare Blitz excessively, as the recoil damage will accumulate quickly.
========
- A spinner/defogger on your team is crucial, since Darmanitan is weak to Stealth Rocks. Starmie/Mega Blastoise are cool options since Darmanitan can help fend off Grass-types that they have trouble dealing with, while Starmie/Mega Blastoise can take Scalds aimed at Darmanitan and scare away Ground-types.
- Teammates like Nidoqueen, Forretress, or even Celebi can provide hazard support (mainly Stealth Rock), which will greatly help Darmanitan nab KOs that it would otherwise miss without the hazards up.
- Teammates that can deal with Rhyperior/Bulky Water-type Pokemon easily is a must; Grass-types like Celebi or Shaymin are options, as they can hit those threats hard with their Grass-type moves, as well as absorb any Status conditions that come their way, due to their Natural Cure abilities.
- Teammates that can deal with faster Choice Scarfers like Hydreigon and Mienshao are also appreciated. Fairies like Florges/Aromatisse can help deal with those two certain threats, although both are incapable of handling Scarf Jirachi.
########
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Earthquake / Superpower
move 4: U-turn / Superpower
ability: Sheer Force
item: Choice Band / Life Orb
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
========
- Flare Blitz is Darmanitan's main STAB of choice, and its high base power is further powered by Sheer Force.
- Rock Slide provides solid coverage alongside Flare Blitz, hitting Fire-types harder while also powered up by Sheer Force.
- U-turn is used to allow another teammate to switch into a threat that Darmanitan cannot defeat, or to gain momentum for your team.
- Earthquake allows Darmanitan to deal more damage to Rhyperior while still dealing Super-Effective damage on many Steel-, Fire-, Poison-, and Electric-type Pokemon.
- Superpower also hits Rhyperiors, Steel-, Normal- and Dark-types, and has greater initial power, however at the cost of stat drops.
========
- The 252 Attack and 252 Speed EVs are applied to maximize Darmanitan’s Speed and Attack stats; the 4 Special Defense EVs are applied to force Attack boost downloads from the Porygons.
- Sheer Force boosts Darmanitan’s moves that have secondary effects by 30%, meaning Flare Blitz and Rock Slide are boosted.
- Jolly Nature allows Darmanitan to outspeed threats like Roserade and Krookodile.
========
- The choice between Life Orb and Choice Band depends on whether you want move switching flexibility at the cost of recoil damage on moves not boosted by Sheer Force (including U-turn) or some extra power and no Life Orb recoil at the cost of move switching flexibility.
- Darmanitan can very capably bluff the Choice Scarf set, although the user must be aware of when it's safe to reveal the power boosting item.
- Be aware of the recoil damage accumulated by using Flare Blitz; the damage will quickly rack up, especially with the damage that Darmanitan causes.
========
- A spinner or a Defogger will be of great benefit as Darmanitan does not enjoy coming in on hazards. Starmie provides spin support and can help cover Darmanitan's Water-type weakness, while Crobat can provide Defog support while covering its Ground-type weakness, and it can create an OK U-turn core with it.
- Teammates that can deal with Rhyperior and bulky Water-type Pokemon is key for Darmanitan to perform its wallbreaking role. Grass-types like Shaymin and Celebi are great options, although those are not the only options.
- Teammates like Hydreigon will greatly appreciate having walls like Florges/Aromatisse broken down.
########
- Fire Punch can be used over Flare Blitz as it will avoid the recoil effect, but it issignificantly weaker than Flare Blitz and it removes Darmanitan’s ability to wallbreak.
- Zen Headbutt is another move that is boosted by Sheer Force, has no recoil effect, and hits Fighting- and Poison-types harder, however it provides rather redundant coverage with its main options.
- A Belly Drum set with Salac Berry can be utilized to attempt a sweep, but it is generally not advised, due to the sheer amount of support this set needs in order to be successfully pulled off.
########
**Defensive Walls**: Some Defensive-oriented Pokemon such as Suicune, Rhyperior, and Swampert avoid 2HKOs from any of Darmanitan’s moves and KO it back; others like Hippowdon and Vaporeon can also tank a Flare Blitz and KO back, although they do not want to switch into a Choice Banded Flare Blitz.
**Arcanine**: Physically Defensive Arcanine can capably switch into any of Darmanitan's moves and heal off the damage with Morning Sun, although it must be wary of switching into a Rock Slide or Earthquake, especially when switching into Stealth Rocks.
**Stealth Rocks**: Stealth Rocks will help wear down Darmanitan significantly, as it takes around 25% every time it switches into them.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster attackers, as well as strong Priority-users, can dent Darmanitan’s wallbreaking/sweeping capabilities. Those include, but are not limited to Hydreigon, Mega Aerodactyl, and Entei.
Last edited:
