Darmanitan (M) @ Salac Berry
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Belly Drum
- Fire Punch
- Earthquake\Rock Slide\Superpower
Basically it is a 5th gen version of the ocasionally seen Drummer Charizard on 3rd gen. With the addition of Darmanitan, the game gets a brand new drummer sweeper. Slower than Charizard, but it is compensated with higher base attack,better movepool, and 2x weakness to Stealth Rock (against 4x weakness of Charizard).
The idea is to send Darmanitan against everything it forces switching out, like grass and type pokemon or everything Darmanitan could OHKO if it had Flare Blitz (scarf set is one the standard ones). By using Susbtitute, you gain the opportunity to go for Belly Drum and get +1 Speed boost and the power to outspeed any non-scarfer or below 95 base speed scarfer.
101 substitute is important here.
Max speed is important to outspeed below 95 base speed scarfers, but 164 EVs in speed is enough to take down non-scarfers with adamant nature. Memento users like Whimiscott are good partners since they help Darmanitan to force the opponent to switch out. This set is more recommented mid-late game after checking if there is some threat like priority moves or Sturdy and the possibility of kill the entire party of the opponent; but early game may still work against unprepared teams.
If hit by Stealth Rock, Darmanitan has still enough conditions to perform a substitution and drumming afterwards.
