[SET]
name: Heavy-Duty Boots
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Earthquake / Rock Slide
move 4: Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
The combination of overwhelming strength, Heavy-Duty Boots, and U-turn makes Darmanitan a powerful wallbreaker and reliable pivot in RU. Earthquake hits Fire- and Rock-types like Chandelure, Incineroar, and Rhyperior in one slot. Rock Slide can be used instead of Earthquake to better deal with Flying-types like Noivern. Toxic allows Darmanitan to wear down bulky Pokemon more easily, especially its common switch-ins like Milotic, Seismitoad, and Rhyperior. Heavy-Duty Boots turns Darmanitan into a hard to wear down pivot, as it doesn't have to worry about entry hazards.
Pokemon such as Zygarde-10% and Cobalion that struggle against bulky Water-types like Seismistoad, Milotic, and Gastrodon appreciate Darmanitan's ability to put them on a timer with Toxic. Powerful wallbreakers like Obstagoon and Toxtricity, on the other hand, appreciate Darmanitan's U-turn support. Other U-turn or Volt Switch users such as Zarude, Xurkitree, and Thundurus are good teammates because they form a potent VoltTurn core with it. These Pokemon can also take advantage of bulky Water- and Rock-types that Darmanitan usually baits onto the battlefield. Metagross, Necrozma, and Roserade can support Darmanitan with their entry hazards to better chip down its typical switch-ins, which may need to continually switch in as Darmanitan comes in and out. Bulky Pokemon like Togekiss, Sylveon, and Milotic give Darmanitan a reliable defensive backbone, as Darmanitan is easily revenge killed by faster threats like Zygarde-10%, Noivern, and Mienshao.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Trick / Earthquake
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Darmanitan is a strong revenge killer and a huge threat in general to offensive teams or teams without a reliable bulky Water- or Rock-type. U-turn allows Darmanitan to keep up momentum, pivot out of disadvantageous matchups, and get a teammate safely onto the field. Sheer Force-boosted Rock Slide deals heavy damage to Flying- and Fire-types such as Noivern, Chandelure, and Incineroar that resist Flare Blitz. Trick allows Darmanitan to cripple a bulky threat or a dangerous bulky setup sweeper like Milotic, Calm Mind Galarian Slowbro, Suicune, or Curse Snorlax if needed. Alternatively, Earthquake can be used to 2HKO Diancie, Tyrantrum, and Dragalge and do more damage to Rhyperior. Superpower hits Snorlax and Rock-types in one slot, but outside of this it does not have very much use.
Zarude, Thundurus, and Raikou are fantastic partners for Darmanitan, as they form a good VoltTurn core with it, and Darmanitan can also bait bulky Water-types onto the battlefield for them. Strong wallbreakers like Toxtricity, Obstagoon, and Tyrantrum appreciate Darmanitan's ability to get them safely into the battle with U-turn. In return, Darmanitan appreciates their ability to weaken bulky threats for it to clean safely. These Pokemon are also able to beat Curse Snorlax, which is a huge threat to Darmanitan. Strong Fighting-types like Cobalion, Mienshao, and Heracross can beat Snorlax too as well as weaken sturdy Rock-types. Next, because entry hazards punish switches that Darmanitan usually forces, teammates like Rhyperior, Roserade, and Golisopod are crucial. On the other side, a hazard remover like Noivern, Crobat, or Starmie is very crucial too because entry hazards limit Darmanitan's pivoting, and they wear it down too quickly alongside Flare Blitz recoil. A defensive backbone is also important, as Darmanitan can be easily revenge killed by a faster Choice Scarf user or a priority user like Mienshao, Zarude, or Zygarde-10%.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Holy-Darky, 464737]]
- Quality checked by: [[zizalith, 410251], [GoldCat, 359771]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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