http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/dusknoir
[Overview]
<p>Probably the most unnecessary evolution in DPP, Dusknoir is about as good as Dusclops was in ADV. The extra Attack helps in a few places — such as countering Gyarados with ThunderPunch — but Dusknoir sorely misses good STAB. Generally, it is relegated to Dusclops's old duties; namely blocking Rapid Spin, spreading burn with Will-O-Wisp, and countering a few specific sweepers. However, it faces significant competition for the role of an anti-spinner with Spiritomb and Rotom-A running around, and it generally loses to Rotom-H.</p>
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Pain Split
move 3: Earthquake / Fire Punch
move 4: Ice Punch / ThunderPunch
item: Leftovers
nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 28 Atk / 228 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Dusknoir faces serious competition for the role of spin blocker with Rotom-A. However, Dusknoir is still more than capable of functioning as an effective spin blocker, boasting some significant advantages over the electronic appliance, most notably better defenses.</p>
<p>There are three effective Rapid Spin users in the OU metagame: Starmie, Forretress, and Tentacruel. Tentacruel and Forretress have no hope of breaking Dusknoir's impressive defenses, so only Starmie need special care. Starmie doesn't threaten Dusknoir much unless it is carrying Choice Specs; otherwise you can hit it with super effective ThunderPunch or super effective STAB Shadow Sneak and leech its HP whilst replenishing your own with Pain Split.</p>
<p>Dusknoir also makes a handy counter to many physical attackers, either by burning them with Will-O-Wisp or using the appropriate attack. Earthquake is Dusknoir's strongest attack besides Focus Punch. It easily deals with Heatran, who would otherwise happily come in for Flash Fire boosts against Will-O-Wisp and Fire Punch, as well as providing good coverage and 2HKOing Infernape. Fire Punch prevents Heracross from abusing Guts by coming into a Will-O-Wisp and Pursuiting Dusknoir, and hits Steel-types super effectively, especially Forretress and the ever common Scizor. Both are hit x4 effective, though neither will be OHKOed (Forretress won't even be 2HKOed). Will-O-Wisp and Fire Punch make Weavile much less of a threat too. Other common Pursuit users such as Tyranitar and Metagross can be crippled with a burn. ThunderPunch brings down Gyarados in two hits, while Ice Punch helps with Dragons like Salamence and Flygon. Earthquake has great type coverage alongside Ice Punch, resisted only by Bronzong in OU. Shadow Sneak is also a good option here. It bypasses Dusknoir's awful Speed and can help finish off weaker Pokémon, most notably Gengar, who will be 2HKOed. However, its poor damage output means it will do little damage to even frail sweepers unless they are weak to Ghost-type attacks. Pain Split is a rather poor method of healing, but it's all Dusknoir has outside of the very risky Rest. However, you can use his ridiculously low HP and Speed to your advantage by taking hits from high HP Pokémon and sapping their health while recovering your own.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>The EVs are focused in Defense as most of the Pokémon Dusknoir is looking to counter are physical attackers, like Heracross and Gyarados. 28 Atk EVs guarantees an OHKO with Earthquake on 4 HP Heatran with Stealth Rock support. If you have Shadow Sneak to 2HKO Gengar, then you may wish to use a spread of 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD. This guarantees Dusknoir survives a Life Orb Shadow Ball from a Timid Gengar.</p>
<p>If Tyranitar and Weavile come in on Dusknoir whilst avoiding Will-O-Wisp, the Ghost will be in for a world of a pain. Choice Band Tyranitar's Crunch has about a 20% chance to OHKO Dusknoir. Scizor, Machamp, and Thick Fat Hariyama make good back ups, resisting Tyranitar's STAB attacks, though Machamp will have to watch for Weavile's Ice Punch. Forretress and Metagross completely wall Weavile, and are at least decent choices against Tyranitar. Bulky Grounds also work for countering Tyranitar, and Swampert can beat both Tyranitar and Weavile. To cover Scizor, use Heatran or Zapdos. Heracross is very problematic if it gets a Guts boost from Dusknoir's Will-O-Wisp. Your best answer is Gliscor or BulkyGyara, the latter also helping against Weavile and Scizor. Heatran makes another great Scizor counter, as it also walls Weavile, as long as it avoids Superpower and Brick Break respectively. If Earthquake is absent, Dusknoir's biggest problem will be Heatran. A Blissey or bulky Water-type will solve that problem, even if Heatran receives a Flash Fire boost. Against Pursuit users it is often wise to use double switches to send in your counters to the Pursuit users, so that Dusknoir doesn't have to switch out when your opponent uses Pursuit.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Pain Split
move 4: Earthquake / Shadow Punch
item: Leftovers
nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
IVs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Trick Room sets Dusknoir apart from other Ghost Pokémon. Dusknoir is an excellent user of Trick Room, being both slow and possessing high defenses, and thus is a reliable choice for a supporter on a Trick Room team. The strategy is straightforward enough - simply come in on something that poses little threat to Dusknoir (bulky Fighting-types and most defensive Pokémon), set up Trick Room, and then switch out to a slow sweeper to abuse the three remaining turns of Trick Room.</p>
<p>Will-O-Wisp is a great move to have on a Trick Room team. It not only cripples threatening attackers, but also weakens defensive Pokémon with its residual damage so that your sweepers can break past them. Tyranitar is also an extremely common switch into Dusknoir, and Will-O-Wisp allows you to slash its attacking power and reduce the threat it poses to your team. Thanks to Trick Room, you will always use Will-O-Wisp before Tyranitar can use Crunch. Pain Split provides Dusknoir with some instant, albeit unreliable, recovery, and if you choose your Pain Split targets carefully, Dusknoir should be able to stick around for quite a while and set up Trick Room multiple times. Wish support is a good idea if you choose to forgo Pain Split</p>
<p>There are many options that can go in the last slot. Shadow Sneak's priority is still sometimes useful in Trick Room, and is definitely preferable to Shadow Punch outside of it. However, the increase in Base Power of Shadow Punch is preferable for use in Trick Room conditions. Earthquake is a solid attacking move, and in particular hits any Heatran coming in to steal a Flash Fire boost from your Will-O-Wisp. As with the Tank set, move 28 Def EVs into Atk if you intend on using Earthquake. If Scizor, Salamence, or Gyarados gives your team trouble, you can use the appropriate elemental punch in that slot to help deal with them.</p>
<p>With a Relaxed nature and a Speed IV of 0, Dusknoir sits at a very slow 85 Speed, meaning it will outspeed the vast majority of opponents in Trick Room and can get some quick recovery with Pain Split.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>This set fears the same Pokémon as the Tank set, but only a few Pokémon who can wall them gain a major benefit from Trick Room. With Dusknoir frequently setting up Trick Room, these Pokémon can switch in more easily. Against Heatran, Tyranitar is your best choice. For Tyranitar, Scizor, Machamp or Rhyperior work very well. Against Weavile, once again Scizor and Rhyperior work well (Rhyperior can avoid a 2HKO from Ice Punch with some EV investment). Metagross can survive any of Heracross's attacks and outspeed it thanks to Trick Room, as well as comfortably beat Tyranitar and Weavile.</p>
[SET]
name: Gravity
move 1: Gravity
move 2: DynamicPunch / Earthquake
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Pain Split / Shadow Sneak
item: Leftovers
nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Gravity is Dusknoir's biggest niche move. Not only is it the only Ghost Pokémon and one of the very few Pokémon that can use Gravity, but it can use it well, especially when Spikes and Toxic Spikes are set up, which are so much more deadly under Gravity. DynamicPunch is Dusknoir's main attacking move. Under Gravity, it has 82% accuracy, and therefore an 82% chance to cause confusion backed up by 100 Base Power. The confusion works well with Will-O-Wisp, which has 100% accuracy in Gravity, as a turn of Confusion damage means another turn for burn damage, even if burn does half the confusion damage. However, Earthquake is an option over DynamicPunch. Under Gravity, it hits every single Pokémon, and it has double the PP of DyanmicPunch. Pain Split is the recommended option to help keep Dusknoir alive. However, Shadow Sneak remains an option to finish off weakened Pokémon and hit frail Psychic and Ghost types for decent damage. Shadow Sneak also has perfect type coverage alongside DynamicPunch.</p>
<p>The EVs are the same as the Tank set, as most of the opponents who Dusknoir are looking to wall are still physical attackers.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Tyranitar and Weavile will have to think twice before switching in thanks to DynamicPunch, but they are still problematic, especially with Dusknoir having to set up Gravity. Heracross and Scizor are even more threatening when you are without Fire Punch. Heatran can take all of the bug's attacks, save the Fighting-type attacks, and Dusknoir's typing will make them think twice before being locked into Fighting-type attacks. Blissey can wall Heatran, and Swampert can wall Tyranitar and Weavile. If Shadow Sneak is absent, Dusknoir will have a hard time with Ghost- and Flying-types and Pokemon with Levitate as an ability. Blissey can wall the Ghost-types, unless she gets Tricked a Choice item, or if the Ghost-type carries Rest. Tyranitar can beat the Ghost-types and most Flying-types and Pokémon with Levitate. If Choice Band Tyranitar gets hit by Trick, the Ghost-type is now locked into Trick, and cannot avoid Pursuit. All of the aforementioned teammates work well in Gravity teams in some way or another.</p>
[SET]
name: Sub Punch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: Sucker Punch / Shadow Sneak
move 4: Fire Punch / Ice Punch
item: Leftovers
nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Once again, this is a set that sets Dusknoir apart from its bulky Ghost brethren. This set uses Dusknoir's immunities to easily switch in and Substitute, and then deal large damage Dusknoir's usual counters from Dusknoir's often underestimated Attack stat and its impressive physical movepool. Focus Punch and Fire Punch hit Tyranitar and Heracross respectively, both common switches into Dusknoir for huge damage, actually OHKOing Tyranitar and nearly OHKOing Heracross.</p>
<p>Fire Punch versus Ice Punch depends on whether you want to beat Heracross or take on Salamence. Since Heracross almost will never hesitate to switch in, Substitute + Fire Punch can be used to severely cripple it. Substitute will force the frequently Choiced Heracross to reveal its hand, and Fire Punch will nearly OHKO it. On the other hand, Ice Punch OHKOs min/min Salamence even without Stealth Rock and provides better type coverage alongside Focus Punch. The choice between Sucker Punch and Shadow Sneak is difficult. Despite Dusknoir not getting STAB on Sucker Punch, it is still more powerful than his Shadow Sneak. The added power allows you to OHKO opponents like Gengar and Alakazam, something Shadow Sneak will not do. However, Sucker Punch will fail if your opponent chooses not to attack you and has a mere maximum 8 PP. ThunderPunch can be considered as well, if you fear Gyarados setting up on you. Pain Split is also an option if you want to attempt to stall your opponent and can be useful to recover HP lost from creating your Substitutes.</p>
<p>323 Attack is needed to always OHKO 4 HP / 252 Def Blissey with Focus Punch and Stealth Rock, always 2HKO 252 HP / 216 Def Impish Forretress with Fire Punch and Stealth Rock, and always OHKO 4 HP / 0 Def Alakazam with Sucker Punch. It finally allows you to take on Salamence, OHKOing 216 HP / 252 Def Bold Salamence with Ice Punch followed by Shadow Sneakprovided Stealth Rock is in play, before it gets the chance to Roost. This Dusknoir has 328 Attack, but EVs are better invested in Attack than Defense, as this Dusknoir wants to deal as much damage as possible with Focus Punch. One could run 84 Speed EVs to outrun minimum Speed Blissey if you desire to put up a Substitute before Blissey can use Toxic against Dusknoir, hampering her ability to sweep from behind a Substitute.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>This set will never break strong physical walls. Cresselia and bulky Ground-types and Water-types laugh at Dusknoir with their gigantic defenses. Tyranitar or Scizor are recommended for the pink duck, and Celebi is recommended for the Ground-types and Water-types. Skarmory shrugs off Focus Punch and Fire Punch, and just sets up Spikes against Dusknoir, so Magnezone support is recommended. Dusknoir has nothing against Gyarados if it does not have ThunderPunch, so Porygon2 and Celebi are helpful. If Fire Punch is absent, Heracross and Forretress will have no problems against this set, but BulkyGyara can beat them both. Without Ice Punch, Salamence is problematic. Porygon2 and Swampert are effective Salamence checks. Swampert also walls the Ground-types who Dusknoir cannot break.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Focus Punch
move 2: Shadow Sneak / Sucker Punch
move 3: Fire Punch / Ice Punch / ThunderPunch
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Dusknoir’s movepool and respectable base Attack stat make it a viable user of Choice Band. Although slow, Dusknoir packs quite a punch and has the ability to counter many Pokémon depending on which choice of moves you use. Focus Punch is an easy OHKO on Tyranitar, Weavile, and Heatran, and is Dusknoir's strongest attack, provided you are good at predicting. Brick Break or Earthquake may be used if you don’t like the prediction involved with Focus Punch, but there is a big difference in Base Power. Shadow Sneak gives Dusknoir a STAB priority move to OHKO Gengar, Azelf, and Alakazam. You may opt to use Sucker Punch, which alongside Focus Punch, will make your opponent struggle to decide whether he should attack or not. However, Sucker Punch's usage is very situational and could easily backfire on you, especially considering its meager 8 PP.</p>
<p>The choice of the last two moves is dependent on how you want your Dusknoir to function. The elemental punches will all hit specific targets depending on your needs: Fire Punch will hit Heracross, Forretress, and Scizor; Ice Punch will hit Dragon-types (most notably Salamence) and Gliscor; and ThunderPunch will give you coverage against Gyarados and bulky Waters. Trick is also an interesting option that Dusknoir can use to cripple some of its counters, most notably Spiritomb. Most of Dusknoir’s counters aren't physical attackers, who fear Will-O-Wisp, and many will not enjoy the burden of the Choice Band. Trick also forces switches, which will allow you to fire off a free Focus Punch. Do not feel that you have to use Trick; another elemental punch could still viably go in the last slot. However, it is worth noting that after Dusknoir tricks its Choice Band onto an opposing Pokemon, his power will become weakened.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>This set possesses more power over the Sub Punch set, but it still can't break physically defensive walls unless it manages to Trick them. Good teammates are, once again, Tyranitar or Scizor for Cresselia, Celebi for bulky Ground-types and Water-types, Magnezone for Steel-types, and Porygon2 for Gyarados and Salamence. A Choice item makes Dusknoir very suspectable to Pursuit users, so it's important that you can reliably deal with Pursuit. Have Swampert, Hariyama, or Metagross for Tyranitar and Weavile, and Gliscor or BulkyGyara for Heracross. For Metagross, Magnezone or Swampert once again work wonders.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Stealth Rock is always a nice bonus when using Dusknoir to net some important OHKOs. With Stealth Rock support, 28 Atk EVs guarantees an OHKO on 4 HP Heatran with Earthquake, and 84 EVs nets a 2HKO on Azelf with Shadow Sneak. In fact, any entry hazard works well with Dusknoir. Besides the obvious entry damage, Dusknoir blocks Rapid Spin, and it has the bulk to survive a long time. Pain Split will help Dusknoir stall out Toxic Spikes damage. However, keep in mind that Dusknoir will be unable to use Will-O-Wisp on Pokémon who have been hit by Toxic Spikes. Cleric support is great, for Dusknoir hates being poisoned or burnt.</p>
<p>On the offensive department, Dusknoir's lack of Attack will often mean that it will struggle to defeat many Pokémon. Its purpose is generally not to dish out damage. On the teams that Dusknoir are usually a part of, that damage will be carried out by entry hazards and possibly sandstorm support. However, specific mentions will be given to the Pokémon who Dusknoir can never outstall. Heatran is easily handled by Blissey, any bulky Water-type, or Tyranitar, and Rest Cresselia, Rotom-A, and Dusknoir are beaten by Tyranitar. They can also be outstalled by Suicune with Calm Mind and Rest thanks to Pressure, or taken advantage of by Celebi's Leech Seed.</p>
<p>Tyranitar and Weavile are huge threats if they avoid Will-O-Wisp. Swampert and Hariyama wall both of them, whilst Hippowdon walls Tyranitar and provides sandstorm support that is generally helpful for the stall teams of which Dusknoir is often a part. Heracross possesses both Pursuit and Guts to threaten Dusknoir. Your best answer to it is Gliscor or Sleep Talk Gyarados. Dusknoir is primarily a physical wall, so your opponent may send in special attackers against Dusknoir. Blissey is the best choice for sponging special attacks. Dugtrio can prove to be a great method for removing Heatran, Tyranitar, and Heracross, especially through double switches. Trick completely messes up any Dusknoir set save the Choice Bander, so it's worth having a Pokémon on your team that doesn't mind losing its item. If the opposing Pokémon uses Trick on your Choice Tyranitar or Scizor, it cannot avoid a Pursuit to the face. Scizor also keeps Tyranitar at bay. Usually, you won't have a hard time switching Dusknoir in safely. The best way to do so is to use its two immunities. Blissey is an excellent Pokémon for luring in Fighting attacks, Explosion, and Rapid Spin, all of which are free switch ins for Dusknoir. On the topic of Rapid Spin, entry hazards are the best way to lure out your opponent's spinner, and then you can send in Dusknoir as they attempt to spin.</p>
<p>Heatran is commonly seen alongside Celebi and Scizor. Scizor and Tyranitar are both comfortably deal with the green pixie. Perhaps a better idea is to use Celebi as set up time for your team's entry hazards. There are many Pokémon that wall Scizor: Zapdos, Gliscor, Gyarados and Hippowdon to name a few. Tyranitar is commonly seen alongside Ground-types and Steel-types that resist Sandstorm. Swampert and Celebi wall all the Ground-types, and Zapdos and Hippowdon can wall the Steel-types. Heracross is frequently seen alongside Salamence, so Bronzong, Porygon2 and/or Swampert are recommended for the mighty dragon. Weavile is normally partnered with Infernape, so Tentacruel or Cresselia is recommended.</p>
<p>Double switches are recommended to use Dusknoir to its maximum potential. It greatly fears Heatran and Heracross if it lacks Earthquake / Focus Punch and Fire Punch respectively. A double switch can quickly force these two out, and if you have entry hazards set up, they will have received massive damage in vain. If you double switch to Blissey as your opponent switches to Heatran, then you can triple switch to Dusknoir as Heatran uses Explosion. However, such a tactic is obvious to any smart opponent.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Dusknoir can use a Rest + Sleep Talk combo to good effect, but Rotom-A boasts better typing, movepool, and stats for this combo. Toxic can take the place of Will-O-Wisp on any of the sets, but Toxic can be used on almost any defensive Pokémon, and Dusknoir really needs Will-O-Wisp to keep opposing physical attackers at bay. Calm Mind is usable, but Spiritomb is more suited for this job thanks to its typing and higher Special Attack. Counter can surprise powerful physical attackers like Heracross who want to 2HKO you — just don't overuse it, as Dusknoir isn't ideal for the move with his pitiful HP.</p>
</p>
[Counters]
<p>It may be able to cripple them with Will-O-Wisp or a super effective attack, but if they get in unscratched, Dusknoir has real trouble with Pursuit users. Tyranitar, Weavile, and Heracross are all huge problems. Dusknoir is often without Brick Break or Focus Punch, so Tyranitar can usually get in more safely than others. Heracross can get a Guts boost from Will-O-Wisp and do some serious damage. Houndoom's Pursuit is a lot less threatening, due to a lower Attack stat, but it can absorb Fire attacks and hammer Dusknoir with Dark Pulse, or Flash Fire boosted Fire Blast / Overheat. Heatran is a significant problem, for Dusknoir usually doesn't carry Earthquake or Focus Punch, so Heatran can come in on any attack and deal high damage with its Fire attacks, especially with a Flash Fire boost.</p>
<p>Spiritomb won't take much damage from any of Dusknoir's attacks and easily beats it with Dark Pulse. Beware of Gyarados if you don't have ThunderPunch, as it can Taunt attempts to use Will-O-Wisp and easily set up with Dragon Dance. In fact, most Pokémon with Taunt can cause problems, provided they aren't weak to Dusknoir's attacks.</p>
<p>Toxic and Will-O-Wisp will greatly hinder Dusknoir's tanking capabilities if it doesn't have Rest.</p>
