[SET]
name: Magic Guard + Life Orb
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Earthquake / Superpower
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Great Attack and wide offensive movepool make Galarian Darmanitan a formidable wallbreaker. Icicle Crash threatens common foes like Garchomp, Kommo-o, Mandibuzz, and Landorus-T and has great neutral coverage in a metagame where offensive Ice-types are rare. Flare Blitz complements Icicle Crash by hitting non-Flash Fire Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Corviknight, and Skarmory, as well as Jirachi and Doublade. U-turn lets Galarian Darmanitan act as a pivot—which works exceptionally well with Magic Guard to avoid entry hazard damage—to safely bring in teammates that can deal with its switch-ins like Tapu Fini and Dauntless Shield Mew, even providing a strong hit for the latter. Earthquake provides important coverage for Toxapex, while Superpower covers other Steel-types like Flash Fire Ferrothorn. Magic Guard also provides solid longevity by letting Galarian Darmanitan avoid Life Orb and Flare Blitz recoil, as well as Rocky Helmet from users like Skarmory, Corviknight, and Ferrothorn. A Jolly nature is used to outspeed and OHKO Adamant Galarian Zapdos and, after minor chip damage, Modest Tapu Lele.
Galarian Darmanitan fits mostly on offense and bulky offense teams. Defensive pivots like Corviknight and RegenVest Jirachi and Landorus-T make for great teammates, as they can bring it in safely on foes like Ferrothorn and opposing Landorus-T. They can also switch into threats that can revenge kill it reliably like Terrakion, Tapu Lele, and Volcarona, respectively. Offensive pivots like Zarude and Tapu Koko are also great options, as they form a potent VoltTurn core with Galarian Darmanitan; they pressure bulky Water-types and Dauntless Shield Mew, while Galarian Darmanitan threatens some of their best checks like Mandibuzz and RegenVest Landorus-T, respectively. Late-game cleaners like Swords Dance Talonflame and Choice Scarf Azelf appreciate Galarian Darmanitan pressuring Mandibuzz and Corviknight for them. A sturdy Fire-resistant or -immune teammate like Slowbro or Primordial Sea Zapdos is necessary to switch into fast Fire-type threats like Cinderace and Talonflame. Offensive teammates that can compensate for Galarian Darmanitan's average Speed like Choice Scarf Azelf and Choice Band Zarude are great partners, as they can revenge kill faster threats like Terrakion and Barraskewda, respectively.
[SET]
name: Zen Mode
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Fire Punch / Earthquake
move 3: Belly Drum
move 4: Substitute
item: Salac Berry
ability: Zen Mode
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Belly Drum and a high Speed stat post-transformation, Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan becomes a threatening cleaner when it is able to set up. Once Zen Mode is activated, its newfound Speed tier alongside Salac Berry allows it to outspeed the unboosted metagame, outpacing fast foes like Regieleki, Choice Scarf Azelf and Latios, and Surge Surfer Xurkitree. After Belly Drum, Icicle Crash threatens to OHKO prominent physically bulky Pokemon like Swampert, Flash Fire Ferrothorn and Corviknight, and Dauntless Shield Hippowdon. Even with Belly Drum and Ice Punch's reliability, Icicle Crash is still preferred to ignore debilitating Rocky Helmet from foes like Kommo-o and Hippowdon, and most importantly, guarantee the 2HKO on Unaware Mandibuzz, which ignores its Belly Drum boost. Boosted Fire Punch cleanly OHKOes physically defensive Steel-types like Dauntless Shield Skarmory and Corviknight, as well as Jirachi and Doublade. Earthquake is a fine alternative to also hit the latter two alongside Heatran, Volcanion, and Toxapex and is Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan's strongest attack to hit other bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini and Vaporeon. Substitute lets it safely activate Zen Mode and Salac Berry, takes advantage of passive foes like Mew and Ferrothorn by blocking their status moves, and prevents it from being revenge killed by priority attacks like Triage Kommo's Drain Punch and Barraskewda's Aqua Jet.
Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan fits exclusively on hyper offense teams that appreciate its high offensive presence. Since it will, at best, get one chance to sweep, it needs pristine conditions to get both Belly Drum and the Salac Berry activation safely. Dual screens support from teammates like Regieleki and Tapu Koko are near-mandatory, as they allow Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan to set up much more easily. They can also help alleviate its Stealth Rock weakness: Regieleki's Rapid Spin removes them, while Tapu Koko's Taunt can shut down attempts of setting them up from foes like Ferrothorn and Heatran. Galvanize Kommo-o is an amazing partner that can wallbreak early-game and lure in and potentially KO Prankster Toxapex and Dauntless Shield Skarmory for Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan, especially if it is not running the right coverage move. Setup sweepers like Triage Tapu Bulu and Swords Dance Dhelmise appreciate Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan threatening Unaware Mandibuzz, Dauntless Shield Kommo-o, and physically defensive Corviknight and Skarmory for them; moreover, they help pressure bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini, Slowbro, and Vaporeon for it in return. Psychic Surge Azelf provides Psychic Terrain to prevent Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan from being revenge killed by priority attacks, especially as it tends to be at low health after setting up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Scarf can be used to outspeed faster Pokemon like Tapu Koko, Zarude, Garchomp, and Tornadus-T; however, being Choice-locked makes it easier to play around and is generally outclassed by other Choice Scarf users like Azelf and Latios.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Slowbro, Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Vaporeon have the physical bulk to withstand any attacks from Galarian Darmanitan. Toxapex's Prankster-boosted Haze can also reliably remove its Belly Drum + Salac Berry boosts. However, Tapu Fini has to be wary of +6 Earthquake.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: If Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan is not running Fire Punch, Dauntless Shield Skarmory can wall it reliably and proceed to phaze it. However, not running Earthquake makes it walled by Tapu Fini. Dauntless Shield Mew and Hippowdown are not 2HKOed by any attacks on the Magic + Guard Life Orb set, letting them retaliate with Will-O-Wisp or Earthquake, respectively.
**Unaware**: Belly Drum variants can't break through common Unaware users like Chansey, Blissey, and Mew, the latter of which threatens an OHKO in return with Foul Play.
**Revenge Killers**: Due to Galarian Darmanitan's average Speed tier, faster Pokemon like Garchomp, Inteleon, Terrakion, and Zygarde-10% can outspeed and threaten it with an OHKO. Even with its blazing Speed from Zen Mode and Salac Berry, priority moves like Triage Kommo-o's Drain Punch, Barraskewda's Aqua Jet, and Zygarde-10%'s Extreme Speed can still pick it off easily, given its Substitute is not up.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260]]
- Quality checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866]]
name: Magic Guard + Life Orb
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Earthquake / Superpower
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Great Attack and wide offensive movepool make Galarian Darmanitan a formidable wallbreaker. Icicle Crash threatens common foes like Garchomp, Kommo-o, Mandibuzz, and Landorus-T and has great neutral coverage in a metagame where offensive Ice-types are rare. Flare Blitz complements Icicle Crash by hitting non-Flash Fire Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Corviknight, and Skarmory, as well as Jirachi and Doublade. U-turn lets Galarian Darmanitan act as a pivot—which works exceptionally well with Magic Guard to avoid entry hazard damage—to safely bring in teammates that can deal with its switch-ins like Tapu Fini and Dauntless Shield Mew, even providing a strong hit for the latter. Earthquake provides important coverage for Toxapex, while Superpower covers other Steel-types like Flash Fire Ferrothorn. Magic Guard also provides solid longevity by letting Galarian Darmanitan avoid Life Orb and Flare Blitz recoil, as well as Rocky Helmet from users like Skarmory, Corviknight, and Ferrothorn. A Jolly nature is used to outspeed and OHKO Adamant Galarian Zapdos and, after minor chip damage, Modest Tapu Lele.
Galarian Darmanitan fits mostly on offense and bulky offense teams. Defensive pivots like Corviknight and RegenVest Jirachi and Landorus-T make for great teammates, as they can bring it in safely on foes like Ferrothorn and opposing Landorus-T. They can also switch into threats that can revenge kill it reliably like Terrakion, Tapu Lele, and Volcarona, respectively. Offensive pivots like Zarude and Tapu Koko are also great options, as they form a potent VoltTurn core with Galarian Darmanitan; they pressure bulky Water-types and Dauntless Shield Mew, while Galarian Darmanitan threatens some of their best checks like Mandibuzz and RegenVest Landorus-T, respectively. Late-game cleaners like Swords Dance Talonflame and Choice Scarf Azelf appreciate Galarian Darmanitan pressuring Mandibuzz and Corviknight for them. A sturdy Fire-resistant or -immune teammate like Slowbro or Primordial Sea Zapdos is necessary to switch into fast Fire-type threats like Cinderace and Talonflame. Offensive teammates that can compensate for Galarian Darmanitan's average Speed like Choice Scarf Azelf and Choice Band Zarude are great partners, as they can revenge kill faster threats like Terrakion and Barraskewda, respectively.
[SET]
name: Zen Mode
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Fire Punch / Earthquake
move 3: Belly Drum
move 4: Substitute
item: Salac Berry
ability: Zen Mode
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Belly Drum and a high Speed stat post-transformation, Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan becomes a threatening cleaner when it is able to set up. Once Zen Mode is activated, its newfound Speed tier alongside Salac Berry allows it to outspeed the unboosted metagame, outpacing fast foes like Regieleki, Choice Scarf Azelf and Latios, and Surge Surfer Xurkitree. After Belly Drum, Icicle Crash threatens to OHKO prominent physically bulky Pokemon like Swampert, Flash Fire Ferrothorn and Corviknight, and Dauntless Shield Hippowdon. Even with Belly Drum and Ice Punch's reliability, Icicle Crash is still preferred to ignore debilitating Rocky Helmet from foes like Kommo-o and Hippowdon, and most importantly, guarantee the 2HKO on Unaware Mandibuzz, which ignores its Belly Drum boost. Boosted Fire Punch cleanly OHKOes physically defensive Steel-types like Dauntless Shield Skarmory and Corviknight, as well as Jirachi and Doublade. Earthquake is a fine alternative to also hit the latter two alongside Heatran, Volcanion, and Toxapex and is Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan's strongest attack to hit other bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini and Vaporeon. Substitute lets it safely activate Zen Mode and Salac Berry, takes advantage of passive foes like Mew and Ferrothorn by blocking their status moves, and prevents it from being revenge killed by priority attacks like Triage Kommo's Drain Punch and Barraskewda's Aqua Jet.
Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan fits exclusively on hyper offense teams that appreciate its high offensive presence. Since it will, at best, get one chance to sweep, it needs pristine conditions to get both Belly Drum and the Salac Berry activation safely. Dual screens support from teammates like Regieleki and Tapu Koko are near-mandatory, as they allow Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan to set up much more easily. They can also help alleviate its Stealth Rock weakness: Regieleki's Rapid Spin removes them, while Tapu Koko's Taunt can shut down attempts of setting them up from foes like Ferrothorn and Heatran. Galvanize Kommo-o is an amazing partner that can wallbreak early-game and lure in and potentially KO Prankster Toxapex and Dauntless Shield Skarmory for Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan, especially if it is not running the right coverage move. Setup sweepers like Triage Tapu Bulu and Swords Dance Dhelmise appreciate Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan threatening Unaware Mandibuzz, Dauntless Shield Kommo-o, and physically defensive Corviknight and Skarmory for them; moreover, they help pressure bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini, Slowbro, and Vaporeon for it in return. Psychic Surge Azelf provides Psychic Terrain to prevent Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan from being revenge killed by priority attacks, especially as it tends to be at low health after setting up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Scarf can be used to outspeed faster Pokemon like Tapu Koko, Zarude, Garchomp, and Tornadus-T; however, being Choice-locked makes it easier to play around and is generally outclassed by other Choice Scarf users like Azelf and Latios.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Slowbro, Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Vaporeon have the physical bulk to withstand any attacks from Galarian Darmanitan. Toxapex's Prankster-boosted Haze can also reliably remove its Belly Drum + Salac Berry boosts. However, Tapu Fini has to be wary of +6 Earthquake.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: If Zen Mode Galarian Darmanitan is not running Fire Punch, Dauntless Shield Skarmory can wall it reliably and proceed to phaze it. However, not running Earthquake makes it walled by Tapu Fini. Dauntless Shield Mew and Hippowdown are not 2HKOed by any attacks on the Magic + Guard Life Orb set, letting them retaliate with Will-O-Wisp or Earthquake, respectively.
**Unaware**: Belly Drum variants can't break through common Unaware users like Chansey, Blissey, and Mew, the latter of which threatens an OHKO in return with Foul Play.
**Revenge Killers**: Due to Galarian Darmanitan's average Speed tier, faster Pokemon like Garchomp, Inteleon, Terrakion, and Zygarde-10% can outspeed and threaten it with an OHKO. Even with its blazing Speed from Zen Mode and Salac Berry, priority moves like Triage Kommo-o's Drain Punch, Barraskewda's Aqua Jet, and Zygarde-10%'s Extreme Speed can still pick it off easily, given its Substitute is not up.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260]]
- Quality checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866]]
Last edited:
