Itchy
take all my data, what will you find?
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Icicle Crash / Ice Punch
move 2: Giga Impact
move 3: Flare Blitz
move 4: Superpower / Earthquake / Iron Head
item: Choice Band
ability: Gorilla Tactics
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Galarian Darmanitan uses its great Attack, decent Speed tier, Gorilla Tactics, and Choice Band to OHKO as many opponents as possible before they can move. Either Icicle Crash or Ice Punch can be used; Ice Punch has perfect accuracy, but Icicle Crash has more power, notably securing matchups against Bulk Up Zarude, Rocky Helmet Aromatisse, and physically bulky Tapu Lele. Icicle Crash also has a 30% flinch chance, allowing Galarian Darmanitan to potentially beat Sturdy users and bulkier threats like Crustle and Aromatisse. Giga Impact OHKOes many bulkier Pokemon such as Sylveon and Primarina and even has a chance to OHKO physically defensive Tapu Fini. Flare Blitz does massive damage to Steel-types, notably OHKOing Registeel and non-Occa Berry Celesteela, and also helps Galarian Darmanitan defeat slower Volcarona sets. The last move is usually one of Superpower, Earthquake, or Iron Head. Superpower helps against Tyranitar, Air Balloon Heatran, bulky Kyurem and Chansey, Earthquake beats some Arcanine and Sitrus Berry Volcanion more reliably, and Iron Head reliably beats Aromatisse.
EVs
=============
Adamant is usually preferred, as it performs better versus bulkier Pokemon, like Tapu Fini and Aromatisse. The 4 Special Defense EVs block Pokemon with the ability Download, most notably Porygon2, from getting +1 Special Attack.
On bulkier spreads, Giga Impact is less valuable, since it lacks the necessary Attack investment to OHKO Tapu Fini. However, it is still valuable versus Sylveon and Primarina.
An alternative spread of 88 Atk / 244 Def / 176 Spe outspeeds Rillaboom and survives Celesteela's uninvested Heavy Slam and Life Orb Rillaboom's Fake Out + Grassy Glide.
An alternative spread of 8 HP / 116 Atk / 132 SpD / 252 Spe survives Choice Scarf Togekiss's Fire Blast and Choice Specs Tapu Fini's Hydro Pump so that it can KO them with Icicle Crash and two Earthquakes, respectively.
Usage Tips
=============
If Galarian Darmanitan does not have Iron Head, it should use Icicle Crash or Ice Punch against Aromatisse, rather than Giga Impact. Even though Giga Impact has a chance to OHKO, it has better odds to 2HKO with Ice Punch or Icicle Crash + Struggle. Galarian Darmanitan is 2HKOed by Moonblast and Rocky Helmet damage from Aromatisse, which means that if Aromatisse dodges or survives Giga Impact turn 1 and uses Trick Room, it can use Moonblast, disable Giga Impact as it recharges, and use Moonblast again to KO Galarian Darmanitan.
With the defensive spread, use Icicle Crash or Ice Punch versus Celesteela instead of Flare Blitz. This ensures that Celesteela will not KO Galarian Darmanitan afterwards, and the Ice-type moves 2HKO most Celesteela.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Flare Blitz / Thrash / Rock Slide / Lash Out
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Gorilla Tactics
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Icicle Crash is Galarian Darmanitan's strongest STAB option. Superpower beats non-Chople variants of Porygon-Z, Urshifu-S, and Kyurem. Earthquake is for Nihilego, Entei, and Zeraora. The last move is more variable, depending on the needs of the team; Flare Blitz for a better Celesteela and Metagross matchup, Thrash for Choice Scarf Tapu Fini, Rock Slide for Volcarona, or Lash Out for Spectrier.
EVs
=============
Galarian Darmanitan runs maximum Speed and a Speed-boosting nature to outspeed Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and Pheromosa. The leftover 4 EVs are put into Special Defense so Download users like Porygon2 get an Attack boost instead of a Special Attack boost.
An Adamant nature instead of a Jolly nature helps versus Heatran, but loses out on Timid Choice Scarf Kyurem and Porygon-Z, as well as other Galarian Darmanitan.
An alternative spread of 160 Atk / 112 Def / 236 Spe and an Adamant nature allows Galarian Darmanitan to survive Jolly Garchomp's Stone Edge and Adamant Garchomp's Outrage, so this spread is fairly reliable versus Choice Scarf and Custap Berry Garchomp.
If using Thrash, consider an EV spread of 4 HP / 144 Atk / 104 SpD / 252 Spe to survive Choice Specs Tapu Fini's Hydro Pump.
Usage Tips
=============
In nearly every matchup, use the move that does the most damage to come out on top.
[SET]
name: Zen Mode
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Endure
move 4: Encore / Reversal
item: Salac Berry
ability: Zen Mode
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Icicle Crash and, after activating Zen Mode, Flare Blitz are Galarian Darmanitan's strongest STAB options. In most matchups, Zen Mode is triggered when Galarian Darmanitan uses Endure on an attack that would otherwise OHKO it, activating both Zen Mode and the Salac Berry. To round out this set, Galarian Darmanitan-Z can use Encore to lock opponents into non-damaging moves, such as Endure. Reversal is another option, which can defeat Kyurem and Heatran.
EVs
=============
Adamant is the preferred nature, as base 135 Speed and at +1 Speed outspeeds all relevant threats.
Usage Tips
=============
When Galarian Darmanitan-Z can outspeed and OHKO an opponent, such as Venusaur and Ferrothorn, Galarian Darmanitan should just attack turn 1. Other matchups, where Darmanitan is outsped and OHKOed, like versus Pheromosa and Kartana, Galarian Darmanitan should use Endure, activate the Salac Berry, and OHKO the next turn.
Note that Galarian Darmanitan-Z is much weaker without Gorilla Tactics, so it does not KO bulkier Pokemon that it normally expects to like Regidrago.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Itchy, 518399]]
- Quality checked by: [[Here Comes Team Charm!, 501918], [Mishlef, 509647], [Waylaid, 474883]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866]]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Icicle Crash / Ice Punch
move 2: Giga Impact
move 3: Flare Blitz
move 4: Superpower / Earthquake / Iron Head
item: Choice Band
ability: Gorilla Tactics
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Galarian Darmanitan uses its great Attack, decent Speed tier, Gorilla Tactics, and Choice Band to OHKO as many opponents as possible before they can move. Either Icicle Crash or Ice Punch can be used; Ice Punch has perfect accuracy, but Icicle Crash has more power, notably securing matchups against Bulk Up Zarude, Rocky Helmet Aromatisse, and physically bulky Tapu Lele. Icicle Crash also has a 30% flinch chance, allowing Galarian Darmanitan to potentially beat Sturdy users and bulkier threats like Crustle and Aromatisse. Giga Impact OHKOes many bulkier Pokemon such as Sylveon and Primarina and even has a chance to OHKO physically defensive Tapu Fini. Flare Blitz does massive damage to Steel-types, notably OHKOing Registeel and non-Occa Berry Celesteela, and also helps Galarian Darmanitan defeat slower Volcarona sets. The last move is usually one of Superpower, Earthquake, or Iron Head. Superpower helps against Tyranitar, Air Balloon Heatran, bulky Kyurem and Chansey, Earthquake beats some Arcanine and Sitrus Berry Volcanion more reliably, and Iron Head reliably beats Aromatisse.
EVs
=============
Adamant is usually preferred, as it performs better versus bulkier Pokemon, like Tapu Fini and Aromatisse. The 4 Special Defense EVs block Pokemon with the ability Download, most notably Porygon2, from getting +1 Special Attack.
On bulkier spreads, Giga Impact is less valuable, since it lacks the necessary Attack investment to OHKO Tapu Fini. However, it is still valuable versus Sylveon and Primarina.
An alternative spread of 88 Atk / 244 Def / 176 Spe outspeeds Rillaboom and survives Celesteela's uninvested Heavy Slam and Life Orb Rillaboom's Fake Out + Grassy Glide.
An alternative spread of 8 HP / 116 Atk / 132 SpD / 252 Spe survives Choice Scarf Togekiss's Fire Blast and Choice Specs Tapu Fini's Hydro Pump so that it can KO them with Icicle Crash and two Earthquakes, respectively.
Usage Tips
=============
If Galarian Darmanitan does not have Iron Head, it should use Icicle Crash or Ice Punch against Aromatisse, rather than Giga Impact. Even though Giga Impact has a chance to OHKO, it has better odds to 2HKO with Ice Punch or Icicle Crash + Struggle. Galarian Darmanitan is 2HKOed by Moonblast and Rocky Helmet damage from Aromatisse, which means that if Aromatisse dodges or survives Giga Impact turn 1 and uses Trick Room, it can use Moonblast, disable Giga Impact as it recharges, and use Moonblast again to KO Galarian Darmanitan.
With the defensive spread, use Icicle Crash or Ice Punch versus Celesteela instead of Flare Blitz. This ensures that Celesteela will not KO Galarian Darmanitan afterwards, and the Ice-type moves 2HKO most Celesteela.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Flare Blitz / Thrash / Rock Slide / Lash Out
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Gorilla Tactics
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Icicle Crash is Galarian Darmanitan's strongest STAB option. Superpower beats non-Chople variants of Porygon-Z, Urshifu-S, and Kyurem. Earthquake is for Nihilego, Entei, and Zeraora. The last move is more variable, depending on the needs of the team; Flare Blitz for a better Celesteela and Metagross matchup, Thrash for Choice Scarf Tapu Fini, Rock Slide for Volcarona, or Lash Out for Spectrier.
EVs
=============
Galarian Darmanitan runs maximum Speed and a Speed-boosting nature to outspeed Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and Pheromosa. The leftover 4 EVs are put into Special Defense so Download users like Porygon2 get an Attack boost instead of a Special Attack boost.
An Adamant nature instead of a Jolly nature helps versus Heatran, but loses out on Timid Choice Scarf Kyurem and Porygon-Z, as well as other Galarian Darmanitan.
An alternative spread of 160 Atk / 112 Def / 236 Spe and an Adamant nature allows Galarian Darmanitan to survive Jolly Garchomp's Stone Edge and Adamant Garchomp's Outrage, so this spread is fairly reliable versus Choice Scarf and Custap Berry Garchomp.
If using Thrash, consider an EV spread of 4 HP / 144 Atk / 104 SpD / 252 Spe to survive Choice Specs Tapu Fini's Hydro Pump.
Usage Tips
=============
In nearly every matchup, use the move that does the most damage to come out on top.
[SET]
name: Zen Mode
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Endure
move 4: Encore / Reversal
item: Salac Berry
ability: Zen Mode
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Icicle Crash and, after activating Zen Mode, Flare Blitz are Galarian Darmanitan's strongest STAB options. In most matchups, Zen Mode is triggered when Galarian Darmanitan uses Endure on an attack that would otherwise OHKO it, activating both Zen Mode and the Salac Berry. To round out this set, Galarian Darmanitan-Z can use Encore to lock opponents into non-damaging moves, such as Endure. Reversal is another option, which can defeat Kyurem and Heatran.
EVs
=============
Adamant is the preferred nature, as base 135 Speed and at +1 Speed outspeeds all relevant threats.
Usage Tips
=============
When Galarian Darmanitan-Z can outspeed and OHKO an opponent, such as Venusaur and Ferrothorn, Galarian Darmanitan should just attack turn 1. Other matchups, where Darmanitan is outsped and OHKOed, like versus Pheromosa and Kartana, Galarian Darmanitan should use Endure, activate the Salac Berry, and OHKO the next turn.
Note that Galarian Darmanitan-Z is much weaker without Gorilla Tactics, so it does not KO bulkier Pokemon that it normally expects to like Regidrago.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Itchy, 518399]]
- Quality checked by: [[Here Comes Team Charm!, 501918], [Mishlef, 509647], [Waylaid, 474883]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866]]
Last edited: