Competitive Information for Darmanitan (zen) [Sword/Shield]


Fire / Psychic
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Darmanitan-zen? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Darmanitan is a stupendous Fire and Psychic-typed Pokemon. It's almost common to see Darmanitan show up as a Sword/Shield opponent. Darmanitan is typically seen in the UU tier (Underused). Darmanitan is weak to Dark, Ghost, Ground, Rock, and Water-typed attacks.
Item: Eject Pack / Choice Specs
Ability: Zen Mode
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Overheat / Flamethrower
- Psychic / Extrasensory
- Grass Knot / Solar Beam
- Hyper Beam / Round
Special Sweeper Darmanitan-Zen (Zen Mode)
Darmanitan is a phenomenal Special Sweeper for single battles. This moveset attempts to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Darmanitan's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Zen Mode, if darmanitan at end of turn changes mode to standard if > 1/2 max hp else zen. With a Eject Pack equipped to it, if Darmanitan's stat stages are lowered, it switches to a chosen ally then the Eject Pack gets consumed.
◆ Flamethrower is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the target).
◆ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Extrasensory is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
◆ Solar Beam is a special 120-base power Grass-type move (charges turn 1. Hits turn 2. No charge in sunlight).
◆ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Darmanitan cannot move next turn).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is100
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Darmanitan-zen? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Zen Mode
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Heat Wave / Burning Jealousy
- Psychic / Extrasensory
- Grass Knot / Solar Beam
- Hyper Beam / Round
Doubles Special Sweeper Darmanitan-Zen (Zen Mode)
Darmanitan is a stupendous Special Sweeper for double battles. It's meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Darmanitan's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Darmanitan's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Zen Mode, if darmanitan at end of turn changes mode to standard if > 1/2 max hp else zen.
◆ Burning Jealousy is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Fire-type move (100% burns a target that had a stat rise this turn).
◆ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Extrasensory is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
◆ Solar Beam is a special 120-base power Grass-type move (charges turn 1. Hits turn 2. No charge in sunlight).
◆ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Darmanitan cannot move next turn).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id100
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Darmanitan-zen learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Darmanitan-zen can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Darmanitan-zen
- Moves: Sunny day + Solar beam
- Moves: Belly drum + Rest
- Moves: Endure + Reversal
- Moves: Endure + Endeavor
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Substitute + Reversal
- Moves: Yawn + Protect
- Moves: Body Press + Bulk Up
- Moves: Body Press + Iron Defense
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Endeavor + Item: Focus Sash
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic, Yawn, Will-O-Wisp, Burning Jealousy
Moves that boost Darmanitan-zen's stats
- Belly Drum
- Bulk Up
- Flame Charge
- Iron Defense
- Power-Up Punch
- Work Up
Most notable and possible best moves for Darmanitan-zen
- Earthquake
- Protect
- Rest
- Taunt
- Toxic
- U-turn
Common Effort Values for Darmanitan-zen in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Darmanitan-zen's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Darmanitan-zen. Top rated Darmanitan-zen Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Darmanitan-zen builds Sword/Shield. Darmanitan-zen movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Darmanitan-zen Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Darmanitan-zen in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution