What is a good moveset for Darmanitan?

Question

This thread is for Unovan Darmanitan. For Galarian Darmanitan, please go here.

If you have a good competitive moveset for Darmanitan, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Darmanitan Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Role: Sweeper turned Tanker

Darmanitan (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 128 Def / 252 SpA / 128 SpD
Serious Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Grass]

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Flare Blitz gets his health low enough for Zen Mode while pounding down with STAB damage.
Flamethrower and Psychic being his hard hitting Zen Mode attacks, with Hidden Power [Grass] for coverage.

Answer 2

A great sweeper, as long as it does not have Zen Mode.

Darmanitan @ Life Orb / Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz / Fire Punch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Return

Flare Blitz/Fire Punch: I say Fire Punch, as Sheer Force makes up for the lower base power. It isn't likely that you would have burned anyway. Flame Charge does not raise Speed by the way.

Earthquake: Pretty much not affected by Sheer Force except for that power boost.

Stone Edge: Critical hits are still unlikely, so just focus on the power boost.

Return: Just gets a power boost, which is really nice.

Comments

Let it hold a life orb cause encourage will stop the damage and im sorry I posted this now since this was 6 months ago. EDIT: Choice Scarf is a better item since it makes up for his lack of speed.

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Replace stone edge with rock slide, and return with u-turn. Although this is a great answer considering it was 7 months ago.

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why on earth  would you use rock slide instead of stone edge EDIT: Nvm, just realised it would be good in doubles to hit both

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Yes I know 2 years have passed since, but just to add onto Shadow_Moltres’ “Rock Slide vs Stone Edge”, Rock Slide gets a power boost from Sheer Force putting it at 97.5 base power, only 2.5 lower than Stone Edge, in exchange for higher accuracy and a 30% chance to flinch. Adding on the mentioned doubles utility, Rock Slide is better in almost every way.

Answer 3

This is another set for a Zen Mode Darmanitan:

Darmanitan @ Leftovers
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 4 Def / 252 HP / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Substitute
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Flamethrower

Substitute: Provides a way to activate Zen Mode.
Psychic: STAB
Hidden Power [Grass]: To deal with weaknesses.
Flamethrower: STAB.

Comments

i honestly don't use the japanese names and i don't know why people does it. just use the english names, they are so much easier to remind, at least for me

Answer 4

Darmanitan (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Flare Blitz
- Earthquake
- Brick Break

Comments

Cool, this Darmanitan rules!

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Instead of Brick Break, why not SuperPower...
He is Scarfed, almost every time you have to switch him out...
Just my opinion.
;)

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better than superpower, is hammer arm

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No, hammar arm lowers speed. Lowering a sweepers speed is getting rid of their whole purpose. You shoukd keep superpower.

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U turn Darmanitan is better than everything

Answer 5

Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 SpD
Careful Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Rock Slide
- U-Turn
- Earthquake
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With its Choice Scarf, it can outspeed a lot of stuff, and U-Turn helps scout out your opponent's moveset. With a lot of Water moves being special, its Careful Nature and 4 Special Defense EVs can help it survive a few of them. You shouldn't really use Flare Blitz a lot, as it eats away at Darmanitan's HP, but Rock Slide's power skyrockets when you pair it with its Sheer Force Ability and 252 Attack EVs. Earthquake can help you dish out an easy OHKO to annoying Rock types like Gigalith or Golem (providing they don't have Sturdy).

Answer 6

Zen Mode Set

Darmanitan (M) @ Petaya Berry
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 176 SpA / 40 SpD
Modest Nature
- Substitute
- Psychic
- Flamethrower
- Grass Knot

Answer 7

Gen 8 RU

Darmanitan @ Salac Berry
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Belly Drum
- Fire Punch
- Rock Slide

Substitute is to help you knock you into Salac Berry range, and should be used when you send out Darmanitan on a Pokemon it forces out. Belly Drum should be used after you use Belly Drum you can get a +6 attack and a +1 speed boost from Salac Berry. Fire Punch is STAB and gets boosted by Sheer Force. Rock Slide is for coverage and also gets a Sheer Force boost.

Answer 8

Darmanitan (M) @ Choice Scarf / Choice Band / Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Earthquake
- Hammer Arm
- Superpower

Comments

UU in our tiers

Answer 9

I wanted to try this Pokemon with Belly Drum. This set is hard to use because of Darmanitan's awful defenses, but if used correctly it is devastating.

Darmanitan @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Belly Drum
- Fire Punch
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake

Comments

i use zen mode galarian form with belly drum, substitute, salac berry. its ridiculous if all goes to plan

Answer 10

Supersonic Zen Mode!

Darmanitan @ Lum Berry
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 128 Atk / 128 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Naive / Hasty
- Flame Charge
- Rest
- Psychic
- Fire Blast

Essentially, this is a set catering to Darmanitan's Zen Mode. Use Flame Charge to raise your Speed until you've activated Zen Mode, then fire away with Psychic / Fire blast at breakneck speeds! Use Rest if you want to change out of Zen Mode.

I've used this set with success many times, and it always surprises people when I use Flame Charge/Rest!

Answer 11

Ok. This is my first post so be gentle.

I feel like its Hidden Ability is too unique to not use but its stats are all over the place. I came up with this set and it seems to work pretty well.

Darmanitan @ Lum Berry / Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: Zen Mode
Nature: Hardy / Docile / Bashful / Quirky / Serious
EVs: 244 HP / 132 Def / 132 SpD
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Psychic
- Flamethrower / Fire Blast

Substitute- great defensive move and helps get you into Zen Mode.
Focus Punch- high power! Coverage and works very well with sub.
Psychic- STAB
Flamethrower / Fire Blast- STAB

The strat is pretty obvious, I think. Set up sub, use Focus Punch until you get into Zen Mode, then go for special attacks. The EV spread will ensure that you go into Zen Mode after 2nd sub and the bulk will help you survive once in Zen Mode. I prefer Life Orb on this but if someone has a better suggestion, let me know. Thoughts?

Answer 12

Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fire Punch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

Standard Choice Scarf set. Fire Punch is Sheer Force boosted STAB. Earthquake and Stone Edge are coverage, but any other Physical move works. U-Turn is coverage and pivvoting.

Have fun using this set, hope I helped! :D