Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)

Donphan Movesets and Best Builds

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Donphan in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Donphan, as well as its strengths and weakness.

Donphan Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Paldea #123 Type
Donphan ImageDonphan
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Ground Icon
Abilities
Sturdy
Sand Veil (Hidden)
Weak to:
(2x)
Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon
Damaged Normally
By:
(1x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Ground Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon Pokemon Bug Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Resists: (0.5x)
Pokemon Poison Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon
Immune to: (0x)
Pokemon Electric Type Icon

What is Type Effectiveness?

Ability Name Description
Sturdy The user cannot be knocked out with one hit and cannot be knocked out by One hit KO moves, causing the Pokemon to have 1 HP remaining.
Sand Veil
(Hidden)
Increases the user's Evasion by one stage during a Sandstorm.

Base Stats

Base Stats
Lv. 50 Stats
Stat Value Rank
HP
90
168
Atk
120
78
Def
120
44
SpAtk
60
471
SpDef
60
503
Speed
50
568
Total
500
271
Explanation of Pokemon Stats
Stat Max 0Nat 0EV -Nat Min
HP 197 197 165 165 150
Atk 189 172 140 126 112
Def 189 172 140 126 112
SpAtk 123 112 80 72 58
SpDef 123 112 80 72 58
Spd 112 102 70 63 49
  • Max: Max IVs & EVs and a stat-boosting Nature
  • 0Nat: Max IVs & EVs and a neutral Nature
  • 0EV: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a neutral Nature
  • -Nat: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature
  • Min: 0 IVs & EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature
Introduction to EVs, IVs, and Natures

Best Nature for Donphan

Best Natures
Impish
(+Def, -Sp. Atk)
Adamant
(+Atk, -Sp. Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Donphan

Build Name Recommendation
Hazard Setter Donphan ★★★★★
Physical Wall Donphan

Hazard Setter Donphan Moveset & Best Build

Nature Impish (+Def, -Sp. Atk)
EV Spread 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Final Stat Values 197 HP / 141 Atk / 189 Def / 80 Sp. Def / 70 Spe
Ability Sturdy
Tera Type Pokemon Ground Type Icon
Held Item Leftovers
Moveset Knock Off
Stealth Rock
Rapid Spin
Earthquake

Donphan's natural bulk allows it to be a great utility Pokemon to set up hazards and disrupt the enemy team. The ability Sturdy allows Donphan to survive longer, especially against setup sweepers.

Stealth Rock and Knock Off are Donphan's utility moves, with Stealth Rock offering offensive pressure, while Knock Off allows you to weaken your opponent by getting rid of its held item.

Rapid Spin is a damaging move that allows Donphan to remove any hazards while boosting its Speed.

Other Viable Moves

Ice Spinner An alternative move to Rapid Spin. Acts both as a coverage move and utility, allowing it to deal 2x damage against Grass-types, and removing any terrain in the process.
Encore An alternative utility move that allows Donphan to disrupt hazard setters or stat boost setups.

Key Damage Calculations

Defense Icon Pokemon SVDamage Received by Donphan
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Dragapult Image 189 Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
252 Atk
Item: Choice Band
Dragon Darts
84 ~ 102 (42.6 ~ 51.7%)
Guaranteed 3-Hit KO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Meowscarada Image 162 Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
252 Atk
Item: Choice Band
Flower Trick
152 ~ 182 (77.1 ~ 92.3%)
Guaranteed 2-Hit KO

Physical Wall Moveset & Best Build

Nature Impish (+Def, -Sp. Atk)
EV Spread 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Final Stat Values 197 HP / 141 Atk / 189 Def / 80 Sp. Def / 70 Spe
Ability Sturdy
Tera Type Pokemon Fighting Type Icon
Held Item Leftovers
Moveset Knock Off
Iron Defense
Body Press
Earthquake

Donphan has a high Attack and Defense stat, making it a reliable tank against Physical Pokemon. Its Special Defense and Speed are relatively low, so the ability Sturdy and held item Leftovers helps keep Donphan in battle.

Iron Defense and Body Press together gives Donphan both defensive and offensive power, since Body Press deals damage based on the users Defense. Having Earthquake allows Donphan to dish out decent damage on its own, since it benefits from STAB.

Knock Off is Donphan's utility move, allowing it to remove your opponent's held item. This can be very useful for your team, especially against Pokemon that rely on Choice items to boost their damage outputs.

Since Donphan already has a high Defense stat, the Fighting Tera type allows you to get STAB on Body Press, dealing even more damage while still being extremely tanky.

Other Viable Moves

Stealth Rock Alternative utility move that gives additional offensive pressure.
Rapid Spin Alternative utility move to remove entry hazards for your team.

Key Damage Calculations

Attack Icon Pokemon SVDamage Dealt by Donphan
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Dragapult Image 163 HP|95 Def
No Defensive EV Investment
Knock Off
110 ~ 130 (67.4 ~ 79.7%)
Guaranteed 2-Hit KO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Garganacl Image 252 HP|179 Def
Defensive EV Investment:
252 HP | 228 Def
+2 Body Press
Tera Type: Pokemon Fighting Type Icon
192 ~ 228 (92.7 ~ 110.1%)
50% Chance to OHKO
Defense Icon Pokemon SVDamage Received by Donphan
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Dragapult Image 189 Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
252 Atk
Item: Choice Band
Dragon Darts
84 ~ 102 (42.6 ~ 51.7%)
2.7% Chance to 2-Hit KO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Meowscarada Image 162 Atk
Offensive EV Investment:
252 Atk
Item: Choice Band
Flower Trick
152 ~ 182 (77.1 ~ 92.3%)
Guaranteed 2-Hit KO

How to Use Donphan Effectively

Capitalize on Donphan's Physical Bulk

Donphan has a high Attack and Defense stat, allowing it to trade attacks with heavy hitters such as Dragapult and Meowscarada.

How to Build a Team with Donphan

Donphan's bulk and access to utility moves makes it a good lead tank to set up, disrupt, and offer offensive pressure during the early game.

Sample Hazard Setter Team

Lead Tank Special Attacker Physical Attacker
Donphan ImageDonphan Wash Rotom ImageWash Rotom Dragonite ImageDragonite

Sample Physical Wall Team

Similar to its Paradox counterparts, Donphan can also be used as a Defensive Pivot that can soak hits from Physical Attackers.

Physical Attacker Defensive Pivot Special Attacker
Meowscarada ImageMeowscarada Donphan ImageDonphan Glimmora ImageGlimmora

This team uses Meowscarada as a lead, since it can easily scout the opponent's team thanks to its naturally high speed. It can also easily switch out to Donphan, thanks to U-Turn.

Donphan can then act as your defensive pivot, soaking hits and dealing damage against the enemy team to make it easier for your Attackers to sweep later on.

Counters for Donphan

Use Special Attackers

Donphan's weakness lies in its very low Special Defense stat. By using fast Special Attackers, you can easily knock out Donphan in 1~2 hits.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Wash Rotom ImageWash Rotom Ranking: ★★★★★
・Immunity to Ground-type moves thanks to Levitate.
・Can hit Donphan with 2x STAB Hydro Pump.
▶️ Wash Rotom Best Movesets
Arboliva ImageArboliva Ranking: ★★★★
・Can hit Donphan with 2x STAB Grass-type moves.
・Can outlast Donphan thanks to healing from Giga Drain.
▶️ Arboliva Best Movesets
Gholdengo ImageGholdengo Ranking: ★★★★
・Naturally immune to Fighting-type moves, and commonly built with Air Balloon for Ground-type immunity.
・Can OHKO Donphan after a Nasty Plot setup.
▶️ Gholdengo Best Movesets

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