This is a strategy guide for using Galarian Darmanitan in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Builds, and Held Items to use with Galarian Darmanitan, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Galarian Darmanitan - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Galarian Darmanitan

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Galarian Darmanitan
Abilities
Gorilla Tactics	Boosts the Pokemon's Attack Stat but only allows the use of the first selected move.
Zen Mode (Hidden)	Changes form when HP drops below half.

Galarian Darmanitan Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Galarian Darmanitan

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Galarian Darmanitan

Choice Item Physical Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Galarian Darmanitan's Ability Gorilla Tactics boosts Attack while limiting it to using only the first-selected Move, so by stacking it with a Choice Item having the same effect, it can dish out heavy attack damage without an additional disadvantage.

The Choice Scarf in particular can raise Galarian Darmanitan's already-high Speed to make it faster than most opponents and make it into a killer physical sweeper.

Options for Final Move Slot

Zen Mode Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Galarian Darmanitan's Zen Mode Ability increases its Speed and Attack when its HP is below half, allowing it to hit first and hit hard. This gives it a power boost without the disadvantage of the Gorilla Tactics ability, which restricts it to use only the first-selected move.

When used in the order, use Substitute, then Belly Drum – while holding Sitrus Berry, you maximize HP while still satisfying Zen Mode's requirement of having less than half HP. This allows the Substitute to take advantage of Belly Drum's attack-maximizing effect and Sitrus Berry's HP recovery effect, while satisfying Zen Mode's condition of the true Galarian Darmanitan's HP having to be below half its max.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Galarian Darmanitan Effectively

A physical sweeper who uses Choice Items to dominate

Galarian Darmanitan's unique ability Gorilla Tactics combines well with Choice Band to doubly boost its attack. While this limits it to one move choice per switch-in, this combination grants double the advantage compared to other Pokemon, making it a superpowered physical attacker.

Timing of Dynamax is essential

When Dynamaxing Galarian Darmanitan, the effects of Gorilla Tactics and Choice Items will be removed. This will result in a decrease in Attack and/or Speed, but has the tradeoff of breaking the selection bondage of the Choice Item. This leaves the player with a key decision, to Dynamax or not to Dynamax.

Counters for Galarian Darmanitan

Weakness

Wall its heavy attacks with a defensive Pokemon

Because Galarian Darmanitan is focused entirely on physical attacking, it has a hard time taking down defensive Water-type Pokemon, who can bear the brunt of its moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Tapu Fini	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Good defensive Pokemon that can take a lot of damage ・A flexible Pokemon that fits into different parties Tapu Fini - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Toxapex	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can hold off physical sweepers with Scald and Recover ・Can field a number of physical sweepers besides Galarian Darmanitan Toxapex - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Milotic	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can defend against both physical and special sweepers effectively ・Its Ability Marvel Scale makes it a superb wall against physical attackers Milotic - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Face it down with a head-on attacker

Although Galarian Darmanitan has high Attack, its Defense and Special Defense are lacking. If you've got a physical attacker who can take the first hit from Galarian Darmanitan, it's not a hard feat to knock it out with one Move.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・After setting up Swords Dance on the first turn, it can Dynamax on the second turn to use Max Starfall and knock out Galarian Darmanitan ・Can knock out a wide range of Pokemon after setting up Swords Dance Best Ranked Battle Build for Mimikyu
Cinderace	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can one-shot Galarian Darmanitan due to its typing ・Can be in different parties due to its great stats and versatility Cinderace - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Rillaboom	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can one-shot Darmanitan if built as an offensive Pokemon Rillaboom - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for New Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for New Pokemon
Dragapult	Galarian Corsola	Toxtricity
Galarian Darmanitan	Corviknight	Dracovish
Grimmsnarl	Rillaboom	Duraludon
Cinderace	Alcremie	Dracozolt
Hatterene	Eiscue	Inteleon
Pincurchin	Frosmoth	Zacian
Sirfetch'd	Flapple	Coalossal
Centiskorch	Arctozolt	Zarude
Galarian Weezing	Eternatus	Indeedee (Female)
Sandaconda	Zamazenta