Pokemon Sword and Shield

Duraludon - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Duraludon.png

This is a strategy guide for using Duraludon 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 Duraludon, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

Duraludon - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Duraludon Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Duraludon Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle Gigantamax DuraludonGigantamax Duraludon

Basic Information for Duraludon

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Steel Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Dragon Type
Abilities
Heavy Metal Doubles the Pokemon's weight.
Light Metal Halves the Pokemon's weight.
Stalwart (Hidden) Ignores the effects of opposing Pokémon's Abilities and moves that draw in moves.

Duraludon Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Ground Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Normal Image Pokemon Water Image Pokemon Electric Image Pokemon Flying Image Pokemon Psychic Image Pokemon Bug Image Pokemon Rock Image Pokemon Steel Image
Takes 1/4x damage
Pokemon Grass Image
Takes 0x damage
Pokemon Poison Image

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
70 95 115 120 50 85

Best Nature for Duraludon

Best Natures
Modest
(+SpAtk, -Atk)
Timid
(+Spd, -Atk)

What are Natures?

How to Learn Duraludon's Egg Moves

Mirror Coat Inherit from Vanillite (learns at Lv. 36)

Singles Movesets for Duraludon

Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build

Assault Vest Duraludon.png

Nature Modest (+SpAtk, -Atk)
EV Spread Sp.Atk. 252 / HP 236 / Spd. 20
Final Stat Values HP 175 / Def. 135 / Sp.Atk. 189 / Sp.Def. 70 / Spd. 108
Ability Light Metal
Held Item Assault Vest
Moveset Draco Meteor
Flash Cannon
Thunderbolt
Solar Beam

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

Make up for its low Special Defense with Assault Vest

Duraludon boasts high Special Attack and Defense, but it's got a weak spot in its Special Defense. Assault Vest is useful for boosting its defensive capabilities and allowing it to take Special hits without a quick knockout.

Choose its attacks carefully

While holding Assault Vest, the number of moves Duraludon can use effectively are accordingly limited. In addition to the STAB choices of Draco Meteor and Flash Cannon, Thunderbolt is useful for its super effective damage to Gyarados and other Water types, while Solar Beam is mostly used when Dynamaxed as its Max Move alternate Max Overgrowth.

An EV Spread to handle Wash Rotom

By adding a few extra EVs to Speed, Duraludon is able to outspeed a Wash Rotom with only 4 EVs in Speed. It can use Max Overgrowth to defeat a Wash Rotom with full EVs in HP in one hit.

Other Viable Moves

Dragon Pulse Use this in place of Draco Meteor to avoid the decrease in Sp.Atk.
Steel Beam A powerful Steel-type attack, but cuts user's HP in half. When Dynamaxed, it will become Max Steelspike, becoming more powerful while avoiding the HP drop.
Mirror Coat A move that counters any special attack, inflicting double the damage taken. Since it's a damaging move, it can still be used with Assault Vest.

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

Choice Scarf Duraludon.png

Nature Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread Sp.Atk. 252 / Spd. 236 / HP 20
Final Stat Values HP 148 / Def. 135 / Sp.Atk. 172 / Sp.Def. 70 / Spd. 148
Ability Light Metal
Held Item Choice Scarf
Moveset Draco Meteor
Flash Cannon
Thunderbolt
Solar Beam

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

Raise its Speed for a surprise attack

Duraludon is often seen as a slow, defensive attacker, but it's got surprisingly high speed, and with a Choice Scarf it's able to outspeed a surprisingly wide range of Pokemon. This build lets it outspeed Jolly Dragapult, Adamant Darmanitan with Choice Scarf, or even Jolly Gyarados with +1 stage in Speed.

Other Viable Moves

Dragon Pulse Although Draco Meteor is the primary choice for a Dragon move, it can't hurt to have both.
Dark Pulse Recommended for players who are worried about Aegislash.

How to Use Duraludon Effectively

A Special attacker with high Defense

Duraludon can serve a vital Special attacker role in your party. It can use the powerful Draco Meteor with STAB, and combined with its high Defense, it's a powerful threat in a metagame dominated by Physical attackers.

A perfect defensive typing

As a Dragon/Steel dual-type, Duraludon has only two weaknesses in the Fighting and Ground types. On top of that, it boasts a total of 10 type resistances. Although Dragon types are usually weak to Dragon and Fairy moves, Duraludon turns these into advantages, and with its Steel typing is able to handle the everpresent threats of Dragapult and Mimikyu.

Counters for Duraludon

Duraludon
Weakness Pokemon Fighting Image Pokemon Ground Image

Use a Special Attacker

Although Duraludon has a soaring Defense, its Base Special Defense is a pitiful 50. Combined with a middling HP, Duraludon isn't so durable when faced with Special attacks like Aura Sphere and Earth Power. That said, Duraludon can usually survive at least one hit when holding an Assault Vest, so be sure to hit hard to avoid taking heavy damage of your own.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Hydreigon ImageHydreigon Ranking: ★★★★★
・An attacker with high firepower
・Learns the Special Ground Move Earth Power
・Recommended with Choice Specs
Best Ranked Battle Build for Hydreigon
Pokemon SWSH - Lucario ImageLucario Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Has high Special Attack, and gets the powerful STAB attack Aura Sphere
・If it has a damage-raising item, it can get a 1HKO even against Assault Vest Duraludon

Pokemon that Resist Steel and Dragon-type Moves

Switching in a Pokemon who resists Dragon and Steel can turn the tides against Duraludon. On top of that, if you've got a Pokemon who can do Special damage, then you can make quick work of Duraludon.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Aegislash ImageAegislash Ranking: ★★★★★
・Its high defensive stats let it absorb attacks
・A high-damage special attacker
Best Ranked Battle Build for Aegislash
Pokemon SWSH - Excadrill ImageExcadrill Ranking: ★★★★☆
・Can deal super effective STAB damage with Earthquake
Needs a damage-boosting item like Choice Band to get a 1HKO
Best Ranked Battle Build for Excadrill

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

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