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

Darmanitan - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Darmanitan

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Darmanitan
Abilities
Sheer Force	Removes added effects to increase move damage.
Zen Mode (Hidden)	Changes form when HP drops below half.

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

HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
105	140	55	30	55	95

Best Nature for Darmanitan

Best Natures
Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk)	Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Darmanitan

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk)
EV Spread	HP 4 / Atk. 252 / Spd. 252
Final Stat Values	HP 181 / Atk. 192 / Def. 75 / Sp.Def. 75 / Spd. 161
Ability	Sheer Force
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・ Flare Blitz ・ Earthquake ・ Rock Slide ・ Trick

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

Equipping Choice Scarf will boost Darmanitan's speed, and its Ability Sheer Force will boost the power of its moves, allowing you to deal high damage fast, like its counterpart Galarian Darmanitan.

Trick

If you have Choice Scarf equipped, you can use Trick to force the opponent to hold Choice Scarf and prevent an attacker from setting up or a defensive Pokemon from using support moves. After switching items, you'll be able to start using other moves as normal, but be careful as Darmanitan's Speed will return to its original value.

U-turn

When using Darmanitan simply as a high-speed attacker, U-turn is recommended, so when it's at a disadvantage against its opponent, it can escape while simultaneously dealing damage.

Alternate Move Choices

U-turn	High priority alternate choice for Trick.
Iron Head	Used for hitting Fairy types.
Superpower	A powerful Fighting-type move effective against the likes of Tyranitar.
Zen Headbutt	Effective against Poison and Fighting types.

Life Orb Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spd, -SpAtk)
EV Spread	HP 4 / Atk. 252 / Spd. 252
Final Stat Values	HP 181 / Atk. 192 / Def. 75 / Sp.Def. 75 / Spd. 161
Ability	Sheer Force
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・ Flare Blitz ・ Earthquake ・ Rock Slide ・ Iron Head

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

Darmanitan has the unique potential to deal increased damage with Life Orb, which boosts the power of moves, without the cost of losing HP. Due to its Ability Sheer Force, Darmanitan will avoid the effects of taking damage from Life Orb, while still being able to benefit from the power increase.

Alternate Move Choices

Superpower	A powerful Fighting-type move effective against the likes of Tyranitar.
Zen Headbutt	Effective against Poison and Fighting types.
U-turn	Lets you manipulate the flow of battle. When faster, allows escape from a threatening opponent.

How to Use Darmanitan Effectively

High-power attacker with Sheer Force

Moves that have additional effects will reach 1.3x their normal power due to Sheer Force. It is specifically compatible with Flare Blitz, a move which is powerful regardless of the target's type.

And unlike Galarian Darmanitans with Gorilla Tactics, a similar Ability, Darmanitan is not locked to using only one move.

Counters for Darmanitan

Weakness

Defensive Pokemon can weather its hits

It is highly recommended that you use defensive Pokemon that can withstand Darmanitan's heavy damage, such as Pokemon with HP-restoring moves and abilities.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Milotic	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Its ability Marvel Scale makes it effective against Physical attackers ・Recover allows it to recover HP Moveset & Best Build for Milotic

Put in something that can take its hit and strike back

Counter with Pokemon that can fight back after being hit. Since Darmanitan does not have strong defensive stats, it is easy to beat it with its weaknesses.

Mimikyu has the opportunity to use Darmanitan to set up, thanks to its Ability Disguise, which will protect it from any attack once. You can use this chance to use Attack-boosting moves such as Swords Dance, and after Dynamaxing, it can take out Darmanitan and be ready for the next Pokemon.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Rhyperior	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・A good type matchup and strong defenses ・Can hit super-effectively and try for a KO Moveset & Best Build for Rhyperior
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Its Ability Disguise allows it to weather one hit Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu

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 Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo

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 Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo