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If you have a good competitive moveset for Dusknoir, 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.

Dusknoir Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Sprite

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36 Answers

0 votes

Tweaking a previous set, just a little bit

Dusknoir @ Life Orb

Trait: Pressure

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef

Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)

  • Trick Room
  • Thunder Punch
  • Mean Look
  • Shadow Punch

Trick Room- Works very well with Dusknoir because of his abysmal speed, brave nature support this move as well

Thunder Punch- Decent damage. High accuracy. Chance to paralyze. Deal's with Water and or Flying types

Mean Look- They're not going anywhere.

Shadow Punch- Covers ghost type weakness, STAB. Mixing with Trick Room. You get the first hit, always
.

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0 votes

Trollnoir
Dusknoir @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Sassy (+Sp.D -Spd)
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
-Pain Split
-Toxic
-Protect
-Earthquake

First, use Toxic to poison the other Pokemon, then use Protect once every two turns. In between those turns, use Earthquake to KO faster, and Pain Split when you are low on health.
It is cruel but strangely funny seeing your opponent slowly away. Which way? The way to death>:)

Hope I helped

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0 votes

I personally like:

Dusclops @ Eviolite
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpA / 4 HP
Nature: Anything neutral (or Relaxed [+Def, -Spd] specifically)
- Will-O-Wisp (crippling physical leads)
-Pain Split (heal if low on HP)
-Night Shade (constant damage)
-Taunt (to stop setup)

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0 votes

Henchman (Dusknoir) @ Leftovers

Role: Bulky Sweeper
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)

  • Shadow Sneak
  • Will-O-Wisp
  • Ice Punch
  • Confuse Ray / Pain Split

Explanation:

The EVs give Dusknoir decent bulk and makes it able to tank Physical moves. Maximum investment in Attack is necessary for it to deal enough damage.

Shadow Sneak is priority and gets STAB. Will-O-Wisp further increases physical bulk by lowering the opposing Pokemon's Attack. Ice Punch is decent coverage. Finally, Confuse Ray is annoying status that can force the opponent to switch out, while Pain Split is Dusknoir's only form of recovery (here I would suggest Confuse Ray, since it is more reliable than Pain Split).

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0 votes

Here is a very good moveset that is both viable in doubles and singles:

Information
Dusknoir (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Frisk (Enables you to scan the foes item)
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Punch
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch/ EarthQuake/ Shadow Sneak
- Trick

NOTE:
1. Choice Band allows Dusknoir to hit as hard as possible!
2. Trick allows you to shut down bulky Pokemon.
Tricking a choice item unto bulky Pokemon such as Gliscor, Amoongus,
Slowbro, Suicune will immediately make them useless as they cannot switch
moves any more.
"You" however can now switch between moves with zero regrets! You may also have tricked yourself a useful item such as the leftovers item
.

Analysis:
1. Shadow Punch and Choice band hits very hard thanks to the added STAB.
2. Fire Punch is to get rid of the Scizors and Ferrothorns that could give you a hard and painful time.
3. The third slot is a matter of preference.
Ice Punch is for the Dragonites, Landorus and Gliscors i.e. to OHKO or 2HKO them.
Earthquake is for the Heatrans and Chandlure that try to stop you.
Shadow Sneak is to make up it's terrible speed and have a shot of KOing Gengar and other ghost types.
4. Trick is to change strategies and ruin stall/ bulky Pokemon for good.

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0 votes

Dusknoir (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Brave
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD

  • Will-O-Wisp
  • Protect
  • Shadow Punch
  • Ice Punch / Fire Punch / Thunder Punch / Earthquake

The EVs make it so that it can easily take a hit, and Leftovers can potentially add another turn of damage that Dusknoir can take. Shadow Punch is STAB, Protect to get a free turn of burn damage off and get a bit more Leftover health back, and an elemental punch or Earthquake just for another damaging move.

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Dusclops (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 240 HP / 108 Def / 160 SpD
Impish Nature
- Shadow Punch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Confuse Ray
- Attract

This is an awesome status staller set with some damage with Shadow Punch! Will-o-wisp cripples the opponent and Confuse Ray plus Attract leaves the target with a 25% chance to attack. If the foe does attack, Dusclops won't mind if it has Eviolite! Have fun!

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0 votes

Dusclops is better. But this is what I use on my Dusknoir on Gen 7.


Dusknoir @ Chesto Berry
Nature : Relaxed (+Def / -Speed)
Ability : Pressure
EV Spread : 252 HP / 128 SPDef / 128 Def
Moveset :
1. Will-o-Wisp : damage per turn, cripples enemy's damage output.
2. Curse : damage per turn. main damage source.
3. Infestation : damage per turn, traps opponent and covers Dark weakness.
4. Rest : something to heal yourself with.


Dusknoir @ Leftovers
Nature : Relaxed (+Def / -Speed)
Ability : Pressure
EV Spread : 252 HP / 252 SPAtk / 4 Def
Moveset :
1. Calm Mind : steroid ability.
2. Will-o-Wisp damage per turn, cripples enemy's damage output.
3. Hex : works well with Will-o-Wisp.
4. Pain Split : heal yourself up after setting up those Calm Minds.


Dusclops @ Eviolite
Nature : Relaxed (+Def / -Speed)
Aility : Pressure
EV Spread 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SPDef
Moveset :
1. Will-o-Wisp : damage per turn, cripples enemy's damage output.
2. Curse : damage per turn. main damage source.
3. Attract : reduces chances of receiving damage.
4. Destiny Bond : since no healing moves are in this set, better take down your attacker before you die.

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0 votes

Might be a bit late to the party, but I thought I’d share my set.

Dusclops@Eviolite
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252HP, 196Def, 60SpDef
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)

Will-O-Wisp
Calm Mind
Shadow Ball
Pain Split

Maximise HP for added bulk and split defenses.

Will-O-Wisp: Cuts foes Attack in half and burns them. Hence why I didn’t go for full investment into Defense.

Calm Mind: Increases Special Attack and Special Defense +1 each time, so you are able to take Special Attacking moves easier too.

Shadow Ball: STAB and more powerful with Calm Mind set up. Alternatives could be: Dark Pulse, Ice Beam, Psychic, Hex etc.

Pain Split: Health Restortation.

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0 votes

I'm gonna give you both dusknoir and eviolite dusclops movesets:

Dusknoir:

Dusknoir@Weakness Policy

Ability: Pressure

EVs: 4 HP, 36 ATK, 252 DEF, 216 SPD

Nature: Impish (+ def - spa)

Moves:

Will-O-Wisp (burns the foe, with all this defenses and the attack drop it will be hard to kill you with physical attacks)
Shadow Punch (STAB, always hits, after the weakness policy it will be dealing a good damage even with the low power)
Destiny Bond (is hard to kill you, so you will most likely hung on with a low HP anyways. then you destiny bond and bring your opponent down too)
Trick Room (destiny bond won't do anything if used by a slow Pokemon without trick room, plus you will be able to hit them first. use it)

Dusclops:

Dusclops@Eviolite

Ability: Pressure

EVs: 4HP, 252 DEF, 252 SPD

Nature: Impish

Moves:
Will-O-Wisp (burns the foe, as I said before, but dusclops is even bulkier, so... yeah)
Destiny Bond (dusclops is even bulkier than dusknoir, it should be able to work even without trick room, for attack last)
Counter (for if they hit you too hard)
Seismic Toss (level 100 dusclops will always deal a great amount of damge to the foes, it just even 8HKO Blissey max HP. but against it, you can deal super effective counter. but seismic toss is always a good moveset moveset for eviolite Pokemon; use it)

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0 votes

Dusknoir

Dusknoir @ Choice Band / Lagging Tail
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Atk / 124 Def / 124 SpD / 4 HP
Brave Nature
- Poltergeist
- Trick
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch / Focus Punch

Poltergeist is powerful STAB but fails if the opponent has no item. Fortunately, that's why there's Frisk. Trick can either punish walls with Choice Band, or ruin fast Pokemon with Lagging Tail. It also gives the item to Pokemon lacking an item so that they can be obliterated by Poltergeist. Earthquake is coverage. Ice Punch for Dragons, Focus Punch for potential switch-ins and for walls locked in with Choice Band. After a wall is tricked, it will likely switch out, giving Dusknoir a free Focus Punch.

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0 votes

Dusknoir@Choice Band
Dusknoir
Ability:Frisk
Nature:Adamant
EVs:252 Atk/252 HP/4 Def
•Shadow Sneak
•Poltergeist
•Earthquake
•Revenge
Choice band gives massive attack boost. Shadow Sneak has priority. Poltergeist is incredibly strong STAB. Earthquake and revenge are coverage.

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0 votes

Gen 8 ZU

Dusknoir @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Poltergeist
- Power-Up Punch
- Trick Room
- Pain Split

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0 votes

Doubles OU

Dusclops @ Eviolite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Night Shade
- Ally Switch
- Pain Split

Dusclop's immense bulk with an eviolite make it a great Trick Room Setter. Night Shade is for fixed damage, since Dusclops lacks good offensive stats. Ally Switch makes Dusclops and its ally swap places, redirecting attacks. This can potentially allow Dusclops to take a powerful blow in place of its ally and can cause dangerous mind games. Pain Split is Dusclop's best option for recovery.

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0 votes


Dusknoir @ Leftovers
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Pain Split
- Will-O-Wisp
- Poltergeist
- Shadow Sneak / Brick Break

Poor old Dusknoir, stayed in the spotlight for a short while, but now that there's better Ghost type walls, as well as the Eviolite making its pre-evolution Dusclops more viable than its evolution (as far as I know). Even its version exclusive Banette got a cool new mega form, but Dusknoir didn't get one.

With all of that out of the way, here's my moveset. Pain Split is your basic recovery, however, with Dusknoirs low HP, it still deals good damage, nearly putting you to full health on most occasions with the help of Leftovers. Will-O-Wisp is for crippling Physical Attackers. Poltergeist is your STAB, and Shadow Sneak also gets stab, with 1+ priority. Though, with only Ghost type moves, you may end up getting walled by Normal and Dark types. As such, that makes Brick Break in most cases, a better option.

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–1 vote

Dusknoir @ Leftovers/Iron Ball
Nature: Sassy (+SDef -Spd)
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SDef, 252 Atk, 4 HP
Moveset:
-Shadow Punch
-Brick Break
-Wil-O-Wisp
-Trick Room

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