What is a good moveset for Galarian Darmanitan?

Question

This thread is for Galarian Darmanitan. For Unovan Darmanitan, please go here.

If you have a good competitive moveset for Galarian Darmanitan, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions 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 explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Galarian Darmanitan Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

You'd need to dynamax to use any move that isn't Belly Drum, and after you revert, you get locked into Belly Drum. And another  mon can Dynamax and KO you, KO you on setup, or protect 2 out of three max moves. And Zen Mode is even worse with entry Hazards, if you need to witch and reuse. I don't think Choice Band + Belly Drum + Zen Mode is better than Choice Band + Gorilla Tactics + 4 Attacking moves including U-Turn just due to the impracticality of the other. :P

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@staka what can't you see galarian darmanitan is a Uber mon.

Answer 1

Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant/Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Flare Blitz
- U-Turn
- Earthquake/Superpower/Stone Edge

Comments

bro u-turn is useless with the scarf as to stay in you have to use any other attack but if you want to switch you have to hard switch. useless

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What? If you use U-turn when the opponent switches, then you will see what they choose before you choose your own mon. It's not a hard switch.

Answer 2

Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Scarf

Ability: Gorilla Tactics
EVs:252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Zen Headbutt
- Iron Head

This thing can cover Dragon, Flying, Grass, Ground, Poison, Electric, Rock, Steel, Fire, Fighting, Fairy, and Ice. That is 12 types, including every weakness.

Comments

You could run flare blitz and u turn too. Although nice moveset +1 upvote.

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ITS a waste of U-turn because you get struck by gorilla tactics

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U-turn still allows you to switch out.

Answer 3

Darmanitan-Galar @ Salac Berry
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Belly Drum
- Ice Punch
- Fire Punch
- Brick Break

So this set requires a little set up, whether it be sleeping the opponent first or just scouting for a weak attack to throw him into. Use Jolly nature here so you can out speed scarfers after Salac boost. After activating Zen Mode, just wreck house with your double coverage. Brick break is your coverage slot. you can also use Iron Head, Earthquake, whatever you need.

Comments

Wouldn’t Jolly be better? :P

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yea, you're right.

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You see, the problem with this set is that the Salac boost activates when your health is below a quarter. This means after you use Belly Drum, you need more damage to get your boost. Do you think Darm has the bulk for that?

Replace Brick Break with Substitute, and Fire Punch with Earthquake. You have just about enough coverage, and a method to activate your Salac boost safely.

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you are going to faint to recoil if you use flare blitz

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Same moveset can't risk icicle crash miss and flare blitz recoil. And run substitute instead of brick break for obvious reasons you can't take a hit at 50% HP and live with garm's terrible bulk.

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i run this exact set but with substitute instead of brick break

Answer 4

Wallbreaker :P

Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Band
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Earthquake

Hope I Helped!

Comments

You could switch out Earthquake for Superpower as well

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The only types Superpower Hits better than Earthquake or Flare Blitz is Dark, and U-Turn should do a fair bit of work there. Dark-Flying and most flying Dual types are chunked best by Icicle Crash, so Superpower is sub-optimal, especially when Earthquake hits Fire and Electric types better, and doesn’t lower Attack. :P

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Nice Moveset I use on sticky web teams.

Answer 5

Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Band
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Fire Punch: because of Zen Mode boost
- Hammer Arm: Nice for Rock and Ground types
- Icicle Crash: Pretty nice with Flinch added.
- Earthquake: DAMAGING. Great with teammates that have Levitate, Magnet Rise, or Telepathy.

Comments

I wouldn't use Hammer Arm because for the speed drop, maybe Superpower or Brick Break.

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Replacing Hammer Arm with U-Turn would maybe be better imo.

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Why zen mode? Run Gorilla Tactics a zen mode garm without subsalac belly drum is trash just run GT.

Answer 6

Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Band
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Earthquake
- Superpower
- Icicle Crash

Comments

Adamant nature? Wouldn't jolly be better?

Answer 7

Darmanitan-Galar @ Expert Belt
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Belly Drum
- Substitute
- Ice Punch
- Fire Punch / Earthquake

This is different from others where it utilizes Darmanitan-Galar Zen Mode which is finally viable now. First you have to Substitute and Belly Drum and then proceed to smash everything. This is hard to pull off but well worth it due to the sheer power it gives.

Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Band / Choice Scarf
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP/ 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Flare Blitz / Fire Punch
- U-turn
- Stone Edge / Earthquake

Use Choice Band to blow holes in the opposition's team with a base 140 Attack with Gorilla Tactics, or Scarf to pivot and deal damage. Icicle Crash for STAB and Fire Punch or Flare Blitz for strong coverage. U-Turn to pivot and deal damage. The final choice is up to you, but I would recommend Earthquake.

Comments

For future reference, we prefer that each moveset is posted in its own answer, so that others can vote on them separately.

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Ok ill keep that in mind next time.

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Why expert belt on zen garm just run sub salac.

Answer 8

Docter Drum (Darmanitan-Galar) @ Salac Berry
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Icicle Crash- STAB
- Fire Punch- STAB
- Endure- Activate Salac Berry
- Reversal- 200 Power after Endure! Salac Berry makes sure you outspeed everything!

Answer 9

Darmanitan-Galar @ Choice Scarf / Band
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Punch
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- U-turn

Answer 10

Darmanitan-Galar @Life Orb
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Flare Blitz
- Brick Break
- Zen Headbutt

Explanation:
Yes, Life Orb helps in triggering Zen Mode, which further powers you up. Stone Edge can deal against Fire-Types, Zen Headbutt helps attack Fighting-Types, Flare Blitz is extremely reckless (if you're Ooga Booga like your Darmanitan), Brick Break breaks the hell out of your number one weakness, Rock-Types.
I know you die fast, but atleast you deal a ton of damage fast too, loose-loose situation.

Ooga Booga (Darmanitan-Galar) @ Choice Scarf / Choice Band
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Iron Head

Explanation:

This Pokemon has double-choiced style, due to the ability: Gorilla Tactics.
Attacking should just go full Ooga-Booga as 700+ Species of Pokemon are weak to your set. Choice Scarf helps outspeeding enemies. If you did choose choice band (doubled attack immediately), that will surely hit like a truck, but get out-speeded in turn, I warn you, you're very frail, so you must be as fast as you can so you don't die without any sense.

"Abandon civilizations, return to monke" -Kasu

Comments

*cough* Icicle Crash *cough* lol

Answer 11

Darmanitan @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Gorilla Tactics
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Ice Punch
- Iron Head
- U-Turn
- Earthquake

Lock into ice Punch and bash stuff. Earthquake and iron head are coverage, and U-turn allows you to switch out. This thing ain’t having none of lando-T’s Sh*t!

Answer 12

Darmanitan-Galar (M) @ Assault Vest - for defence as zen mode has horrible defences
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Impish Nature
- Blizzard - powerful stab
- Earthquake - coverage against fire + steel
- Flamethrower - coverage against steel + stab when in zen mode
- Freeze-Dry - also quite good for water types when in zen mode + stab

Comments

Zen Mode has a much high Attack stat and horrible defenses.  Why make it a Special Attacker and give it an Assault Vest?

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Why give 3 special moves if you r gonna max it's physical attack?????