What is a good moveset for Dialga?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Dialga, post an answer below and upvote the best ones.

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.

Dialga Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Dialga @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 128 SpD
Modest Nature
- Flash Cannon
- Dragon Pulse
- Earth Power
- Aura Sphere

Answer 2

Rain Sweeper Dialga

Dialga @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 128 HP/ 252 SpA/ 128 SpD
Modest Nature
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Aura Sphere
- Earth Power

Thunder- This is his most versatile move on this set. He can use it to hit a lot in Ubers with super and normal effective damage. With so many bulky rain stall/sweepers, he can punch holes in most teams with this amazing offensive attack.

Ice Beam- Thus his BoltBeam set is completed leaving very little able to resist him. He will now be able to hit almost everything super-effectively leaving very little in his wake.

Aura Sphere- With Aura Sphere, Dialga can hit everything (Excluding Shedinja, but who uses Shedinja in Ubers) with at least normal effective damage. It also minimizes any chance of having other Steel types switching in on him.

Now adding a Dragon type attack in here would only allowing him to hit an extra 3 Pokemon super-effectively so I chose something else.

Earth Power- This added onto the set allows him to hit another 102 Pokemon super-effectively. Think about that an extra 102! Plus adding this move on allows him to have the best type coverage I have ever found! (Check it out, you might want to use this coverage)

So I think this set is uberly overprotective of ones-self. It can hit all of its checks exceptionally hard, and he also has the bulk to take a few major hits. Plus, his monstrous SpA stat allows him to OHKO almost anything he is faced against!

Comments

No STAB?

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I have a question, would it be a good idea, since Dialga is supposed to be a tank to have a +Spdef -Spd nature? Also what attack moves that Dialga learns would be great for it?

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Come on add stab and flamethrower or just don't dialga is a beast

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Sableye with Rain Dance makes a great partner in doubles.

Answer 3

Dialga @ Leftovers / Shuca Berry
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 198 HP / 112 Def / 198 SpA
Modest / Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave / Fire Blast
- Draco Meteor
- Flash Cannon / Earth Power

Explanation

Dialga has a niche in Ubers as a bulky SR setter, but (unfortunately) it is largely outclassed by Primal Groudon. The only times you will use Dialga is for its typing or coverage moves.

Stealth Rock is a good entry hazard. Thunder Wave cripples sweepers, while Fire Blast is coverage against bulky Steel types. Draco Meteor is a powerful STAB, but must be played carefully to maximize its effectiveness. Flash Cannon forms dual STABs with Draco Meteor, while Earth Power deals with Groudon (when it switches in).

Answer 4

Gen V

Dialga @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Bulk Up
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

Comments

Physical dialga?!

Answer 5

A set I've used on Pokemon Online to great effect:

Trick Room Sweeper

Dialga @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast / Aura Sphere
- Thunder / Dragon Pulse

Dialga's too slow to sweep, right? Actually no. In Trick Room, it "outruns" everything apart from Ferrothorn and Forretress. With absolutely minimum speed, it's slower than neutral Skarmory. Draco Meteor mauls everything not resisting it. Fire Blast takes care of the Pokemon who do, OHKOing 252/252 Ferrothorn outside rain. Aura Sphere should be used if Dialga's on a rain team. Thunder's a great move to use in rain, nailing Kyogre and Ho-Oh. Dragon Pulse is a reliable STAB for when you don't want Draco Meteor's stat penalties.

Answer 6

Gen VIII Doubles Dialga Moveset

Dialga @ Adamant Orb
Ability: Telepathy
EVs: 126 Def / 252 SpA / 130 SpD
Quiet Nature
- Flash Cannon
- Roar of Time
- Earth Power / Earthquake
- Outrage / Dragon Pulse

Adamant Orb let's its Dragon and Steel moves do more damage. Another good option is Leftovers. Seeing as Dialga doesn't have good speed, Quiet Nature doesn't matter as much as with other Pokémon. Telepathy is better over Pressure in Doubles, seeing you won't be affected by Earthquake and other such moves. Flash Cannon is a powerful STAB move as a secondary coverage moves against dragon types. Roar of Time is 150 Base Power STAB move, paired with Dialga's high SpA stat deals massive damage. The Ground type moves deals with Fire types. Which one you choose comes down to preference; Earth Power does more damage, seeing it's Special, but Earthquake deals damage to all. The last move also comes down to preference; Outrage is physical, but shouldn't do too much damage less than Dragon Pulse since it has a higher Base Power than it, amongst other factors.

Comments

Roar Of Time is a recharge move, and they usually suck.

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Roar of time sees viable competitive use in VGC, where dynamaxing is allowed and Dialga is decent

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I thought legendaries were banned in VGC, and I forgot about dynamaxing. I thought this was for doubles ubers.

Answer 7

I'll give a set Dialga can use without problem. Roar Of Time can OHKO most Pokemon. With this set it, it will be easier to sweep even with Dialga's lack of speed:

Dialga @ Adamant Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Double Team
- Roar of Time
- Flash Cannon / Aura Sphere / Ice Beam

Strategy: Thunder Wave helps Dialga to sweep because of his lack of speed. Double Team is here, and coupled with Thunder Wave, makes Dialga one untouchable target. Roar of Time can be used without problems, since at the turn of recharge, it will evade the attack due to Double Team and Thunder Wave. It is also the ultimate move that can OHKO any opponent even with 2x resistance. You can use Flash Cannon for more Adamant Orb abuse, Aura Sphere for a multi-coverage and no-miss move, or Ice Beam for coverage.

Comments

Wait.... how does dialga learn double team :O?

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Thunder Wave doesn't make it better to evade attacks :p

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But like with t-wave + flinching works with togekiss here t-wave + evasion works for dialga. It prevents the opposing pokemon from moving right? T wave prevents opponents from moving and double team prevents them from hitting us.

Answer 8

A risky but rewarding set:

Dialga (M) @Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs:** 252 Spe / 252 SpA / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Overheat
- Draco Meteor
- Hyper Beam
- Blizzard / Thunder / Flash Cannon (Use Blizzard for Hail teams and Thunder for Rain teams)

Overall, this is the set that I use and the set which I have succeeded in winning with. This is a set that's extremely powerful for Dialga... but you're going to have to switch after every attack. This
set covers most types and I think its pretty good.

Comments

Maybe try a Modest or Calm nature because of his lackluster speed. And use FireBlast over Overheat because the drawbacks from Overheat are atrocious. DM is fine. Use Aura Sphere over Hyper Beam because  AS can deal more damage over 2 turns than HB over 2 and you cannot switch while recharging in teh metagame. And the last move is fine. I am just trying to help you in your Quest for points Flare ;) but overall, it is a pretty decent set. i hope this helps ya man.  :) :)

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I agree with you, DracoArceus. I don't really like risky movesets either.

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And why waste his power and bulk over a few ultra powerful moves.

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This thing is explosive

Answer 9

Special:
Dialga @ Power Herb / Adamant Orb
Ability: Telepathy
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 HP / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Roar of Time - Great signature STAB, Power Herb for one turn for the first use.
- Aura Sphere - A must. Never misses and covers other Steel-types.
- Flash Cannon /Earth Power - Decisions, decisions. Either one will work
- Ice Beam - I like its coverage, so why not?

Physical: (No good moves...)
Dialga @ White Herb /Wide Lens
Ability: Telepathy
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP /4 SpA
Brave Nature / Quiet Nature
- Earthquake - Duh.
- Iron Tail / Stone Edge - Unreliable both ways; better coverage with Stone Edge but STAB with Iron Tail. Wide Lens for boosted accuracy.
- Aerial Ace - The physical Aura Sphere. Coverage and never misses.
- Draco Meteor - Hahaha. Lowering SpA won't affect the rest of this set and could be prevented with the White Herb.

Comments

i like it

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Power Herb doesn't skip the recharge of Roar Of Time. It makes 2 turn moves go in first turn, like Fly, Sky Attack, Meteor Beam, etc.

Answer 10

Dialga @ Steelium Z
Ability: Telepathy
EVs: 128 HP / 176 Atk / 72 Def / 52 SpA / 24 SpD
Docile Nature
- Roar of Time
- Draco Meteor
- Flash Cannon
- Earthquake

Comments

FYI none of these cover weakness

Answer 11

Dialga @ Adamant Orb/ Leftovers (Sweep or Bulk)
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Calm Nature
- Iron Defense
- Aura Sphere
- Dragon Pulse
- Flash Cannon

Iron Defense: For help with Primal Groudon and just bulk in general, (good when paired with Leftovers).
Aura Sphere: Great move, decent power, coverage and accuracy.
Dragon Pulse: STAB, power and neutral coverage, Adamant Orb bonus (if you chose Adamant Orb over Leftovers).
Flash Cannon: STAB, decent power, Adamant Orb bonus (if you chose Adamant Orb over Leftovers).

Definitely a better Pokemon than Palkia but it has some issues. Like how it doesn't have a good healing move or Calm Mind. Could be a good Pokemon but is definitely outclassed by better legendaries, such as Kyogre, Groudon and Zekrom (although this set up really affects his physical), which are your average bulky sweepers in Ubers and etc.

Answer 12

Dialga @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Aura Sphere
- Flash Cannon
- Roar of Time / Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
- Earth Power.

So Aura Sphere is a good move because it has 80 base power which is pretty good and it never misses. Flash Cannon is nice STAB. Roar of Time is good but I don’t like the recharge time.
Dragon Pulse is another STAB move but has much lower power than Roar of Time, Draco Meteor has a stat drop.
And Earth Power covers five types so why not?

Answer 13

Why do I love my Dialga? This is the answer:

Dialga @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Flash Cannon
- Aura Sphere
- Earth Power

So the idea with this set is to switch in to Dialga from a Pokemon with Intimidate so the opponent's Attack is lowered, and then tank hits for a few turn with your Weakness Policy really irritating them by raising Defence, and then, with your obscenely high Special Attack, spam Dragon Pulse/Flash Cannon/Aura Sphere/Earth Power until they are dead. The reason I chose Dragon Pulse over Roar of Time is that a) Roar of Time doesn't have enough PP and has base power 150 but has to recharge 1 turn. Dragon Pulse has 85 power so 2 turns of that is more than ROT (170 vs 150).

Answer 14

Hmmm. My moveset's weird.

Dialga @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 196 SpA / 196 Spe / 116 Atk
Timid Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Aerial Ace

Comments

Why Aerial Ace, especially with Timid nature?

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Max Airstream, likely for VGC Doubles but Dialga wasn't there when he posted.

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Oh lol, this was a set I posted when I was obsessed with flying type moves

Answer 15

Dialga @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Flash Cannon
- Flamethrower / Overheat
- Earth Power

Its a breaker set basically.
It may be slow so fast sweepers can take care of it, but against slower mons this thing is a cannon. More or less its coverage. You can either choose the stronger options which involve constant switching or consistent powered options. Personally I would recommend the stronger options for the OHKO power.

This is a set so simple yet no one has posted it yet.

Answer 16

Z - Power (Dialga) @ Psychium Z
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Heal Block
- Flash Cannon
- Flamethrower
- Dragon Pulse

If you have team Z move slot open you can use this thing against something like blissey prevent it from healing and double your special attack. Don't use roar of time, if want more power you can use Draco Meteor but I still prefer dragon pulse.