Electric moves don't affect Donphan at all — that's the advantage of Ground typing. It relies on priority moves or Scarf to keep up. Known as the Armor Pokemon. Built to hit on the physical side.
Attack and Defense carry most of Donphan's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Attack and Defense EVs. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Donphan is covered in tough hide, so even being hit by a car won’t faze this Pokémon. However, it is extremely susceptible to rain.
Donphan is normally a calm Pokémon, but once it is enraged, it will curl its body into a ball and charge at you while rolling.
Donphan Weakness
AvgDonphan is weak to Water, Grass, and Ice-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Electric-type moves entirely. Donphan's physical bulk (base 120 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
Evolved from Phanpy. Donphan is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Attack grew the most through evolution (+60 over Phanpy), and Donphan peaks at 500 total stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Donphan to get Phanpy eggs easily using 278 partners from the Ground egg group.
Donphan's job is getting Stealth Rock up and staying on the field. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, Sturdy helps it stick around, and max HP and Defense EVs prioritize longevity.
Best Build
Best Donphan Moveset
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
Recommended Teammates
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 11 types means almost nothing walls Donphan cleanly, with Earthquake and High Horsepower anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 10 types means almost nothing walls Donphan cleanly, with Earthquake and High Horsepower anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 13 types means almost nothing walls Donphan cleanly, with Earthquake and High Horsepower anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 11 types means almost nothing walls Donphan cleanly, with Earthquake and Bulldoze anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
moderate rates for Donphan across 14 locations in mid-game routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Where To Catch Donphan in Scarlet & Violet
The path to Donphan starts with Phanpy at Lv. 11-60 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch PhanpyEASYSouth Province (Area Four) - LakeScarletOverworldLv.11-2224%EarlyRouteEASYSouth Province (Area Four) - LakeVioletOverworldLv.11-2224%EarlyRouteMODERATEAsado Desert - DesertScarletOverworldLv.11-2212%EarlyDesertMODERATEAsado Desert - DesertVioletOverworldLv.11-2212%EarlyDesertMODERATESouth Province (Area Four) - MountainScarletOverworldLv.11-2212%EarlyRouteMODERATESouth Province (Area Four) - MountainVioletOverworldLv.11-2212%EarlyRouteMODERATEWest Province (Area One) - MountainScarletOverworldLv.11-2212%EarlyRouteMODERATEWest Province (Area One) - MountainVioletOverworldLv.11-2212%EarlyRouteMODERATEAsado Desert - GrassScarletOverworldLv.25-4412%MidDesertMODERATEAsado Desert - GrassVioletOverworldLv.25-4412%MidDesertMODERATEThe Great Crater of PaldeaScarletOverworldLv.25-6012%MidMODERATEThe Great Crater of PaldeaVioletOverworldLv.25-6012%MidMODERATEThe Great Crater of PaldeaScarletOverworldLv.25-6012%MidMODERATEThe Great Crater of PaldeaVioletOverworldLv.25-6012%MidMODERATEWest Province (Area Two) - GrassScarletOverworldLv.25-4412%MidRouteMODERATEWest Province (Area Two) - GrassVioletOverworldLv.25-4412%MidRouteMODERATEWest Province (Area Two) - DesertScarletOverworldLv.25-448%MidRouteMODERATEWest Province (Area Two) - DesertVioletOverworldLv.25-448%MidRouteCHALLENGINGSouth Province (Area Six) - MountainScarletOverworldLv.25-444%MidRouteCHALLENGINGSouth Province (Area Six) - MountainVioletOverworldLv.25-444%MidRoute
Step 2Donphan ✓MODERATEAsado Desert - GrassScarletOverworldLv.25-4412%MidDesertMODERATEAsado Desert - GrassVioletOverworldLv.25-4412%MidDesertMODERATEThe Great Crater of PaldeaVioletOverworldLv.25-6012%MidMODERATEThe Great Crater of PaldeaVioletOverworldLv.25-6012%MidMODERATEThe Great Crater of PaldeaScarletOverworldLv.25-6012%MidMODERATEThe Great Crater of PaldeaScarletOverworldLv.25-6012%MidMODERATEWest Province (Area Two) - GrassScarletOverworldLv.25-4412%MidRouteMODERATEWest Province (Area Two) - GrassVioletOverworldLv.25-4412%MidRouteMODERATEAsado Desert - DesertScarletOverworldLv.25-448%MidDesertMODERATEAsado Desert - DesertVioletOverworldLv.25-448%MidDesertMODERATEWest Province (Area Two) - DesertScarletOverworldLv.25-448%MidRouteMODERATEWest Province (Area Two) - DesertVioletOverworldLv.25-448%MidRouteCHALLENGINGSouth Province (Area Six) - MountainVioletOverworldLv.25-444%MidRouteCHALLENGINGSouth Province (Area Six) - MountainScarletOverworldLv.25-444%MidRouteor evolve from Phanpy (Step 1)
You're catching Phanpy first, not Donphan. Phanpy appears at solid rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Donphan in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
The path to Donphan starts with Phanpy at Lv. 5-63 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch PhanpyEFFORTLESSRoute 207Shining PearlGrassLv.540%EarlyRouteSwarm activeEFFORTLESSRoute 207Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.540%EarlyRouteSwarm activeBig Bluff CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameBig Bluff CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRocky CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRocky CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Step 2Donphan ✓
Donphan can't be caught in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Transfer Phanpy from Silver, Crystal, or Scarlet and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
We rate Donphan A-Tier — a strong competitive pick. At 500 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Base 120 Attack stands out.
Phanpy evolves into Donphan at level 25. Donphan is the fully evolved form. At 500 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
Sturdy is the go-to ability for Donphan. It prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Its hidden ability Sand Veil can work in specific setups.
Base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Donphan is a physical attacker with base 120 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Donphan appears in 16 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Available in 16 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Donphan spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in most mainline games.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A