Is Darmanitan Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Galarian Darmanitan (Ice) with AbilityGorilla Tactics has one of the highest effective Attack stats in the game without setup. 140 base Attack boosted 50% from the ability hits absurdly hard. Handles Raihan's Dragons and Leon's Haxorus. Melony uses one in her Shield gym. Sword exclusive. The restriction to one move per switch-in is a small price for that power.
Darumaka resists most of Milo's coverage and hits back hard.
Darumaka trades roughly evenly with Nessa's team.
Kabu's typing presses Darumaka's defenses.
Darumaka trades roughly evenly with Bea's team.
Darumaka has the type edge here and should clean up Opal's team.
Darmanitan trades roughly evenly with Gordie's team.
Darmanitan has the type edge here and should clean up Piers's team.
Darmanitan trades roughly evenly with Raihan's team.
Darmanitan has the type edge here and should clean up Bede's team.
Darmanitan trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Catch Darumaka on Route 8 (walking, Lv 38-41). All Weather.
Your Darumaka should hit Level 35 before you reach Gordie, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Galarian Darmanitan in Sword & Shield
No wild encounters for Galarian Darmanitan. The 2-stage line runs through Darumaka, which you can catch at moderate rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 35 once you've got the levels.
How to Obtain Darmanitan in SwSh
To get Darmanitan, start by catching Darumaka through walking encounters at Lv. 38-65. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch DarumakaRoute 8 - on Steamdrift WayLv.38-41GrassSwordRate 5%All WeatherRoute 10 - Near StationLv.43-46GrassSwordRate 5%All WeatherRoute 10Lv.44-46GrassSwordRate 5%All WeatherSnowslide SlopeLv.60-65OverworldSwordRate 10%Snowstorm
Step 2Darmanitan ✓BREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Darmanitan egg.
Darmanitan Weakness
Darmanitan's Ice/Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Rock, Water, Fighting, and Ground. Rock hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Darmanitan leans offensive (base 140 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Bug, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Ice |
What is Darmanitan Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Darmanitan
 Timburr Fighting | C | |
 Roggenrola Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Roggenrola builds →Smack Down 4x91-108%KO Mud-Slap 2x8-10% | ||
 Pancham Fighting | D | |
 Dwebble BugRock | C | |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
 Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Drednaw builds →Rock Tomb 4x140-165%KO Razor Shell 2x87-102%KO Sand Tomb 2x27-33% | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing | ||
 Carkol RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Carkol builds →Ancient Power 4x89-105%KO Sand Tomb 2x19-22% | ||
Timburr Fighting | C | |
 Hitmonchan Fighting | C | |
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Drednaw builds →Rock Tomb 4x134-159%KO Razor Shell 2x82-97% Sand Tomb 2x26-31% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Sudowoodo builds →Stone Edge 4x194-229%KO Hammer Arm 2x65-76% Sand Tomb 2x25-29% | ||
 Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Carkol RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Carkol builds →Ancient Power 4x84-100%KO Sand Tomb 2x17-20% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing | ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Excadrill builds →Rock Slide 4x131-155%KO Dig 2x104-123%KO | ||
 Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Coalossal builds →Ancient Power 4x104-123%KO Dig 2x45-53% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Drednaw builds →Rock Tomb 4x139-164%KO Razor Shell 2x85-100%KO Dig 2x60-71% Revenge 2x46-55% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Sudowoodo builds →Stone Edge 4x205-241%KO Hammer Arm 2x68-80% Dig 2x54-64% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Excadrill builds →Rock Slide 4x132-155%KO Dig 2x104-123%KO | ||
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Coalossal builds →Ancient Power 4x106-125%KO Dig 2x46-55% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Drednaw builds →Rock Tomb 4x139-164%KO Razor Shell 2x86-101%KO Dig 2x61-72% Revenge 2x46-55% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Sudowoodo builds →Stone Edge 4x201-237%KO Hammer Arm 2x67-79% Dig 2x55-65% | ||
 Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Solrock builds →Stone Edge 4x186-220%KO Bulldoze 2x37-44% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Excadrill builds →Rock Slide 4x126-149%KO Dig 2x100-118%KO Brick Break 2x63-75% | ||
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Coalossal builds →Ancient Power 4x100-118%KO Dig 2x44-52% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Drednaw builds →Rock Tomb 4x133-157%KO Razor Shell 2x83-98% Dig 2x59-69% Revenge 2x44-52% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x107-125%KO Bulldoze 2x48-56% | ||
 Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Barbaracle builds →Rock Slide 4x156-184%KO Dive 2x83-98% Dig 2x55-65% Brick Break 2x52-61% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Drednaw builds →Rock Slide 4x166-195%KO Dive 2x88-103%KO Dig 2x58-69% Revenge 2x44-53% | ||
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Coalossal builds →Rock Slide 4x124-146%KO Dig 2x44-53% | ||
Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Solrock builds →Stone Edge 4x188-221%KO Bulldoze 2x38-45% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Rhydon builds →Rock Slide 4x184-218%KO Dig 2x99-116%KO Hammer Arm 2x81-96% Whirlpool 2x14-16% | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Barbaracle builds →Rock Slide 4x159-187%KO Dive 2x85-101%KO Dig 2x57-67% Cross Chop 2x71-83% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 4x301-354%KO Hammer Arm 2x68-80% Dig 2x54-64% | ||
Dwebble BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Dwebble builds →Rock Wrecker 4x215-253%KO Dig 2x39-46% | ||
Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Coalossal builds →Rock Slide 4x129-153%KO Dig 2x45-53% | ||
 Stonjourner Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Stonjourner builds →Rock Slide 4x183-215%KO Stomping Tantrum 2x61-72% | ||
 Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 4x315-370%KO Dig 2x56-66% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Drednaw builds →Head Smash 4x339-399%KO Liquidation 2x96-114%KO Dig 2x61-72% Revenge 2x46-54% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 4x302-356%KO Hammer Arm 2x67-79% Dig 2x54-64% | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Barbaracle builds →Stone Edge 4x210-247%KO Dive 2x84-99% Dig 2x56-66% Cross Chop 2x70-82% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Tyranitar builds →Stone Edge 4x259-305%KO Earthquake 2x86-102%KO Brick Break 2x65-77% Muddy Water 2x58-69% | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 4x315-370%KO Earthquake 2x70-82% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Drednaw builds →Head Smash 4x339-399%KO Liquidation 2x96-114%KO Earthquake 2x75-89% Revenge 2x46-54% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 4x302-356%KO Earthquake 2x67-79% Hammer Arm 2x67-79% | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Barbaracle builds →Stone Edge 4x210-247%KO Dive 2x84-99% Earthquake 2x70-82% Cross Chop 2x70-82% | ||
 Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Carracosta builds →Rock Slide 4x162-191%KO Aqua Tail 2x96-114%KO Earthquake 2x72-85% Focus Blast 2x69-81% | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Crustle builds →Rock Wrecker 4x315-370%KO Earthquake 2x70-82% | ||
Drednaw WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Drednaw builds →Head Smash 4x339-399%KO Liquidation 2x96-114%KO Earthquake 2x75-89% Revenge 2x46-54% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 4x302-356%KO Earthquake 2x67-79% Hammer Arm 2x67-79% | ||
Barbaracle RockWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Barbaracle builds →Stone Edge 4x210-247%KO Dive 2x84-99% Earthquake 2x70-82% Cross Chop 2x70-82% | ||
Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Carracosta builds →Rock Slide 4x162-191%KO Aqua Tail 2x96-114%KO Earthquake 2x72-85% Focus Blast 2x69-81% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Garchomp can KO Darmanitan with Earthquake (151-178%). Tyranitar's Stone Edge also KOs at 507-597%.
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x151-178%KO | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Ferrothorn builds →Knock Off21-24% | ||
Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Tyranitar builds →Crunch102-120%KO Stone Edge 4x507-597%KO Earthquake 2x169-199%KO | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemWacanberry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x118-138%KO Earthquake 2x98-115%KO Crunch39-46% | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Urshifu builds →Close Combat 2x271-319%KO Sucker Punch79-93% U Turn26-31% | ||
Darmanitan Evolutions
Darmanitan is the evolved form of Darumaka. Breeding produces Darumaka eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Darumaka gave Darmanitan the biggest boost in Attack (+50), bringing the total to 480 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Darmanitan to get Darumaka eggs easily using 152 partners from the Ground egg group.
SwSh Darmanitan Best Moveset
Hardest-hitting Fire moveset available. AbilitySheer Force adds 30% power to qualifying moves AND removes Held ItemLife Orb recoil, and 140 Attack behind Fire TermStab through MoveFlare Blitz demolishes targets. 95 Speed outruns most of the format. A-tier because the raw damage output is staggering.
Best Build
Darmanitan best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Flare Blitz
- Earthquake
- U Turn
- Substitute
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Without TMs, Darmanitan's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 9 types on top of Overheat and Flare Blitz for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
The thick arms of this hot-blooded Pokémon can deliver punches capable of obliterating a dump truck.
This Pokémon's power level rises along with the temperature of its fire, which can reach 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit
Darmanitan Sword & Shield Guide
In Sword & Shield, Don't let Darmanitan's 480 base stat total fool you. Gorilla Tactics is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it B-Tier as a pivot. Flare Blitz with Life Orb is the standard set.
In Sword & Shield, Zen Mode. This is Darmanitan's defining trait. It changes darmanitan's form after each turn depending on its HP: Zen Mode below 50% max HP, and Standard Mode otherwise. Every competitive set revolves around it. If your Darmanitan doesn't have Zen Mode, it's not worth running.
In Sword & Shield, Run Gorilla Tactics on Darmanitan. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Darmanitan also gets Zen Mode, but they don't compare.
In Sword & Shield, Darmanitan fills the pivot role. It's a physical attacker with base 140 Attack. Base 95 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Game Availability
Darmanitan first appeared in Black & White and spans 7 games across 6 generations. It later gained a Galarian form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BWDebut
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves