Physical
Cannon
480Average
95Moderate
BTier

Zen Mode shifts into a different form below half HP — and that one ability is what makes Darmanitan worth using. Without it, the stats don't hold up on their own. Been around since Gen 5.

Darmanitan's spread is anchored by Attack, with balanced defenses backing it up. Sp. Atk is the clear weak point. Worth 2 Attack EVs per KO, and the 1.06M XP medium-slow curve keeps leveling painless.

Base Stats
480Above
HP105
B
Attack140
A
Defense55
D
Sp. Atk30
F
Sp. Def55
D
Speed95
B
Total480
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Darmanitan yields +2 Atk
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch60Challenging•Medium Slow1.06M XP•1.3m / 4'03"•92.9kg / 204.8 lbs•168Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Its internal fire burns at 2,500° F, making enough power that it can destroy a dump truck with one punch.

Black

When weakened in battle, it transforms into a stone statue. Then it sharpens its mind and fights on mentally.

White

Darmanitan Weakness

Avg

Darmanitan's Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, and Rock moves. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Darmanitan leans offensive (base 140 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.

Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
WaterGroundRock
½xResisti
FireGrassIceBugSteel
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (4)i
GrassIceBugSteel
3Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Scorei-1
Stealth Rock25% on switch
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Sheer ForceStrengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.
Zen ModeHAChanges darmanitan's form after each turn depending on its HP: Zen Mode below 50% max HP, and Standard Mode otherwise.

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.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Darumaka
#554Darumaka
35
Level 35
Darmanitan
#555Darmanitan
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Darumaka
Fire
Darmanitan
Fire
HP
70
105+35
ATK
90
140+50
DEF
45
55+10
SP.ATK
15
30+15
SP.DEF
45
55+10
SPE
50
95+45
BST
315D-Tier
480B-Tier+165
ROLE
Balanced
Cannon
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed with Darmanitan to get Darumaka eggs easily using 180 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Encore, Endure, Flame Wheel and 6 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
9moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy
12 of 180·

Darmanitan's locked into one move per switch-in with Choice Scarf, trading flexibility for speed patching through item lock. Flare Blitz is the go-to spam option, with Fighting coverage keeping switch-ins honest.

Best Build

Physical Revenge Killer
Ability
Sheerforce
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Nature
Jolly+SPE
EVs

Best Darmanitan Moveset

  • Flare BlitzSTAB
  • U Turn
  • SuperpowerCoverage
  • Rock Slide

Recommended Teammates

Ninetales
NinetalesDecent
Victini
VictiniDecent
Latios
LatiosDecent

You'll want to breed for Encore and Endure on Darmanitan. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Overheat and Flare Blitz, they expand what Darmanitan can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Incinerate
3010015Fire
Lv 1
Rage
2010020Normal
Lv 1
Rollout
309020Rock
Lv 1
Tackle
5010035Normal
Lv 3
Rollout
309020Rock
Lv 6
Incinerate
3010015Fire
Lv 9
Rage
2010020Normal
Lv 11
Fire Fang
659515Fire
Lv 14
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Lv 17
Swagger
—9015Normal
Lv 19
Facade
7010020Normal
Lv 22
Fire Punch
7510015Fire
Lv 25
Work Up
——30Normal
Lv 27
Thrash
12010010Normal
Lv 30
Belly Drum
——10Normal
Lv 33
Flare Blitz
12010015Fire
Lv 35
Hammer Arm
1009010Fighting
Lv 39
Taunt
—10020Dark
Lv 47
Superpower
1201005Fighting
Lv 54
Overheat
140905Fire

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM08
Bulk Up
——20Fighting
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM28
Dig
8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
120855Fire
TM43
Flame Charge
5010020Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
9510015Fire
TM56
Fling
—10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
—10020Grass
TM74
Gyro Ball
—1005Steel
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM59
Incinerate
3010015Fire
TM50
Overheat
140905Fire
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
—10020Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
609510Rock
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM23
Smack Down
5010015Rock
TM22
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
TM71
Stone Edge
100805Rock
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
—9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010010Dark
TM41
Torment
—10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison
TM89
U-turn
7010020Bug
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
—7515Fire
TM83
Work Up
——30Normal

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Encore
—1005Normal
Egg
Endure+4
——10Normal
Egg
Flame Wheel
6010025Fire
Egg
Focus Energy
——30Normal
Egg
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
Egg
Hammer Arm
1009010Fighting
Egg
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
Egg
Take Down
908520Normal
Egg
Yawn
——10Normal

Tutor Moves

Darmanitan can't learn any Tutor moves

Reminder Moves

Src
Rem
Uproar
9010010Normal

You'll find Darmanitan at Desert Resort as a set encounter. It's always there at that location, so come prepared for the battle. The location details below cover exact positioning.

How to Obtain Darmanitan in Black & White

Darumaka is your first catch on the way to Darmanitan. You'll find walking and fixed encounters from Lv. 15-35 across 8 total spots in the chain.

  1. Darumaka
    Step 1Catch Darumaka
    Route 4
    WhiteGrassLv.15-18CommonEarlyRouteAny
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 4
    BlackGrassLv.15-18CommonEarlyRouteAny
    EFFORTLESS
    Desert Resort - Desert
    BlackGrassLv.19-20CommonMidDesertAny
    EFFORTLESS
    Desert Resort - Desert
    WhiteGrassLv.19-20CommonMidDesertAny
    EFFORTLESS
    Desert Resort - Entrance
    BlackGrassLv.19-20CommonMidDesertAny
    EFFORTLESS
    Desert Resort - Entrance
    WhiteGrassLv.19-20CommonMidDesertAny
    EFFORTLESS
  2. Darmanitan
    Step 2Darmanitan ✓
    Desert Resort - Desert
    WhiteInteract with PokemonLv.35LimitedLateDesertAnyZen Mode
    HARD
    Desert Resort - Desert
    BlackInteract with PokemonLv.35LimitedLateDesertAnyZen Mode
    HARD
    or evolve from Darumaka (Step 1)

  • Don't let Darmanitan's 480 base stat total fool you. Zen Mode is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it B-Tier as a cannon.

  • Watch for Milotic (Water), Excadrill (Ground), and Tyranitar (Rock) when using Darmanitan. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.

  • Darumaka evolves into Darmanitan at level 35. Darmanitan is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Darumaka. At 480 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Run Zen Mode 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 Sheer Force, but they don't compare.

  • Darmanitan fills the cannon 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.

  • Darmanitan appears in 7 games, including Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, and X & Y.

Darmanitan first appeared in Black & White and spans 7 games across 5 generations. It later gained a Galarian form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.