Nothing fancy in Darumaka's spread. It leans physical with Attack out front. And you'll get 1 Attack EV per KO for it. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
It lived in snowy areas for so long that its fire sac cooled off and atrophied. It now has an organ that generates cold instead.
The colder they get, the more energetic they are. They freeze their breath to make snowballs, using them as ammo for playful snowball fights.
Type-wise, Darumaka takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy |
Landorus's Sludge Bomb hits Darumaka for 70-83%. Urshifu threatens a KO with Close Combat (144-169%). Hippowdon's Earthquake also KOs at 159-188%.
 Landorus Ground | S | |
Recommended Build AbilitySheerforce ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Darumaka View Landorus builds →Sludge Bomb70-83% | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemFocus Sash NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Darumaka View Urshifu builds →Close Combat144-169%KO Sucker Punch84-99% | ||
 Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Darumaka View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x159-188%KO | ||
 Toxapex PoisonWater | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Toxapex builds →
| ||
 Garganacl Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPurifyingsalt ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves View Garganacl builds →
| ||
Darumaka is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Darmanitan. Check the evolution method below. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 165 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Darumaka easily with 278 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Most of Darumaka's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Overheat and Flare Blitz, but Normal and Dark and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
The egg pool carries weight here. Encore and Endure aren't available any other way for Darumaka, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Overheat and Flare Blitz for solid options.
The egg pool carries weight here. Encore and Endure aren't available any other way for Darumaka, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Overheat and Flare Blitz for solid options.
The egg pool carries weight here. Encore and Endure aren't available any other way for Darumaka, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Overheat and Flare Blitz for solid options.
Darumaka starts showing up in late-game routes at moderate rates across 4 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations to Catch Darumaka in Sword & Shield
Walking encounters at Lv. 38-65 across 4 spots for Darumaka. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.
Darumaka can't be caught in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Bring it over from Black, Black 2, or Sword instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Darumaka can't be caught in Sun & Moon. Bring it over from Black, Black 2, or Sword instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Darumaka has 2 evolution paths: Darmanitan at level 35 and Galarian Darmanitan using a Ice Stone. Different conditions, different results.
Darumaka has 2 evolution paths: Darmanitan at level 35 and Galarian Darmanitan using a Ice Stone. Different method for each one.
For a casual playthrough, Darumaka works as a placeholder. Fire coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Darmanitan. That's where the stats start mattering.
Darumaka is catchable across 7 games. Debuted in Sword & Shield and most recently available in Black & White and Black 2 & White 2.
Available since Black & White, Darumaka appears in 7 games spanning 6 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Galarian form in Generation 8.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BWDebut
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves