Is Donphan Good in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Playthrough?
Ground-type with high Attack and Defense. AbilitySturdy guarantees survival of one hit, and MoveEarthquake handles Molayne's E4 cleanly. Rock coverage via MoveStone Edge takes care of Kahili's Flying team. Simple but effective.
Phanpy trades roughly evenly with Ilima's team.
Donphan has the type edge here and should clean up Hala's team.
Donphan trades roughly evenly with Lana's team.
ElectricSteelReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Moon only)
BugElectricReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GrassReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GhostFairyReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou...
Phanpy has the type edge here and should clean up Kiawe's team.
Mallow's team hits Phanpy's weaknesses hard.
Donphan has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Donphan has the type edge here and should clean up Sophocles's team.
Donphan has the type edge here and should clean up Acerola's team.
Donphan has the type edge here and should clean up Nanu's team.
Donphan trades roughly evenly with Mina's team.
Donphan trades roughly evenly with Hapu's team.
Donphan has the type edge here and should clean up Molayne's team.
Donphan has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Donphan trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Donphan trades roughly evenly with Kahili's team.
Donphan trades roughly evenly with Kukui's team.
Donphan cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 25.
How to Get Donphan in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Donphan can't be caught in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Transfer Phanpy from Gold & Silver, Crystal, or Scarlet & Violet and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Donphan in USUM
Step 1Obtain PhanpyLATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Walking · Route 45. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Walking · Route 45. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Ruby & SapphireNot TradeableAppears in Ruby & Sapphire via Walking · Safari Zone. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom EmeraldNot TradeableAppears in Emerald via Walking · Safari Zone · Safari Zone: 500 entry fee, 30 Safari Balls. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Walking · Sevault Canyon. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Walking · Route 207 · Swarm active. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.- Step 2Donphan ✓
Donphan Weakness
Donphan is weak to Water, Grass, and Ice. 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Grass, Ice |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison, Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
What is Donphan Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Donphan
 Dartrix Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Route 1 Gift) | ||
 Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Grovyle Grass | C | |
 Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
 Popplio Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 1 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Donphan View Popplio builds →Bubble Beam 2x49-58% Icy Wind 2x28-33% | ||
Dartrix Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Route 1 Gift) | ||
Grovyle Grass | C | |
 Ivysaur GrassPoison | C | |
Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Brionne Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Route 1 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Donphan View Brionne builds →Bubble Beam 2x63-75% Icy Wind 2x36-43% | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Primarina WaterFairy | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Popplio (Route 1 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Donphan View Primarina builds →Sparkling Aria 2x116-137%KO Ice Beam 2x77-92% Energy Ball 2x77-92% | ||
 Decidueye GrassGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Route 1 Gift) | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
Ivysaur GrassPoison | C | |
Dartrix Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Route 1 Gift) | ||
 Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
 Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodAncient Poni Path Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Donphan View Pelipper builds →Brine 2x64-76% Ice Beam 2x59-70% | ||
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Greninja can KO Donphan with Hydro Pump (120-142%). Swampert's Scald hits Donphan for 54-63%. Venusaur's Giga Drain also KOs at 116-136%.
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityBattlebond ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Donphan View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse44-52% Ice Beam 2x99-116%KO Hydro Pump 2x120-142%KO | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Donphan View Swampert builds →Earthquake27-32% Waterfall 2x43-51% Scald 2x54-63% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemLife Orb NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Donphan View Venusaur builds →Sludge Bomb34-41% Giga Drain 2x116-136%KO | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Donphan View Lapras builds →Surf 2x96-113%KO Hydro Pump 2x117-138%KO Ice Beam 2x96-113%KO | ||
Donphan Evolutions
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Donphan to get Phanpy eggs easily using 218 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Body Slam, Counter and 10 more.
USUM Donphan Best Moveset
120 Attack at 120 Defense with AbilitySturdy guaranteeing survival from full HP. Ground TermStab at that Attack power hits hard. MoveRapid Spin clears hazards and MoveStealth Rock sets them. MoveIce Shard adds priority Ice coverage. The moveset holds B-tier through physical bulk, hazard management, and priority that cover multiple roles in one slot.
Best Build
Donphan best EVs are HP and Defense
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Shard
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 12 types means almost nothing walls Donphan cleanly, with Earthquake and High Horsepower anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
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
Donphan Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Guide
For Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, we rate Donphan B-Tier: a solid option in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon for the right team. At 500 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Earthquake with Leftovers is the standard set.
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.
For Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, the core moveset is Earthquake, Rapid Spin, Stealth Rock, and Ice Shard. Earthquake leads at 0% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Available in 16 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Donphan spans 9 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in most mainline games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
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 5BW
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 8SwSh
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