Is Dusclops Good in Platinum Playthrough?
Duskull evolves at level 37, or catch wild in Turnback Cave. AbilityPressure doubles PP usage. Trade with Reaper Cloth for Dusknoir, the Gen 4 evolution. Ghost-type bulk handles Maylene's Fighting gym and contributes through the E4.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Roark's team.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Gardenia's team.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Maylene's team.
Crasher Wake's team hits Duskull's weaknesses hard.
Dusclops trades roughly evenly with Byron's team.
Dusclops has the type edge here and should clean up Candice's team.
Dusknoir has the type edge here and should clean up Volkner's team.
Dusknoir has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.
Dusknoir has the type edge here and should clean up Bertha's team.
Dusknoir has the type edge here and should clean up Flint's team.
Dusknoir has the type edge here and should clean up Lucian's team.
Dusknoir has the type edge here and should clean up Jupiter's team.
Dusknoir has the type edge here and should clean up Mars's team.
Dusknoir resists most of Saturn's coverage and hits back hard.
Dusknoir has the type edge here and should clean up Cynthia's team.
Catch Duskull
Catch Duskull on Route 209 (walking, Lv 17, uncommon).
Recommended Moves
- After Fantina
- TM14IceBlizzardPower 120Accuracy 70%PP 5Lake Acuity
- TM13IceIce BeamPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 10Route 216
- TM29PsychicPsychicPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 10Veilstone Game Corner
- After Crasher Wake
- TM30GhostShadow BallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Route 210
- After Candice
- TM85PsychicDream EaterPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15Valor Lakefront
- After Volkner
- TM79DarkDark PulsePower 80Accuracy 100%PP 15Victory Road
- Post-Game
- TM42NormalFacadePower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20Survival Area
Evolve Duskull to Dusclops
Duskull evolves into Dusclops at Level 37. Your Duskull should hit Level 37 before you reach Byron, at typical leveling pace.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 37)
- LV 37FireWill-O-WispPower —Accuracy 75%PP 15
- After Gardenia
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Wayward Cave (secret entrance under bike path)
- After Fantina
- TM68NormalGiga ImpactPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Game Corner
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Department Store
- TM13IceIce BeamPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 10Route 216
- After Crasher Wake
- TM30GhostShadow BallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Route 210
- After Byron
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 20Oreburgh Gate
- After Candice
- TM85PsychicDream EaterPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15Valor Lakefront
- Post-Game
- TM42NormalFacadePower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20Survival Area
Evolve Dusclops to Dusknoir
Dusclops evolves into Dusknoir when traded. Most players are ready to trade before reaching Volkner.
Recommended Moves
- After Gardenia
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Wayward Cave (secret entrance under bike path)
- After Fantina
- TM68NormalGiga ImpactPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Game Corner
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Department Store
- TM13IceIce BeamPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 10Route 216
- After Maylene
- TUTORGhostOminous WindPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 5Route 212
- After Crasher Wake
- TM30GhostShadow BallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Route 210
- After Byron
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 20Oreburgh Gate
- After Candice
- TM85PsychicDream EaterPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15Valor Lakefront
- Post-Game
- TM42NormalFacadePower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20Survival Area
How to Get Dusclops in Platinum
Dusclops is a normal cave catch inside Turnback Cave, where it walks the grass day and night without any cartridge needed. A handful of extra cart-gated spots exist, but the standard Turnback spawns carry it on their own.
Wild Dusclops may be holding when caught:
Kasib Berry (5% chance) Held: Consumed when struck by a super-effective Ghost-type attack to halve the damage.2 locations to catch Dusclops3 locations to catch Duskull
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Badge 8Catch Duskull at any of the 3 locations below, then level it up to 37 — it evolves into Dusclops.
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7 Badge 8Where To Catch Dusclops in Pt
Available earlier: catch Duskull (before Badge 3) and evolve it at Lv 37. Wild Dusclops first appears at Sendoff Spring (after Badge 7).
- Step 1Catch DuskullLost Tower - 1FLv.17-19FloorRate 20%NightLost Tower - 2FLv.17-19FloorRate 20%NightLost Tower - 3FLv.18-20FloorRate 20%NightLost Tower - 4FLv.18-20FloorRate 20%NightLost Tower - 5FLv.19-21FloorRate 20%NightRoute 209Lv.17GrassRate 10%NightTurnback Cave - Section 1Lv.18CaveRate 5%Turnback Cave - Section 2 Room 1Lv.28CaveRate 4%Turnback Cave - Section 2 Room 2Lv.28CaveRate 4%Turnback Cave - Section 2 Room 3Lv.28CaveRate 4%Turnback Cave - Section 2 Room 4Lv.28CaveRate 4%Turnback Cave - Section 2 Room 5Lv.28CaveRate 4%Turnback Cave - Section 2 Room 6Lv.28CaveRate 4%
- Step 2Dusclops ✓Turnback Cave - Section 2 Room 1Lv.26-28CaveRate 11%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 2Lv.26-28CaveRate 11%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 3Lv.26-28CaveRate 11%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 4Lv.26-28CaveRate 11%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 5Lv.26-28CaveRate 11%NightTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 6Lv.26-28CaveRate 11%NightTurnback Cave - Section 1Lv.16CaveRate 10%NightTurnback Cave - Section 1Lv.18CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldTurnback Cave - Section 1Lv.18CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedTurnback Cave - Section 1Lv.18CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreenTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 1Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 1Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 1Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreenTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 2Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 2Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 2Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreenTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 3Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 3Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 3Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreenTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 4Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 4Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 4Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreenTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 5Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 5Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 5Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreenTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 6Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: EmeraldTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 6Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: FireRedTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 6Lv.28CaveRate 4%Dual-slot: LeafGreenTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 1Lv.28CaveRate 1%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 2Lv.28CaveRate 1%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 3Lv.28CaveRate 1%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 4Lv.28CaveRate 1%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 5Lv.28CaveRate 1%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 2 Room 6Lv.28CaveRate 1%Morning/dayTurnback Cave - Section 3Lv.36-38CaveRate 15%NightSendoff SpringLv.39-40GrassRate 15%NightTurnback Cave - Section 3Lv.38CaveRate 5%Morning/daySendoff SpringLv.40GrassRate 5%Morning/dayor evolve from Duskull (Step 1)
- Step 3Evolve into DusknoirBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Duskull egg.
Bring the right balls: check Dusclops catch odds in the Platinum Catch Rate Calculator before you throw.
How to Get Shiny Dusclops in Platinum
Dusclops rises from Duskull, so chain a Duskull on Route 209 to 40 for a shiny and level it up. Compare Shiny Dusclops odds across every game
Platinum Shiny Dusclops Calculator
3 MethodsThe best route is PokeRadar Chain at full boosts, about 1 in 200 on each try. Tune it below.
PokeRadar Chain: Chain shaking-grass patches without breaking the combo. The rate peaks at a chain of 40.
Masuda Method: Breed with a parent from a different-language game. Works on any breedable line.
Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.
How many you have done, or plan to do.
| Chance | Encounters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10%lucky few | 22-- | -- |
| 25%one in four | 58-- | -- |
| 50%coin flip | 139-- | -- |
| 90%very likely | 460-- | -- |
Time assumes -- at your pace and does not change your shiny odds.
How is this calculated?
Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.
chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N, where p = 1 / odds per try
Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.
The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.
These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.
Planning a longer hunt? Set up Dusclops in the Platinum Shiny Odds Calculator to compare every method side by side.
Dusclops Weakness
Dusclops is weak to Ghost and Dark. On the flip side, it's immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves entirely. Dusclops's overall bulk (40/130/130) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Normal, Fighting |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Dusclops Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Dusclops
 Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Absol builds →Sucker Punch 2x82-97% Shadow Claw 2x47-56% | ||
 Drapion PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Drapion builds →Crunch 2x59-70% Shadow Ball 2x30-35% | ||
 Giratina GhostDragon | S | |
Obtain MethodDistortion World Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Giratina builds →Shadow Force 2x97-115%KO Payback 2x28-33% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Weavile builds →Night Slash 2x66-78% Shadow Claw 2x44-52% | ||
 Shiftry GrassDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Shiftry builds →Feint Attack 2x50-60% Shadow Ball 2x39-47% | ||
 Spiritomb GhostDark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 209 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Spiritomb builds →Sucker Punch 2x62-73% Shadow Ball 2x62-73% | ||
 Gengar GhostPoison | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Gengar builds →Shadow Ball 2x82-97% Dark Pulse 2x54-64% | ||
 Houndoom DarkFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Houndoom builds →Shadow Ball 2x47-56% Bite 2x46-55% | ||
 Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Drifloon (Valley Windworks Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Drifblim builds →Shadow Ball 2x59-70% Payback 2x23-28% | ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodOld Chateau Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Rotom builds →Shadow Ball 2x62-73% Thief 2x15-17% | ||
 Froslass IceGhost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Froslass builds →Shadow Ball 2x55-65% Payback 2x23-28% | ||
 Sableye DarkGhost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Sableye builds →Shadow Claw 2x46-55% Feint Attack 2x39-47% | ||
Duskull Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusclops View Duskull builds →Shadow Ball 2x29-34% Payback 2x15-17% | ||
Dusclops Evolutions
Dusclops connects Duskull to Dusknoir in this chain. At least one evolution here needs a trade. Defense has grown the most so far (+40), but there's still another 70 stats to gain in the final evolution. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Dusclops to get Duskull eggs easily using 31 partners from the Amorphous egg group. Notable egg moves include Destiny Bond, Feint Attack, Grudge and 4 more.
Pt Dusclops Best Moveset
Dusknoir evolves from Dusclops now, adding Attack and HP to those 130 defenses in both stats. The moveset here blocks attacks at 40 HP with enormous Defense and Sp. Def, but can't threaten back effectively. Evolve for the upgrade.
Best Build
Dusclops best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Pain Split
- Will O Wisp
- Seismic Toss
- Rest
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Egg moves make a real difference. Dusclops can get Destiny Bond and Feint Attack through breeding, which widens what its kit can do. Coverage across 9 types rounds out the picture alongside Shadow Ball and Shadow Punch.
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
44 of 47 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It seeks drifting will-o’-the-wisps and sucks them into its empty body. What happens inside is a mystery.
Dusclops Platinum Guide
Dusclops evolves into Dusknoir via trade. The Reaper Cloth must be held during the trade. Bring one over from a sibling Gen 3 game if needed.
Yes. Wild Dusclops in Platinum can hold Kasib Berry (5%). Use Thief (TM46) or Covet to swipe the held item without affecting your catch chance. Quickest way to farm rare items like Kasib Berry.
In Platinum, for a casual playthrough, Dusclops works as a placeholder. Ghost coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Dusknoir. That's where the stats start mattering.
In Platinum, Dusclops plays as a support. It's slow, so Trick Room or priority moves are key. so pick your spots carefully.
In Platinum, Calm is the go-to nature for Dusclops. That's +Sp. Def / -Attack. Pair it with 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD EVs. Fits the support role.
Game Availability
Since Ruby & Sapphire, Dusclops has been in 16 games. Requiring a trade evolution to obtain means it's consistently available but requires more effort than simply catching it in the wild.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
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 7Let's Go
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
Explore
Where to go next after Dusclops.
Keep playing · PlatinumPlatinum Tier ListThe best Pokemon ranked tier by tierSee Platinum Tier List