Physical
Attacker
525High
45Very Slow
BTier

Dusknoir's Ghost typing gives it an immunity to Normal and Fighting. Only 2 weaknesses on top of that — it has plenty of safe switch-in opportunities. Works well under Trick Room. Known as the Gripper Pokemon.

Dusknoir's all-in on Defense at the expense of HP. The physical lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 3 Defense and Sp. Def EVs and follows a fast 800K XP curve.

Base Stats
525High
HP45
D
Attack100
B
Defense135
A
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def135
A
Speed45
D
Total525
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Dusknoir yields +1 Def, +2 SpD
HPAtkDef+1SpASpD+2Spe
Details
Catch45Challenging•Fast800,000 XP•2.2m / 7'03"•106.6kg / 235 lbs•236Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It is said to take lost spirits into its pliant body and guide them home.

Omega Ruby

The antenna on its head captures radio waves from the world of spirits that command it to take people there.

Alpha Sapphire

Dusknoir Weakness

Excellent

Ghost and Dark-type moves hit Dusknoir for super-effective damage. The upside? Normal and Fighting-type moves can't touch it at all. Dusknoir's overall bulk (45/135/135) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.

4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
GhostDark
½xResisti
PoisonBug
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
NormalFighting
STAB (2)i
PsychicGhost
2Weak
2Resist
2Immune
Scorei+4
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
PressureIncreases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
FriskHAReveals an opponent's held item upon entering battle.

Dusknoir doesn't evolve through normal leveling. You'll need a trade to get here from Duskull's line. Breed this form to get Duskull eggs (average hatch time). Evolving from Duskull gave Dusknoir the biggest boost in Attack (+60), bringing the total to 525 stats.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Duskull
#355Duskull
37
Level 37
Dusclops
#356Dusclops
Trade + Reaper Cloth
Dusknoir
#477Dusknoir
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Duskull
Ghost
Dusclops
Ghost
Dusknoir
Ghost
HP
20
40+20
45+5
ATK
40
70+30
100+30
DEF
90
130+40
135+5
SP.ATK
30
60+30
65+5
SP.DEF
90
130+40
135+5
SPE
25
25
45+20
BST
295C-Tier
455C-Tier+160
525B-Tier+70
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Easy

Breed with Dusknoir to get Duskull eggs easily from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Dark Pulse, Destiny Bond, Feint Attack and 7 more.

Egg Groups
Indeterminate
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
25 cycles·6,425 steps
Moderate~6 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
10moves

Bulk and offense in one package. Dusknoir runs Leftovers for passive recovery each turn with a Adamant nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Shadow Sneak. Max Attack without Speed EVs and utility options make it hard to safely switch into.

Best Build

Physical Attacker
Ability
Frisk
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Dusknoir Moveset

  • Shadow SneakSTAB
  • Will O Wisp
  • ToxicUtility
  • ProtectFAST +4

Recommended Teammates

Aggron
AggronGood
Machamp
MachampGood

Need something that threatens multiple types? Dusknoir's movepool delivers. Coverage across 10 types plus STAB from Shadow Ball and Hex gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Astonish
3010015Ghost
Lv 1
Bind
158520Normal
Lv 1
Disable
—10020Normal
Lv 1
Fire Punch
7510015Fire
Lv 1
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
Lv 1
Gravity
——5Psychic
Lv 1
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
Lv 1
Leer
—10030Normal
Lv 1
Night Shade
—10015Ghost
Lv 1
Thunder Punch
7510015Electric
Lv 6
Disable
—10020Normal
Lv 9
Astonish
3010015Ghost
Lv 14
Foresight
——40Normal
Lv 17
Shadow Sneak+1
4010030Ghost
Lv 22
Pursuit
4010020Dark
Lv 25
Will-O-Wisp
—8515Fire
Lv 30
Confuse Ray
—10010Ghost
Lv 33
Curse
——10Ghost
Lv 37
Shadow Punch
60—20Ghost
Lv 40
Hex
6510010Ghost
Lv 45
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
Lv 52
Mean Look
——5Normal
Lv 57
Payback
5010010Dark
Lv 64
Future Sight
12010010Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
110705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM04
Calm Mind
——20Psychic
TM57
Charge Beam
509010Electric
TM100
Confide
——20Normal
TM97
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM63
Embargo
—10015Dark
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
—10020Normal
TM56
Fling
—10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM83
Infestation
2010020Bug
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM98
Power-Up Punch
4010020Fighting
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
——10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
HM06
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM94
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
—9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM41
Torment
—10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison
TM92
Trick Room-7
——5Psychic
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
—8515Fire

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
Egg
Destiny Bond
——5Ghost
Egg
Feint Attack
60—20Dark
Egg
Grudge
——5Ghost
Egg
Haze
——30Ice
Egg
Imprison
——10Psychic
Egg
Memento
—10010Dark
Egg
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
Egg
Pain Split
——20Normal
Egg
Skill Swap
——10Psychic

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Bind
158520Normal
Tutor
Fire Punch
7510015Fire
Tutor
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
Tutor
Gravity
——5Psychic
Tutor
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
Tutor
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Tutor
Pain Split
——20Normal
Tutor
Skill Swap
——10Psychic
Tutor
Snatch+4
——10Dark
Tutor
Snore
5010015Normal
Tutor
Spite
—10010Ghost
Tutor
Thunder Punch
7510015Electric
Tutor
Trick
—10010Psychic
Tutor
Wonder Room
——10Psychic

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 4
Captivate
—10020Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
——10Normal
Gen 4
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
—10015Normal
Gen 4
Sucker Punch+1
801005Dark
Gen 5
Telekinesis
——15Psychic

A trade step sits in Dusknoir's 3-stage chain from Duskull. The step cards below map each stage with catch locations and evolution methods. Duskull shows up at solid rates, so the starting catch is the easy part.

Trade Evolution Required — Requires trading with another player

How to Obtain Dusknoir in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

The path to Dusknoir starts with Duskull at Lv. 28-31 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Duskull
    Step 1Catch Duskull
    Mt. Pyre - Area 1
    Alpha SapphireGrassLv.28-3137%MidCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Pyre - Area 1
    Omega RubyGrassLv.28-3137%MidCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Pyre - Area 2
    Alpha SapphireGrassLv.28-3137%MidCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Pyre - Area 2
    Omega RubyGrassLv.28-3137%MidCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Pyre - Area 3
    Omega RubyGrassLv.28-3137%MidCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Pyre - Area 3
    Alpha SapphireGrassLv.28-3137%MidCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Pyre - Area 4
    Omega RubyGrassLv.28-3137%MidCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Pyre - Area 4
    Alpha SapphireGrassLv.28-3137%MidCave
    EFFORTLESS
  2. Dusclops
    Step 2Evolve into Dusclops
  3. Dusknoir
    Step 3Dusknoir ✓

  • Dusknoir has a 525 base stat total and ranks as B-Tier — a solid choice for the right team. It works best as an attacker. Base 135 Defense is where it shines.

  • Watch for Gengar (Ghost) and Absol (Dark) when using Dusknoir. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. Dusknoir has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.

  • Dusclops evolves into Dusknoir while holding a Reaper Cloth. Dusknoir is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Duskull. At 525 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Pressure increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one — that's the one you want on Dusknoir. Frisk is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.

  • Dusknoir fills the attacker role. It's a physical attacker with base 100 Attack. Base 45 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.

  • Dusknoir appears in 13 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.

Dusknoir has been available in 13 games since Diamond & Pearl, though obtaining it requires a trade evolution. This extra step makes it less common than Pokemon found through standard wild encounters.