Is Dusknoir Good in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Playthrough?
Ghost-type trade evolution from Dusclops via Reaper Cloth. Adds Attack over Dusclops, but loses the Held ItemEviolite option. Immune to Normal and Fighting. Whether Dusknoir or Eviolite Dusclops is better depends on whether you want offense or defense.
Ilima's team hits Duskull's weaknesses hard.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Hala's team.
Lana's team hits Duskull's weaknesses hard.
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...
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Kiawe's team.
Mallow's typing presses Duskull's defenses.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Sophocles's team.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Nanu's team hits Duskull's weaknesses hard.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Mina's team.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Hapu's team.
Molayne's team hits Duskull's weaknesses hard.
Olivia's team hits Duskull's weaknesses hard.
Duskull trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Kahili's team hits Duskull's weaknesses hard.
Kukui's team hits Duskull's weaknesses hard.
Dusknoir 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.
How to Get Dusknoir in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Dusknoir can't be caught in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Transfer Duskull from Ruby & Sapphire, Emerald, or Sword & Shield and evolve through the 3-stage chain to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Dusknoir in USUM
Step 1Obtain DuskullLATER APPEARANCEfrom Ruby & SapphireNot TradeableAppears in Ruby & Sapphire via Walking · Mt. Pyre. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom EmeraldNot TradeableAppears in Emerald via Walking · Mt. Pyre. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Pokeradar · Route 224. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom PlatinumNot TradeableAppears in Platinum via Walking · Lost Tower. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire via Walking · Mt. Pyre. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Sword & ShieldNot TradeableAppears in Sword & Shield via Overworld · Giant's Seat · Heavy Fog. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Evolve into Dusclops- Step 3Dusknoir ✓
Dusknoir Weakness
Ghost and Dark 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Normal, Fighting |
What is Dusknoir Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Dusknoir
 Vullaby Dark | C | |
 Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Murkrow builds →Thief 2x44-53% Astonish 2x18-22% | ||
 Inkay DarkPsychic | D | |
 Sableye DarkGhost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Sableye builds →Thief 2x38-47% Shadow Sneak 2x27-33% | ||
 Zorua Dark | C | |
 Umbreon Dark | B | |
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Murkrow builds →Thief 2x43-52% Astonish 2x17-21% | ||
Vullaby Dark | C | |
Inkay DarkPsychic | D | |
Sableye DarkGhost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Sableye builds →Feint Attack 2x38-47% Shadow Sneak 2x26-31% | ||
Umbreon Dark | B | |
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Murkrow builds →Thief 2x46-56% Astonish 2x19-22% | ||
Vullaby Dark | C | |
Inkay DarkPsychic | D | |
Sableye DarkGhost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Sableye builds →Feint Attack 2x41-50% Shadow Sneak 2x31-39% | ||
Umbreon Dark | B | |
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Murkrow builds →Thief 2x44-52% Astonish 2x16-19% | ||
Vullaby Dark | C | |
Inkay DarkPsychic | D | |
Sableye DarkGhost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Sableye builds →Feint Attack 2x40-48% Shadow Sneak 2x27-33% | ||
Umbreon Dark | B | |
 Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Drifloon (Route 1 Interact Encounter) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Drifblim builds →Hex 2x49-59% Thief 2x28-34% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Murkrow builds →Assurance 2x42-51% Astonish 2x15-20% | ||
Vullaby Dark | C | |
Sableye DarkGhost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Sableye builds →Knock Off 2x42-51% Shadow Sneak 2x28-34% | ||
 Incineroar FireDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Incineroar builds →Darkest Lariat 2x72-86% Shadow Claw 2x40-48% | ||
 Honchkrow Dark | B | |
Obtain MethodPoke Pelago Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Honchkrow builds →Sucker Punch 2x64-76% Shadow Ball 2x43-51% | ||
 Zoroark Dark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Zoroark builds →Foul Play 2x76-90% Shadow Ball 2x48-57% | ||
 Aegislash SteelGhost | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Aegislash builds →Shadow Claw 2x34-41% Night Slash 2x23-28% | ||
 Absol Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Absol builds →Night Slash 2x67-79% Shadow Claw 2x45-53% | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x79-93% Shadow Claw 2x39-47% | ||
Incineroar FireDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Incineroar builds →Darkest Lariat 2x71-84% Shadow Claw 2x39-47% | ||
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Pangoro builds →Crunch 2x71-84% Shadow Claw 2x41-49% | ||
Honchkrow Dark | B | |
Obtain MethodPoke Pelago Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Honchkrow builds →Sucker Punch 2x62-73% Shadow Ball 2x41-49% | ||
Zoroark Dark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Zoroark builds →Foul Play 2x74-87% Shadow Ball 2x46-54% | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x79-93% Shadow Claw 2x40-47% | ||
Honchkrow Dark | B | |
Obtain MethodPoke Pelago Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Honchkrow builds →Foul Play 2x83-98% Shadow Ball 2x40-48% | ||
 Lunala PsychicGhost | S | |
Obtain MethodMahalo Trail Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Lunala builds →Moongeist Beam 2x95-112%KO Night Daze 2x53-64% | ||
Incineroar FireDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Incineroar builds →Darkest Lariat 2x69-81% Shadow Claw 2x38-45% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Pangoro builds →Crunch 2x71-84% Shadow Claw 2x40-48% | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x81-96% Shadow Claw 2x40-47% | ||
Honchkrow Dark | B | |
Obtain MethodPoke Pelago Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Honchkrow builds →Foul Play 2x85-100%KO Shadow Ball 2x42-50% | ||
 Giratina GhostDragon | S | |
Obtain MethodUltra Space Wilds Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Giratina builds →Shadow Force 2x90-106%KO Dark Pulse 2x40-47% | ||
Lunala PsychicGhost | S | |
Obtain MethodMahalo Trail Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Lunala builds →Moongeist Beam 2x96-114%KO Night Daze 2x56-65% | ||
Incineroar FireDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Incineroar builds →Darkest Lariat 2x71-84% Shadow Claw 2x40-47% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDefiant ItemFightiniumz NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Primeape builds →U Turn9-10% Stone Edge25-29% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIronfist ItemAssault Vest NatureAdamant Moves View Hitmonchan builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureHardy Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Claydol builds →Psychic13-15% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemAssault Vest NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Lanturn builds →Volt Switch12-14% Scald13-16% Ice Beam15-18% Surf15-18% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLightningrod ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Manectric builds →Thunderbolt22-27% Volt Switch17-21% Flamethrower22-27% | ||
Dusknoir Evolutions
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Dusknoir to get Duskull eggs easily using 52 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Dark Pulse, Destiny Bond, Feint Attack and 7 more.
USUM Dusknoir Best Moveset
135/135 defenses with AbilityPressure burning PP. Ghost typing blocks Normal and Fighting. 100 Attack at 45 Speed provides moderate physical offense. But Dusclops with Held ItemEviolite achieves similar bulk and Dusknoir loses the Eviolite option. The moveset has the offenses Dusclops lacks but not enough to justify losing the Eviolite.
Best Build
Dusknoir best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Tank Moveset
- Shadow Sneak
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Trick Room
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
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
Dusknoir Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Guide
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Dusknoir has a 525 base stat total and ranks as B-Tier: a solid option in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon for the right team. It works best as an attacker. Shadow Sneak with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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.
No. Dusknoir is not catchable in the wild. It only comes from trade-evolving Dusclops. Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Dusclops to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required. The Reaper Cloth must be held during the trade. Bring one over from a sibling Gen 3 game if needed.
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.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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.
Game Availability
Dusknoir has been available in 14 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.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
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