Special
Balanced
DTier
25Speed · Very Slow

Duskull Best Moveset

Ghost at 90/90 balanced defenses with 25 Speed and AbilityLevitate granting Ground immunity. The bulk is impressive for a pre-evolution but 20 HP undercuts it. The moveset absorbs hits from both sides but can't fight back. Evolve to Dusclops for 130/130 defenses and Held ItemEviolite that create a wall.

SABCDEFFEFEFEERuby, Sapphire & EmeraldIIIRS/EDiamond, Pearl & PlatinumIVDP/PtPEAKBlack & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2THE FALLX & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASTHE RISESun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPScarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AIXSV/LZACURRENT
●Gen III — Ruby, Sapphire & EmeraldF

Duskull was a niche pick at best in Gen III (Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald), rarely seen in standard play. This marked Duskull's competitive debut. Its most popular set ran Levitate with Quickclaw, favoring a Impish nature.

Received Levitate
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Pain Split
Normal—COMMONUtility
Lv 34
Curse
Ghost—COMMONSTAB
Tutor
Substitute
Normal—COMMONUtility
Egg
Grudge
Ghost—COMMONSTAB
Lv 38
Will-O-Wisp
Fire—RAREUtility
Duskull Ruby & Sapphire MovesDuskull Emerald Moves
Experimental
Bulky Support
Ability
Levitate
Item
Quick Claw
Best Nature for Duskull
Impish+DEF
EVs

Bulky Support Moveset

  • Pain Split
  • CurseSetup
  • SubstituteUtility
  • GrudgeUtility

Recommended Teammates

Dusclops
DusclopsGood
Gengar
GengarGood
Banette
BanetteGood
★Gen IV — Diamond, Pearl & PlatinumE

Duskull saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). This was Duskull's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Levitate with Sitrus Berry, favoring a Calm nature.

Physical/Special split overhauled move damage

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Pain Split
Normal—POPULARUtility
Lv 1
Night Shade
Ghost—POPULARSTAB
Lv 30
Curse
Ghost—POPULARSTAB
Lv 33
Will-O-Wisp
Fire—POPULARUtility
Duskull Diamond & Pearl MovesDuskull Platinum Moves

Best Build

Experimental
Wall
Ability
Levitate
Item
Sitrus BerryRECOVERY
Best Nature for Duskull
Calm+SPD

Duskull best EVs are Defense and Sp. Def

EVs

Wall Moveset

  • Pain Split
  • Night ShadeSTAB
  • CurseSetup
  • Will O Wisp

Recommended Teammates

Trapinch
TrapinchExcellent
Wormadam-Trash
Wormadam-TrashExcellent
Cranidos
CranidosExcellent
↓Gen V — Black & White / B2W2F

Duskull was a niche pick at best in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2), rarely seen in standard play. This was a decline from E-Tier in the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Levitate with Eviolite, favoring a Bold nature.

Hidden Abilities became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 33
Will-O-Wisp
Fire—POPULARUtility
Lv 1
Night Shade
Ghost—COMMONSTAB
TM44
Rest
Psychic—COMMONRecovery
Tutor
Sleep Talk
Normal—COMMONUtility
Egg
Pain Split
Normal—RAREUtility
Duskull Black & White MovesDuskull Black 2 & White 2 Moves
Experimental
Wall
Ability
Levitate
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Duskull
Bold+DEF
EVs

Wall Moveset

  • Will O Wisp
  • Night ShadeSTAB
  • RestRecovery
  • Sleep Talk

Recommended Teammates

Lairon
LaironGood
Shelgon
ShelgonGood
Carvanha
CarvanhaGood
↑Gen VI — X & Y / ORASE

Duskull saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Duskull climbed from F-Tier as the competitive landscape shifted. Its most popular set ran Frisk with Focus Sash, favoring a Hardy nature.

Gained Frisk as hidden abilityFairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM92
Trick Room
Psychic—POPULARUtility
Egg
Destiny Bond
Ghost—POPULARSTAB
TM6
Toxic
Poison—POPULARUtility
TM17
Protect
Normal—POPULARPriority
Duskull X & Y MovesDuskull ORAS Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Frisk
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Duskull
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Trick Room
  • Destiny BondSTAB
  • ToxicUtility
  • ProtectFAST +4

Recommended Teammates

Rattata
RattataExcellent
Gastly
GastlyExcellent
Taillow
TaillowExcellent
↓Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUMF

Duskull was a niche pick at best in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM), rarely seen in standard play. This was a decline from E-Tier in the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Levitate with Custapberry, favoring a Naive nature.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Destiny Bond
Ghost—COMMONSTAB
Xfer
Endure
Normal—COMMONPriority
Lv 17
Shadow Sneak
Ghost40COMMONSTAB
Egg
Memento
Dark—COMMONUtility
TM6
Toxic
Poison—RAREUtility
Duskull Sun & Moon MovesDuskull Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Moves
Experimental
Physical Attacker
Ability
Levitate
Item
Custap BerryRECOVERY
Best Nature for Duskull
Naive+SPE
EVs

Physical Attacker Moveset

  • Destiny BondSTAB
  • EndureFAST +4
  • Shadow SneakSTAB
  • MementoUtility

Recommended Teammates

Murkrow
MurkrowGood
Dusknoir
DusknoirGood
Dusclops
DusclopsGood
↑Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPE

Duskull saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Duskull climbed from F-Tier as the competitive landscape shifted. Its most popular set ran Frisk with Custapberry, favoring a Hardy nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Xfer
Destiny Bond
Ghost—COMMONSTAB
TR26
Endure
Normal—COMMONPriority
Egg
Memento
Dark—RAREUtility
Duskull Sword & Shield MovesDuskull BDSP Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Frisk
Item
Custap BerryRECOVERY
Best Nature for Duskull
HardyNEUTRAL
EVs

Utility Moveset

  • Destiny BondSTAB
  • EndureFAST +4
  • MementoUtility

Recommended Teammates

Cloyster
CloysterGood
Cradily
CradilyGood
Salamence
SalamenceGood
→Gen IX — Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AE

Duskull saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Duskull maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Levitate with Eviolite, favoring a Calm nature.

Terastallization became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 24
Will-O-Wisp
Fire—POPULARUtility
Lv 12
Confuse Ray
Ghost—POPULARSTAB
TM202
Pain Split
Normal—POPULARUtility
Lv 16
Night Shade
Ghost—POPULARSTAB
Duskull Scarlet & Violet MovesDuskull Legends Z-A Moves
Experimental
Wall
Ability
Levitate
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Duskull
Calm+SPD
EVs

Wall Moveset

  • Will O Wisp
  • Confuse RaySTAB
  • Pain Split
  • Night ShadeSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Mabosstiff
MabosstiffExcellent
Grafaiai
GrafaiaiExcellent
Sneasel-Hisui
Sneasel-HisuiExcellent

Duskull Weakness

Duskull's Ghost typing leaves it vulnerable to Ghost and Dark. It shrugs off Normal and Fighting-type attacks completely. Levitate grants an additional Ground immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.

Duskull Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ghost, Dark
0.5x (Resist)Poison, Bug
0x (Immune)Normal, Fighting

What is Duskull Weak Against

Excellent
2Weak
2Resist
3Immune
Score+4
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
GhostDark
½xResist
PoisonBug
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
NormalFightingGround

What is Duskull Strong Against

2Strong
1Resisted
1Immune
Score0
2xStrong
PsychicGhost
½xResisted
Dark
0xImmune
Normal

Best Pokemon Against Duskull

Chandelure's Shadow Ball hits Duskull for 60-71%. Weavile's Knock Off hits Duskull for 60-71%.

Evolution

Three stages ahead. Duskull grows into Dusclops, then pushes on to Dusknoir. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with plenty of partners via one egg group. The evolved forms gain up to 230 total stats over Duskull. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Duskull
#355Duskull
37
Level 37
Dusclops
#356Dusclops
Trade + Reaper Cloth
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
295D-Tier
455C-Tier+160
525B-Tier+70
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Easy

Breed Duskull easily with 63 breeding partners from the Indeterminate egg group.

Egg Groups
Amorphous
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
25 cycles·6,425 steps
Moderate~6 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
gardevoirgalladegastrodonstunfisktrevenantshellosphantumpcofagriguskirliacastformraltsyamask
12 of 63·

How to Get Duskull

All 17 games

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

Where To Catch Duskull in SV

The path to Duskull starts with Duskull at Lv. 7-60 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Duskull
    Step 1Duskull ✓
    Chilling Waterhead
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Night
    Crystal Pool
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Night
    Fellhorn Gorge
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Night
    Infernal Pass
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Night
    Kitakami Wilds
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Night
    Oni Mountain
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Night
    Timeless Woods
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Night
  2. Dusclops
    Step 2Catch or Evolve into Dusclops
    Kitakami Wilds
    Lv.37-60Overworld
    Night
    Revelers Road
    Lv.37-60Overworld
    Night
    Timeless Woods
    Lv.37-60Overworld
    Night
    or evolve from Duskull (Step 1)
  3. Dusknoir
    Step 3Evolve into Dusknoir
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Dusknoir egg.

Base Stats

Defense and Sp. Def carry most of Duskull's stat budget. HP's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Sp. Def EV. Follows a fast 800K XP curve.

Base Stats
Below
HP20
F
Attack40
D
Defense90
B
Sp. Atk30
F
Sp. Def90
B
Speed25
F
Total295
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Fast800,000 XP
Height0.8 m
2'07"Small
Weight15.0 kg
33.1 lbsFeather
Base XP59
Low Yield
Abilities
Levitate
Evades ground moves.
FriskHidden Ability
Reveals an opponent's held item upon entering battle.
Levitate grants Ground immunity
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe
Special Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

I’ve heard that the children of Hisui all begin to behave once they’ve been told the story of how this Pokémon roams about before the witching hour to spirit away misbehaving children.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Duskull Guide

  • You can run Duskull through the first few routes without issues. 295 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Dusclops as fast as you can.

Game Availability

Available in 17 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Duskull spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in most mainline games.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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