Is Duskull Good in Platinum Playthrough?
Lost Tower and Route 209 at level 17, freely available during the story in Platinum. Ghost-type with AbilityLevitate for Ground immunity. Dusclops at level 37 then Dusknoir through trade with Reaper Cloth. One of Platinum's best expanded roster additions.
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.
Catchable
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 Duskull in Platinum
Duskull haunts the Lost Tower and the dim caves, common in the night grass and rarer by day. The tower is the easy spot early, while cave spawns fill in later as you climb deeper.
Wild Duskull may be holding when caught:
Kasib Berry (5% chance) Held: Consumed when struck by a super-effective Ghost-type attack to halve the damage.3 locations to catch Duskull
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8Where To Catch Duskull in Pt
Duskull is where the line starts, caught through walking encounters at Lv. 17-28. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
- Step 1Duskull ✓Lost 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 2Catch or Evolve into DusclopsTurnback 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 Duskull catch odds in the Platinum Catch Rate Calculator before you throw.
How to Get Shiny Duskull in Platinum
Duskull floats through the Route 209 grass at night, so run a Poké Radar chain to 40 there for a shiny. Compare Shiny Duskull odds across every game
Platinum Shiny Duskull 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 Duskull in the Platinum Shiny Odds Calculator to compare every method side by side.
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.
| 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 Duskull Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Duskull
 Shiftry GrassDark | C | |
 Spiritomb GhostDark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 209 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Duskull View Spiritomb builds →Feint Attack 2x74-89% Ominous Wind 2x74-89% | ||
 Gengar GhostPoison | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Duskull View Gengar builds →Shadow Claw 2x70-83% Sucker Punch 2x50-59% | ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodOld Chateau Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Duskull View Rotom builds →Astonish 2x28-33% Thief 2x24-30% | ||
 Drifloon Ghost | C | |
Obtain MethodValley Windworks Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Duskull View Drifloon builds →Payback 2x28-33% Astonish 2x28-33% | ||
Duskull Evolutions
Three stages ahead. Duskull grows into Dusclops, then pushes on to Dusknoir. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with a decent partner pool 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
Breeding
Breed Duskull easily with 31 breeding partners from the Amorphous egg group. Pass egg moves like Destiny Bond, Feint Attack, Grudge and 4 more to offspring.
Pt Duskull Best Moveset
90 in both defenses for a Ghost type, but 20 HP ruins the effective bulk entirely. AbilityLevitate blocks Ground moves. The moveset can't threaten anything at 40 Attack. Evolve to Dusclops, then Dusknoir.
Best Build
Duskull best EVs are Defense and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Pain Split
- Night Shade
- Curse
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
You'll want to breed for Destiny Bond and Feint Attack on Duskull. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Shadow Ball and Ominous Wind, they expand what Duskull can actually threaten in practice.
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
35 of 38 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It loves the crying of children. It startles bad kids by passing through walls and making them cry.
Duskull Platinum Guide
Yes. Wild Duskull 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.
For Platinum, 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 16 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Duskull spans 7 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
- 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 Duskull.
Keep playing · PlatinumPlatinum Tier ListThe best Pokemon ranked tier by tierSee Platinum Tier List