Stats & Training
Darmanitan's spread is anchored by Attack, with balanced defenses backing it up. Sp. Atk is the clear weak point. Worth 2 Attack EVs per KO, and the 1.06M XP medium-slow curve keeps leveling painless.
When one is injured in a fierce battle, it hardens into a stone-like form. Then it meditates and sharpens its mind.
When one is injured in a fierce battle, it hardens into a stone-like form. Then it meditates and sharpens its mind.
Darmanitan Weakness
Darmanitan's Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Darmanitan leans offensive (base 140 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
In Black 2 & White 2, Tyranitar's Crunch hits Darmanitan for 60-71%. Volcarona deals 42-50% with Fire Blast.
 | S | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChopleberry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Tyranitar builds →Pursuit30-36% Crunch60-71% Superpower60-71% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves View Ferrothorn builds →
| ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain19-23% Fire Blast42-50% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySerenegrace ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Jirachi builds →U Turn12-14% | ||
 Scizor BugSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Darmanitan View Scizor builds →Bullet Punch22-25% Superpower86-101%KO Pursuit29-34% U Turn38-44% | ||
Black 2 & White 2 Evolution
Darmanitan is the evolved form of Darumaka. Breeding produces Darumaka eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Darumaka gave Darmanitan the biggest boost in Attack (+50), bringing the total to 480 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Darmanitan to get Darumaka eggs easily using 181 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Encore, Endure, Flame Wheel and 6 more.
Black 2 & White 2 Darmanitan Best Moveset
Darmanitan's locked into one move per switch-in with Choice Scarf, trading flexibility for speed patching through item lock. Flare Blitz is the go-to spam option, with Fighting coverage keeping switch-ins honest.
Best Build
Darmanitan best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Flare Blitz
- U Turn
- Superpower
- Rock Slide
Recommended Teammates
Moves
You'll want to breed for Encore and Endure on Darmanitan. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Overheat and Flare Blitz, they expand what Darmanitan can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
How to Get Darmanitan in Black 2 & White 2
No wild encounters for Darmanitan. The 2-stage line runs through Darumaka, which you can catch at solid rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 35 once you've got the levels.
How to Obtain Darmanitan in Black 2 & White 2
To get Darmanitan, start by catching Darumaka through walking encounters at Lv. 14-19. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch DarumakaRoute 4White 2Grass Lv.14-17 RouteCommonEarlyAnyRoute 4Black 2Grass Lv.14-17 RouteCommonEarlyAnyDesert Resort - DesertBlack 2Grass Lv.18 Desert30%MidAnyDesert Resort - DesertWhite 2Grass Lv.18 Desert30%MidAnyDesert Resort - EntranceBlack 2Grass Lv.18-19 Desert30%MidAnyDesert Resort - EntranceWhite 2Grass Lv.18-19 Desert30%MidAny
Step 2Darmanitan ✓
Darmanitan Guide
In Black 2 & White 2, Don't let Darmanitan's 480 base stat total fool you. Zen Mode is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it B-Tier as a cannon. Flare Blitz with Choice Scarf is the standard set.
In Black 2 & White 2, Zen Mode. This is Darmanitan's defining trait. It changes darmanitan's form after each turn depending on its HP: Zen Mode below 50% max HP, and Standard Mode otherwise. Every competitive set revolves around it. If your Darmanitan doesn't have Zen Mode, it's not worth running.
In Black 2 & White 2, Run Zen Mode on Darmanitan. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Darmanitan also gets Sheer Force, but they don't compare.
In Black 2 & White 2, Darmanitan fills the cannon role. It's a physical attacker with base 140 Attack. Base 95 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Game Availability
Darmanitan first appeared in Black & White and spans 7 games across 6 generations. It later gained a Galarian form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BWDebut
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves