Stats & Training
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.
This feared Pokémon is said to travel to worlds unknown. Some even believe that it takes lost spirits along with it.
This feared Pokémon is said to travel to worlds unknown. Some even believe that it takes lost spirits along with it.
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 |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Latias's Draco Meteor hits Dusknoir for 74-88%.
 | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Latias builds →Draco Meteor74-88% Surf34-40% Dragon Pulse49-57% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Azelf builds →U Turn8-10% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Starmie builds →Surf32-38% Thunderbolt21-26% Ice Beam21-26% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureBrave Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Bronzong builds →Earthquake24-29% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Lucario builds →Bullet Punch22-27% | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
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 31 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Destiny Bond, Feint Attack, Grudge and 4 more.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Dusknoir Best Moveset
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 HP and Attack EVs and the remaining moves make it hard to safely switch into.
Best Build
Dusknoir best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Tank Moveset
- Shadow Sneak
- Will O Wisp
- Ice Punch
- Pain Split
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Without breeding, Dusknoir misses out on Destiny Bond and Feint Attack. That's 7 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Shadow Ball and Shadow Punch, with coverage across 9 types rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Dusknoir in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Dusknoir isn't available in the wild in HeartGold & SoulSilver. Start by transferring Duskull from Ruby, Emerald, or Sword. The evolution path from Duskull to Dusknoir is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Dusknoir in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Dusknoir Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Dusknoir has a 525 base stat total and ranks as B-Tier: a solid option in HeartGold & SoulSilver for the right team. It works best as an attacker. Shadow Sneak with Leftovers is the standard set.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
For HeartGold & SoulSilver, Dusknoir has answers, but so do you. Faster attackers outpace it. Anything with a super-effective STAB move and decent speed can revenge kill.
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 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 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
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 8SwSh
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