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.
At the bidding of transmissions from the spirit world, it steals people and Pokémon away. No one knows whether it has a will of its own.
With the mouth on its belly, Dusknoir swallows its target whole. The soul is the only thing eaten— Dusknoir disgorges the body before departing.
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 |
In Sword & Shield, Runerigus's Poltergeist hits Dusknoir for 61-71%. Incineroar's Knock Off hits Dusknoir for 57-67%. Tyranitar's Crunch also KOs at 116-137%.
 Runerigus GroundGhost | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityWanderingspirit ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Runerigus builds →Poltergeist 2x61-71% | ||
 Incineroar FireDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemSitrus Berry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Incineroar builds →Knock Off 2x57-67% Flare Blitz52-61% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x116-137%KO Stone Edge72-85% Earthquake48-57% | ||
 Gengar GhostPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityCursedbody ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Dusknoir View Gengar builds →Shadow Ball 2x47-55% Sludge Bomb13-15% Giga Drain15-17% | ||
Sword & Shield 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 46 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Grudge, Haze, Memento and 1 more.
Sword & Shield Dusknoir Best Moveset
Bulk and offense in one package. Dusknoir runs Assault Vest for a special bulk boost with no status moves allowed with a Adamant nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Poltergeist. Max HP and Attack EVs and Ground coverage make it hard to safely switch into.
Best Build
Dusknoir best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Tank Moveset
- Shadow Sneak
- Poltergeist
- Power Up Punch
- Earthquake
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Psych Up
- Poltergeist
- Brick Break
- Trick Room
Recommended Teammates
Wall Moveset
- Trick Room
- Will O Wisp
- Poltergeist
- Spite
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Need something that threatens multiple types? Dusknoir's movepool delivers. Coverage across 10 types plus STAB from Poltergeist and Shadow Ball gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Dusknoir in Sword & Shield
Dusknoir's 3-stage chain starts with Duskull, which appears at solid rates in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
How to Obtain Dusknoir in Sword & Shield
Duskull is your first catch on the way to Dusknoir. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 11-47 across 41 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch DuskullWatchtower RuinsShieldGrass Lv.11-14 Building40%EarlyRainingWatchtower RuinsShieldGrass Lv.11-14 Building40%EarlyHeavy FogWatchtower RuinsSwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building40%EarlyRainingWatchtower RuinsShieldGrass Lv.11-14 Building40%EarlyOvercastWatchtower RuinsSwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building40%EarlyHeavy FogWatchtower RuinsSwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building40%EarlyOvercastWatchtower RuinsShieldGrass Lv.11-14 Building30%EarlyIntense SunWatchtower RuinsShieldGrass Lv.11-14 Building30%EarlySnowingWatchtower RuinsSwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building30%EarlyIntense SunWatchtower RuinsSwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building30%EarlySnowingWatchtower RuinsShieldGrass Lv.11-14 Building20%EarlyThunderstormWatchtower RuinsSwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building20%EarlyThunderstormWatchtower RuinsShieldGrass Lv.11-14 Building20%EarlySandstormWatchtower RuinsSwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building20%EarlySandstormWatchtower RuinsShieldGrass Lv.11-14 Building20%EarlySnowstormWatchtower RuinsSwordGrass Lv.11-14 Building20%EarlySnowstormWatchtower RuinsSwordOverworld Lv.26-29 Building60%MidOvercastWatchtower RuinsShieldOverworld Lv.26-29 Building60%MidOvercastWatchtower RuinsShieldOverworld Lv.26-29 Building50%MidRainingWatchtower RuinsSwordOverworld Lv.26-29 Building50%MidRainingWatchtower RuinsShieldOverworld Lv.26-29 Building35%MidThunderstormWatchtower RuinsSwordOverworld Lv.26-29 Building35%MidThunderstormWatchtower RuinsShieldOverworld Lv.26-29 Building28%MidIntense SunWatchtower RuinsSwordOverworld Lv.26-29 Building28%MidIntense SunWatchtower RuinsSwordOverworld Lv.26-29 Building25%MidNormal WeatherWatchtower RuinsShieldOverworld Lv.26-29 Building25%MidHeavy FogWatchtower RuinsSwordOverworld Lv.26-29 Building25%MidHeavy FogWatchtower RuinsShieldOverworld Lv.26-29 Building25%MidNormal WeatherGiant's CapShieldGrass Lv.26-2820%MidHeavy FogGiant's CapSwordGrass Lv.26-2820%MidHeavy FogRoute 6ShieldGrass Lv.28-30 Route18%MidAll WeatherRoute 6SwordGrass Lv.28-30 Route18%MidAll WeatherWatchtower RuinsShieldOverworld Lv.26-29 Building15%MidSnowingWatchtower RuinsSwordOverworld Lv.26-29 Building15%MidSnowingMotostoke RiverbankSwordOverworld Lv.26-285%MidHeavy FogMotostoke RiverbankShieldOverworld Lv.28-305%MidHeavy FogGiant's SeatShieldOverworld Lv.33-38 Water60%LateHeavy FogGiant's SeatSwordOverworld Lv.33-38 Water60%LateHeavy FogDusty BowlSwordOverworld Lv.42-4735%LateHeavy Fog
Step 2Catch or Evolve DusclopsRoute 8SwordGrass Lv.38-40 Route15%LateAll WeatherRoute 8ShieldGrass Lv.38-40 Route15%LateAll Weatheror evolve from Duskull (Step 1)
Step 3Dusknoir ✓
Dusknoir Guide
In Sword & Shield, Dusknoir has a 525 base stat total and ranks as S-Tier: one of the best picks in the Sword & Shield meta. It works best as an attacker. Shadow Sneak with Assault Vest is the standard set.
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 Sword & Shield, 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 Sword & Shield, 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