Dusknoir Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Shadow Sneak is Dusknoir's STAB move of choice, and the priority it receives lets Dusknoir overcome naturally faster and frail attackers like Mr. Mime. Earthquake allows Dusknoir to hit a wide range of Pokemon in PU super effectively, notably letting it check Monferno and hit Pawniard super effectively as it attempts to switch into Dusknoir's other attacks. Ice Punch deals significant damage to Flying-, Dragon-, and Grass-types like Altaria, Gabite, Vibrava, Jumpluff, and Roselia. Trick in tandem with a Choice Band can cripple physically defensive walls like Tangela by locking them into a single move. Will-O-Wisp is meant to be used alongside Spell Tag and is able to whittle down bulky answers to Dusknoir, as well as mitigate damage from physical attacks aimed at Dusknoir, like Armaldo's Knock Off. Set Details 44 Speed EVs allow Dusknoir to outspeed neutral-natured base 50 Speed Pokemon such as Prinplup and Metang, while an Adamant nature and full investment in Attack are used to maximize its offensive capabilities. The rest of its EVs are placed in HP for overall bulk. Dusknoir is able to run slightly more Speed in order to cripple Tangela by replacing its Eviolite with its own Choice Band before Dusknoir is hit by Sleep Powder. Frisk's function is twofold: more generally, it allows Dusknoir to scout out its foe's item, thereby providing extremely valuable information about the items and sets your opponent is using. Secondly, Frisk helps you choose when the best time to use Trick will be by clearly identifying the item Dusknoir will receive. If Dusknoir is using Will-O-Wisp, a Spell Tag should be used to allow Dusknoir to switch between its moves and to bluff a Choice Band while at the same time still boosting Shadow Sneak's damage output. Otherwise, Trick should be used with Choice Band. Usage Tips Dusknoir should switch into Rapid Spin in order to prevent entry hazards from being removed by Pokemon like Cryogonal. Similarly, its Ghost typing should also be used to absorb other Normal- and Fighting-type attacks, such as Sawsbuck's Jump Kick and Double-Edge and Grumpig's Focus Blast. Both Trick and Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple incoming defensive walls; however, giving away Dusknoir's Choice Band will decrease its offensive capabilities and may not always be the best play if the extra damage output from Choice Band is required late-game. Try to avoid revealing Dusknoir's item until Dusknoir is adequately positioned to cripple a physical attacker with Will-O-Wisp or disable an opposing wall with the combination of Trick and Choice Band. Team Options In addition to bulkier offensive teams, Dusknoir also fits well on hyper offensive teams given its ability to spinblock, so suicide leads like Venipede and Rampardos are ideal teammates. Stealth Rock setters such as Stunfisk and Probopass are great partners that are able to handle Pawniard for Dusknoir, while in return, Dusknoir can switch into any Fighting-type hits aimed at Probopass and cripple physical attackers for Stunfisk through the use of Will-O-Wisp, thus preserving Stunfisk's bulk. Grass-type entry hazard setters like Leavanny, Quilladin, and Roselia all appreciate Dusknoir's ability to check opposing Fire-types with Earthquake and spinblock for them, and these Grass-types can return the favor by beating Scald users like Politoed, Lumineon, and Prinplup for Dusknoir.

Moves Shadow Sneak supplies Dusknoir with a STAB-boosted priority move, letting it bypass its poor Speed stat and strike Psychic-types like Grumpig and Kadabra super effectively. Sucker Punch provides Dusknoir with a second priority attack that is used to hit faster Normal-types like Dodrio and Chatot. It is stronger than Shadow Sneak, but its successful use is dependent on your opponent also selecting an attack. Earthquake supplies Dusknoir with great neutral coverage alongside Ice Punch and lets Dusknoir check Pokemon weak to Ground-type moves, such as Arbok, Stunfisk, and Monferno. Ice Punch hits Dragon-types like Altaria and Gabite and physically frail Grass-types like Roselia and Jumpluff much harder than its other moves would while simultaneously preventing Dusknoir from being walled by Vullaby. Pursuit is a final option that allows Dusknoir to trap physically frail Pokemon, especially Cryogonal and Kadabra, and creates a dangerous guessing game when used in tandem with Dusknoir's priority moves wherein your opponent will be forced to question whether it's safer to stay in or switch out against Dusknoir. Set Details Its EV spread and nature maximize Dusknoir's Attack, while the given Speed lets Dusknoir outspeed neutral-natured base 50 Speed Pokemon, such as Klang and Audino. Dusknoir is able to run slightly more Speed in order to score a 2HKO on non-Eviolite Vullaby on the switch with a faster Ice Punch. Its remaining EVs should be allocated towards its bulk, which allows it to tank a wide array of neutral hits. Life Orb will boost Dusknoir's offensive presence while letting it switch between moves. Pressure is Dusknoir's only possible ability with this set because Frisk and Sucker Punch form an illegal combination together. Pressure can be used to stall out low-PP moves like Focus Blast and Superpower. Usage Tips Dusknoir should use its Ghost typing to switch into Rapid Spin in order to preserve any entry hazards its teammates may have set. If Dusknoir is healthy and using Pursuit, it should use the opportunity after it has blocked Cryogonal's Rapid Spin in order to Pursuit trap it. Pursuit can also be used against offensive pivots reliant on Volt Switch and U-turn for the bulk of their damage, such as Zebstrika and Ninjask, as well as physically frail foes like Kadabra and Mr. Mime that would normally switch out of Dusknoir's priority moves. If a Dark- or Normal-type Pokemon is predicted to switch into Dusknoir's Shadow Sneak or Sucker Punch, Dusknoir should instead attack with its coverage options; Earthquake will OHKO Pawniard and cause substantial damage to Mightyena and Normal-types on the switch, while Ice Punch is able to 2HKO Vullaby lacking Eviolite as it enters the field. Dusknoir should avoid staying in against healthy Will-O-Wisp and Scald users, as a burn is detrimental to its offensive presence. If possible, Dusknoir should be kept alive in order to provide some insurance against late-game sweepers like Rock Polish Regice and weather-based sweepers like Stoutland and Golduck via its priority moves. Team Options Rotom-F is able to pressure any defensive options to Dusknoir, as its STAB-boosted Blizzard hits Tangela, Gourgeist-XL, and Vullaby super effectively, and its Electric-type moves are able to beat bulky Water-types that are able to threaten Dusknoir with Scald, such as Politoed, Lumineon, and Prinplup. In return, Dusknoir provides an immunity to Fighting-type moves for Rotom-F and threatens checks and counters to Rotom-F, like Grumpig and Probopass. Monferno is a great offensive partner because it is able to take on Dark-types like Pawniard and Mightyena for Dusknoir, while Dusknoir is able to reciprocate by beating Monferno's defensive answers; it handles Stunfisk with Earthquake, Altaria with Ice Punch, and Psychic-types like Grumpig and Kadabra with Pursuit and Shadow Sneak. Given Dusknoir's vulnerability to Will-O-Wisp, Fire-types that are immune to the move or can take advantage of it via Flash Fire, like Ninetales and Rapidash, are beneficial partners. Ninetales is able to OHKO bulky answers to Dusknoir such as Tangela and Gourgeist-XL, while Dusknoir returns the favor by beating Grumpig, Vibrava, and Altaria for Ninetales. Similarly, Pokemon with access to Facade are also good teammates for their ability to absorb Will-O-Wisp aimed at Dusknoir. Stoutland in particular is adept at taking status for Dusknoir and can break defensive walls like Vullaby that would otherwise stop Dusknoir from doing its job. Pokemon with access to Spikes, like Quilladin and Roselia, especially appreciate Dusknoir's ability to block Rapid Spin via its Ghost typing, as well as Pursuit trap Cryogonal for these Grass-types. Dusknoir is the perfect companion to leads like Weakness Policy Golem, Leavanny, and Focus Sash Rampardos for its ability to spinblock, as these types of entry hazard setters are often unable to find a second opportunity to set up Stealth Rock, or Sticky Web in Leavanny's case. Finally, Pokemon with access to Defiant are able to complete an entry hazard setting and protection core with Dusknoir by deterring Defog, so Purugly and Pawniard are ideal teammates. Additionally, both of these options resist or are immune to Ghost-type attacks aimed at Dusknoir, while in return, Dusknoir can switch into any Fighting-type moves for Purugly and Pawniard.

Dusknoir can help both itself and its allies by setting up Trick Room. Setting up Trick Room allows the slowest Pokemon to go first; with Dusknoir's poor Speed, this means it will almost always be going first. Will-O-Wisp neuters physical attackers, especially Dark-types looking to hit Dusknoir for super effective damage, such as Bisharp and Tyranitar. In the third slot, Shadow Punch gives Dusknoir a reliable STAB move that never misses, though Shadow Sneak has priority and is only weaker than Shadow Punch by 20 Base Power. Helping Hand provides Dusknoir with the ability to boost the power of its partner's attacks by 50%, something few other Pokemon can boast. The item choice is what really distinguishes Dusknoir from Dusclops. While Dusclops is forced to use Eviolite, Dusknoir can choose from a myriad of items. Mental Herb wastes an opposing Taunt and allows Dusknoir to always get off a Trick Room on the first turn. Due to the popularity of Spore users, a Lum Berry may be used as a way to evade the Sandman and pull off a Trick Room; however, a Sitrus Berry provides Dusknoir with additional longevity and allows it to get away with not using Pain Split. A Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs make Dusknoir as slow as possible, so it can almost always move first in Trick Room. 236 HP and Special Defense EVs bulk up Dusknoir, allowing it to take many special-based attacks with ease, while Will-O-Wisp keeps physical attackers at bay. 36 EVs are put into Defense in order to allow Dusknoir to survive a Crunch from Tyranitar, even without a Sitrus Berry. Any Pokemon that can aid Dusknoir in its quest to set up Trick Room is greatly appreciated as a partner. Pokemon that utilize Fake Out, namely Scrafty and Hariyama, are great partners for Dusknoir. In addition to utilizing Fake Out, Scrafty and Hariyama have low Speed, allowing them to function very well in Trick Room. Amoonguss, a longtime staple of Trick Room teams, is a highly recommended teammate, drawing attacks away from Dusknoir with Rage Powder and taking threats out of action with its 100% accurate Spore. Rhyperior and Conkeldurr are but two examples of the slow, yet hard-hitting Pokemon that love taking advantage of the Trick Room environment Dusknoir brings, in addition to the boost in attacking power provided by Helping Hand.