Donphan, the Armor Pokémon. Donphan is covered in tough hide, so even being hit by a car won’t faze this Pokémon. However, it is extremely susceptible to rain. Donphan is normally a calm Pokémon, but once it is enraged, it will curl its body into a ball and charge at you while rolling.
Overview
With the reveals of Great Tusk and Iron Treads, there was excitement that Donphan was actually getting an evolution. In a cruel twist of fate however, despite being based off Donphan, Great Tusk and Iron Treads are very much their own beasts. Albeit covering a near identical niche to Donphan, leaving little reason to use our pachyderm pal over its caricatures.
Which is a shame, as this has been a running trend with Donphan for a while. It has always plied its trade as a Sturdy Rapid Spin user, utilizing its great Defense and access to Stealth Rock as a reliable means of hazard control. And Donphan is far from passive -its physical prowess is excellent having incredible coverage on top of STAB Earthquake which hits hard even uninvested. But crippling low Special Defense, common weaknesses and speed drag Donphan down. And whether is Mamoswine and Excadrill in the past, or its Paradox forms now, Donphan has consistently had stiff competition for its role. At least it can hold its head high for inspiring two new behemoths.
Positives
Base 120 Attack and STAB Earthquake is an incredible combination, ensuring even the most defensive builds are not passive.
90/120 Physical bulk is impressive, ensuring Donphan can tank hits without relying on Sturdy
Excellent movepool with great support options in Rapid Spin and Knock Off as well as coverage in Seed Bomb, Play Rough and Ice Spinner
Negatives
Base 50 Speed is pathetic. Donphan will have to take a hit before dishing one out, compromising its defensive integrity.
Horrid Special Defense and commonly Special weaknesses leave it simple to take Donphan down with Special Attacks.
No reliable recovery hurts potential as a physical wall.
Movesets
Tactical Elephant Incoming!
-Earthquake
-Knock Off
-Ice Spinner
-Ice Shard
Ability: Sturdy
Item: Assault Vest
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
Assault Vest Donphan charges onto the scene using its bulk to pivot into powerful attacks and force switches while racking up damage with its own Moves. STAB Earthquake is an incredible move with few drawbacks, denting anything that isn’t resistant/immune to it. Knock Off is another incredibly spammable attack, forcing an Item loss on any potential switch in. Ice Spinner punishes most Grass and Flying switch-ins who are expecting an Earthquake in addition to having excellent coverage against Dragons and the potential upside of removing an opposing Grassy Terrain is nice. Ice Shard rounds out the set, giving Donphan an answer to its speed and enabling picking off weakened targets that would otherwise be safe due to its low speed.
Tera Types:
Donphan can either defensively Terastilize with Tera Steel to turn its weaknesses into resistances and make the most of its good Defense or go for truly devastating Earthquakes with Tera Ground.
EVs and Items:
Max HP and Attack to balance out bulk and offense since speed is rather poor. Assault Vest is the lynchpin for this set, giving Donphan a great deal of pivoting power, but could easily be swapped out for a Choice Band for more offensive might.
Partners:
Iron Jugulis and Charizard love Donphan as a partner, for its ability to stave off Electric and Rock attacks and provides a clean answer to most Electric types while having complimentary offenses and directly answering Grass types (and Orthworm) that give Donphan the most trouble.
Slowking is another admirable partner to Donphan having the special bulk to compliment Donphan’s physical, can setup Trick Room and enables a nasty one two punch with Future Sight+Chilling Reception that can blow by some of Donphan’s normal counters.
Other Options:
Rapid Spin -Entry Hazard removal is always invaluable
Stone Edge -hits many Flying types harder than Ice Spinner but is a bit less reliable.
Tired Old Tire
-Rapid Spin
-Stealth Rock
-Knock Off
-Earthquake
Ability: Sturdy
Item: Heavy Duty Boots
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
This set is meant to provide support and entry hazard control to the rest of the team. Rapid Spin clears only opposing hazards, which is a potent advantage in that you don’t need to reestablish in turn from your own move. Stealth Rocks is the best move in the game and can wrack up damage quickly especially with how Donphan’s Defense and typing often force switches. Knock Off is here for utility, punishing the mainly flying Defoggers that expect a free switch in on Earthquake or Stealth Rock as well as depriving offensive and defensive threats of the items they need to excel. Hitting the Rapid Spin Immune Ghost types is another reason to take it. Earthquake rounds out the set as a great pressuring tool and answering Gholdengo who easily blocks Rapid Spin.
Tera Types:
Tera Steel is the go to for this set, greatly increasing Donphan’s defensive profile.
EVs and Items:
Maximum HP and Defense investment to optimize Donphan as a physical wall, in turn increasing the number of times it can come in and Rapid Spin/setup Stealth Rocks. Its poor base typing and special bulk leave that role better handled by a different teammate. Heavy Duty boots is great for Protecting Donphan from Spikes and Toxic Spikes, which otherwise can cut into Donphan’s bulk quickly. If only expecting to deal with Stealth Rock, Leftovers is good for continued durability.
Partners:
Florges is a fantastic Special Sponge that compliments Donphan’s Physical Walling capabilities. Offering Clerical support in Wish and Aromatherapy helps Donphan path up its own self recovery woes.
Flying types love Donphan answering Electric and Rock types wwhile clearing away Stealth Rocks, thus freeing them from running Defog and Heavy Duty Boots on their own. In turn, they Solidly answer the Grass types that give Donphan so much trouble.
Volcarona also loves Donphan for clearing away Stealth Rocks and can pivot into Grass and Ice moves reliably while quickly answering STAB users.
Other Options:
Body Press -with full investment into Defense, this becomes a strong option. Also, Donphan’s best answer into Orthworm whose Earth Eater and great Defense normally stifles Donphan.
Countering Donphan
Physical Walls remain a perennial thorn in Donphan’s side, able to stave off its assaults. Corviknight takes pittance from every move and can easily wear down Donphan in turn, but it does detest losing its Heavy Duty Boots. Orthworm fares similarly, using its incredible Defense and Ground immunity to stop Donphan, though Body Bress does sting. If not running Choice Band, that pool increases significantly -Slowbro and Dondozo can even reliably take non Banded Seed Bombs and KOing or setting up in turn.
Revenge KOing Donphan is laughably simple. Its weaknesses are common and with such poor speed and Special Defense, most Special Attackers if given a free switch will KO Donphan or bring it down to Sturdy.
Stopping Donphan from perform its support role is far more difficult. Normally Ghost types would be the answer for their ability to stop Rapid Spin, especially Mismagius thanks to its Ground Immunity, but Knock off and STAB Earthquake prevent most from being a clean answer. But switching in on a predicted immune move and burning Donphan with Will-o-Wisp does make Donphan far more manageable.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Mt. Silver, Route 28, Victory Road (Silver)
Route 45 (Crystal)
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Evolve Phanphy
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Evolve Phanphy
Colosseum/XD:
Evolve Phanphy (XD)
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Phanphy
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Route 28, Mt. Silver, Victory Road (HeartGold)
Black/White:
Trade from Black 2/White 2
Black 2/White 2:
Evolve Phanpy
X/Y:
Evolve Phanpy
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Safari Zone, Mirage Cave
Sun/Moon:
Transfer from Generation VI
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Transfer from Generation VI
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Not in game
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Evolve Phanpy
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Scarlet/Violet:
Asado Desert, South Province Area Six, West Province Area Two
Tera Raid Battles: 4 Star Raid Battles
Anime Appearences
