Durant's impressive Speed tier, decent coverage options, and access to Hustle make it a powerful attacker and revenge killer for Steel teams, being able to naturally outpace and threaten Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Keldeo. STAB First Impression is a strong priority attack that allows it to deal massive damage to faster offensive threats such as Alolan Raichu, Barraskewda, and sun-boosted Venusaur. Superpower lets Durant hit Steel-types such as Excadrill and Ferrothorn, while Rock Slide targets Flying- and Fire-types such as Mandibuzz and Centiskorch, preventing these Pokemon from reliably switching in and checking Durant. Iron Head gives Durant a reliable attack that does not lower its stats, while Crunch can be used to threaten Ghost-types such as Aegislash and Jellicent.

Durant should generally avoid switching into strong attackers directly due to its poor bulk, instead utilizing predicted double switches or switching in after a teammate is KOed. Durant should try to inflict as much damage as possible once switched in, using First Impression to hit faster threats for high damage and using Superpower or Rock Slide to deal with potential defensive switch-ins, such as Lucario and Charizard. Durant's ability to dispose of fast threats is greatly appreciated by defensive teammates such as Ferrothorn and Corviknight. Ferrothorn's Grass typing and access to Leech Seed allow it to check Water-types such as Seismitoad and Gyarados that Durant can struggle with and it can also use Stealth Rock or Spikes to weaken Pokemon such as Dracovish so that Durant can KO them with First Impression. Corviknight provides a Ground immunity and can take advantage of Durant's checks such as Toxapex and Aegislash with Taunt. Melmetal is a monstrously powerful wallbreaker that can use its wide movepool to break past Pokemon such as Toxapex and Corviknight that can easily switch into Durant. Aegislash is a bulky attacker that can utilize Toxic or Choice Specs to wear down or break through teams for Durant to clean late-game, while also pressuring Ghost-types that resist First Impression, such as Gengar, with Shadow Ball. In exchange, Durant can threaten Dark-types such as Bisharp and Hydreigon that can try to take advantage of Aegislash. Choice Scarf Duraludon can alleviate pressure from Durant in checking fast threats and can Draco Meteor and Thunderbolt to KO Pokemon such as Dragapult and Pelipper for Durant. Bisharp can utilize Swords Dance and Knock Off to break past bulky Pokemon such as Toxapex and Sableye, allowing Durant to pose a larger threat to teams late-game, as well as Sucker Punch to threaten faster offensive teams in conjunction with Durant.