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[OVERVIEW]
Dusknoir is a niche spinblocker with its main attribute being its high defensive stats. This allows it to switch in and spinblock with less fear of being greatly weakened. However, this niche is limited with Dusknoir's poor HP stat and lack of a form of recovery. Its solid movepool is another thing Dusknoir has going for it, with great coverage and priority, but this is held back by Dusknoir's lack of a strong STAB option. This, alongside Dusknoir's only average Attack stat, makes it pretty passive even when holding a Choice Band. Golurk and Spiritomb both outclass Dusknoir because they possess secondary typings; offensively, Golurk has a powerful STAB Earthquake and Spiritomb has a strong STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit, and defensively, their typing gives them more resistances and immunities.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Shadow Sneak
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Band
ability: Frisk
nature: Adamant
evs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake, despite not being a STAB move, is Dusknoir's strongest move. It is notably its best way to hit Skuntank and two of the most common Rapid Spin users in Alolan Sandslash and Kabutops. Shadow Sneak attempts to make up for Dusknoir's low Speed in order to pick up KOs on weakened or frail Pokemon such as Haunter and Jynx. Ice Punch hits Flying-types like Oricorio-E and Dodrio and Grass-types like Lilligant and Roselia. Trick lets Dusknoir cripple defensive Pokemon that would otherwise wall it such as Tangela and Quagsire.
Set Details
========
44 Speed EVs allow Dusknoir to outspeed uninvested base 50 Speed Pokemon like Regirock and Audino, notably allowing it to get off Trick on them before they can move.
Usage Tips
========
Dusknoir's main goal throughout the game is to switch into Rapid Spin users like Kabutops and Alolan Sandslash to serve as a spinblocker. It can also switch into other moves it resists or is immune to such as Scyther's Bug Bite and Primeape's Close Combat. However, Dusknoir has to watch out for coverage like Kabutops's Knock Off, neutral STAB moves like Scyther's Aerial Ace, and support moves like Alolan Sandslash's Toxic. Dusknoir also serves as a wallbreaker, although it's somewhat unreliable due to its passiveness at times. Because it is locked into a single move, using Dusknoir requires a lot of predicting switches. Especially watch out for Pokemon like Skuntank, which can Pursuit trap Dusknoir if you get the prediction wrong. Otherwise, Dusknoir can use Shadow Sneak to serve as a revenge killer to pick off foes like Jynx and Alolan Raichu or Trick to cripple a foe late-game when it is at low health.
Team Options
========
Since Dusknoir's main role is being a spinblocker, it should be on a team with entry hazard setters like Qwilfish, Roselia, Regirock, and Mesprit. Said hazards also help weaken foes down for Dusknoir. Setup sweepers such as Lycanroc and Absol also appreciate the hazards being kept on the field, and both benefit from Dusknoir's immunity to Fighting and ability to take out bulky Pokemon for them. Absol can also use Knock Off to remove items like Tangela's Eviolite without Dusknoir having to give away its Choice Band with Trick. Primeape can be run to help against Defoggers, which allows it to punish Defog users or further ensure that the hazards will be kept on the field. Primeape and other Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan are also good teammates because they can help against Dark- and Normal-types like Alolan Raticate and Stoutland, which otherwise threaten Dusknoir. Hitmonchan can also remove hazards for Dusknoir, which helps it be less easily worn down.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb can be run over Choice Band so Dusknoir can switch between moves, but the extra strength and not being worn down is more important to Dusknoir. Sucker Punch is a slightly stronger alternative to Shadow Sneak, but it isn't a very good move to be locked into, especially against Pokemon like Lovely Kiss Jynx and Substitute Alolan Raichu, since it gives them free setup. It also notably can't be used alongside Frisk. Pursuit can trap foes that try to switch out on Dusknoir, specifically Pokemon like Kabutops locked into Rapid Spin. However, Dusknoir struggles to find space for it between its coverage moves. Dusknoir can run Shadow Punch to give it a slightly stronger STAB move, but even then it is still pretty weak, and it is inferior to Shadow Sneak's priority and Dusknoir's coverage moves. A bulky set with Power-Up Punch can take advantage of Dusknoir's solid bulk in order to slowly set up, but Dusknoir prefers the immediate power. Furthermore, this set is outclassed by Power-Up Punch Kangaskhan, which has better Speed and STAB moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: If they can switch in safely, Dark-types like Skuntank, Shiftry, Alolan Raticate, and Absol can take advantage of Dusknoir, with the former being able to Pursuit trap it while the latter three using it as setup fodder without much fear of being revenge killed later on by Shadow Sneak. However, both Skuntank and Shiftry have to watch out for certain coverage moves, while Alolan Raticate and Absol take a lot from even Dusknoir's neutral coverage. Sableye can switch into any of Dusknoir's attacks and cripple it with Will-O-Wisp while being able to recover any lost HP. Alolan Persian is a notable counter because it is immune to Trick and can easily use Dusknoir to gain momentum with Parting Shot or set up with Nasty Plot.
**Physical Walls**: Pokemon like Tangela, Gastrodon, and Gurdurr can all switch into Dusknoir's attacks with ease, although they are greatly crippled by Trick. However, if they do manage to come in, they can cripple Dusknoir with Leech Seed, Scald, or Knock Off. Gurdurr can also use Dusknoir as setup fodder for Bulk Up. Others like Regirock and Mudsdale can also switch into most attacks and use Dusknoir to set up Stealth Rock but take a good amount from certain coverage moves.
**Normal-types**: Stoutland and Kangaskhan are immune to Shadow Sneak and do not mind Trick, so they can often switch in and hit Dusknoir with their Normal-type STAB moves thanks to Scrappy. Other Normal-types like Zangoose, Ursaring, and Dodrio may not be able to hit Dusknoir with their Normal-type STAB moves but have coverage or a secondary typing that allows them to hit it. They can also use Dusknoir as setup fodder while not having to worry about it revenge killing them because of their immunity to Shadow Sneak. However, the first two are easily worn down and the latter is OHKOed by Ice Punch.
**Wallbreakers**: Due to how easy it is to wear down Dusknoir, wallbreakers like Aggron, Aurorus, and Eelektross can easily pick it off. However, the former two do have to watch out for Earthquake, and the latter two are crippled by Trick.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[UberSkitty, 355061]]
- Quality checked by: [[tondas, 442732], [TONE, 213583], [TJ, 331538]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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