[SET]
name: Choice Scarf (Ice)
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Gorilla Tactics
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Galarian Darmanitan is one of the best revenge killers on Ice teams due to its amazing coverage moves and generally high Attack stat boosted by Gorilla Tactics, which make it a decent wallbreaker as well. Flare Blitz lets Galarian Darmanitan KO Steel-types such as Celesteela, Aegislash, Ferrothorn, and Corviknight, which are massive threats to Ice teams. Earthquake provides good coverage against Toxapex, Heatran, and Torkoal, which otherwise completely wall Galarian Darmanitan. Earthquake is also useful for SubToxic Aegislash, as it doesn't activate King's Shield, unlike Flare Blitz. U-turn safely brings in a teammate to deal with a check to Galarian Darmanitan like Rotom-W or Galarian Corsola. Maximum Speed investment along with a Jolly nature allows Galarian Darmanitan to outspeed foes like Mega Aerodactyl, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and Choice Scarf Excadrill. Galarian Darmanitan should be used to clean weakened teams late-game once bulky walls such as Porygon2 and Swampert are severely weakened or removed. Due to its poor bulk and vulnerability to entry hazards, notably Stealth Rock, it should avoid switching in excessively.
Alolan Ninetales is useful in order to deal with bulky Water-types that pressure Galarian Darmanitan such as Tapu Fini, Rotom-W, and Mega Slowbro with Freeze-Dry, as well as Fighting-types like Keldeo. Additionally, it provides valuable support with Aurora Veil. Avalugg is an extremely useful defensive teammate to deal with physical threats that outspeed Galarian Darmanitan such as Choice Scarf Weavile, Mega Swampert in rain, and Barraskewda in rain. It also removes entry hazards for it with Rapid Spin. Defensive Cloyster can also remove entry hazards and provides Spikes and Toxic Spikes support. Choice Specs Kyurem deals with physically defensive walls such as Porygon2, Galarian Corsola, and Swampert for Galarian Darmanitan due to its power and amazing coverage. Mamoswine is a good offensive partner with Galarian Darmanitan, crippling its usual checks like Galarian Corsola and Porygon2 with Knock Off while acting as a secondary way to deal with Steel teams. It also appreciates Galarian Darmanitan forcing out Steel-types like Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory, which Mamoswine needs chip damage on to successfully KO. Piloswine can be used instead as a great wall to deal with Fire-types like Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Volcarona thanks to the combination of Thick Fat and Eviolite. It also provides Stealth Rock support for Galarian Darmanitan while dealing with other special attackers like Tapu Koko, Nihilego, and Alolan Raichu. Choice Scarf Weavile can greatly help in the Ghost and Psychic matchups, dealing with faster Choice Scarf users like Latias, Jirachi, and Blacephalon.
[SET]
name: Choice Band (Ice)
move 1: Icicle Crash
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Gorilla Tactics
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan is one of the most lethal wallbreakers on Ice teams due to its Gorilla Tactics-boosted Attack, allowing it to easily break through types with defensive cores such as Dark, Normal, and Poison. Flare Blitz OHKOes troublesome Steel-types like Celesteela, Aegislash, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory after Stealth Rock damage. Earthquake lets Galarian Darmanitan deal with key targets such as Heatran, Toxapex, and Torkoal. U-turn is useful to bring in teammates safely while maintaining offensive momentum. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature lets Galarian Darmanitan outspeed foes such as Mega Garchomp, Nidoking, and unboosted Kommo-o. Galarian Darmanitan should be used as an early-game wallbreaker to take advantage of types with defensive Pokemon, like Dark, Normal, Poison, and punch holes in the opposing team.
Alolan Ninetales is a great teammate to deal with troublesome Fighting-types such as Urshifu-S, Keldeo, and Urshifu-R for Galarian Darmanitan, as well as Dark-types that outspeed it such as Hydreigon and Choice Scarf Weavile, while providing Aurora Veil support. Avalugg is an amazing defensive partner, as it deals with physical attackers that outspeed and KO Galarian Darmanitan like Zeraora, Mega Aerodactyl, and Mega Swampert while also providing Rapid Spin support. Piloswine is an excellent specially defensive wall that can deal with special Fire-types like Volcarona and Blacephalon due to Thick Fat and Eviolite. It also provides Stealth Rock support and deals with additional special attackers that outspeed and threaten Galarian Darmanitan like Latios, Hydreigon, and Thundurus-T. Choice Specs Kyurem can defeat extremely bulky physical walls for Galarian Darmanitan like Galarian Corsola and Porygon2, easing pressure off of it. It also breaks through bulky Water-types like Swampert, Mega Slowbro, and Rotom-W with Freeze-Dry. Choice Scarf Weavile deals with threatening Ghost- and Psychic-types like Gengar, Latias, and Latios.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice
--------
Galarian Darmanitan has no other viable options.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ice
--------
**Physically Defensive Walls**: While Galarian Darmanitan has amazing damage output, it struggles to get past extremely bulky physical walls such as Galarian Corsola, Mega Slowbro, and Porygon2, especially if it's running Choice Scarf. As a result, they are able to wear it down with their status or attacking moves. However, Choice Band variants of Galarian Darmanitan can 2HKO these walls.
**Rotom-W**: Rotom-W is an extremely effective check to Galarian Darmanitan; it resists both Icicle Crash and Flare Blitz, is immune to Earthquake due to Levitate, and threatens to wear it down with Hydro Pump or cripple it with Will-O-Wisp.
**Status**: Burn greatly hinders Galarian Darmanitan's wallbreaking. Paralysis leaves it more easily revenge killed, and Toxic puts it on a timer; both problems are worsened by its fragility and vulnerability to entry hazards.
**Priority Moves**: Offensive Pokemon carrying priority moves like Rillaboom, Urshifu-S, and Dragonite can take advantage of Galarian Darmanitan's middling bulk. However, Pokemon carrying weaker priority moves like Zygarde-10% need it to be heavily chipped before attempting to KO it.
**Revenge Killers**: Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan can be promptly OHKOed by faster Choice Scarf users like Blacephalon, Terrakion, Latias, and Nihilego. Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan is outsped and OHKOed by a plethora of offensive threats like Tapu Koko, Mega Lopunny, Mega Aerodactyl, and Hydreigon, so it must be extremely wary of them.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Ice analysis by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Quality checked by: [[maroon, 305839], [Maple, 473171]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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