Donphan is a Generation 2 Pokémon that was first introduced in Gold and Silver. Known as the Armor Pokémon, this elephant resembles a car tire when it rolls around. Donphan has never been a top-tier Pokémon, but in the right situation it is capable of dominating. Here’s our guide on Donphan’s weaknesses and best counters in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Note: For more information about the game, check out our Pokémon Scarlet and Violet guides and features hub.
Donphan weaknesses and best counters in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Donphan is a pure Ground-type Pokémon with a base stat total of 500. Despite only having a stat total of 500, Donphan is better than a lot of other Pokémon with a similar total thanks to its high Attack and Defense. Both its Attack and Defense sit at an impressive 120 which, when coupled with its base 90 HP, results in some impressive physical bulk.
Another one of Donphan’s strengths is its surprisingly impressive movepool. Despite being a pure Ground-type, Donphan gets access to a wide range of coverage moves. This includes Body Press, Gunk Shot, Head Smash, Ice Shard, Play Rough, Rock Tomb, and Seed Bomb. It even gets access to a variety of support moves like Endeavor, Iron Defense, Rapid Spin, and Stealth Rock. This makes it difficult to predict what moveset an opposing Donphan will use.
A typical Donphan moveset. Screenshot by PC Invasion
Despite its versatile moveset, Donphan does have some key weaknesses that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players can take advantage of. For one, its poor base 50 Speed results in it going second against most other Pokémon. Access to the Sturdy ability guarantees that Donphan will get to do something but it isn’t uncommon for it to fall in two hits.
The real weakness of Donphan in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet though is its Special Defense. With just 60 Special Defense, Donphan cannot take hits from strong Special Attackers. This is particularly easy to take advantage of due to its low Speed and 2x weakness to Grass, Ice, and Water. All three of these types consist of primarily special attackers so there are a lot of counters to pick from.
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet can be purchased on the Nintendo Store.
