Well another Ghost-type, we oughtta get this one in fast; early in the month is best to do this so we have a chance at kicking this thing out of LU. Spoiler ==General== Bad Ghost-type that struggles to compete with the other Ghosts in the tier Its stats are highly deceptive Usable defenses let down by shitty HP, and no recovery at al Its Attack is decent, but its moves have a bad base Power Offensively Rotom and Mismagius outshine it greatly because of better power and Speed Defensively, Spiritomb and Dusclops are better because the former has no weaknesses and the latter has a lot more bulk What it can do is spinblock, and do a couple of shenanigans Also counters Fighting-types Always consider your other options before using Dusknoir; they will give you much better results == Tank == Dusknoir @ Leftovers Trait: Pressure EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 SpD Impish Nature - Will-O-Wisp - Pain Split - Fire Punch / Shadow Punch - Earthquake This is Dusknoir's best bet at doing anything Sadly, this set still isn't very good Can take on Kabutops, Cryogonal, Claydol, and Hitmonchan to help spikers like Scolipede Still inferior to Dusclops and Spiritomb though Will-O-Wisp is to burn physical attackers Pain Split provides Dusknoir a decent form of recovery Fire Punch allows it to nail Cryogonal while hurting Scolipede and Escavalier Shadow Punch hurts Claydol though and allows it to hit Mesprit and Sigilyph harder Earthquake provides useful coverage and allows it to deal strong damage to Kabutops == SubPunch == Dusknoir @ Leftovers Trait: Pressure EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def Adamant Nature - Substitute - Focus Punch - Shadow Punch - Pain Split Well, if you want a more offensive approach to Dusknoir, this is it Can fire decent Focus Punches while spinblocking Substitute blocks status and allows free Focus Punches Focus Punch is a strong move to work with Shadow Punch provides a good STAB move to provide coverage with Pain Split allows it to heal its HP and works in tandem with Substitute ===Other Options=== Has a great movepool but can't put any of it to good use Shadow Sneak I guess Rain Dance / Sunny Day Trick Room, (but Dusclops is better because of bulk the the ability to support the team) Destiny Bond Curse but Dusclops is better ===Checks and Counters=== Dark-types Mismagius SubCM Mesprit and Uxie can use Dusknoir as setup fodder Sigilyph and Clefable can also do so Poisoning or burning Dusknoir will also eventually lead to Dusknoir's demise [/HIDE] Written: Spoiler == General == Dusknoir provides a sufficient spinblocker with its good mix of great bulk and decent power. However, it is often outclassed as a Ghost-type; {{5glu|Dusclops}} has far more impressive bulk than Dusknoir, while {{5glu|Spiritomb}} has more utility to a team with its lack of weaknesses and tools such as [[Pursuit]] and [[Sucker Punch]]. In addition, {{5glu|Mismagius}} and {{5glu|Rotom}} also have greater Speed, and can sweep teams more easily. Its lack of a powerful STAB move outside of [[Shadow Punch]] is depressing, and it lacks reliable recovery outside of [[Pain Split]], while its abysmal HP somewhat offsets its impressive defenses. This often leaves Dusknoir outclassed in most roles, making it harder to fit onto a team than other Ghost-types. However, Dusknoir can combine many of its positive traits to make for a decent jack of all trades Ghost-type. Its bulk, while not as outstanding as it would be due to its abysmal HP, is still fairly impressive; and it packs more offensive presence than Dusclops while having a Bug resistance, unlike Spiritomb. In addition, its 100 Attack and great physical movepool give it a unique place as a physical attacker, something the other Ghost-types cannot do. Overall, always consider your other options before using Dusknoir, but don't discount it completely, as it might just be what you're looking for. == Tank == {{set | pkmm = Dusknoir | item = Leftovers | ability = Pressure | nature = Impish | ev = 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 SpD | move1 = Will-O-Wisp | move2 = Pain Split | move3 = Fire Punch | move4 = Earthquake | gen = 5 }} This set embodies Dusknoir's primary niche in the LU metagame. Thanks to its combination of bulk, power, and typing, Dusknoir can hold it own against the prominent [[Rapid Spin]] users in LU, such as {{5glu|Kabutops}}, {{5glu|Cryogonal}}, and {{5glu|Hitmonchan}}. In addition, its typing allows it to serve as a good answer to prominent physical attackers such as {{5glu|Durant}} and {{5glu|Scolipede}}. [[Will-O-Wisp]] is the main status move Dusknoir utilizes, being able to cripple physical attackers such as {{5glu|Cinccino}} and {{5glu|Scolipede}}, complementing Dusknoir's high defenses. [[Pain Split]] is Dusknoir's best source of recovery, and with its abysmal HP, it can heal itself decently while dealing damage. [[Fire Punch]] is a good move to have on Dusknoir, allowing it to hit Cryogonal very hard while giving a good blow to the prominent Grass-types and Bug-types. [[Earthquake]] gives a way to hit Kabutops for great damage while being Dusknoir's most powerful attack. == SubPunch == {{set | pkmn = Dusknoir | item = Leftovers | ability = Pressure | nature = Adamant | ev = 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def | move1 = Substitute | move2 = Focus Punch | move3 = Shadow Sneak | move4 = Pain Split / Will-O-Wisp | gen = 5 }} Dusknoir can make use of its passable Attack to pull off a SubPunch set. Since Dusknoir can force quite a number of switches thanks to its good bulk and great defensive typing, it can set up Substitutes and surprise many of its common switch-ins, such as {{5glu|Krookodile}}. With its great power and coverage, Dusknoir can hit hard while continuing to make effective use of its bulk. [[Substitute]] and [[Focus Punch]] are the centerpieces of this set; Dusknoir can set up Substitutes while firing strong Focus Punches from behind, which can do quite a bit of damage to many common Pokemon in the tier. [[Shadow Sneak]] is a STAB priority move that hits Psychic-types such as {{5glu|Sigilyph}} while picking off weakened targets. [[Pain Split]] is a recovery option that works well in tandem with Substitute, since Dusknoir weakens itself with the move, Pain Split can heal the HP back while doing sufficient damage to the opponent, possibly getting them into the KO range of Focus Punch. [[Will-O-Wisp]], on the other hand, is a useful tool to cripple opposing Pokemon and make it easier for Dusknoir to pull off this set. == Choice Band == | pkmn = Dusknoir | item = Choice Band | ability = Pressure | nature = Adamant | ev = 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD | move1 = Shadow Sneak | move2 = Earthquake | move3 = Fire Punch / Ice Punch / ThunderPunch | move4 = Trick | gen = 5 }} Dusknoir can also use its Attack stat to pull of a Choice Band set. This set packs a decent amount of power and great coverage while being able to handle several Pokemon thanks to its good bulk and strong movepool. [[Shadow Sneak]] is a STAB move that also serves as priority; hitting faster Pokemon for fairly good damage, which can be quite important in the long run. [[Earthquake]] hits Steel-types, such as {{5glu|Magneton}} and {{5glu|Klinklang}}, for powerful damage. The third moveslot depends on what threats you aim to hit with Dusknoir. [[Fire Punch]] provides a strong blow on {{5glu|Cryogonal}}, {{5glu|Scolipede}}, and {{5glu|Durant}}, while [[Ice Punch]] hits {{5glu|Krookodile}} and Dragon-types. Both moves do quite a bit of damage against the prominent Grass-types. [[ThunderPunch]], on the other hand, provides a way to hit Water-types, such as {{5glu|Slowking}} and {{5glu|Feraligatr}}. [[Trick]] is used to cripple opposing Pokemon, notably {{5glu|Roselia}} and {{5glu|Dusclops}}, as they will not appreciate the loss of [[Eviolite]]. However, another elemental punch or even [[Shadow Punch]] may be used instead, if you do not feel Trick to be necessary. === Other Options === Dusknoir does have quite a few other options at its disposal. [[Toxic]] can be used in the place of Will-O-Wisp if the crippling of physical attackers is not necessary, as the residual damage from Toxic will take its toll on opponents much more quickly. [[Rest]] is an option over Pain Split for recovery, but {{5glu|Dusclops}} is a much better user of the move due to its bulk, and the fifth generation sleep mechanics make this not advisable. [[Trick Room]] and [[Gravity]] are both interesting options for teams that rely on such strategies, and Dusknoir's bulk allows it to set these moves up reliably while making use of the conditions with its eclectic movepool. [[Destiny Bond]] is also a usable option to take an opponent down, but Dusknoir is often too slow to make use of the move. [[Memento]] is also usable to provide a teammate a free setup opportunity, but this wastes Dusknoir's most valuable trait; its bulk. [[Calm Mind]] is also a usable option with its bulk, but {{5glu|Spiritomb}} and {{5glu|Mismagius}} make far better use of the move than Dusknoir. === Checks and Counters === Dark-types such as {{5glu|Krookodile}} and {{5glu|Absol}} can do quite a bit of damage to Dusknoir with their STABs, either eliminating or weakening it depending on how healthy it is; most will not like a burn, however. {{5glu|Zoroark}} in particular, however, can disguise itself as a Pokemon that is countered by Dusknoir and lure it in, while either crippling it with [[Trick]] or hitting it hard with [[Dark Pulse]]. Fire-types such as {{5glu|Magmortar}}, {{5glu|Entei}}, and {{5glu|Houndoom}} can all take advantage of Will-O-Wisp, but all must be wary of [[Earthquake]]. {{5glu|Spiritomb}} doesn't mind most of what Dusknoir has to offer, but must be wary of Will-O-Wisp. {{5glu|Mismagius}} and {{5glu|Rotom}} can also hit Dusknoir very hard, but [[Shadow Sneak]] will heavily damage both. Finally, a very bulky setup sweeper such as {{5glu|Uxie}} can use Dusknoir as setup fodder as it has a slight power issue. [/HIDE]
Gravity is definitely worth a mention imo. Not only does it improve Earthquake and WoW immensely, but it also forces stuff like Cryogonal and Uxie to take much more damage from hazards, and it's something Dusknoir can reliably set up, having more than enough bulk to do so. Unlike Dusclops, Dusknoir actually has an offensive presence as well. The niche of physical ghost is pretty unique to Dusknoir imo, seeing as Golurk's no longer LU. Also, specially defensive or ResTalk sets? Are they worth a mention?
Talk about the tank EVs. As a rule of thumb, if your evs aren't 252/252/4 (or 248/252/8 if it's rock weak), explain them. Don't say bad, it makes people stay away from it. Say outclassed in certain roles, but jack of all trades. A Banded set with Shadow Sneak is not bad. Shadow Sneak is not OO worthy, I'd put it in one of the sets. Toxic in OO.