Is Donphan viable in Gen 9 UU?

Donphan is ranked #8 in Gen 9 UU with 16.25% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Donphan in Gen 9 UU?

Mandibuzz has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 83.3% of 60.92904286157258 relevant encounters. Standard error is 6.7 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Donphan matchup checks ranked in Gen 9 UU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Donphan was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Donphan counters

Gen 9 UU · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0232 Donphan

Ground

USAGE 16.3% #8

BASE STATS

HP 90

ATK 120

DEF 120

SPA 60

SPD 60

SPE 50

BST500

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

WaterGrassIce

½×

PoisonRock

0×

Electric

Moves

Earthquake 97.9% Rapid Spin 93.7% Stealth Rock 72.8% Knock Off 65.9% Ice Spinner 29.3% Ice Shard 14.6% Head Smash 11.8% Endeavor 7.0%

Items

Rocky Helmet 38.4% Leftovers 31.4% Heavy-Duty Boots 11.9% Custap Berry 9.5% Assault Vest 6.9% Eject Button 1.2% Sitrus Berry 0.3% Mental Herb 0.1%

Tera Types

Ghost 55.6% Water 24.6% Fairy 4.6% Fire 4.5% Ground 4.1% Steel 1.7% Dragon 1.5% Grass 1.3%

Common Teammates

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Donphan + Hydreigon 16.6% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Mandibuzz

DarkFlying DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

60.929

56.4

83.3% Standard error 6.71 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Donphan Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mandibuzz: 238-280 (56.1 - 66%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Mandibuzz counters →

Sinistcha

GrassGhost OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

22.216

49.5

82.1% Standard error 8.14 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Sinistcha Matcha Gotcha vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Donphan: 270-320 (70.3 - 83.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Sinistcha counters →

Skarmory

SteelFlying DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

51.414

42.3

76.0% Standard error 8.42 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Donphan Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 96-114 (28.7 - 34.1%) -- 1.9% chance to 3HKO

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Arcanine-Hisui

FireRock SOFT CHECK View matchup

24.525

13.4

53.7% Standard error 10.07 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Arcanine-Hisui Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Donphan: 253-298 (65.8 - 77.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Arcanine-Hisui counters →

Lokix

BugDark SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.107

5.8

47.3% Standard error 10.39 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Lokix Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Donphan: 189-223 (49.2 - 58%) -- 98% chance to 2HKO

View Lokix counters →

Tinkaton

FairySteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

44.293

-10.3

27.8% Standard error 9.51 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Tinkaton Gigaton Hammer vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Donphan: 169-201 (44 - 52.3%) -- 16% chance to 2HKO

View Tinkaton counters →

Clodsire

PoisonGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.036

-14.0

6.4% Standard error 5.09 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Clodsire Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Donphan: 108-127 (28.1 - 33%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Clodsire counters → Teams with Clodsire →

Excadrill

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

42.953

-14.1

21.0% Standard error 8.78 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Donphan: 159-187 (41.4 - 48.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Excadrill counters → Teams with Excadrill →

Ranked #8 with 16.25% usage. Sorted by conservative score.