Introduced in generation two, with the Pokemon Gold and Silver games, Donphan is a monotype ground Pokemon. It is the second stage in its two stage evolution line and evolves from Phanpy when it reaches the level threshold. Donphan is classified by the Pokedex as the “Armor Pokemon” which indicates its general design. This guide will showcase Donphan’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Donphan.
About Donphan
As a generation two Pokemon, Donphan first appeared in the Original Series of the anime in the episode Roll On, Pokemon!. In this episode, a trainer named Rochelle used Donphan to find amberite. Donphan is the second stage evolution of its two stage evolution line and it evolves from Phanpy once it reaches level 25. The Pokedex mentions that Donphan will attack its foes by curling into a ball and then launching itself at its foe at a high speed.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: Roll On, Pokemon! |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Gold and Silver |
| Region | Johto |
| Evolution | Final evolution of Phanpy, not known to evolve into any other Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | 25 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Donphan's favorite attack is curling its body into a ball, then charging at its foe while rolling at high speed. Once it starts rolling, this Pokémon can't stop very easily. |
Donphan Base Stats
| HP | 62 |
| ATTACK | 48 |
| DEFENCE | 66 |
| SP. ATTACK | 59 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 57 |
| SPEED | 49 |
| TOTAL | 341 |
Appearance
Donphan is a large, gray Pokemon that resembles an elephant. Most of its body is light gray, although there is a long black band running down its back and it extends to the tip of its long trunk. There are two tusks at the edges of Donphan’s mouth and its long ears and trunk begin above its eyes. It walks on four armored feet with three claws on each foot. Donphan is an average sized Pokemon at 3 feet and 7 inches, or 1.1 meters, tall.
Behavior
When Donphan is threatened, it will curl up into a ball and violently roll around like a wheel. These rolling tackles are powerful and can even knock down a house. The anime shows that this behavior is used to attract other Donphan. Male Donphan have rolling competitions to demonstrate their toughness to the females. The Pokedex shows that Donphan has a keen sense of smell. Donphan travels in herds with a ranking system, the larger the Donphan’s tusks, the higher its rank in the herd.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Donphan has a powerful physical attack and defense, but it does not have a good speed stat that could make it a menace for the opposition. Not only that, while its health pool is decent, its special defense makes it difficult for Donphan to be a dedicated defensive Pokemon. It is most threatening when it shows a mix of offensive and defensive capabilities. As a monotype ground Pokemon, Donphan takes 2x damage from water, grass, and ice type moves. It is immune to electric types and resista poison and rock type moves.
Best Moveset
Donphan is a powerful Pokemon and has managed to remain viable in competitive play for many different generations. It is often used as a defensive Pokemon with offensive capabilities and can hold its own in the higher brackets of competitive play. With a Leftovers, as a held item, it can survive against physical attackers for a significant amount of time. Consider running Earthquake, Rapid Spin, Stealth Rock, and Knock Off/Toxic/Roar. Earthquake benefits from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), Rapid Spin is a good defensive move, Stealth Rock can provide a lot of chip damage, and Knock Off/Toxic/Roar are all interchangeable depending on which offensive option appeals to you.
| Earthquake | Rapid Spin |
| Stealth Rock | Knock Off/Toxic/Roar |
How to Catch Donphan in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Donphan in Pokemon Go, the easiest way to do so would be to first obtain a Phanpy and eventually evolve it into a Donphan. This is because like most final evolutions, the base evolution is a more common spawn to encounter in the wild. You can find Phanpy spawning in the wild at a boosted rate near parks, farmlands, quarries, parking lots, and hiking trails. Phanpy can also be hatched from 2, 5, and 7 km eggs, but while Phanpy has not appeared as a raid boss, you can find Donphan as a tier three raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. To evolve Phanpy into a Donphan you will need 50 candies.
Trivia
- Donphan shares its Pokedex classification with Tyranitar as the “Armor Pokemon”.
- The inspiration for Donphan’s design is likely based on an adult elephant.
- The name Donphan is a combination of the words don (Spanish for lord or master) and elephant.
FAQ
Is Donphan any good?
While Donphan is not the most powerful Pokemon, it has managed to remain relevant in competitive play for over six generations of Pokemon battles. The combination of its physical attack and defense coupled with a strong health pool makes it difficult to remove from battle. It is also capable of dealing significant damage.
What does Donphan evolve into?
Donphan is the second stage evolution in its two stage evolution line. It does not evolve into any other Pokemon. Donphan evolves from Phanpy once it reaches level 25, but it does not have any other evolution requirements. There is no way to evolve a Donphan because there is no other form for Donphan to evolve into.
What is the best Charge attack for Donphan?
It is best to consider what you will be using Donphan for in raid battles or against other trainers. You should consider moves like Earthquake, Heavy Slam, and Play Rough as charge attack options for Donphan in Pokemon Go. Earthquake will benefit from STAB, while Heavy Slam and Play Rough will charge quickly and can help you cover more types of Pokemon.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Armor Pokemon”. Donphan is a powerful Pokemon and has managed to remain relevant in competitive play for multiple generations. It is rare that a Pokemon that is introduced as early as generation two manages to stay viable in competitive play years later. Reserve a slot on your team for Donphan if you want a mixed offensive and defensive ground type Pokemon.
