Duraludon: Smogon Strategies & Builds For Pokmon SV/SS

04 May, 2025

Is Duraludon the Steel-Type Titan Pokmon trainers have been waiting for? With its strategic versatility, impressive bulk, and ability to control the battlefield, Duraludon is proving to be a formidable force in the Pokmon metagame.

Duraludon, the towering Alloy Pokmon, presents a fascinating case study in competitive battling. First introduced in Generation VIII, it has swiftly evolved from a niche pick to a strategic cornerstone in various formats. Smogon's Strategy Pokedex, a valuable resource for competitive Pokmon enthusiasts, meticulously outlines Duraludon's strengths, weaknesses, and optimal builds. This resource is crucial for understanding how to best utilize this unique Pokmon.

Attribute	Detail
Name	Duraludon
Generation Introduced	VIII (Sword & Shield)
Type	Steel/Dragon
Abilities	Light Metal / Heavy Metal / Stalwart (Hidden Ability)
Base Stats (Example)	HP: 70, Attack: 95, Defense: 115, Sp. Atk: 120, Sp. Def: 50, Speed: 85
Notable Moves	Steel Beam, Draco Meteor, Thunderbolt, Body Press, Stealth Rock
Key Items	Eviolite, Eject Pack, Tera Poison
Competitive Role	Stealth Rock Setter, Special Attacker, Bulky Attacker
Synergistic Partners	Incineroar, Toxtricity, Mandibuzz, Gastrodon
Weaknesses	Fighting, Ground,
Strengths	High Defense, good Special Attack, useful movepool, strong match-up vs hazard removal options
Reference Website	Smogon Strategy Pokedex

At its core, Duraludon's success hinges on its unique typing and stat distribution. Steel/Dragon is a potent combination, providing crucial resistances while offering access to powerful offensive moves. Its high Special Attack allows it to deliver significant damage, while its impressive Defense stat helps it to withstand physical blows. Though its Special Defense lags behind, clever team building and strategic item choices can mitigate this weakness. The availability of moves like Stealth Rock further enhances its utility, making it a valuable asset in any team composition.

One of Duraludon's most attractive features is its potential to set up Stealth Rock, a hazard that damages opposing Pokmon upon switching in. Duraludon's favorable matchups against common hazard removers like Talonflame and Xatu allow it to effectively establish this entry hazard, putting pressure on the opponent from the very beginning of a match. This ability, coupled with its offensive prowess, allows Duraludon to both control the field and apply offensive pressure. The set is adaptable based on the team's needs and can vary based on the metagame's most prominent threats.

The use of Eject Pack opens up interesting strategic possibilities. Eject Pack allows Duraludon to switch out after claiming a kill or bailing on one of its checks. This provides momentum for the team and allows other Pokmon to come in safely and set up. This tactical maneuverability gives Duraludon a unique edge, enabling it to dictate the pace of the battle. This makes it a very strong choice for certain matchups.

Another essential aspect of using Duraludon is understanding its weaknesses. While it boasts several strengths, it does have vulnerabilities. Notably, its susceptibility to Knock Off can cripple it by removing its held item, diminishing its effectiveness. Additionally, its relatively poor Special Defense makes it vulnerable to powerful special attackers. Careful team construction is essential to account for these vulnerabilities, using teammates to cover its blind spots.

Duraludon's diverse movepool allows it to threaten a variety of opponents. Thunderbolt provides coverage against bulky water types. Draco Meteor serves as a powerful STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) move for high damage output. Steel Beam is another potent STAB option, capable of delivering devastating blows. The flexibility in its move choices allows trainers to tailor Duraludon's role to their specific needs.

When considering the best ways to use Duraludon, one must understand how different items can benefit it. Eviolite, which boosts both defenses, is a popular option, significantly increasing its survivability. Tera Poison is used to resist fighting moves while resisting fairy moves. These options help maximize the Pokmon's bulk and resilience.

Duraludon's capacity to trade favorably with threats is a key element in its competitive value. Being able to endure hits from the likes of Cinderace, Iron Boulder, and others, while delivering significant damage in return, makes Duraludon a force.

The information available in the Smogon Strategy Pokedex is instrumental in creating winning strategies. The Pokedex offers detailed analysis of various Duraludon builds, providing insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and optimal EV spreads. The EV spreads of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA with a Bold nature provide a good balance of bulk and offensive presence. Another example is 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe Bold nature IVs; this spread allows it to outspeed an Adamant Bisharp while maintaining bulk. Trainers can use these resources to customize their Duraludon to meet specific requirements of the team.

Duraludon has a good matchup against common hazard removal options, making it a useful Stealth Rock setter. This allows it to set up entry hazards, putting pressure on the opposing team.

The use of Dynamax in the battles of generation 8 completely changed how Duraludon was used. With Dynamax, all drawbacks of its moves were removed, allowing Duraludon to trade favorably with some of the metagame's threats. In particular, Max Steelspike and Steel Beam could knock out Dynamax Mimikyu.

Duraludon can be paired with sturdy special walls like Mandibuzz or Gastrodon to cover its Special Defense. Other strong partners for Duraludon include Incineroar, which checks some of Duraludon's best counters, Toxtricity, which can wear down shared checks.

The Alloy Pokmon's effectiveness is not solely due to its intrinsic qualities. Instead, it's about how well it integrates with the rest of the team. Fitting Duraludon onto a team effectively, requires careful consideration of its roles and its teammates. The choice of partners should complement Duraludons strengths and compensate for its weaknesses. This also involves carefully selecting items and moves to make the most of its attributes.

Archaludon, a Generation 9 Pokmon, also showcases a high attack and good defensive capabilities, making it a valuable asset for strategic teams.

In conclusion, Duraludon stands as a versatile, adaptable Pokmon with a significant presence in the current metagame. Its combination of offensive potential, strategic capabilities, and bulk make it a strong pick in competitive play. While it faces challenges like its vulnerability to certain attacks and a lack of recovery, these weaknesses can be mitigated with strategic team-building and intelligent use. With the right support and understanding of its strengths and weaknesses, Duraludon can become a valuable asset in any trainer's arsenal.

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Duraludon (UNITE) Bulbapedia, the community driven Pokémon encyclopedia

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Duraludon Pokédex stats, moves, evolution & locations Pokémon Database

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