Donphan Guide: Best Moveset, Counters & Pokemon GO Tips

Donphan is a popular Ground-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 3,013, Donphan is a solid choice for Ultra League battles and various raid encounters.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Donphan in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.

📊 Donphan Base Stats & Overview

Donphan (#232) is a Ground-type Pokemon from Generation 2.

Base Stats
Attack	214
Defense	185
Stamina	207
Total Stats	606
Max CP	3,013
Buddy Distance	3 km

With 214 Attack, 185 Defense, and 207 Stamina, Donphan has a total stat product of 606. Its high Stamina gives it excellent staying power in prolonged battles.

⚔️ Best Moveset for Donphan

Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Donphan’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Donphan for raids, gym battles, or PvP.

Best Raid & Gym Moveset

For PvE content like raids and gym battles, you want moves that maximize DPS (Damage Per Second). The best Ground-type moves will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), increasing damage by 20%.

Best PvP Moveset

In PvP battles, energy generation and coverage moves become more important. You’ll want a fast move that charges energy quickly and charged moves that provide good type coverage.

🎯 Donphan Type Effectiveness

Understanding type effectiveness is crucial for both using Donphan effectively and knowing how to counter it. As a Ground-type Pokemon, Donphan has specific strengths and weaknesses.

⚠️ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)

Donphan is weak to: Water, Grass, Ice-type moves. When battling against Donphan, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.

• Water – Deals increased damage
• Grass – Deals increased damage
• Ice – Deals increased damage

🛡️ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)

Donphan resists: Poison, Rock, Electric-type moves. This means Donphan takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.

• Poison – Reduced damage
• Rock – Reduced damage
• Electric – Reduced damage

🏆 Donphan PvP Analysis

Donphan can be used in Pokemon GO’s GO Battle League PvP battles. Here’s how it performs in each league:

Great League (1500 CP Limit)

With a max CP of 3,013, Donphan would need to be under-leveled for Great League. Check if the stats at 1500 CP are competitive before investing resources.

Ultra League (2500 CP Limit)

Donphan can be used in Ultra League but won’t reach its full stat potential due to the 2500 CP cap.

Master League (No CP Limit)

Donphan can hold its own in Master League with proper support, though it may struggle against the top-tier threats like Dialga, Giratina, and Mewtwo.

⚔️ Donphan Raid Guide

Donphan is primarily used as a raid attacker rather than a raid boss. Here’s how to use it effectively in raids:

Using Donphan in Raids

When using Donphan as a raid attacker:

• Best against raid bosses weak to Ground-type moves
• Power up to at least level 30-35 for decent performance
• Ensure you have the optimal moveset for maximum DPS

🎯 Best Counters for Donphan

Whether you’re battling Donphan in raids, gyms, or PvP, knowing the best counters is essential for victory. Here are the top Pokemon to use against Donphan:

Top Counter Pokemon

The best counters exploit Donphan’s weaknesses to Water, Grass, Ice-type moves:

Pokemon	Type	Why It Works
Kyogre	Water	Best Water attacker with Waterfall + Hydro Pump
Swampert	Water/Ground	Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon is devastating
Gyarados	Water/Flying	Accessible and powerful Water attacker
Kartana	Grass/Steel	Highest Grass DPS available
Roserade	Grass/Poison	Razor Leaf + Grass Knot hits hard
Venusaur	Grass/Poison	Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant (Community Day)

Counter Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Donphan
2. Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
3. Watch for Coverage Moves: Donphan may have moves that counter its own counters
4. Weather Boost: Take advantage of weather conditions that boost your counter’s attacks

📍 How to Get Donphan in Pokemon GO

There are several ways to obtain Donphan in Pokemon GO:

• Wild Encounters: Donphan can spawn in the wild, especially in areas matching its type
• Eggs: May hatch from 3km eggs
• Evolution: Evolve from its pre-evolution using Candy
• Raids: Occasionally appears in raid battles
• Research Tasks: Complete field research for a chance to encounter
• Trading: Trade with friends

Shiny Donphan

Yes, Shiny Donphan is available in Pokemon GO! The shiny variant has a different coloration and is highly sought after by collectors. The shiny rate for wild encounters is approximately 1 in 500, though this can be boosted during special events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours.

Donphan Evolution

Check the Pokédex for complete evolution information including candy costs and special evolution requirements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tips for Using Donphan

Here are some advanced strategies and tips to maximize Donphan’s potential in Pokemon GO:

1. IV Optimization

For raids and gym battles, prioritize Donphan with high Attack IVs (15 Attack is ideal). The Attack stat contributes most to damage output in PvE content.

For PvP battles, the ideal IVs depend on the league:

• Great League: Look for low Attack, high Defense and HP (0/15/15 is often ideal)
• Ultra League: Similar to Great League, optimize for stat product under 2500 CP
• Master League: Perfect 15/15/15 IVs are best since there’s no CP cap

2. Power Up Priority

Before investing Stardust and Candy into Donphan, consider:

• Do you have enough resources? (Powering to level 50 costs 296,000 Stardust and 296 Candy)
• Will this Pokemon fill a gap in your battle team?
• Are there better alternatives for the same role?
• Do you have the optimal moveset or need Elite TMs?

3. Team Composition

Donphan works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Ground type weak to Water, Grass, consider adding team members that resist these types.

4. Weather Considerations

Take advantage of weather boosts:

• When catching: Weather-boosted Donphan spawns at higher levels (up to 35)
• When battling: Weather that boosts Ground moves increases your damage output
• When raiding: Spawn weather-boosted counters by raiding in appropriate weather

📚 Donphan in the Pokemon Franchise

Donphan first appeared in Generation 2 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Donphan’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.

In Pokemon GO, Donphan was introduced as part of the Generation 2 Pokemon rollout. It became available to catch after Niantic released the Generation 2 Pokemon update.

📊 How Donphan Compares

Let’s see how Donphan stacks up against other Ground-type Pokemon:

Stat	Donphan	Type Average	Rating
Attack	214	~180	⭐⭐⭐
Defense	185	~160	⭐⭐
Stamina	207	~170	⭐⭐⭐
Max CP	3,013	~2,500	⭐⭐

🎯 Conclusion

Donphan is a powerful Ground-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 3,013 and solid base stats (214/185/207), it performs well in Ultra League PvP and can serve as a reliable raid attacker against appropriate targets.

Remember to:

• Optimize IVs based on your intended use (PvP vs PvE)
• Use the recommended moveset for maximum effectiveness
• Build a team that covers Donphan’s weaknesses
• Take advantage of weather boosts when possible

For more Pokemon guides and the complete Pokedex, visit our Pokemon GO Database. Check out our PvP Rankings for the current meta and Raid Guides for battle strategies.

Last updated: January 2026. Information based on the latest Pokemon GO game data.

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