Donphan (Pokémon)

← #231: Phanpy	Pokémon	#233: Porygon2 →
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Donphan (disambiguation).

Donphan ドンファン Donfan #232
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Type Ground Unknown Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Armor Pokémon
Abilities Sturdy ----- Blue-Striped ----- Sand Veil Hidden Ability
Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #— Johto #201 Hoenn #166 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R-035 Almia R— Oblivia R-210 N-086
Height 3'07″ Imperial 1.1 m Metric 3'07″/1.1 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 264.6 lbs. Imperial 120.0 kg Metric 264.6 lbs./120.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Gray	Catch rate 60 (7.8%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Field group 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 1 Def 1 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 189 Battle Exp.: 1891*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Donphan (Japanese: ドンファン Donfan) is a Ground-type Pokémon.

It evolves from Phanpy starting at level 25.

Biology

Donphan are light-gray elephant-like Pokémon. It is a thick, black band of hide that runs down the length of Donphan's back and extends to the trunk, resembling a car tire. Donphan have four short legs with three claws with each leg having a black band around them. They also sport a pair of white tusks, which are smaller for females, and elongated ears held stiffly to Donphan's sides.

It has the ability to curl up into a ball and violently roll around like a wheel. Once it starts its rampage it will be almost unstoppable. These rolling tackles are strong enough to knock down a house. Its hide is also very tough as regular attacks won't leave a scratch on it. Donphan travel in a herd that is led by a single Donphan. The larger the tusks, the higher its rank in the herd will be.

During their breeding season, male Donphan compete for mates by rolling as well to show how tough they are. This rolling is known as the Love Dance. Donphan are also known to have a keen sense of smell, at least in the sense of being able to detect amberite, and will upraise their trunks into the air to smell for it. These Pokémon seem to prefer rough, mountainous terrain.

In the anime

Major appearances

Donphan in the anime

Ash's Donphan

In Reversing the Charges, Ash's Phanpy evolved into Donphan. It proved to be an excellent member of his team showing its strength in every battle.

Other

A Shiny Donphan in the anime

Donphan first made a brief appearance in the beginning of Mewtwo Strikes Back, under the ownership of Raymond. At the time, it was an unknown Pokémon.

Donphan's first major role was in Roll On, Pokémon! A girl named Rochelle was using four to find amberite.

In Date Expectations, many Donphan were falling in love with a Shiny Donphan.

Tyson used a Donphan during the Hoenn League which first appeared in Chose It or Lose It!.

In Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part Two, Kellyn had a Donphan smash through the cave-ins that were caused by an Aggron that belonged to Pokémon Hunter J's client.

Minor appearances

A Donphan was one of the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Swap Meet in Tricks of the Trade.

A Donphan was seen in the wild in The Legend of Thunder!.

Several Donphan appeared in Misty's flashback in Gotta Catch Ya Later!.

A Donphan also appeared in Battling the Generation Gap!.

Another Donphan appeared in Challenging a Towering Figure!.

A Donphan made a brief appearance under the ownership of a Trainer in the Lily of the Valley Conference in An Old Family Blend!.

Ethan battles Ash with a Donphan in the beginning of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP120 Donphan Ash's Pokédex Donphan, the Armor Pokémon. With its strong tusks and tough skin, Donphan is known for its powerful Tackle attack. The length of Donphan's tusks indicates its level.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry AG114 Donphan Ash's Pokédex Donphan, the Armor Pokémon. Donphan is the evolved form of Phanpy. They attack by rolling their bodies into a circle and charging their enemies. Advanced Generation series entries continue below.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry AG154 Donphan May's Pokédex Donphan, the Armor Pokémon. Donphan has razor sharp tusks, armor-like skin, and enormous power.

In the manga

Donphan in Pokémon Adventures

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

A herd of Donphan were used by a thieving ruffian in Number One Donphan.

In Quilava Quandry, the Day-Care Couple used a Donphan to train Gold.

In I'm Your Biggest Fan, Donphan, Wattson accidentally catches Sapphire in a trap designed to catch a wild, rampaging Donphan. After 'discovering' New Mauville, Sapphire uses the wild Donphan to help Wattson shut down a power generator, adding it to her team in Plugging Past Electrike II and naming it Phado.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

A Donphan appeared in Clefairy, the Battle Instructor under the ownership of a Trainer who had trouble controlling it. Donphan would usually fall asleep and did so since its loss to Silver's Totodile.

Pokédex entries

Manga Chapter Entry Pokémon Adventures PS096 The longer and bigger its tusks are, the higher it is ranked amongst its herd.*

In the TCG

Main article: Donphan (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
Generation I Red {{{redbluedex}}} Blue Yellow {{{yellowdex}}} Stadium {{{stadiumdex}}}
Generation II Gold It has sharp, hard tusks and a rugged hide. Its Tackle is strong enough to knock down a house. Silver The longer and bigger its tusks, the higher its rank in its herd. The tusks take long to grow. Crystal Because this Pokémon's skin is so tough, a normal attack won't even leave a scratch on it. Stadium 2 It has sharp, hard tusks and a rugged hide. Its Tackle is strong enough to knock down a house.
Generation III Ruby 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. Sapphire If Donphan were to tackle with its hard body, even a house could be destroyed. Using its massive strength, the Pokémon helps clear rock and mud slides that block mountain trails. Emerald A Donphan is so strong it can easily haul a dump truck. Its hide has toughened to a rock-hard state. An ordinary sort of attack won't even leave a scratch. FireRed The longer and bigger its tusks, the higher its rank in its herd. The tusks take long to grow. LeafGreen It has sharp, hard tusks and a rugged hide. Its Tackle is strong enough to knock down a house.
Generation IV Diamond It attacks by curling up, then rolling into its foe. It can blow apart a house in one hit. Pearl {{{pearldex}}} Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold It has sharp, hard tusks and a rugged hide. Its Tackle is strong enough to knock down a house. SoulSilver The longer and bigger its tusks, the higher its rank in its herd. The tusks take long to grow.
Generation V Black It attacks by curling up, then rolling into its foe. It can blow apart a house in one hit. White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 It attacks by curling up then rolling into its foe. It can blow apart a house in one hit. White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
Generation I Red Blue None Trade Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow None Trade
Generation II Gold Silver Uncommon Route 28, Silver Cave, Victory Road* (Silver only) Crystal Uncommon Route 45
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Evolve Phanpy Emerald None Evolve Phanpy FireRed LeafGreen None Evolve Phanpy Colosseum None Trade XD None Evolve Phanpy
Generation IV Diamond Pearl None Evolve Phanpy Platinum None Evolve Phanpy HeartGold SoulSilver Uncommon Route 28, Mt. Silver Cave, Victory Road  (HeartGold only) Pal Park Mountain Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Evolve Phanpy Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire	Evolve from Phanpy
Pokémon Trozei!	Secret Storage 18 Trozei Battle Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Evolve from Phanpy
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Crystal Cave (B6-B11)
Pokémon Ranger	Fiore Temple
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs	Faldera Island Fire Temple
Pokémon Rumble Blast	Desert: Sunny Seashore (Post-ending)

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
HeartGold	SoulSilver	Passho Berry (5%)

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 90		150 - 197	290 - 384
Attack: 120		112 - 189	220 - 372
Defense: 120		112 - 189	220 - 372
Sp. Atk: 60		58 - 123	112 - 240
Sp. Def: 60		58 - 123	112 - 240
Speed: 50		49 - 112	94 - 218
Total: 500	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

Pokéathlon stats

Speed 2/4 ★★☆☆	Power 5/5 ★★★★★
Skill 2/2 ★★	Stamina 4/4 ★★★★
Jump 2/2 ★★	Total 15/17 ★★★

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 1× Rock ½× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 2× Grass 2× Electric 0× Psychic 1× Ice 2× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 1× Rock ½× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 2× Grass 2× Electric 0× Psychic 1× Ice 2× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 1× Rock ½× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 2× Grass 2× Electric 0× Psychic 1× Ice 2× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 1× Rock ½× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 2× Grass 2× Electric 0× Psychic 1× Ice 2× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Notes: If this Pokémon is given a Ring Target, the effectiveness of  Electric-type  moves is 1×.

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX

Level   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  00Start Fire Fang Fire Physical 06565 09595% 15 00Start Thunder Fang Electric Physical 06565 09595% 15 00Start Horn Attack Normal Physical 06565 100100% 25 00Start Growl Normal Status 0000— 100100% 40 00Start Defense Curl Normal Status 0000— ——% 40 00Start Bulldoze Ground Physical 06060 100100% 20 066 Rapid Spin Normal Physical 02020 100100% 40 1010 Knock Off Dark Physical 02020 100100% 20 1515 Rollout Rock Physical 03030 09090% 20 1919 Magnitude Ground Physical 0000— 100100% 30 2424 Slam Normal Physical 08080 07575% 20 2525 Fury Attack Normal Physical 01515 08585% 20 3131 Assurance Dark Physical 05050 100100% 10 3939 Scary Face Normal Status 0000— 100100% 10 4646 Earthquake Ground Physical 100100 100100% 10 5454 Giga Impact Normal Physical 150150 09090% 5

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Donphan Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Donphan Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/HM

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
TM		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	TM05	Roar	Normal	Status	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	0000—	090}}90%	10
	TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	0000—	—}}—%	5
	TM15	Hyper Beam	Normal	Special	150150	090}}90%	5
	TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM26	Earthquake	Ground	Physical	100100	100}}100%	10
	TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	15
	TM37	Sandstorm	Rock	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM39	Rock Tomb	Rock	Physical	05050	080}}80%	10
	TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	07070	100}}100%	20
	TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM48	Round	Normal	Special	06060	100}}100%	15
	TM49	Echoed Voice	Normal	Special	04040	100}}100%	15
	TM68	Giga Impact	Normal	Physical	150150	090}}90%	5
	TM69	Rock Polish	Rock	Status	0000—	—}}—%	20
	TM71	Stone Edge	Rock	Physical	100100	080}}80%	5
	TM74	Gyro Ball	Steel	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	5
	TM78	Bulldoze	Ground	Physical	06060	100}}100%	20
	TM80	Rock Slide	Rock	Physical	07575	090}}90%	10
	TM84	Poison Jab	Poison	Physical	08080	100}}100%	20
	TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	0000—	090}}90%	15
	TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM94	Rock Smash	Fighting	Physical	04040	100}}100%	15
	HM04	Strength	Normal	Physical	08080	100}}100%	15
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Donphan Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Donphan Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
Father	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	AncientPower	Rock	Special	60	100%	5
	Body Slam	Normal	Physical	85	100%	15
	Counter	Fighting	Physical	—	100%	20
	Endeavor	Normal	Physical	—	100%	5
	Fissure	Ground	Physical	—	—%	5
	Focus Energy	Normal	Status	—	—%	30
	Head Smash	Rock	Physical	150	80%	5
	Heavy Slam	Steel	Physical	—	100%	10
	Ice Shard	Ice	Physical	40	100%	30
	Mud-Slap	Ground	Special	20	100%	10
	Snore	Normal	Special	40	100%	15
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Donphan in Generation V Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Donphan in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Donphan Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Donphan Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
Game				Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
B	W	B2	W2	Block	Normal	Status	—	—%	5
B	W	B2	W2	Bounce	Flying	Physical	85	85%	5
B	W	B2	W2	Earth Power	Ground	Special	90	100%	10
B	W	B2	W2	Endeavor	Normal	Physical	—	100%	5
B	W	B2	W2	Gunk Shot	Poison	Physical	120	70%	5
B	W	B2	W2	Hyper Voice	Normal	Special	90	100%	10
B	W	B2	W2	Iron Defense	Steel	Status	—	—%	15
B	W	B2	W2	Iron Tail	Steel	Physical	100	75%	15
B	W	B2	W2	Knock Off	Dark	Physical	20	100%	20
B	W	B2	W2	Last Resort	Normal	Physical	140	100%	5
B	W	B2	W2	Seed Bomb	Grass	Physical	80	100%	15
B	W	B2	W2	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	—	—%	10
B	W	B2	W2	Snore	Normal	Special	40	100%	15
B	W	B2	W2	Stealth Rock	Rock	Status	—	—%	20
B	W	B2	W2	Superpower	Fighting	Physical	120	100%	5
A black abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Donphan can be tutored the move in that game A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Donphan cannot be tutored the move in that game Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Donphan Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Donphan Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

By a prior evolution

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
Stage	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	Odor Sleuth	Normal	Status	—	—%	40
	Tackle	Normal	Physical	50	100%	35
	Flail	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15
	Take Down	Normal	Physical	90	85%	20
	Natural Gift	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15
	Endure	Normal	Status	—	—%	10
	Charm	Normal	Status	—	100%	20
	Last ResortBW	Normal	Physical	140	100%	5
	Double-Edge	Normal	Physical	120	100%	15
‡	Seed BombBW	Grass	Physical	80	100%	15
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Donphan Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Donphan Click on the generation numbers at the top to see moves from other generations

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball  N/A  Not available		Pokémon Pinball RS    Acquisition: Evolve		Pokémon Trozei!    Rarity: Rare
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team File:MDP RT 232.png Body size: 1 Recruit rate: Evolve Friend Area: Safari Phrases 51%-100% HP The length of these tusks is a measure of my power! 26%-50% HP This won't do. My health has dwindled to half. 1%-25% HP I've had enough... My tusks are too heavy to move... Level up I've leveled up! My tusks seem to have thrust out more! Partner phrases 51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%. 26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%. 1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%. Level up I've leveled up! My tusks seem to have thrust out more!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 0.5% IQ group: E
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Ground  Poké Assist: ( Ground ) Field move: (Tackle ×2) Loops: 10 Min. exp.: 60 Max. exp.: 85 Browser entry   Donphan rolls its body into a ball to charge. Its crash can shake things up!
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Ground  ( Ground ) Past ( Normal ) (Tackle ×3) Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   It triggers tremors to attack.
Pokémon Rumble N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed			Pokémon Rumble Blast Attack ●●●● Defense ●●●● Speed ●●● Attack Not Available Defense Speed Attack Not Available Defense Speed Attack Not Available Defense Speed
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Strong: {{{Park2strong}}} Weak: {{{Park2weak}}} PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
Pokémon Conquest HP: Move: {{{ConquestMove}}} Attack: Ability 1: {{{ConquestAbility1}}} Defense: Ability 2: {{{ConquestAbility2}}} Speed: Ability 3: {{{ConquestAbility3}}} Does not evolve. Range: 0 Perfect Links: {{{ConquestLink}}}

Evolution

Unevolved Phanpy  Ground

Level 25 →

First Evolution Donphan  Ground

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation I.
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Donphan images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Japanese sprites

Silver

Trivia

• Donphan shares the same species name with Tyranitar. They are both known as the Armor Pokémon.
• Donphan and Ursaring, along with their pre-evolutions, are the only Pokémon to swap version-exclusive status between localizations. While Phanpy and Donphan are found only in the Japanese Gold, they are not found in Gold in other languages, being found in the Silver Version of those languages instead, with Teddiursa and Ursaring getting the opposite treatment. This is corrected in the remakes HeartGold and SoulSilver, where they follow the Japanese Gold and Silver.

Origin

It appears to have been based on an adult elephant, although it resembles the tire of an automobile when curled up or using its trademark Rollout attack. As both Phanpy and Donphan are much smaller compared to humans than conventional African or Asian elephants, they may have actually been inspired by the Dwarf elephant or Pygmy elephant.

Name origin

Donphan and Donfan are a combination of don and elephant. Don may refer to lord; a root word meaning teeth, referring to its tusks; or mastodon, a prehistoric elephant. Don may have also been included to reflect Donphan's robust physique and great strength, especially in comparison to Phanpy.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ドンファン Donfan From don and elephant French Donphan Same as English name Spanish Donphan Same as English name German Donphan Same as English name Italian Donphan Same as English name Korean 코리갑 Kkorigap From 코끼리 kkokkiri and 갑 (甲) gap Mandarin Chinese 頓甲 / 顿甲 Dùnjiǎ From 頓 dùn and 甲 jiǎ Cantonese Chinese 冬凡 Dūngfàahn

More languages

Related articles

• Ash's Donphan

External links

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Pokémon

#233: Porygon2 →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.