Goh first encountered Darmanitan in Raid Battle in The Ruins!, when he and Ash were travelling through the Desert Resort. Darmanitan stood outside the entrance to the Colossus Ruins where it was in its Zen Mode. When approached, Darmanitan turned into its standard form. Goh quickly threw a Poké Ball, catching it and adding Darmanitan to his team.
Darmanitan was later sent out to battle a giantGolurk that was the Guardian of the Ruins after Scorbunny and Beedrill were knocked out. Battling alongside Ash's Dragonite, Darmanitan was able to weaken Golurk, only for the floor beneath it to collapse, forcing Goh to throw a Poké Ball and catch Golurk to save it. Darmanitan was later seen in Zen Mode at Cerise Laboratory alongside Goh's other Pokémon.
In Kicking It from Here Into Tomorrow!, Darmanitan taunted Scorbunny over its lack of ability to use a Fire-typemove and showed off by using its own Fire-type attack. This enraged Scorbunny to try and use Ember, which it was unable to do successfully, leading Darmanitan to continue to taunt it.
In Panic in the Park!, during a food shortage, Darmanitan led a group of Pokémon to fight for food against another group led by Goh's Scyther. When the commotion led to Goh's Golurk going berserk and flooding the Park, Darmanitan joined the other Pokémon to save Goh's three Cascoon.
Personality and characteristics
Darmanitan and Ash's Dragonite
Darmanitan is a strong Pokémon, as seen in Raid Battle in The Ruins!, where it held its own against a giantGolurk that had defeated multiple opponents.
Despite being recently caught, Darmanitan followed Goh's orders without any problems. It appears to respect Pokémon it perceives as strong, such as when it greeted Ash's Dragonite with a fist-bump after winning the battle against Golurk. However, it looks down on weaker Pokémon. For example, in Kicking It from Here Into Tomorrow!, it taunted Scorbunny over it being unable to use a Fire-type move and later in JN054 where it kept scaring Sobble by popping out from the bushes. It turns into its Zen Form when it is relaxing or resting. It also has a quick temper, such as in Panic in the Park!, when it attacked Sandile after it kicked it. Darmanitan likes to spar with strong Pokémon, as seen in Gotta Catch a What?!, when it was sparring with Heracross.
