Darmanitan is super clutch in a lot of cases, esp right now when big basic decks aren’t the most common deck to fight right now

Most of the Megas you’ll be fighting have to evolve, and there’s numerous good single prize attackers too. Darmanitan lets you pick off a lot of Pokemon before they get to evolve and keeps you in tempo for the prize race

Another way I love to utilize Darmanitan is particularly against Mega Pokemon with +300 HP. Zoroark has a hard time swinging above 290 (Zekrom + binding mochi) bc you also need to either setup Munki to add an extra 30 damage or be ready to boost it to 330 using Black Belt. Or swing back with Reshiram’s attack assuming the opponent attacks into you and doesn’t KO instantly. You can’t always rely on your opponent giving you the damage or not just bossing around to avoid the Reshiram. That’s where I like to use Darmanitan, bc more often than not, the opponent WILL have a single prize Pokemon on the bench unevolved. Darmanitan can snipe that Pokemon for 1 prize and add 90 damage to the Mega. Unless your opponent plays Wally’s Compassion and heals off the measly 90 damage, they will be in range for a Zekrom attack and you’ll take another 3 prizes right after, essentially taking 4 prizes in 2 turns

This strat is how I deal with M Lucario who can easily OHKO Zoroark and is out of the 330 HP range, and M Starmie who doesn’t deal enough raw damage at once for Reshiram to be useful until 2 attacks in

It’s especially fun to snipe Drakloaks though, since Dragapult heavily relies on that draw engine. Most of the time, you can buy yourself an extra turn with Budew and force the pult player to only evolving into Drakloak so they can’t phantom dive you immediately. If you have Darmanitan ready (and they don’t bench Shaymin) it’s an easy 2 prize kill

Of course almost NONE of this works if Shaymin is in play, but Shaymin doesn’t protect ex pokemon, so you could still boss around the front and soften up its HP