Pokemon Unite Dhelmise: Best moveset, builds, counters, and more

Pokemon Unite Dhelmise has finally arrived, further expanding the long list of All-Rounders. This Sea Creeper Pokemon plays as a melee Physical attacker with moderate difficulty and has a kit built around disrupting opponents, dealing critical damage, and generating shields.

Players will find Dhelmise particularly appealing if their playstyle revolves around applying stuns, slows, and the ability to pull opponents out of position.

Here’s a full breakdown of Pokemon Unite Dhelmise's abilities, optimal builds, and how to counter it.

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Pokemon Unite Dhelmise: Ability and move breakdown

Passive - Steelworker: Dhelmise gains a shield at regular intervals, as long as one of its moves damages an enemy Pokemon. Each shield applied, whether from this passive or other effects, powers up its next basic attack. These empowered hits can stack up to three times. If a shield expires, Dhelmise recovers HP based on how much shielding was left.

Early-game moves (level 1 or 3)

1) Payback: Dhelmise swings its anchor to damage enemies and slow them down. If opponents hit Dhelmise mid-use, Payback hits with bonus damage.

2) Bulldoze: Dhelmise slams its anchor into the ground, sending out a shock that damages and tosses nearby opponents.

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Level 5 move choices

1) Power Whip: Dhelmise lashes its anchor horizontally, damaging and slowing targets while granting itself a shield. Enemies caught by the anchor’s edge take extra damage and are temporarily unable to act.

Upgrade: Extends the duration of the stun.

2) Whirlpool: A diagonal anchor swing that damages and slows opponents. Every third use spawns a whirlpool around Dhelmise that pulls enemies towards it. Its cooldown shortens with every basic attack.

Upgrade: Further boosts the cooldown reduction from basic attacks.

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Level 7 move choices

1) Heavy Slam: Dhelmise throws its anchor forward, damaging and stunning targets in the center of impact while slowing nearby foes. It then pulls itself forward and crashes down on the anchor’s location, dealing more damage and applying another slow.

Upgrade: Targets at the center of the slam become unable to act.

2) Anchor Shot: Dhelmise throws its anchor, stunning an opponent before pulling them towards it. Great for isolating targets, initiating or chasing someone that is escaping.

Upgrade: Increases damage dealt to the pulled target.

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Unite Move (Level 9) - Seaweed Snare

Dhelmise using its Unite Move: Seaweed Snare (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Dhelmise launches its anchor to bind a chosen enemy, locking them in place before charging at them for additional damage and stunning them. Any enemies hit along the way are shoved and damaged. A portion of all the damage dealt during the Unite Move is also converted into healing.

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Best moveset for Pokemon Unite Dhelmise

Power Whip + Anchor Shot (recommended build)

This combination focuses on control, enemy isolation, and survivability. Power Whip provides shielding and consistent CC, while Anchor Shot secures priority targets by pulling them straight into Dhelmise’s damage zone.

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Best Held Items for Pokemon Unite Dhelmise

Attack Weight: Provides a large Attack boost with stacks.
Razor Claw: Adds a slow on basic attacks after using a move.
Accel Bracer: Extra Attack plus a bit of cooldown reduction to help Dhelmise.

Alternatives: Muscle Band, Weakness Policy, and Rapid-Fire Scarf.

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Best Battle Item for Pokemon Unite Dhelmise

Eject Button: Great for repositioning to chase, escape, or guarantee an Anchor Shot from another angle.

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Best Emblem Setup for Pokemon Unite Dhelmise

6 Brown + 6 White Emblems

Brown (6): Increases Attack.
White (6): Bonus HP.

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How to counter Pokemon Unite Dhelmise

Some best counters to Pokemon Unite Dhelmise (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Pokemon Unite Dhelmise’s playstyle revolves around applying Crowd Control. However, its effectiveness drops against Pokemon that can dodge, outrange, or interrupt its moves. Characters with reliable mobility or strong CC can disrupt its flow and punish its telegraphed attacks.

Slowbro: Telekinesis, Surf, and Slowbeam can lock Dhelmise down before it can retaliate.
Darkrai: Dark Void puts Dhelmise to sleep, and Nasty Plot makes it easy to avoid Dhelmise’s moves.
Alolan Ninetales: Blizzard and Avalanche can burst Dhelmise while freezing it in place.
Zoroark: Zoroark has enough mobility and burst damage that allows it to come around Dhelmise’s attacks and strike from unexpected angles.
Talonflame: Its constant repositioning and aerial burst damage make it difficult for Dhelmise to land Anchor Shot.
Espeon: Long-range hits and strong stuns shuts down Dhelmise from a distance.
Dodrio: Its constant mobility makes it one of the hardest targets for Dhelmise to pin down.