Is Arcanine Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
AbilityIntimidate plus great mixed stats makes Arcanine a top-tier pickup for BD players. Handles Gardenia, Byron, Aaron, and Candice. The Fire Stone from Underground digging means you can evolve it whenever you're ready. Sinnoh has almost no native Fire-types, so Arcanine fills a critical hole.
Roark's team hits Growlithe's weaknesses hard.
Growlithe resists most of Gardenia's coverage and hits back hard.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Maylene's team.
Crasher Wake's Pokemon outpace and outclass Growlithe here.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Growlithe has the type edge here and should clean up Byron's team.
Growlithe has the type edge here and should clean up Candice's team.
Volkner's team hits Growlithe's weaknesses hard.
Growlithe has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.
Bertha's team hits Growlithe's weaknesses hard.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Flint's team.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Arcanine cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
How to Get Arcanine in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
You're catching Growlithe first, not Arcanine. Growlithe appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Arcanine in BDSP
Growlithe is your first catch on the way to Arcanine. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 58-63 across 4 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch GrowlitheSandsear CaveLv.58-63GrassBrilliant DiamondPost-gameSpacious CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameTyphlo CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameVolcanic CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-game
Step 2Arcanine ✓
Arcanine Weakness
Arcanine's Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. With 90 HP and balanced defenses, Arcanine can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy |
What is Arcanine Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Arcanine
 Cubone Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x57-68% Rock Slide 2x28-34% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x75-91% Stone Edge 2x75-91% | ||
 Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x53-62% Stone Edge 2x53-62% | ||
 Phanpy Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Phanpy builds →Earthquake 2x62-74% Rock Slide 2x32-38% | ||
 Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x68-80% Rollout 2x20-25% | ||
Cubone Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x59-70% Rock Slide 2x30-36% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x80-96% Stone Edge 2x80-96% | ||
Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x59-70% Stone Edge 2x59-70% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x74-87% Stone Edge 2x50-58% | ||
 Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x71-84% Rock Tomb 2x36-43% | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x61-73% Bulldoze 2x31-37% Rollout 2x17-19% | ||
 Donphan Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x99-117%KO Stone Edge 2x66-78% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x74-87% Surf 2x74-87% Stone Edge 2x50-58% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x74-87% Stone Edge 2x50-58% | ||
 Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x54-64% Dig 2x27-33% Rollout 2x11-14% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x71-84% Dig 2x48-56% Rock Tomb 2x36-43% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Sudowoodo builds →Stone Edge 2x86-102%KO Earthquake 2x57-68% | ||
Donphan Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x99-117%KO Stone Edge 2x66-78% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x71-84% Stone Edge 2x47-56% | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x52-62% Dig 2x28-33% Rollout 2x11-13% | ||
 Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x69-82% Dig 2x46-55% Rock Tomb 2x35-41% | ||
 Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x93-109%KO Stone Edge 2x61-73% Water Pulse 2x26-31% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x69-82% Stone Edge 2x47-55% | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x50-60% Dig 2x27-32% Rollout 2x11-14% | ||
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x68-80% Dig 2x45-53% Rock Tomb 2x34-41% | ||
Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x89-105%KO Stone Edge 2x60-70% Water Pulse 2x26-31% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x69-81% Stone Edge 2x46-54% | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x49-58% Dig 2x26-31% Rollout 2x11-13% | ||
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x67-79% Dig 2x44-53% Rock Tomb 2x34-40% | ||
Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x89-105%KO Stone Edge 2x59-70% Water Pulse 2x25-30% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x69-81% Stone Edge 2x46-54% | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x49-58% Dig 2x26-31% Rollout 2x11-13% | ||
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x67-79% Dig 2x44-53% Rock Tomb 2x34-40% | ||
Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x89-105%KO Stone Edge 2x59-70% Water Pulse 2x25-30% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x102-120%KO Stone Edge 2x102-120%KO Surf 2x27-32% | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x102-120%KO Stone Edge 2x68-80% Surf 2x41-48% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x68-81% Stone Edge 2x46-54% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 2x121-142%KO Earthquake 2x54-64% | ||
 Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x102-120%KO Dig 2x54-64% Rock Slide 2x51-60% | ||
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Urshifu can KO Arcanine with Close Combat (123-145%). Landorus's Rock Slide hits Arcanine for 71-84%. Terrakion's Stone Edge also KOs at 204-240%.
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Urshifu builds →Close Combat123-145%KO Sucker Punch72-84% U Turn24-28% | ||
 Landorus Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySheerforce ItemLife Orb NatureNaive Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Landorus builds →Rock Slide 2x71-84% | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Terrakion builds →Stone Edge 2x204-240%KO Close Combat122-144%KO Earthquake 2x136-160%KO | ||
Arcanine Evolutions
Arcanine evolved from Growlithe's chain using an evolution item. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Growlithe eggs (average hatch time). The evolution from Growlithe pushed Arcanine to 555 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +40. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Arcanine to get Growlithe eggs easily using 131 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Body Slam, Burn Up, Close Combat and 10 more.
BDSP Arcanine Best Moveset
Dropped from A-tier but still holds C with 110 Attack, 100 Sp. Atk, and 95 Speed behind Fire TermStab. AbilityIntimidate cuts physical damage on entry, and hidden AbilityJustified boosts Attack from Dark-type hits. The moveset works from either offensive side, but the mixed stats mean neither reaches top-tier power.
Best Build
Arcanine best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Extreme Speed
- Flare Blitz
- Morning Sun
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
You'll want to breed for Body Slam and Burn Up on Arcanine. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Burn Up and Overheat, they expand what Arcanine can actually threaten in practice.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
Its proud and regal appearance has captured the hearts of people since long ago.
Arcanine Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
In the Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl meta, Arcanine already has 555 BST going for it, and Intimidate pushes the competitive value even higher. B-Tier attacker on our tier list. Extreme Speed with Rocky Helmet is the standard set.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, watch for Starmie (Water), Golem (Ground), and Aerodactyl (Rock) when using Arcanine. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Arcanine gets Intimidate, Flash Fire, and Justified. But Intimidate is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Arcanine is a mixed attacker with base 110 Attack and 100 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 95 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the attacker role.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, run Extreme Speed, Flare Blitz, Morningsun, and Flamethrower on Arcanine. Extreme Speed is the most common pick at 0% usage. Flamethrower provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Available since Red & Blue, Arcanine appears in 21 games spanning 10 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Hisuian form in Generation 8.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves