Is Garchomp Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
Cynthia's ace for a reason. 600 BST with 130 Attack, 102 Speed, and Dragon/Ground coverage that hits everything. Earthquake and Dragon Claw handle most of the E4 by themselves. Reusable TMs add Stone Edge, Fire Fang, and Poison Jab for anything that resists the main duo. Available from Wayward Cave before the fourth gym. The 4x Ice weakness matters against Candice and other Ice users, but Garchomp outpaces and overpowers almost every other threat. The defining Pokemon of the Sinnoh games.
Gible has the type edge here and should clean up Roark's team.
Gible trades roughly evenly with Gardenia's team.
Gabite has the type edge here and should clean up Maylene's team.
Gabite trades roughly evenly with Crasher Wake's team.
Gabite trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Gabite has the type edge here and should clean up Byron's team.
Gabite trades roughly evenly with Candice's team.
Gabite trades roughly evenly with Volkner's team.
Garchomp has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.
Garchomp has the type edge here and should clean up Bertha's team.
Garchomp has the type edge here and should clean up Flint's team.
Garchomp trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.
Garchomp has the type edge here and should clean up Cynthia's team.
Catch Gible on Wayward Cave (walking, Lv 15-17, uncommon).
Your Gible should hit Level 24 before you reach Maylene, at typical leveling pace.
Your Gabite should hit Level 48 before you reach Aaron, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Garchomp in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Can't catch Garchomp directly. Start with Gible at decent rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 48. The 3-stage chain from Gible to Garchomp is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Garchomp in BDSP
The path to Garchomp starts with Gible at Lv. 15-55 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch GibleWayward Cave - B1FLv.15-17CaveRate 15%Fountainspring CaveLv.42-46CaveRequires Icicle BadgeRiverbank CaveLv.42-46CaveRequires Icicle BadgeStill-Water CavernLv.42-46CaveRequires Icicle Badge
Step 2Catch or Evolve GabiteFountainspring CaveLv.50-55CaveRequires WaterfallRiverbank CaveLv.50-55CaveRequires WaterfallStill-Water CavernLv.50-55CaveRequires Waterfallor evolve from Gible (Step 1)
Step 3Garchomp ✓
Garchomp Weakness
Ice, Dragon, and Fairy moves hit Garchomp for super-effective damage. Ice hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. The upside? Electric-type moves can't touch it at all. Garchomp's overall bulk (108/95/85) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Ice |
| 2x (Weak) | Dragon, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Poison, Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
What is Garchomp Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Garchomp
 Granbull Fairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Granbull builds →Ice Fang 4x71-84% Outrage 2x62-74% Dazzling Gleam 2x42-50% | ||
 Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
 Clefairy Fairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Clefairy builds →Ice Beam 4x62-74% Dazzling Gleam 2x42-50% | ||
Gabite DragonGround | C | |
Granbull Fairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Granbull builds →Ice Fang 4x71-84% Outrage 2x62-74% Dazzling Gleam 2x42-50% | ||
 Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Azumarill builds →Ice Beam 4x62-74% Play Rough 2x38-45% | ||
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Clefairy Fairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Clefairy builds →Ice Beam 4x62-74% Dazzling Gleam 2x42-50% | ||
Gabite DragonGround | C | |
Granbull Fairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Granbull builds →Ice Fang 4x68-81% Outrage 2x60-72% Dazzling Gleam 2x40-47% | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Azumarill builds →Ice Beam 4x60-72% Play Rough 2x36-43% | ||
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Clefairy Fairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Clefairy builds →Ice Beam 4x60-72% Dazzling Gleam 2x40-47% | ||
Gabite DragonGround | C | |
Granbull Fairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Granbull builds →Ice Fang 4x66-77% Outrage 2x59-70% Dazzling Gleam 2x39-46% | ||
 Snover GrassIce | D | |
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Azumarill builds →Ice Beam 4x59-69% Play Rough 2x35-41% | ||
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Clefairy Fairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Clefairy builds →Ice Beam 4x59-69% Dazzling Gleam 2x39-46% | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
 Mamoswine IceGround | B | |
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Granbull Fairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Granbull builds →Ice Fang 4x66-77% Outrage 2x59-70% Dazzling Gleam 2x39-46% | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Azumarill builds →Ice Beam 4x57-67% Play Rough 2x36-43% | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Magnezone builds →Flash Cannon23-27% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemHeatrock NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Torkoal builds →Rapid Spin8-10% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Blissey builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureHardy Moves
Damage vs Garchomp View Moltres builds →Flamethrower13-15% Scorching Sands20-23% | ||
Garchomp Evolutions
End of the line. Garchomp caps a three-stage chain that started at Gible. Breeding produces the base form, and eggs are takes forever to hatch. Attack grew the most through evolution (+60 over Gible), and Garchomp peaks at 600 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Garchomp to get Gible eggs easily using 30 partners from the Dragon and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Body Slam, Double-Edge, Dragon Breath and 8 more.
BDSP Garchomp Best Moveset
S-tier in every generation since its debut. 130 Attack at 102 Speed behind Dragon/Ground dual TermStab and hidden AbilityRough Skin punishing every physical contact hit. The moveset runs one of the most consistent physical offense packages in the game. The original Gen 4 Garchomp was banned from standard play. This version carries the same reputation.
Best Build
Garchomp best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Scale Shot
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Need something that threatens multiple types? Garchomp's movepool delivers. Coverage across 10 types plus STAB from Draco Meteor and Outrage gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
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
When it folds up its body and extends its wings, it looks like a jet plane. It flies at sonic speed.
It flies at speeds equal to a jet fighter plane. It never allows its prey to escape.
Garchomp Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, we rate Garchomp S-Tier: one of the best picks in the Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl meta. At 600 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Earthquake with Leftovers is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, but Garchomp does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Garchomp hits 700 BST.
Sand Veil increases evasion to 1.25× during a sandstorm. That's the one you want on Garchomp. Rough Skin is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Base 102 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Garchomp is a physical attacker with base 130 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a sweeper.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Garchomp has appeared in 14 titles over 7 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
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 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves