For HeartGold & SoulSilver, we rate Garchomp C-Tier: a niche pick in HeartGold & SoulSilver's meta. At 600 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Base 130 Attack stands out.

Does Garchomp mega evolve?

Mega Evolution isn't available in HeartGold & SoulSilver, but Garchomp does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Garchomp hits 700 BST.

What is Garchomp weak to?

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, watch for Cloyster (Ice) and Kingdra (Dragon) when using Garchomp. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Cloyster is the most dangerous since Ice moves deal 4x damage. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

What is the best ability for Garchomp?

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.

What role does Garchomp play in battle?

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.

Garchomp - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Sweeper

CTier

102Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

Attack and HP carry most of Garchomp's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 3 Attack EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats

Legend

HP108

Attack130

Defense95

Sp. Atk80

Sp. Def85

Speed102

Total600

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.9 m

Weight95.0 kg

Base XP300

Abilities

Sand Veil

Increases evasion to 1.25× during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.

Rough SkinHANot in game

Damages attacking Pokémon for 1/8 their max HP on contact.

EV Yield

HPAtk+3DefSpASpDSpe

Strong Attack training target

Pokedex Entries

Its body is covered in fine scales that reduce drag, enabling it to fly at high speeds.

Garchomp Weakness

Ice and Dragon 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.

Garchomp Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
4x (Critical)	Ice
2x (Weak)	Dragon
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Poison, Rock
0x (Immune)	Electric

Type ChartAvg

2Weak

3Resist

1Immune

Score0

Gen IV Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

Ice

2xWeak

Dragon

½xResist

Fire Poison Rock

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Electric

STAB (6)

Dragon Fire Electric Poison Rock Steel

How to Beat Garchomp in HeartGold & SoulSilver (Best Counters)

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Dragonite can KO Garchomp with Outrage (168-197%). Weavile's Ice Shard hits Garchomp for 74-87%.

Dragonite DragonFlying	A
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves Extreme Speed OutrageSTAB Dragon Dance Fire Punch Damage vs Garchomp Extreme Speed 37-44% Outrage 2x 168-197%KO View Dragonite builds →
Weavile DarkIce	B
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves Ice Shard Night Slash Low Kick PursuitSTAB Damage vs Garchomp Ice Shard 4x 74-87% Pursuit 18-22% View Weavile builds →

HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution

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

3 Forms

#443Gible

Level 24

#444Gabite

Level 48

#445Garchomp

Stat Comparison 3 Stages

Gible

DragonGround

Gabite

DragonGround

Garchomp

DragonGround

68+10

108+40

ATK

90+20

130+40

DEF

65+20

95+30

SP.ATK

50+10

80+30

SP.DEF

55+10

85+30

SPE

82+40

102+20

BST

300C-Tier

410C-Tier+110

600S-Tier+190

ROLE

Balanced

Sweeper

TYPE

Physical

Breeding

Easy

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.

Egg Groups

DragonMonster

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

40 cycles·10,280 steps

Slow~10 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

11moves

Breed With (best first)

HeartGold & SoulSilver Garchomp Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Moves

Need something that threatens multiple types? Garchomp's movepool delivers. Coverage across 11 types plus STAB from Draco Meteor and Outrage gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Dragon Rage

——10010Dragon

Lv 1

Fire Fang

C659515Fire

Lv 1

Sand Attack

D—10015Ground

Lv 1

Sandstorm

———10Rock

Lv 1

Tackle

—3510035Normal

Lv 3

Sand Attack

D—10015Ground

Lv 7

Dragon Rage

——10010Dragon

Lv 13

Sandstorm

———10Rock

Lv 15

Take Down

—908520Normal

Lv 19

Sand Tomb

—358515Ground

Lv 28

Slash

—7010020Normal

Lv 33

Dragon Claw

B8010015Dragon

Lv 40

Dig

B8010010Ground

Lv 48

Crunch

C8010015Dark

Lv 55

Dragon Rush

—1007510Dragon

TM Moves

TM40

Aerial Ace

C60—20Flying

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM31

Brick Break

C7510015Fighting

TM78

Captivate

——10020Normal

HM01

Cut

—509530Normal

TM28

Dig

B8010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM02

Dragon Claw

B8010015Dragon

TM59

Dragon Pulse

C9010010Dragon

TM26

Earthquake

B10010010Ground

TM58

Endure+4

———10Normal

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM54

False Swipe

—4010040Normal

TM38

Fire Blast

C120855Fire

TM35

Flamethrower

C9510015Fire

TM56

Fling

——10010Dark

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM68

Giga Impact

B150905Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TM23

Iron Tail

C1007515Steel

TM83

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

TM84

Poison Jab

C8010020Poison

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

C——20Normal

HM08

Rock Climb

—908520Normal

TM80

Rock Slide

C759010Rock

HM06

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM39

Rock Tomb

C609510Rock

TM37

Sandstorm

———10Rock

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM65

Shadow Claw

C7010015Ghost

TM82

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM76

Stealth Rock

C——20Rock

TM71

Stone Edge

C100805Rock

HM04

Strength

C8010015Normal

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

HM03

Surf

C9510015Water

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM75

Swords Dance

C——30Normal

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

HM05

Whirlpool

D358515Water

Egg Moves

Egg

Body Slam

C8510015Normal

Egg

Double-Edge

B12010015Normal

Egg

Dragon Breath

—6010020Dragon

Egg

Iron Head

C8010015Steel

Egg

Metal Claw

—509535Steel

Egg

Mud Shot

—559515Ground

Egg

Outrage

B12010010Dragon

Egg

Sand Tomb

—358515Ground

Egg

Scary Face

D—9010Normal

Egg

Thrash

—12010020Normal

Egg

Twister

—4010020Dragon

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Aqua Tail

C909010Water

Tutor

Draco Meteor

B140905Dragon

Tutor

Earth Power

C9010010Ground

Tutor

Fury Cutter

—109520Bug

Tutor

Headbutt

C7010015Normal

Tutor

Iron Head

C8010015Steel

Tutor

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Tutor

Outrage

B12010010Dragon

Tutor

Snore

D4010015Normal

Tutor

Swift

—60—20Normal

Tutor

Twister

—4010020Dragon

How to Get Garchomp in HeartGold & SoulSilver

Garchomp isn't available in the wild in HeartGold & SoulSilver. Start by transferring Gible from Diamond, Platinum, or Scarlet. The evolution path from Gible to Garchomp is covered in the steps below.

How to Obtain Garchomp in HeartGold & SoulSilver

Step 1Obtain Gible
Catch in the wild in:
DiamondWalking · Wayward Cave PlatinumWalking · Wayward Cave
Then trade to HeartGold & SoulSilver to continue the evolution chain.
Also found in:
X Omega Ruby Shield Brilliant Diamond Legends: Arceus Scarlet
Train until Level 24
Step 2Evolve into Gabite
Catch in the wild in:
DiamondWalking · Wayward Cave PlatinumWalking · Wayward Cave
Also found in:
X Omega Ruby Shield Brilliant Diamond Legends: Arceus Scarlet
Train until Level 48
Step 3Garchomp ✓

Garchomp Guide

For HeartGold & SoulSilver, we rate Garchomp C-Tier: a niche pick in HeartGold & SoulSilver's meta. At 600 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Base 130 Attack stands out.
Mega Evolution isn't available in HeartGold & SoulSilver, but Garchomp does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Garchomp hits 700 BST.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, watch for Cloyster (Ice) and Kingdra (Dragon) when using Garchomp. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Cloyster is the most dangerous since Ice moves deal 4x damage. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
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 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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