How To Raise A Perfect Garchomp In Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, And Platinum

Introduction

Hey guys! Ever dreamed of having a powerhouse Pokémon that can sweep through battles with ease? Well, you're in the right place. We're going to dive into how to raise a perfect Garchomp in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Garchomp is an absolute beast, but getting one that's truly perfect takes a bit of effort. It's worth it though! Why is this important now? Because competitive battling is HUGE, and everyone wants to dominate. I remember when I first tried to raise a Garchomp, I made so many mistakes. But don't worry, I've learned a lot since then, and I'm going to share all the secrets with you.

What is a Garchomp?

Garchomp is a dual-type Dragon/Ground pseudo-legendary Pokémon. What does that mean? Well, “pseudo-legendary” means it’s one of the strongest Pokémon you can get that isn’t a legendary. It's the final evolution of Gible, evolving from Gabite at level 48. Garchomp boasts incredible stats, especially in Attack and Speed, making it a formidable opponent in both in-game battles and competitive play. Its typing gives it key resistances, but also some notable weaknesses (Ice, anyone?). Think of Garchomp as a land shark – it’s got that sleek, powerful design and the stats to back it up. It's a fan favorite for a reason!

Why It’s Important to Learn This

So, why should you spend the time and effort to raise a perfect Garchomp? The simple answer: domination! A well-trained Garchomp can be the star of your team, capable of taking down multiple opponents single-handedly. In competitive battling, a Garchomp with optimal stats (IVs), nature, and moveset is a force to be reckoned with. According to recent competitive tier lists, Garchomp consistently ranks high, proving its viability in the current metagame. Furthermore, understanding the breeding and training process for a perfect Garchomp will give you a solid foundation for raising other competitive Pokémon. It's not just about this one Pokémon; it's about leveling up your skills as a trainer!

Step-by-Step Guide / How to Do It

Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Here's a step-by-step guide to raising your perfect Garchomp. This involves everything from catching a Gible to EV training your fully evolved Garchomp. It may seem daunting, but trust me, break it down into these steps, and you'll be golden.

Step 1: Catching a Gible

First things first, you need a Gible. Gible can be found in Wayward Cave in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Wayward Cave is located under Cycling Road, and it can be a bit tricky to navigate. The Gible in Wayward Cave have a low encounter rate, meaning you'll have to be patient. They’re typically between levels 15 and 20, so bring Pokémon that are around that level to avoid accidentally knocking them out. It’s definitely a grind, but that perfect Garchomp is the reward, so don’t give up!

• Navigating Wayward Cave: Wayward Cave has two entrances. The main entrance is relatively straightforward, but the Gible are found in a hidden area accessible through a secret entrance hidden under Cycling Road (go all the way to the left). This entrance is less obvious, so make sure you thoroughly explore the area under Cycling Road. Bring along a Pokémon with the move Rock Smash and Strength to navigate through the cave. Flash is also a big help for visibility, so teach it to a Pokemon if you can.
• Finding a Gible: Gible has a relatively low encounter rate (around 5%), so you'll need to be persistent. Repels can help reduce encounters with weaker Pokémon, making it slightly easier to find Gible. Walk around in the Gible area for a while, you'll eventually see one. It's also a good idea to bring a Pokémon with the ability Intimidate. This ability lowers the Attack stat of wild Pokémon, making them less likely to knock out your Pokémon. Crobat and Staraptor are Pokémon that can learn Intimidate and are commonly found early in the game.
• Catching the Gible: Once you find a Gible, you'll want to catch it. False Swipe is a move that will leave the opposing Pokémon with 1 HP, making it much easier to catch. You can teach False Swipe to a Pokémon like Scizor or Gallade. Status conditions like Paralysis or Sleep also increase your chances of catching a Pokémon. Bring a Pokémon with moves that can inflict these status conditions, like Thunder Wave or Sleep Powder. Dusk Balls are the best Poké Balls to use in caves at night, so stock up on those. If you're playing during the day, Ultra Balls are a reliable choice.

Step 2: Understanding IVs and Natures

Now for the more technical stuff. IVs (Individual Values) and Natures are crucial for creating a perfect Garchomp. IVs are like genes – each Pokémon has them, and they range from 0 to 31 in each stat. A perfect IV in a stat gives your Pokémon a significant boost. Natures affect stat growth, increasing one stat by 10% and decreasing another by 10%. For Garchomp, you generally want a Jolly nature (+Speed, -Special Attack) or an Adamant nature (+Attack, -Special Attack). Special Attack isn’t a stat Garchomp typically uses, so lowering it isn’t a big deal.

• Checking IVs: Unfortunately, in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, there's no in-game IV checker. You'll need to use an IV calculator online or have a very good understanding of how stats work to make educated guesses. There are websites and apps where you can input your Pokémon's stats and level, and it will estimate the IVs. It's a bit of a tedious process, but it's essential for competitive battling. Pay close attention to the HP, Attack, Speed IVs. Those are generally the most important ones for Garchomp.
• The Importance of Nature: Nature has a significant impact on a Pokemon’s stats, especially at higher levels. Jolly nature is generally preferred for Garchomp because it boosts its Speed, allowing it to outspeed more opponents. Adamant is a good option if you want to maximize its Attack power, but you’ll need to consider if the reduced Speed will leave you vulnerable. You can use an Everstone to pass down the nature when breeding, so this is important when you get to that stage.
• Synchronize Ability: A Pokémon with the ability Synchronize has a 50% chance of making wild Pokémon have the same nature as itself. Abra, Ralts, and Natu are all Pokémon that can have Synchronize. Catch one with the nature you want (Jolly or Adamant) and put it at the front of your party when catching Gible. This will significantly increase your chances of finding a Gible with the right nature. This is a game changer! Seriously, don't skip this step.

Step 3: Breeding for the Perfect IVs and Nature

Breeding is the key to getting those perfect IVs. You'll need to use the Pokémon Day Care in Solaceon Town. The goal is to breed your Gible with a Ditto (which can breed with almost any Pokémon) or another Pokémon in the Dragon egg group that has good IVs. If you have a Ditto with high IVs, that's fantastic. If not, you'll need to catch a few Dittos and check their IVs (or use a chain breeding strategy, which we'll touch on).

• The Breeding Process: Place your Gible (preferably with the desired nature, holding an Everstone) and a Ditto (or compatible Pokémon with good IVs) in the Day Care. After a while, they'll produce an Egg. Walk around until the Day-Care Man has an egg for you, and hatch it. Keep hatching eggs until you get a Gible with better IVs than your previous one. This is an iterative process, so be patient. Each egg has a chance to inherit IVs from its parents, so the more high-IV parents you use, the better your chances of getting a Gible with near-perfect or perfect IVs.
• Using the Everstone: If your Gible has the desired nature (Jolly or Adamant), make it hold an Everstone while breeding. This gives a 50% chance that the offspring will inherit the same nature. This is crucial for ensuring you don't end up with a Garchomp that has a hindering nature. Believe me, you don't want a Brave Garchomp. It won't be very good at all.
• Destiny Knot is Key (If Possible): While the Destiny Knot isn't available in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum without trading, it's worth mentioning for future reference. The Destiny Knot, when held by a parent, guarantees that the offspring will inherit 5 IVs from its parents (instead of the usual 3). This significantly speeds up the breeding process. If you have access to Pokémon games where the Destiny Knot is available, consider breeding there first and then transferring your perfect Gible to Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum. Trading is allowed so consider a trade with a friend or relative to get the Gible you want with Destiny Knot.

Step 4: EV Training

EVs (Effort Values) are another crucial factor in creating a perfect Garchomp. EVs are earned by battling specific Pokémon, and they increase your Pokémon's stats. You can earn a maximum of 510 EVs, with a maximum of 252 in any one stat. For Garchomp, you'll typically want to maximize its Attack and Speed, so you'll be EV training in those stats.

• Understanding EV Yields: Each Pokémon gives a certain number of EVs when defeated. For example, defeating a Starly yields 1 Speed EV. You need 4 EVs to raise a stat point at level 100, so every EV counts. Knowing which Pokémon give which EVs is essential for efficient EV training. A quick Google search for “Pokémon Diamond EV training locations” will give you plenty of resources.
• EV Training Locations: Some good spots for EV training in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum include:
  • Attack:
    • Shinx (Route 204): 1 Attack EV
    • Graveler (Victory Road): 2 Attack EVs
  • Speed:
    • Starly (Route 201): 1 Speed EV
    • Golbat (Mt. Coronet): 2 Speed EVs
• Using the Pokétch Counter: The Pokétch has a counter app that can be very useful for tracking your EVs. Keep track of how many Pokémon you've defeated to ensure you don't overtrain a stat. Alternatively, you can use a notebook or a spreadsheet to keep track. It seems old school but it works.
• Power Items (If Possible): Similar to the Destiny Knot, Power Items aren't available in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum without trading, but they significantly speed up EV training. Power Items (like the Power Bracer for Attack and the Power Anklet for Speed) grant extra EVs per battle. If you have access to these items in other Pokémon games, they can make EV training much faster. Trading is allowed so consider a trade with a friend or relative to get the Power Items you want for Garchomp.

Step 5: Leveling Up and Moveset

Once you've got your EVs sorted, it's time to level up your Gible (and eventually Gabite and Garchomp). The higher the level, the more your stats will reflect your IVs and EVs. For moveset, Garchomp benefits from a mix of powerful physical attacks and coverage moves to deal with different types of opponents. Getting the movesets correct is the final key step in truly dominating your opponent.

• Leveling Up Tips: The Elite Four is the best place to level up quickly in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Use a Lucky Egg (if you have one) to boost EXP gain. If not, just battle frequently and consistently. You can also use the Vs. Seeker to rebattle trainers for extra EXP. Patience is key here, too. Power-leveling is the name of the game.
• Ideal Moveset: A good moveset for a Garchomp in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum might include:
  • Earthquake (powerful STAB Ground move)
  • Outrage (powerful STAB Dragon move, but causes confusion)
  • Swords Dance (boosts Attack)
  • Stone Edge/Fire Fang (coverage moves)
  • STAB: STAB means