Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP)

Best Pokemon Tier List and Movesets for Competitive Battle

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP) - Best Pokemon Tier List for Competitive Battle

This is our tier list for the strongest Pokemon for competitive battle and what movesets to use for them in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP). Learn what Pokemon are currently at the top of the meta and how to build the strongest moveset for each Pokemon.

Best Pokemon Tier List for Competitive Battle

Tier 1
Pokemon BDSP - BreloomBreloom Pokemon BDSP GliscorGliscor
Tier 2
Pokemon BDSP - ScizorScizor Pokemon BDSP - GengarGengar Pokemon BDSP SuicuneSuicune Pokemon BDSP - LatiosLatios
Tier 3
Pokemon BDSP - AzumarillAzumarill Pokemon BDSP - CloysterCloyster Pokemon BDSP GarchompGarchomp Pokemon BDSP - MamoswineMamoswine
Pokemon BDSP GyaradosGyarados Pokemon BDSP - HippowdonHippowdon Wash RotomWash Rotom BDSP - LatiasLatias
Tier 4
Pokemon BDSP - MetagrossMetagross Pokemon BDSP - SalamenceSalamence Pokemon BDSP - DragoniteDragonite Pokemon BDSP - TogekissTogekiss
Pokemon BDSP - TyranitarTyranitar Pokemon BDSP - BlazikenBlaziken Pokemon BDSP - CresseliaCresselia Pokemon BDSP - HeatranHeatran

Best Pokemon - Tier 1

Breloom

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP BreloomBreloom ・Can shut down slower walls and switch-ins with Spore
・Bullet Seed and Mach Punch are boosted by Technician
・Can also use Poison Heal for a Substitute + Focus Punch set
▶︎ Technician Moveset
▶︎ Poison Heal Sub-Punch Moveset

Gliscor

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP GliscorGliscor ・High Defense and Poison Heal Ability make it a great Physical Wall
・Can stall with a combination of Substitute and Protect
・Reliable recovery in Roost
▶︎ Guillotine Substitute Moveset
▶︎ Poison Heal Toxic Orb Moveset

Best Pokemon - Tier 2

Scizor

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP ScizorScizor Technician-boosted Bullet Punch is strong and has priority
・Can run either a Swords Dance boosting set or Choice Band
・Can pivot with U-Turn
・Reliable recovery in Roost
▶︎ Choice Band Moveset
▶︎ Lum Berry Moveset

Gengar

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP GengarGengar ・High Special Attack and Speed
・Great support moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Hex, and Hypnosis
Poison-typing gives it resistances to Fairy-type moves
▶︎ Special Attacker Moveset

Suicune

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP SuicuneSuicune ・Can run a bulky Substitute + Calm Mind set
・Great support moves such as Tailwind, Scald, and Snarl
▶︎ Chesto-Rest Moveset

Latios

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP LatiosLatios ・High Special Attack and Speed
・Large Special Movepool with great coverage moves
・Difficult to switch into when holding Choice Specs
・Can boost its Special Attack and Special Defense with Calm Mind
▶︎ Life Orb Moveset
▶︎ Choice Specs Moveset

Best Pokemon - Tier 3

Azumarill

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP AzumarillAzumarill Huge Power Ability gives it deceptively high Attack
・Can run a Belly Drum + Aqua Jet set
・Fairy-typing gives it immunity to Dragon-type moves
▶︎ Belly-Jet Moveset
▶︎ Choice Band Moveset

Cloyster

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP CloysterCloyster Skill Link makes Icicle Spear hit 5 times
・Great boosting move with Shell Smash
・Great against Pokemon weak against Ice-type moves
▶︎ Shell Smash Sweeper
▶︎ Skill Link Flinch

Garchomp

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP GarchompGarchomp ・Great natural bulk lets it easily set up with Swords Dance
・High attack and great Speed
・Can also run a support build with Stealth Rock
▶︎ Swords Dance Moveset
▶︎ Choice Band Moveset

Mamoswine

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP MamoswineMamoswine ・Great dual Ice and Ground-type STAB
・Can deter faster attackers with Ice Shard
・Can run both Choice Band and Choice Scarf
▶︎ Lead Moveset
▶︎ Revenge Killer Moveset

Gyarados

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP GyaradosGyarados ・Can easily switch in thanks to its Intimidate Ability
・Can set up Dragon Dance multiple times thanks to its great natural bulk
▶︎ Dragon Dance Moveset

Hippowdon

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP HippowdonHippowdon ・Great Defense and reliable recovery in Slack Off
・Instantly sets up Sandstorm with its Sand Stream Ability
▶︎ Mixed Wall Moveset
▶︎ Physical Wall Moveset

Wash Rotom

Pokemon Strong Points
Wash RotomWash Rotom ・Great defensive typing
・Wide support movepool with moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave
・Can pivot with Volt Switch
▶︎ Bulky Pivot Moveset
▶︎ Choice Scarf Moveset

Latias

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP LatiasLatias ・Great Special Defense that it can further boost with Calm Mind
・Has great support moves such as Helping Hand, Defog, and Roost
▶︎ Support Moveset
▶︎ Choice Specs Moveset

Best Pokemon - Tier 4

Metagross

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP MetagrossMetagross ・High Attack and Steel-typing make it a great check or counter for Fairy-type Pokemon
・Wide Physical movepool that includes Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash, and Zen Headbutt
▶︎ Physically Defensive Moveset
▶︎ Choice Band Moveset

Salamence

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP SalamenceSalamence ・High Attack and Speed that it can boost with Dragon Dance
・Can also run a special attacking or mixed attacking set
▶︎ Dragon Dance Sweeper
▶︎ Choice Specs Attacker

Dragonite

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP DragoniteDragonite Multiscale halves damage when at full health
・Can set up with Dragon Dance
・Can run a bulkier defensive set with Roost
▶︎ Dragon Dance Sweeper
▶︎ Choice Band Attacker

Togekiss

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP TogekissTogekiss ・Great dual-typing gives it 4x Resistance to Fighting-type moves and immunity to Dragon-type moves
Air Slash has increased flinch rate thanks to its Serene Grace Ability
・Great support moves such as Follow Me and Yawn
▶︎ Specially Offensive Moveset
▶︎ Para-Flinch Moveset

Tyranitar

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP TyranitarTyranitar ・Instantly sets up Sandstorm with its Sand Stream Ability
・Easily walls Latios thanks to its Dark-typing and boosted Special Defense in Sandstorm.
▶︎ Choice Band Moveset
▶︎ Dragon Dance Moveset
▶︎ Choice Scarf Moveset

Blaziken

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP BlazikenBlaziken ・Its Hidden Ability Speed Boost lets it outrun many Pokemon
・Wide physical movepool that includes powerful moves such as Close Combat, Blaze Kick, and Brave Bird
▶︎ Speed Boost Lead

Cresselia

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP CresseliaCresselia ・Great mixed defenses and reliable healing make it one of the best defensive Pokemon
・Can switch in to Ground-type moves thanks to its Levitate Ability
・Can sacrifice its health to revive a KO'd Pokemon with Lunar Dance
▶︎ Calm Mind Moveset

Heatran

Pokemon Strong Points
Pokemon BDSP HeatranHeatran ・Great dual-typing makes it an effective check against Fairy, Grass, Steel, and Fire-type Pokemon
・Can spread burns with Lava Plume or trap opposing Pokemon with Magma Storm
▶︎ Choice Specs Build
▶︎ Bulky Trapper

All Movesets and Best Builds

List of Pokemon
Pokemon BDSP BreloomBreloom Technician Moveset
Poison Heal Sub-Punch Moveset
Pokemon BDSP GyaradosGyarados Dragon Dance Moveset
Pokemon BDSP GliscorGliscor Guillotine Substitute Moveset
Poison Heal Toxic Orb Moveset
Pokemon BDSP ScizorScizor Choice Band Moveset
Lum Berry Moveset
Pokemon BDSP SuicuneSuicune Chesto-Rest Moveset
Pokemon BDSP LatiosLatios Life Orb Moveset
Choice Specs Moveset
Pokemon BDSP GarchompGarchomp Swords Dance Moveset
Choice Band Moveset
Pokemon BDSP GengarGengar Special Attacker Moveset
Pokemon BDSP AzumarillAzumarill Belly-Jet Moveset
Choice Band Moveset
Pokemon BDSP HippowdonHippowdon Mixed Wall Moveset
Physical Wall Moveset
Pokemon BDSP MamoswineMamoswine Lead Moveset
Revenge Killer Moveset
Pokemon BDSP LatiasLatias Support Moveset
Choice Specs Moveset
Pokemon BDSP HeatranHeatran Choice Specs Build
Bulky Trapper
Pokemon BDSP BlazikenBlaziken Speed Boost Lead
Pokemon BDSP Wash RotomWash Rotom Bulky Pivot Moveset
Choice Scarf Moveset
Pokemon BDSP MetagrossMetagross Physically Defensive Moveset
Choice Band Moveset
Pokemon BDSP TyranitarTyranitar Choice Band Moveset
Dragon Dance Moveset
Choice Scarf Moveset
Pokemon BDSP DragoniteDragonite Dragon Dance Sweeper
Choice Band Attacker
Pokemon BDSP TogekissTogekiss Specially Offensive Moveset
Para-Flinch Moveset
Pokemon BDSP CloysterCloyster Shell Smash Sweeper
Skill Link Flinch
Pokemon BDSP SalamenceSalamence Dragon Dance Sweeper
Choice Specs Attacker
Pokemon BDSP CresseliaCresselia Calm Mind Moveset

Tier List Criteria and Ranking

Competitive Pokemon Tier List Criteria
1 Party Composition
2 Offensive Presence
3 Pokemon Versatility

Party Composition is Key

Battles are not won by individual Pokemon. Rather, the team as a whole must fit together - with each Pokemon covering each other's weaknesses or providing great offensive synergy.

Battle Tower

Although competitive play is restricted to Union Room battles, the Battle Tower poses a great challenge and requires a well-constructed team with Pokemon that can fill multiple roles!
Battle Tower Guide

Offensive Presence

Pokemon BDSP BreloomBreloom

Pokemon that boast great offensive presence are highly valued due to the fast-paced nature of competitive battles.

Breloom is a good example of a Pokemon with great offensive presence that all teams should take into account. Not only can it deal high damage with its Technician-boosted moves, it shut down potential switch-ins and non-Grass defensive Pokemon with Spore.

Pokemon Versatility

Pokemon BDSP TyranitarTyranitar

Conversely, Pokemon that can fill multiple roles thanks to their versatility. Essentially, these Pokemon aren't restricted to just trained as a one role for the team,

Tyranitar is the best example of a Pokemon with great versatility in how you can train it. It can go on the offensive with Choice Band, can function as a lead, or even as a defensive Pokemon thanks to its great support movepool.

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

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Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Wiki

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BDSP Pokedex PartialPokedex Pokemon BDSP Story WalkthroughStory Walkthrough
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Comment

5 Anonymousover 2 years

PokemonbilliantDIamond

4 Anonymousalmost 3 years

Can you make the cloyster guide next?

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