Best Team: Best Pokemon to Use for the Story

The Best Pokemon team to use for the story takes into account important trainer and Pokemon League battles! Read on for a guide on the best story team for Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).

Best Team Video Walkthrough

Best Team

Best Infernape Team

Pokemon	Recommended Moves
Infernape	・Power-Up Punch(Chimchar @ Lv. 12) ・Close Combat (On Evolution) ・Acrobatics (Lv. 52) ・Flare Blitz (Lv.68)
Gyarados	・Waterfall (Lv. 21) ・Crunch (Lv. 24) ・Dragon Dance (Lv. 36) ・Ice Fang (Move Relearner)
Garchomp	・Bulldoze (Lv. 18) ・Dragon Claw (Lv. 42) ・Earthquake (TM26)
Luxray	・Spark (Luxio @ Lv. 18) ・Crunch (Lv. 56) ・Thunder Wave (TM73)
Jirachi	・Wish (Base) ・Psychic (Lv. 42) ・Meteor Mash (Lv. 49)
Roserade	・Giga Drain (Lv. 30 when Roselia) ・Toxic (Lv. 40 when Roselia) ・Petal Blizzard (Lv. 45 when Roselia) ・Sludge Bomb (TM36)

This team features a set of Pokemon which aside from Garchomp, can be obtained in the beginning stages of the game. Jirachi can be obtained by players who have save data in Pokemon Sword or Pokemon Shield on the same Nintendo Switch.

Explanation

Until near the end of the game, Pokemon which can resist both Fighting and Fire-type moves are few and far between, including the likes of Tentacruel, Gyarados, and Azumarill. The majority of the story's gym leaders can be taken down by simply setting up Power-Up Punch. Using Infernape as a base to take down most foes, cover its weakness in Water types with Luxray.

For foes which Infernape cannot take down with one hit, and has a risk of taking a fatal blow from, Gyarados can act as a pivot to reduce Attack with Intimidate and lower their damage output.

Roserade comes into play against Water/Ground types like Quagsire and Gastrodon, and Pokemon with high physical defense such as Hippowdon.

Jirachi and Garchomp, Pokemon with inherently high stats across the board, can provide stability to the team in unexpected situations. For players who cannot obtain Jirachi, it's fine to substitute another support Pokemon with high overall base stats.

Best Empoleon Team

Pokemon	Recommended Moves
Empoleon	・Surf (TM95) ・Drill Peck (Lv. 52)
Rapidash	・Flame Wheel (Ponyta @ Lv. 25) ・Stomp (Ponyta @Lv. 30)
Garchomp	・Bulldoze (Lv. 18) ・Dragon Claw (Lv. 42) ・Earthquake (TM26)
Mew	・Psychic (TM29) ・Thunderbolt (TM24) ・Ice Beam (TM13)
Roserade	・Giga Drain (Lv. 30 when Roselia) ・Toxic (Lv. 40 when Roselia) ・Petal Blizzard (Lv. 45 when Roselia) ・Sludge Bomb (TM36)
Luxray	・Spark (Luxio @ Lv. 18) ・Crunch (Lv. 56) ・Thunder Wave (TM73)

Like the Infernape team, these Pokemon, aside from Garchomp, can be obtained in the beginning stages of the game. Mew can be obtained by players who have save data in Pokemon: Let's Go! Pikachu or Pokemon: Let's Go! Eevee on the same Nintendo Switch.

Explanation

Although Empoleon lacks the pure fighting prowess of Infernape, it brings its own advantages to the table, such as its unique Water/Steel typing granting it a total of 10 resistances and 1 immunity. Empoleon can support its defensive capabilities with moves like Charm, but its low Speed makes it difficult to stand its ground against its three weaknesses in Electric, Fighting, and Ground.

Rapidash shares 2 of Empoleon's weaknesses, but in the early game before it gains its Steel type, Rapidash can cover for Empoleon's Grass weakness, and fills the role of a fast attacker for the team with the coveted Fire typing.

Garchomp and Mew are just great to have around with their high stats, and Garchomp can cover Empoleon's Electric weakness, with Mew handling its Fighting weakness.

Roserade can stop Ground and Rock threats, while Luxray hits Water type opponents for Rapidash.

Best Torterra Team

Pokemon	Recommended Moves
Torterra	・Leech Seed (Grotle @ Lv. 32) ・Earthquake (Upon Evolution) ・Wood Hammer (Move Relearner)
Rapidash	・Flame Wheel (Ponyta @ Lv. 25) ・Stomp (Ponyta @Lv. 30)
Garchomp	・Bulldoze (Lv. 18) ・Dragon Claw (Lv. 42) ・Earthquake (TM26)
Mew	・Psychic (TM29) ・Thunderbolt (TM24) ・Ice Beam (TM13)
Staraptor	・Aerial Ace (Lv. 28) ・Close Combat (On Evolution) ・Brave Bird (Lv. 49)
Lucario	・Aura Sphere (On Evolution) ・Flash Cannon (TM91) ・Nasty Plot (Lv. 24 when Riolu)

The Torterra team has a bit more late-game support than the other teams with Garchomp and Lucario.

Explanation

Torterra is the slowest and bulkiest of the three starters, making it an unsuitable choice for a story team, in which it's generally best to run fast attackers who can first-hit-KO their way through repeated battles without having to take damage. Still, Torterra has its advantages in being one of the few physical-attacking Grass-type Pokemon, giving it a unique niche that can make it worth investing in.

Rapidash is a solid choice for backup lead for its Fire typing and speed, allowing it to cruise through battle-heavy areas that would wear Torterra down.

Torterra has several weaknesses in Ice, Fire, Flying, and Bug, and Rapidash has its own, but fortunately, they cover each other's threats rather well, with Rapidash strong against Ice and Bug, and Torterra strong against all three of Rapidash's main threats in Water, Rock, and Ground.

For players who would rather build their party sooner, Lucario and Garchomp are not requirements, nor is Mew for those who cannot obtain it – their high stats and ability to handle a range of opponents make them great to have, but they're not essentials for covering the rest of the party.

Best Team Candidate Tier List

Rank	Pokemon
	Infernape ○ Gyarados ○ Garchomp Lucario
	Empoleon ○ Torterra ○ Luxray ○ Azumarill Rapidash ○ Roserade ○
	Jirachi ○ Mew ○ Alakazam ○ Gengar ○ Golem ○ Staraptor ○

Pokemon marked with an ○ can be obtained early in the game, so players should take the opportunity to begin training them early on.

Explanation

Evaluated on lead member and support potential

Each of the ranks in our tier list above are determined based on the criteria below.

Best Pokemon by Type

Type	Pokemon
Grass	Torterra ○ Roserade ○
Water	Empoleon ○ Gyarados ○ Azumarill
Fire	Infernape ○ Rapidash ○
Electric	Luxray ○
Ice	None
Fighting	Infernape ○ Lucario
Ground	Garchomp Torterra ○ Golem ○
Poison	Roserade ○
Flying	Staraptor ○
Psychic	Mew ○ Jirachi ○ Alakazam ○
Bug	None
Rock	Golem ○
Ghost	Gengar
Dragon	Garchomp
Dark	None
Steel	Lucario Jirachi ○
Fairy	Azumarill
Normal	None

Types listed as “None” are not ones for which no strong Pokemon exist, but only that there are no Pokemon within that type which players need to dedicate time training when playing the main story.

Pokemon marked with an ○ can be obtained early in the game, so players should take the opportunity to begin training them early on.

Best Moves for Each Teammate

We've selected a set of best Moves to teach each of the teammate candidates listed above based on the following criteria.

How to Select the Best Movesets

When crafting a Moveset for each of your Pokemon, you can follow this advice to get a sense of which four Moves would be a good fit. It's generally ok to break the rules occasionally while making up for it with other Moves.

1. At least 10 PP, 80 Power, and 100 Accuracy
2. Moves like Flare Blitz which cause damage to the user should be avoided as they force frequent Item use and slow down the game pace
3. Having two Moves of the same type for separate purposes is possible

Example Movesets for Each Pokemon

Pokemon	Moves
Infernape	Flame Wheel	Close Combat
	Rock Slide	Grass Knot
Gyarados	Waterfall	Ice Fang
	Dragon Dance	Earthquake
Garchomp	Earthquake	Dig
	Dragon Claw	Rock Slide
Lucario	Aura Sphere	Earthquake
	Flash Cannon	Meteor Mash
Empoleon	Surf	Flash Cannon
	Grass Knot	Ice Beam
Torterra	Wood Hammer	Bullet Seed
	Earthquake	Rock Slide
Luxray	Thunderbolt	Spark
	Crunch	Thunder Wave
Rapidash	Flamethrower	Megahorn
	Smart Strike	Poison Jab
Roserade	Giga Drain	Energy Ball
	Sludge Bomb	Dazzling Gleam
Jirachi	Psychic	Flash Cannon
	Grass Knot	Thunderbolt
Mew	Psychic	Flamethrower
	Ice Beam	Grass Knot
Staraptor	Brave Bird	Facade
	Close Combat	Pluck

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

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Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Tips and Tricks