Garchomp Best Moveset and Build

Garchomp is one of the most used Pokemon in competitive battle due to its great movepool, high attack, and versatility. Read on to find out the best build, the best moveset, basic information, stats and recommended partners for Garchomp in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).

Garchomp Best Build and Moveset

Swords Dance Garchomp

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Garchomp	Rough Skin	Focus Sash	・Outrage ・Earthquake ・Rock Tomb ・Swords Dance
Nature / EVs	Jolly 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Final Stats	183 HP / 182 Atk / 115 Def / 106 SpD / 169 Spe

Using Garchomp

Garchomp's flagship Swords Dance set remains its best set. Thanks to Garchomp's great dual-typing and respectable defenses, it has many opportunities to switch into and set up with Swords Dance.

Outrage and Earthquake are its strongest moves and are capable of easily knocking out Pokemon that aren't resistant or immune to it after one Swords Dance boost. Rock Tomb is a good utility move that can dissuade faster Pokemon from switching into Garchomp and risk getting their speed lowered.

Other Viable Moves

Choice Band Garchomp

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Garchomp	Rough Skin	Choice Band	・Outrage ・Earthquake ・Stone Edge ・Dual Chop
Nature / EVs	Adamant 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Final Stats	183 HP / 200 Atk / 115 Def / 106 SpD / 152 Spe

Using Garchomp

Although slower than the Swords Dance variant, Choice Band Garchomp is a powerful Pokemon that few Pokemon can safely switch into thanks to its boosted Attack. A combination of Outrage and Earthquake provides great neutral coverage, while Stone Edge gives Garchomp EdgeQuake coverage.

Dual Chop is its last move and is best used if you don't want to lock Garchomp into Outrage. Since the move hits twice, it allows Garchomp to beat Focus Sash and Substitute usuers.

Other Viable Moves

Garchomp Basic Information

Garchomp - Type

Garchomp Mach Pokémon
Type 1	Type 2

Garchomp Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage

Garchomp Abilities

Garchomp Hidden Ability

Garchomp Base Stats

Garchomp's Strengths and Weaknesses

Easy to Set Up Thanks to its Great Bulk

Garchomp's natural bulk coupled with its Rough Skin Ability makes it easy for the Mach Pokemon to set up Swords Dance and start sweeping the opposing team the next turn. As a result, it's a popular offensive lead in the Singles Battle Format.

Swords Dance Boosts its High Attack

Swords Dance gives Garchomp a +2 Attack Boost, allowing it to cleanly knock out opposing Pokemon that isn't resistant or immune to its STAB and coverage moves.

Coupled with high base power moves such as Outrage and Earthquake, few Pokemon can reliably switch into Garchomp once it has accumulated enough boosts and even resistant Pokemon may have trouble outhealing the damage it deals.

A Great Pokemon to Use in the Battle Tower

Garchomp is a good Pokemon to use in the Battle Tower thanks to its natural bulk, high power and great speed, and rather straightforward strategy when using it.

It's also easy to fit into any team, whether it fills the role of an offensive lead or as the main attacking Pokemon for a more balanced setup.

Battle Tower Strategy and Recommended Pokemon

Check it with a Super Effective Move

Although Garchomp has respectable bulk, it also has a 4x Weakness to Ice-type Moves and is also weak against Dragon and Fairy-type moves. Faster attackers and defensive Pokemon that have coverage moves against Garchomp can force it to switch out or even KO it easily if it stays in.

Pokemon	Description
Weavile	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Easily outspeeds Garchomp with a Jolly Nature ・Choice Band variants can easily KO Garchomp with Icicle Crash or Ice Punch
Latios	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Naturally faster than Garchomp with a Timid Nature ・Easily KOs Garchomp with Draco Meteor, targetting its weaker Special Defense
Clefable	Ranking：★★★★ ・Immune to Garchomp's Dragon-type Moves ・Unaware Ability ignores Garchomp's Swords Dance boosts ・Can weaken Garchomp and force it to switch with Moonblast

Best Natures for Garchomp

What are Natures?

Best Partners for Garchomp

Wash Rotom

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Wash Rotom	Levitate	Sitrus Berry	・Hydro Pump ・Thunderbolt ・Will-O-Wisp ・Volt Switch
Nature / EVs	Bold 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Final Stats	157 HP / 172 Def / 125 SpA / 128 SpD / 106 Spe

Wash Rotom makes a great partner and defensive pivot for Garchomp. It's best used as a check and counter against bulky Water and Ground-types that will try to wall Garchomp such as Milotic, Vaporeon, and Gliscor.

Gliscor, in particular, has a difficult time breaking through Wash Rotom's defenses. Not only is it immune to Ground-type moves and resists Flying-type moves, Wash Rotom can whittle down its HP with Hydro Pump.

Scizor

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Scizor	Technician	Lum Berry	・Bullet Punch ・U-Turn ・Swords Dance ・Roost
Nature / EVs	Adamant 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Final Stats	177 HP / 200 Atk / 120 Def / 101 SpD / 85 Spe

Scizor's Steel-typing makes it a great partner to Garchomp as both cover each other's weaknesses. Scizor's great bulk and Technician boosted Bullet Punch lets it easily deal with Ice and Fairy-type Pokemon that Garchomp strugglest with.

Conversely, Garchomp can wall Fire-type Pokemon and shrug off attacks directed at Scizor, and use them as setup fodder with Swords Dance or knock them out with Earthquake.

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Tier List and Movesets for Competitive Battle

Strategies for Individual Pokemon

Competitive Pokemon Builds
Gyarados	Breloom	Gliscor
Scizor	Suicune	Latios
Garchomp	Gengar	Azumarill
Hippowdon	Mamoswine	Latias
Heatran	Blaziken	Wash Rotom
Metagross	Tyranitar	Dragonite
Togekiss	Cloyster	Salamence
Cresselia