This guide covers everything you need to know to beat Team Galactic Boss Cyrus in the Galactic HQ in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Read on to learn about Cyrus' Pokemon team on your first encounter, Cyrus' type specialty, recommended Pokemon to use against Cyrus.

Cyrus First Encounter

Type and Suggested Level

Type Specialty
Suggested Level	Lv. 45 ~ Lv. 48

Cyrus' Pokemon

Pokemon	Type	Ability / Item	Moves
Murkrow (Lvl. 40)		Insomnia	・Wing Attack ・Night Shade ・Assurance ・Taunt
Golbat (Lvl. 40)		Inner Focus	・Screech ・Poison Fang ・Air Cutter ・Bite
Sneasel (Lvl. 43)		Keen Eye Sitrus Berry	・Metal Claw ・Icy Wind ・Hone Claws ・Beat Up

How to Beat Cyrus

Take Advantage of Cyrus' Pokemon's Secondary Typing

While most of Cyrus' Pokemon have a Dark typing, they also have secondary typings that your team can take advantage of. Having party members with Electric and Steel type attacks should prove useful in your battles against Cyrus.

Have an Electric-type on Your Team

A reliable Electric-type Pokemon should make quick work of most of Cyrus' team. Luxray, although it might not outspeed some of Cyrus' Pokemon, can hit most of them for super-effective damage. It is also a Pokemon that you can catch early on in the game as Shinx.

Hit Sneasel with Super-effective Moves

Sneasel is Cyrus' last Pokemon, which Staraptor can handle fairly easily if it has Close Combat.

Best Team to Beat Cyrus

When Starting with Turtwig

Best Team to Beat Cyrus Starting With Turtwig
Luxray	Floatzel	Staraptor

Our starter may not make an appearance during this battle because of the abundance of moves that can hit our starter for weakness. Murkrow and Golbat have Flying-type moves that threaten it.

Have Luxray start the battle, attempt to sweep, then switch to Floatzel if Luxray gets taken out. Staraptor should be able to handle Sneasel 1-on-1 because it lacks a strong enough Ice-type attack to hit Staraptor for super-effective damage, while Staraptor can use Close Combat to pick up the knock out.

When Starting with Chimchar

Best Team to Beat Cyrus Starting With Chimchar
Luxray	Staraptor	Infernape

The starter we've chosen to bring with us is largely threatened by Cyrus' Flying Pokemon's STAB moves. Staraptor can Intimidate Sneasel and knock it out with Close Combat.

Infernape also matches up favorably against Cyrus' Sneasel.

When Starting with Piplup

Best Team to Beat Cyrus Starting With Piplup
Empoleon	Luxray	Staraptor

Luxray is once again the best Pokemon for this match, being able to take KO's on Cyrus' first two Pokemon.
Empoleon should be able to tank hits from Cyrus' Flying-type Pokemon and it should be able to make quick work of them if Empoleon is sufficiently leveled and has access to powerful STAB moves.

Finally, close out the match with Staraptor against Cyrus' Sneasel.

All Cyrus Battles

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Complete Story Walkthrough

Main Story Walkthrough

Important Battles

Post Game Content

Post Game Content Guide