This guide covers everything you need to know to beat Commander Mars at Lake Verity in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Read on to learn about Commander Mars' Pokemon team on your second encounter, Commander Mars' type specialty, recommended Pokemon to use against Commander Mars.

Commander Mars Second Encounter

Type and Suggested Level

Type Specialty
Suggested Level	Lv. 45 ~ Lv. 50

Commander Mars' Pokemon

Pokemon	Type	Ability / Item	Moves
Golbat (Lvl. 37)		Inner Focus	・Astonish ・Poison Fang ・Bite ・U-turn
Bronzor (Lvl. 37)		Levitate	・Confuse Ray ・Payback ・Gyro Ball ・Iron Defense
Purugly (Lvl. 39)		Thick Fat Sitrus Berry	・Growl ・Aerial Ace ・Slash ・U-turn

How to Beat Commander Mars

Luxray Beats Most of Commander Mars' Team

If you managed to catch yourself a Shinx early in the game, it should have evolved into Luxray by the time you reach this battle. Thunder Shock or Spark are still effective moves against Commander Mars' Golbat. While Bite will prove useful against Commander Mars' Bronzor.

Beat Purugly by Outnumbering It

Since we're using just one Pokemon against both Golbat and Bronzor, we may choose to keep Luxray in the active position against Commander Mars' signature Pokemon, Purugly. This helps us keep the numbers advantage.

The first Pokemon's main objective (in this case, our Luxray) is to bring Purugly down to 50% health, making it consume its held Sitrus Berry. Afterwards, we can proceed to pummel it with our Pokemon's best available STAB moves until it gets KO'd.

Best Team to Beat Commander Mars

When Starting with Turtwig

Best Team to Beat Commander Mars Starting With Turtwig
Luxray	Rapidash	Gyarados

Luxray's Thunder Shock or Spark can easily KO Mars' Golbat. Bronzor can also easily be taken out by Luxray's Bite attack.

A Fire-type attack from Rapidash or a Crunch from Gyarados can get the KO on Bronzor. Do remember that Bronzor has Levitate, so a Ground-type move from Torterra may be a bad choice against it.

Purugly also has the Ability, Thick Fat so Rapidash's Fire-type attacks may prove less effective against it.

Having suffifently leveled Pokemon and a high-leveled Pokemon like Torterra ready at the back should help us defeat Commander Mars in this encounter.

When Starting with Chimchar

Best Team to Beat Commander Mars Starting With Chimchar
Luxray	Infernape	Gyarados

Luxray's Thunder Shock or Spark will prove useful against Commander Mars' Golbat. Luxray can also take out Commander Mars' Bronzor with its Bite attack.

Our Infernape at this point should have a powerful Fire-type move at this point in the game. Flamethrower should prove very handy against Bronzor. While Rock Smash or Mach Punch will be effective against Purugly. Do remember that Purugly has respectable bulk and a Sitrus Berry so it won't go down easily.

Gyarados can also use Crunch to take out Bronzor. Gyarados may also be a better match against Purugly than Infernape, because Purugly's Aerial Ace can hit our Infernape for super-effective damage.

Having the numbers advantage with sufficiently leveled Pokemon will ultimately win us this battle.

When Starting with Piplup

Best Team to Beat Commander Mars Starting With Piplup
Luxray	Rapidash	Empoleon

Luxray is a powerful addition to any in-game team because we can easily catch Shinx early in the game. Its Thunder Shock and Spark attacks can easily pick off Mars' Golbat.

A Fire-type attack from Rapidash can KO Commander Mars' Bronzor. But be sure to switch Rapidash out or use its other attacks against Purugly because Purugly's Thick Fat Ability reduces damage Fire-type attacks.

Purugly's attacks are resisted by our Steel-type Empoleon however. We can have Empoleon trade damage against Purugly, and it should eventually go down.

All Commander Mars Battles

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Complete Story Walkthrough

Main Story Walkthrough

Important Battles

Post Game Content

Post Game Content Guide