Garchomp Guide: Builds and Best Items | Pokemon UNITE

The best guide on how to play Garchomp in Pokemon UNITE for Nintendo Switch and Mobile. Check here for the best builds, Held and Battle items, movesets, as well as the latest nerfs, buffs, counters, matchups, and more!

Garchomp Latest Buffs and Nerfs (01/26)

January 26 Patch Notes (1.4.1.3)

Garchomp Move Changes (January 26)
Standard Attack	• Bug Fixes.
Dig	• Status increases have been reduced.

Garchomp Basic Info

Garchomp
	Tier Rating: Role: All-Rounder Attack Type: Melee Damage Type: Physical Difficulty: Intermediate Cost: 10000 / 575
"Garchomp’s Ability, Rough Skin, means it can sometimes cause damage to Pokémon that hit it, so opponents that attack Garchomp carelessly may just get struck back. What’s more, using Dig lets Garchomp sneak-attack its opponents from underground."

Pokemon Unite Tier List

Garchomp Best Lanes

Top	Jungle	Bottom

Tips & Strategies for Every Lane

Garchomp Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
✔︎ Durable ✔︎ Strong Engage	✖︎ Only 1 damaging ability early ✖︎ Unite Move takes practice to master

Best Builds for Garchomp

Garchomp Builds
Defensive Build
Initiator Build	Boosted Attack Build

The Best Build for Garchomp is the one with the gold crown!

Defensive Build

Defensive Build
Moveset			Held Items
Dragon Rush Dragon Claw			Muscle Band Focus Band Buddy Barrier
Battle Item
Eject Button
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Attack: +15 Defense: +30 Sp. Def: +30 Attack Speed: +7.50% HP: +450
Recommended Lane
Top Lane		Jungle		Bot Lane

This is a similar build to the previous one but does not rely on critical hits and is more defensive. Its purpose is to give Garchomp enough durability and survivability to trigger the effects of its boosted attack. Dragon Rush and Dragon Claw serve the same purpose as the previous build, acting as a catalyst to your boosted attacks.

Muscle Band makes it faster to achieve your goal of triggering the effects of your boosted attacks via its attack speed increase. Focus Band and Buddy Barrier allow you to stay alive in fights long enough to trigger the effects of your boosted attacks.

Eject Button serves the same purpose as the previous build.

Initiator Build

Initiator Build
Moveset			Held Items
Dig Earthquake			Weakness Policy Focus Band Buddy Barrier
Battle Item
Eject Button
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Attack: +15 Defense: +30 Sp. Def: +30 HP: +660
Recommended Lane
Top Lane		Jungle		Bot Lane

This is a defensive build centered around initiating fights using Dig and following up with Earthquake, making Garchomp into a frontline initiator.

Weakness Policy fits well into your initiator role, giving decent HP increase and Attack stat boost. Focus Band and Buddy Barrier provide durability, survivability, and a better team fight.

Eject Button acts as an additional initiation tool, making it a must-have battle item.

Boosted Attack Build

Boosted Attack Build
Moveset			Held Items
Dragon Rush Dragon Claw			Muscle Band Scope Lens Focus Band
Battle Item
Eject Button
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Attack: +15 Defense: +30 Sp. Def: +30 Critical-Hit Rate: +6% Critical-Hit Damage: +12% Attack Speed: +7.50%
Recommended Lane
Top Lane		Jungle		Bot Lane

This build utilizes Dragon Rush and Dragon Claw as enablers to Garchomp's boosted attack effects and critical hits, allowing you to burst down targets quickly with fast attacks.

Muscle Band and Scope Lens are your core items for the build, giving you increased attack speed, boosted Attack stat, percentage-based damage, increased critical-hit rate, and increased critical-hit damage. Focus Band gives you better defenses and a survivability mechanic to get you through the tough early game.

Eject Button serves as an additional gap closer or an escape tool.

Garchomp Best Items & Moveset

Best Held Items

Item	Explanation
Buddy Barrier	Buddy Barrier gives a decent HP boost and ensures Garchomp's safety through a shield while its attacking during its Unite Move.
Focus Band	Focus Band is the best defensive item for Garchomp since Garchomp needs to stay alive for as long as possible to stack its boosted attacks.
Scope Lens	Scope Lens works well with the attack speed increase from Garchomp's boosted attacks, adding a chance to deal massive critical-hit damage.
Muscle Band	Muscle Band is a must-have item for Garchomp to be effective in battles, improving its boosted attack gameplay.

List of Held Items

Best Battle Items

Item	Explanation
Full Heal	Full Heal provides a way for Garchomp to purge disables, and become immune to them for a duration, allowing Garchomp to hack enemies uninterrupted.
Eject Button	Eject Button is the best battle item for Garchomp, giving a way to escape or chase enemies. In particular, it has a special interaction with Garchomp's moves.

List of Battle Items

Best Moveset

Move	Explanation
Dragon Claw	Dragon Claw is great way to stack Garchomp's boosted attacks while also dealing decent damage to enemies caught in its path.
Dragon Rush	Dragon Rush is a strong initiation tool to get Garchomp started on hacking its targets. It's also a decent escape tool when things go awry.

Dragon Rush allows Garchomp to initiate fights while having a strong entrance. Following it up with a Dragon Claw allows Garchomp's to start stacking its Boosted Attack meter. Enemies caught in the barrage of attacks will be dealt heavy damage.

Garchomp can either be built as a standard attack damage dealer or an initiator. If you choose the first one, it's best to go for Dragon Rush and Dragon Claw. If you're more into initiating fights, opt for Dig and Earthquake.

Which Moveset Do You Think is Best for Garchomp?

Why is it the best? Let us know in the comments!

Previous Poll Result

How to Play Garchomp

Garchomp is an All-Rounder Pokemon that can act as a tank, crowd controller, and a decent damage dealer. Garchomp can easily jump into the fray and start fights as well as survive long enough to be the main tank of the team.

Take Advantage of Garchomp's Boosted Attack

The game clearly states that Garchomp's every fifth auto-attack becomes a Boosted Attack and restores its HP. This is inaccurate as Garchomp's auto attacks gain more damage and bonus damage based on the enemy's max HP on every hit after reaching 5 stacks. To top it off, you also heal for the same amount of the damage dealt by your passive. This makes Garchomp extremely good at taking objectives solo and fighting against tanky Pokemon like Snorlax.

Boosted Attacks Guide: How to Use

Make Early Game Farming Faster with Sand Attack

Sand Attack is a debuff move that restricts enemy vision, but that doesn't mean that it's useless against farming Wild Pokemon. Though it may not have direct damage compared to Bulldoze, Sand Attack grants an attack speed buff to Garchomp, making it easier to stack up towards a full Boosted Attack to speed up the damage.

Learn the Dragon Combo for Burst, and Dig + Earthquake for AOE Damage

Choosing the skills you need is critical to how fights will play out. Dragon Claw + Dragon Rush is a good dueling tool that has more range and damage but focuses more on damaging single targets. Dig + Earthquake, on the other hand, is a quick knock-up skill that is easily followed up by area damage that gains a Slow later in the game.

Hunt Down Easy Matchups

Garchomp can easily take on other Pokemon that are easy matchups. Thanks to its passive ability, Rough Skin, Garchomp can take and give a beating towards opponents - especially if you can sustain its basic attacks. Just make sure to save a Dragon Rush for pursuit or a quick getaway.

Matchups and Counter

Go For Prolonged Duels

Garchomp gains an attack speed boost when he lands a skill or an attack on an enemy. This makes his damage ramp up during a duel, so try to force long trades against enemies to maximize your buff.

Take the Frontline for Boss Pokemon Fights

While taking on Boss Pokemon alone is risky, if enemy attention is focused somewhere else, don't hesitate to go for it! Your durability, damage, and sustain are enough to easily take these objectives early on.

Farm Wild Pokemon to Heal Up

Remember that Empowered auto attacks are AOE (area-of-effect), so you can lifesteal across multiple Wild Pokemon like in this clip.

Aside from increasing his attack speed, Garchomp's boosted attack also heals him for a small amount. This slowly stacks up on prolonged fights so instead of going back to base, try farming wild Pokemon to heal up!

Point Your Move Stick to Target When Using Unite Move

Garchomp's Unite Move may feel shaky, but its ability to turn and aim is rather easy. Just remember to point your analog stick to your desired target at all times and Garchomp will easily turn around in that direction, even if it's a complete 180-degree turn. The dashes also cover a bit of distance so you can also use them to chase enemies!

Garchomp Combos

Dragon Combo

Dragon Combo (Variation 1)
► ►
Dragon Rush ► Dragon Claw ► Dragon Claw
This is Garchomp's more bursty combo. Dragon Claw is a strong 2 hit combo that also boosts your attack speed afterwards.

Dragon Combo (Variation 2)
► ►
Dragon Rush ► Dragon Claw ► Dragon Claw
This is the second variation of the Dragon Combo. After casting Dragon Rush, use Dragon Claw mid-flight to trigger the combo, causing Dragon Claw to knock enemies up.

Dig and Quake Combo

Dragon Combo
►
Dig ► Earthquake
Dig is Garchomp's earlier gap closer skill that allows him to engage enemies at a shorter range. On the end of its path, it knocks enemies up which makes it a great setup for Earthquake. Thanks to Earthquake's slow, it's also great to follow it up with Livid Outrage.

Eject Drag Combo

Dragon Combo
► ►
Dragon Rush ► Dragon Claw ► Eject Button
This is an Eject Button combo that utilizes the Dragon Rush + Dragon Claw drag mechanic. By using Dragon Rush and Dragon Claw to escape, you can use the Eject Button mid-flight to hit enemes and drag them to the same area you're attempting to run away. This can catch enemies off-guard and is helpful for singling out opponents and dragging them to your team.

Matchups & Counters for Garchomp

Garchomp Matchups

Matchup Notes
Hard Counter	Even Matchup	Easy Matchup
1. The chart is based on our own experience playing Garchomp. 2. Pokemon within each tier are unordered 3. Any Pokemon not shown here are still under investigation.

Hard Counter With Kiting and High Mobility

Since Garchomp is a melee Pokemon and has low mobility, it can easily be kited by hard-hitting ranged Pokemon or outplayed by high mobility Pokemon.

Best Counters

Pokemon	Explanation
Cinderace	Rating: ★★★★★ • Can easily burst down Garchomp and dodge his burst combo by using Feint.
Lucario	Rating: ★★★★ • Can easily control Garchomp's movements and dodge Garchomp's combos.
Decidueye	Rating: ★★★★ • Can stack up the boost meter faster with its ranged attacks. • Upclose, Garchomp's HP might be pressured enough to retreat.
Gardevoir	Rating: ★★★ • Can easily kite away from you KO you with continuous damage.

Even Matchups for Garchomp

Even matchups are always a matter of skill, luck and timing. Here are some tips to help push Garchomp ahead against other Pokemon on equal footing.

Take Advantage of Their HP

High HP
How to Beat
• Garchomp can lifesteal its way to victory against these Pokemon.

Stand Your Ground

Damage Dealers
How to Beat
• Garchomp can beat these Pokemon thanks to its boosted attacks and lifesteal. • Stand your ground and outplay them to get the upper hand.

I Give What I Take

HIgh Burst Damage
How to Beat
• Garchomp's passive proc plus a proper build returns 37% of the damage to the attacker. • If an opponent fails to kill Garchomp with its combo, Garchomp can punish it with a burst of its own.

Easy Matchups for Garchomp

Pokemon who are squishy and you can instantly burst down is your ideal targets. Especially if their skills make them immobile.

Easy Targets to Focus Down

Pokemon with Low HP
How to Beat
• Garchomp's strong moves and fast attacks will be enough to disrupt these Pokemon from fighting back. • Avoid any skill shots and potential burst combos.

Claw Your Way Through

Pokemon with no Burst Damage
How to Beat
• Use Garchomp's sturdiness to your advantage against these Pokemon • Garchomp can mow down single targets with its sustained Boosted Attack.

Best Teammates for Garchomp

Pokemon	Explanation
Pikachu Gardevoir	Can help finish off enemies
	Stunning moves from Pikachu and Gardevoir will help aiming with Garchomp's skills easier which in turn helps taking out opponents much easier.
Crustle Alolan Ninetales	Can prevent opponents from running away
	Given that Garchomp is a close range attacker with a lot of dashing moves, having Crustle's Rock Tomb or Alolan Ninetales' Avalanche that can trap Pokemon will help prevent most Pokemon from dodging his dash attacks.

Looking for teammates to synergize with you? Head over to our Friend Request Board to find other trainers to join you in your grind or just to hang out with!

Friend Request Board

Garchomp Moves

Move Slot 1 (R)

Sand Attack (Lv. 1 or 3)	Move Type: Debuff Damage Type: Status Cooldown: 6s
Hurls sand, narrowing the field of vision of opposing Pokemon and decreasing their movement speed for a short time when it hits. This also increases the user's movement speed and basic attack speed.
Dragon Rush (Lv. 6) Upgrade Lv. 12	Move Type: Dash Damage Type: Physical Cooldown: 6s Total Damage: 482 / 912
Has the user back up to create distance before diving to attack in the designated direction, shoving opposing Pokemon. The user can use Dragon Claw while creating distance at the beginning of the move to create a combo attack, which strengthens Dragon Claw’s effect that decreases the opposing Pokemon's movement speed. This move reduces the damage the user receives while using it. Upgrade: The user becomes immune to hindrances while using this move.
Dig (Lv. 6) Upgrade Lv. 12	Move Type: Dash Damage Type: Physical Cooldown: 8s Total Damage: 477 / 865
Has the user burrow underground and move quickly in the designated direction, jumping out when it comes in contact with an opposing Pokemon or it has traveled a maximum distance. This jump deals damage to opposing Pokemon in the area of effect and throws them. Using this move increases the user’s Defense and Sp. Def. for a short time. Upgrade: Increases the length of the time opposing Pokemon are thrown when the user jumps out from the ground.

Move Slot 2 (ZR)

Bulldoze (Lv. 1 or 3)	Move Type: Area Damage Type: Physical Cooldown: 5s Total Damage: 381
Has the user stomp down on the ground, dealing damage to opposing Pokemon in the area of effect.
Dragon Claw (Lv. 8) Upgrade Lv. 14	Move Type: Melee Damage Type: Physical Cooldown: 5s Total Damage: 785 / 1581
Has the user attack twice in front of itself using its claws. The first attack deals damage to the opposing Pokemon and then throws them. The second deals increased damage and decreases the movement speed of the opposing Pokemon for a short time. Upgrade: Increases damage dealt by this move
Earthquake (Lv. 8) Upgrade Lv. 14	Move Type: Area Damage Type: Physical Cooldown: 7s Total Damage: 1023 / 1777
Has the user jump high into the air and crash forcefully to the ground, dealing damage over time to opposing Pokemon in the area of effect and decreasing their movement speed for a short time. Upgrade: For a short time, further decreases the movement speed of opposing Pokemon that are in the move's area of effect and especially close to the user.

Unite Moves (ZL)

Livid Outrage (Lv. 10)	Move Type: Melee Damage Type: Physical Cooldown: 133s Total Damage: 1956 / 2981
Has the user unleash a powerful chain attack while dashing forward. The final attack throws opposing Pokemon but also leaves the user unable to act for a short time.

Standard Attack

Standard Attack	Become a boosted attack with every fifth attack, dealing increased damage and restoring the user's HP. For a short time after a boosted attack hits, every time one of the user's basic attacks or moves hits an opposing Pokemon, the user's basic attack speed is increased.

Ability (Passive)

Rough Skin	All Evolution Stages When the Pokemon is struck by a melee attack, a portion of the damage recieved is reflected back at the attacker.

Garchomp Stats & Evolutions

Garchomp Evolutions

1st Evolution	2nd Evolution	Final Evolution
Gible (Lv. 1)	Gabite (Lv. 5)	Garchomp (Lv. 9)

Garchomp Stats

Level	HP	Defense	Special Defense	Attack Damage
1	3050	90	67	145
2	3117	95	71	150
3	3198	102	76	156
4	3295	110	82	163
5	3647	138	104	189
6	3787	149	113	199
7	3955	163	124	212
8	4157	179	137	227
9	4869	237	183	280
10	5159	261	202	302
11	5507	289	224	328
12	5925	323	251	359
13	6442	364	283	397
14	7028	413	321	442
15	7705	472	367	496

Attack Damage is the damage of the Basic Attack as tested against the Training Dummy.

Garchomp In-Game Stats Listing

Offense	Endurance	Mobility	Scoring	Support

Garchomp Skins (Holowear)

Holowear
Beach Style Zirco Trading: 350 / 18	Stakeout Style Zirco Trading: 60 Energy Rewards Odds: 1%
Holiday Style Zirco Trading: 400	Masquerade Style Event: UNITE in the Spotlight

All Pokemon Skins (Holowear)

Pokemon UNITE Related Guides

List of All Pokemon

All Pokemon Guides and Builds

Best Build for Each Pokemon

Pokemon Roster
Absol	Aegislash	Alolan Ninetales	Azumarill
Blastoise	Blissey	Charizard	Cinderace
Cramorant	Crustle	Decidueye	Dragonite
Duraludon	Eldegoss	Espeon	Garchomp
Gardevoir	Gengar	Greedent	Greninja
Hoopa	Lucario	Machamp	Mamoswine
Mr. Mime	Pikachu	Slowbro	Snorlax
Sylveon	Talonflame	Trevenant	Tsareena
Venusaur	Wigglytuff	Zeraora
Upcoming Pokemon
No CONFIRMED Upcoming Pokemon

Top 5 Master Rank Picks & Win Rate

All data is based on Season 04 Master Rank Top 100. Last Updated: May 4, 2022

Pokemon	Tier	Most Played %	Average Win %
Greninja		29%	75.6%
Hoopa		15%	75.1%
Lucario		14%	73.6%
Blissey		8%	78.0%
Blastoise		5%	75.0%

Top Picked Pokemon Per Role

Attacker	Supporter	All- Rounder	Defender	Speedster
Greninja	Hoopa	Lucario	Blastoise	Absol

Master Rank: Top Ranked Win Rates

Pokemon by Role

All Pokemon Roles
Attackers		All-Rounders		Defenders
Speedsters			Supporters

Pokemon by Characteristics

Attack Type
Melee Pokemon	Ranged Pokemon
Physical Pokemon	Special Pokemon
Stat Rankings
HP Ranking	Defense Ranking
Sp. Def. Ranking	Basic Attack Ranking