Garchomp, the Mach Pokémon, debuted in Gen IV as one of the best Physical Sweepers in the meta. This Ground and Dragon-Type Pokémon was infamous for decimating entire teams fromPokémon Diamond and Pearlin the Champion match.
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This pseudo-legendary Pokémon has incredible stats all around but possesses notoriously high Attack and Speed stats, allowing it to outspeed and knock out opponents in a single hit. Garchomp reigns supreme to this day, and this guide will show you how to dominate the competition inPokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Garchomp is a vicious sweeper thanks to its130-base Attackand, most importantly, its102-base Speed. While plenty of Pokémon are faster than Garchomp, like Chien-Pao and Scream Tail, few can dish out as much damage at that speed, and getting the first move in a turn can make all the difference. Garchomp has access to a vast arsenal of powerful attacks likeEarthquake,Stone Edge,Liquidation,Shadow Claw, andOutrage. Garchomp is a valuable addition to a Sandstorm team as itsevasion increases with its Sand Veil ability. Unless you play Garchomp on a Sandstorm team, its hidden ability Rough Skin will serve you better as it damages attackers that use Physical Attacks against the user.
Garchomp has plenty going for it, but it is far from invincible. This dragon has a4x weakness to Ice-Type attacks, and without aFocus Sash, one hit fromBlizzard can knock out Garchomp quickly. On top of that,Fairy-Type Pokémoneasily threaten Dragon-Types with moves likeMoonblast,Draining Kiss, andMisty Terrain, which halves all Dragon-Type attacks while active. Nonetheless, Garchomp is resourceful as it can set upStealth RocksandSpikes, boost its Attack withSwords Dance, trap enemies withSand Tomb,and forcibly remove opponents withDragon Tail. Whatever Garchomp fails to knock out immediately, it will succeed in weakening the enemy team.
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Wrecking Machine
Item:Focus Sash /Ability:Rough Skin
This build is an excellent all-around build as it offers a great spread of type coverage while covering your weaknesses.Focus Sash will protect you from Ice Beam or Blizzardwhile allowing you to pull off one use of Swords Dance safely.Dragon Clawwill deal 120 base with STAB, andEarthquakewill hit anything on the ground for 150 base damage. You can go withIron Headto counter Fairy-Types, orFire Fangto break through Steel- and Ice-Types.
Rough Rider
Item:Rocky Helmet /Ability:Rough Skin
If you prefer to lay into Garchomp’s defensive capabilities, this build is for you. HoldingRocky Helmetand the abilityRough Skinwill inflict twice the amount of damage to opponent’s Pokémon that use Physical attacks against Garchomp.Brick Break will destroy barriers, whileEarthquakeswill deal reliable damage.Dragon Tailis great for removing enemies while dealing damage and forcing the opponent to take damage fromStealth Rocks or Spikes. You could swap Brick Break for Spikes to have both traps but run the risk of too much setup before getting knocked out yourself.
Wall Breaker
Item:Choice Band /Ability:Rough Skin
This build is all about power, and Garchomp has much to spare.Choice Band will increase Garchomp’s damage by 50% at the cost of using only one move while in battle soyou will want a variety of type covering attacks at your disposal. If you need to change its move, swap Garchomp out for another Pokémon. When you bring Garchomp back in, you can select a new attack.OutrageandEarthquakeare must-haves, but the remaining move slots can be whatever suits your fancy. If Choice Band is too limiting for your liking, consider equipping Garchomp withLife Orb, as it increases your damage while sacrificing some HP each time.
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Final Thoughts
If you want a faster Garchomp,use a Mintfor aJolly Nature, but if you prefer Garchomp to hit harder, thenAdamant Natureis the way to go. Regarding EVs, dumping all points into Attack and Speed is the standard route for Garchomp. If you plan on going the tanky route, depositing EVs into HP and Speed may be better.
Garchomp is an excellent counter to Gholdengobut is weak against Flutter Mane. Fairy-Types, in general, are deadly, and with so Pokémon with access to Ice-Type moves, you will always need to be on the lookout. No matter what, Garchomp always finds a place in the meta andis a wrecking ball on the right team.
Next:Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Dragonite Build Guide
