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Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have some truly challenging battles involving gymnasium leaders, elite quartets, and the final defending champion. You need to use the strengths and weaknesses of each Pokémon to stand out. To help you develop a strategy, here is a list of Pokémon for each gym leader or elite quartet member, and suggestions for the best team to beat them.
Fight with gym leaders and elite four
There are eight stadium leaders and elite quartets to defeat in the Shenao region, including the defending champion Cynthia. Defeat them all by upgrading the best Pokémon team you can create.
As with all Pokémon games, there are a total of 8 Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl stadium leaders, each of whom tends to attract a specific type of Pokémon. This is the Pokémon they will throw away, and the skills to defeat them.
I strongly recommend that your team stay between level 10 and level 14 in this battle. Piplup and Turtwig can quickly solve any opponent here with their respective water or grass attacks. If you upgrade Chimchar to level 14 and evolve to Monferno before fighting Roark, this monkey will learn a fighting action, which is also fatal to the team led by the gym.
After becoming a champion, seeing all the Pokémon in the Shenao region, and talking with Professor Rowan, you can come back to fight Locke again. This is the Pokémon he would use at the time.
You will want your Pokémon to be between level 15 and 18 in order to quickly deal with this team. To make things go more smoothly, I suggest adding Zubat or Drifloon to your team so that you can use their poison and flying attacks.
On the way, you can come back to fight Gardenia again. This is the Pokémon she would use at the time.
When you get here, if your Pokémon is between level 20 and level 23 (or higher), things will get better. In addition, as long as you use Staravia or Machop's flying and fighting attacks, you can make it easier for them to defeat this team.
On the way, you can come back to fight Gardenia again. This is the Pokémon she would use at the time.
Try to get your team members to be at least between level 20 and level 23 for easier battles. Due to the effectiveness of grass and electric attacks, Roselia, Roserade and Luxray are very useful in this battle.
On the following road, you can come back to fight Crasher Wake again. This is the Pokémon he would use at the time.
Before entering this battle, you will want your team to be between level 25 and 27 (or higher). The dark attacks of Golbat or Crobat are especially useful here.
On the way, you can come back and fight Fentina again. This is the Pokémon she would use at the time.
At least let your team work quickly between levels 28 and 32. In this battle, Monferno, Infernape, Gastrodon and Rapidash will provide special assistance through their firepower and ground attacks.
On the way, you can come back to fight Byron again. This is the Pokémon he would use at the time.
Let your team reach between level 32 and 35, making Candice easier. If you have Lucario as your battle type, your Staraptor as your flying type, and a powerful Fire type like Infernape, Rapidash or Houndoom, then this battle will be won soon.
On the way, you can come back to fight Candice again. This is the Pokémon she would use at the time.
Among Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl gym leaders, Volkner has the most variety. Make sure your team is at least between level 38 and level 43 in this battle. You will want a decent fighting type Ambipom fight like Lucario or Machoke. Octillery can knock down Turtwig, Roserade, Luxray or Raichu with grass and electric attacks. The rest can be knocked down by powerful ground types such as Gastrodon, Rhyhorn, Rhyperior or Hippowdon.
On the way, you can come back and fight Volkner again. This is the Pokémon he would use at the time.
Source: Pokémon Company (screenshot)
Now you have traveled around Shenao and taught those gym leaders who are bosses, but you are not the next one. You need to defeat the elite quartet of Pokémon brilliant diamonds and sparkling pearls and the defending champion to beat the game and prove that you are the best. You will not be able to heal between battles, so before starting this series of battles, please stock up a lot of healing items. Your opponent will use full healing and other healing items, so be prepared for long-term battles. To make things easier, if possible, at least 10:
The best team is a diverse team, dedicated to the type of Pokémon that defeats each opponent. Before starting the first battle, make sure your team is at least between level 55 and level 60.
Several different Pokémon can help you defeat them, but in my opinion, the ideal team is Infernape, Gyarados, Luxray, Gengar, Staraptor, and Garchomp. This group provides you with fire, fighting, water, flying, electricity, darkness, ground and dragon attacks to mess up your opponents really fast. Lucarioor, another powerful fighting type, can also be a good choice here.
Make sure you have a decent fighting and flame Pokémon in your team to quickly complete this battle. If you choose Infernape, he will become your superstar. Otherwise, please make sure you have a good flight type (such as Staraptor) and electric type (such as Luxray).
On the way, you can come back to fight Aaron again. This is the Pokémon he would use at the time.
During your game, you can actually fight the elite quartet 3 times. This is what Pokémon Aaron used in the second rematch.
If you have a Torterra or an Empoleon, it can make these guys work fast. Otherwise, good water systems like Gyarados and Floatzel and good grass systems like Roserade will be hit hard.
On the way, you can come back to fight Bertha again. This is the Pokémon she would use at the time.
During your game, you can actually fight the elite quartet 3 times. This is the Pokémon used by Pokémon Bertha in the second rematch.
Once again, if you have one, Empoleon's water attack is an excellent choice for this battle. If you don't, Gyarados will be fine here. You also need to use ground attacks provided by powerful Pokémon such as Garchomp or Mamoswine.
On the way, you can come back to fight Flint again. This is the Pokémon he would use at the time.
During your game, you can actually fight the elite quartet 3 times. This is the item used by Pokémon Flint in the second rematch.
In this battle, you need dark, fighting or ghost types. I suggest bringing Geng ghost; just be aware that his weakness is a ghost, so don't let him give up halfway through the battle. You can let Geng Gui put them to sleep through hypnosis, and then cry at them with ghost-type attacks to make these battles easier.
On the next road, you can come back to fight Lucian again. This is the Pokémon he would use at the time.
During your game, you can actually fight the elite quartet 3 times. This is used by Pokémon Lucian in the second rematch.
Cynthia has a very good combination of Pokémon types, which really makes her the most challenging opponent. When the original diamonds and pearls were released, the fairy type category did not exist. If you can take a person to participate in this battle, it will be the only weakness of the tomb.
Infernape and Torterra are the best evolutions of all beginners in this battle, because fire and grass are repeated weaknesses. You also need the flying attacks of Staraptor or Gryarados, the psychic attacks of Gengar, and the dragon attacks of Garchomp to be powerful against Cynthia's Garchomp. Luxray will quickly deal with Milotic through its Electric attack. Remember to keep the type system in mind and have enough treatment to keep yourself afloat.
On the way, you can come back to fight Cynthia again. This is the Pokémon she would use at the time.
During your game, you can actually fight the elite quartet 3 times. This is used by Pokémon Cynthia in the second rematch.
Wow! you did it! Paying attention to the weaknesses of Pokémon and ensuring that your team is fully upgraded can go a long way, right? Congratulations, champion!
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Rebecca Spear is iMore's game editor. She likes to play Nintendo Switch games and is a Zelda lunatic through and through. On any given day, you will find her drawing, playing video games or reading a good book. Follow her on Twitter @rrspear.