Mega Garchomp is a dual Dragon- and Ground-type Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region. This Pokémon’s excess energy melted its arms and wings, transforming them into giant scythes. Learn which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Mega Garchomp, how to catch Garchomp after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Mach Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

Which Pokémon to Use in a Mega Garchomp Raid in Pokémon GO

As a Dragon- and Ground-type Pokémon, Mega Garchomp is vulnerable to Ice-, Dragon-, and Fairy-type attacks. However, it’s worth noting that Mega Garchomp is doubly weak to Ice-type attacks, meaning that Pokémon with moves of that type should be your first choice in Raid Battles against Mega Garchomp.

When choosing six Pokémon for your Mega Garchomp Raid Battle lineup, it’s important to choose Pokémon that have Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks of the above types if you want to deal as much damage as possible. It’s not necessary to choose only Ice-, Dragon-, and Fairy-type Pokémon, but a Pokémon that shares a type with these attacks will benefit from a same-type attack bonus, which will allow these attacks to deal an additional 20% damage.

If you have multiple Pokémon that meet those criteria, choose the Pokémon with the highest CP and best overall stats. Remember that speed is one of the factors that determine how many Premier Balls you will receive at the conclusion of a successful Raid Battle, so be sure to bring your strongest Pokémon to defeat Mega Garchomp as quickly as you can.

Make the Most of Premier Balls and Berries

After a Mega Garchomp raid, you’ll have a limited number of Premier Balls you can use to catch Garchomp, so make each one count. You can earn extra Premier Balls by battling with friends and defeating Mega Garchomp more quickly.

In an encounter with Garchomp, your chance of catching it is greatest when the target ring is small enough for you to score Excellent Throws. Throwing Curveballs can improve your chances even more. But work within your abilities—if you don't think you can reliably make Excellent Curveball Throws, aim for Nice Throws or Great Throws rather than risk missing the target ring completely.

Garchomp isn’t going to make it easy on you by sitting still while you’re trying to catch it. Don’t wasteyour Premier Balls by throwing while it’smoving around.Watch Garchomp to get a feel for its cycle of movement and the pauses in between the cycles. During one of these pauses, wait for the target ring to reappear, and then throw as it starts to grow smaller to increase your odds of making a Great Throw or an Excellent Throw.

Berries can help you catch Garchomp. A Razz Berry will make Garchomp easier to catch, and a Golden Razz Berry will make it much easier to catch. If you find yourself failing to land any throws, a Nanab Berry will calm Garchomp, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Garchomp Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Garchomp easier to catch and grant you extra Candy when you catch it.

Buddy Pokémon with a Buddy Level of Great Buddy or higher have the Catch Assist Perk. If a Pokémon deflects a Poké Ball, your buddy might bounce it back for a second catch opportunity!

Garchompis tricky to catch, so don’t be discouraged if it escapes. Get a second wind by stocking up on useful items—like Max Potions, Max Revives, and Golden Razz Berries—and try again.

What to Do with Garchomp Once You’ve Caught It

As a Dragon- and Ground-type Pokémon, Garchomp is resistant to Fire-, Electric-, Poison-, and Rock-type attacks. While there are many strong Dragon-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO, Garchomp's dual typing and high max CP make it an especially solid choice for raids. Mega Evolving Garchomp makes this powerhouse even more effective—but you'll need plenty of Mega Energy, which you can earn more of by quickly defeating Mega Garchomp in Mega Raids. Doing so could be a sound choice, because Mega Garchomp is a terrific pick when taking on Dialga, Palkia, and Reshiram.

In the GO Battle League, Garchomp is particularly popular in the Master League, where its high max CP allows it to shine. More specifically, its Dragon-type attacks are effective against Giratina and other Dragon-type Pokémon, while its Ground-type attacks are effective against the many Steel-type Pokémon—like Melmetal and Metagross—that Trainers tend to use. Garchomp’s vulnerability to Dragon-type attacks can pose a challenge in a league filled with formidable Dragon types, but it is possible to build a team to help balance that vulnerability.

With Garchomp’s high max CP being one of its greatest strengths in both raids and the Master League, it’s best to power yours up as much as possible. To do this, take part in lots of Mega Garchomp raids and use a Pinap Berry or Silver Pinap Berry when catching Garchomp to receive more Candy.

Good luck with your next Raid Battle—and remember that you can refer back to Pokemon.co.uk/Strategy for more Pokémon GO, video game, and Pokémon TCG tips.