How to Select the Best Pokémon to Beat the Elite Four in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 23, 2019

So you’ve made it to The Pokémon League of Sinnoh and defeated your rival for the final time. Now all that stands between you and the Pokémon champion is the Elite Four! With so many possibilities, it’s tough to choose which Pokémon to take into battle. This guide will analyze the lineups of the Elite Four to help you exploit their weaknesses and give you the edge you need to prevail.

Steps

1
Analyze the weaknesses of your opponents. Each member of the Elite Four specializes in a certain Pokémon type. Aaron prioritizes Bug type, Bertha prefers Ground type, Flint likes Fire type, and Lucian excels in Psychic type.
- Since you cannot change lineups between fights with the Elite Four, you will need to bring a powerful, but diverse lineup.
2
Pick a Flying or Fire type to fight Aaron. Unfortunately, no single Pokémon fits both so you’ll have to pick one. If you started the game with Chimchar, his evolved form will take you through the bulk of the fight. Here is a list of Aaron’s Pokémon and their potential weaknesses:
- Dustox: Bug/Poison. Weak to Flying, Ground, Rock, Fire, or Psychic
- Heracross: Bug/Fight. Weak to Flying [4x Effectiveness], Fire, Psychic
- Vespiquen: Bug/Flying. Weak to Flying, Rock [4x Effectiveness], Fire, Electric, Ice
- Beautifly: Bug/Flying. Weak to Flying, Rock [4x Effectiveness], Fire, Electric, Ice
- Drapion: Dark/Poison. Weak to Ground
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3
Pick a Grass type to fight Bertha. All of her Pokémon share a weakness to it. Torterra is especially good if you started the game with a turtwig. Here is a list of Bertha’s Pokémon and their weaknesses:
- Quagsire: Ground/Water. Weak to Grass [4x Effectiveness]
- Hippowdon: Ground. Weak to Grass, Water, Ice
- Sudowoodo: Rock. Weak to Fighting, Ground, Steel, Grass, Water
- Whiscash: Ground/Water. Weak to Grass [4x Effectiveness]
- Golem: Rock/Ground. Weak to Fighting, Ground, Steel, Grass [4x Effectiveness], Water [4x Effectiveness], Ice
4
Pick a Water or Ground type to fight Flint. A Gastrodon is perfect here. If you started the game with Piplup, the evolved form will get you through most of this fight as well. Here is a list of Flint’s Pokémon with weaknesses:
- Rapidash: Fire. Weak to Ground, Rock, Water
- Infernape: Fire/Fight. Weak to Flying, Ground, Water, Psychic
- Steelix: Steel/Ground. Weak to Fighting, Ground, Fire, Water
- Lopunny: Normal. Weak to Fighting
- Drifblim: Ghost/Flying. Weak to Rock, Ghost, Electric, Ice, Dark
5
Pick a Dark, Fighting, or Ghost type against Lucian. Fighting has good defense against Psychic, but may lose usefulness beyond this fight. Strong dark attacks can work through this fight very quickly. A Spiritomb will do very well, but there are many options.
- Mr. Mime: Psychic. Weak to Bug, Dark, Ghost
- Girafarig: Normal/Psychic. Weak to Bug, Dark
- Medicham: Psychic/Fight. Weak to Flying, Ghost
- Alakazam: Psychic. Weak to Bug, Dark, Ghost
- Bronzong: Steel/Psychic. Weak to Fire, Ground Note: Bronzong will have the ability Levitate (causes user to be unaffected by ground types)
6
Round out your lineup to take on Cynthia. Cynthia is the Pokémon Champion that immediately follows the Elite Four. A Togekiss is a good choice to beat her Spiritomb. Otherwise fill in the gaps from your choices for the Elite Four to create a well rounded team.
- Spiritomb: Ghost/Dark. No weaknesses. Just don't use any normal moves.
- Garchomp: Dragon/Ground. Weak to Ice [4x Effectiveness], Dragon
- Gastrodon: Water/Ground. Weak to Grass [4x Effectiveness]
- Milotic: Water. Weak to Grass, Electric
- Roserade: Grass/Poison. Weak to Flying, Fire, Psychic, Ice
- Lucario: Steel/Fight. Weak to Fighting, Ground, Fire
7
Use Hidden Machines (HMs) and Technical Machines(TMs) to teach your Pokémon powerful abilities. Moves like Surf, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, Flamethrower, and Earthquake can be super effective against the Elite Four's Pokémon when used in the correct situation. They can also give your Pokémon more diverse attack type options. Moves that cause status effects (Toxic, Thunder Wave, and Sleep Powder) as well as moves that raise your Attack and/or Speed (Swords Dance and Dragon Dance) can also be very helpful.
8
Assemble your team. Unique Pokémon like Palkia or Dialga will always be a strong choice, but if you don’t have access to them or don’t want to use them for a challenge, there are many options for a well rounded team. Sensible switching to exploit differences in the fight will be key. Good luck!

Community Q&A

Question

My team is a Torterra at level 72, a Machoke and Sneasel at level 49, a Crobat and Medicham at level 48, and a Steelix at level 47. I still can't defeat the Elite Four. Do you have any advice?

Community Answer

Train the rest of your team. Your Torterra is at a much higher level than the rest. Training the other Pokemon will fill the gap. You can also change some Pokemon on your team for an advantage against some of the E4, but try for a balanced team capable of OHKOing the E4. Good Luck!
Question

My Infernape is level 61, Dialga and Unix are at level 51, Steelix is level 45, Floatzel is level 42 and Haunter is level 46. Why can't I defeat the Elite Four?

Community Answer

Your Floatzel is under-leveled, and you should teach it stronger water moves.
Question

How do I beat the Rapidash?

Community Answer

Rapidash is weak to Rock, Water, and Ground types. Try using Pokémon that can exploit these weaknesses.

Warnings

If you lose to any member of the Elite Four you will lose half of your money and you will have to start over and battle them all again. Save your game!

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Pokémon can get frustrating if you play for long periods of time. Take a break!

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