Learn which Pokemon to use in order to defeat the Elite 4 in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl as well as the Champion Cynthia.

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl has a standard Elite Four and Champion compared to its next generation sequel Pokemon Black and White. This game gave us one of the most memorable champions in Pokemon history, Cynthia. So let’s see how you can defeat her and her follow top trainers in the Elite Four.
Guide To Defeat Elite Four and Champion in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Overview
How To Defeat Bug-type Elite Four Aaron in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Dustox | 53 | Shield Dust | Toxic, Bug Buzz, Double Team, Light Screen |
Beautifly | 53 | Swarm | Energy Ball, Psychic, Bug Buzz, Shadow Ball |
Vespiquen | 54 | Pressure | Attack Order, Defend Order, Heal Order, Power Gem |
Heracross | 54 | Swarm | Megahorn, Close Combat, Night Slash, Stone Edge |
Drapion | 57 | Battle Armor | X-Scissor, Cross Poison, Ice Fang, Aerial Ace |
Aaron’s team of Bug-types and Drapion can be fairly easily handled by Infernape. While some of his Pokemon have coverage moves like Aerial Ace on Drapion, Infernape should outspeed all of them with ease.
How To Defeat Ground-type Elite Four Bertha in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Quagsire | 55 | Damp | Dig, Double Team, Protect, Sandstorm |
Sudowoodo | 56 | Sturdy | Earthquake, Hammer Arm, Sucker Punch, Sandstorm |
Golem | 56 | Rock Head | Earthquake, Gyro Ball, Brick Break, Sandstorm |
Whiscash | 55 | Oblivious | Fissure, Zen Headbutt, Aqua Tail, Rock Slide |
Hippowdon | 59 | Sand Stream | Earthquake, Stone Edge, Crunch, Curse |
Bertha’s Ground types and her Sudowoodo are all bulky but very slow. A fast Grass-type like Roserade should make short work of them. Additionally, a fast Pokemon that can learn Grass Knot by TM can also do the job, as two of them have 4x weakness to Grass, and Golem and Hippowdon are quite heavy.
How To Defeat Fire-type Elite Four Flint in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Rapidash | 58 | Run Away | Flare Blitz, Sunny Day, Solar Beam, Bounce |
Steelix | 57 | Rock Head | Fire Fang, Rock Tomb, Screech, Sunny Day |
Drifblim | 58 | Aftermath | Will-O-Wisp, Baton Pass, Double Team, Ominous Wind |
Lopunny | 57 | Cute Charm | Charm, Fire Punch, Mirror Coat, Sunny Day |
Infernape | 61 | Blaze | Flare Blitz, Thunder Punch, Mach Punch, Earthquake |
Flint may only have two Fire-types, but this actually makes him harder to sweep. His team is built in a manner to set up the sun and pass boosts via Drifblim to his Infernape so that he can sweep. Consider bringing a Pokemon with Rain Dance to not only stop the sun but prevent its Rapidash from firing off one turn Solar Beams.
How To Defeat Psychic-type Elite Four Lucian in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. Mime | 59 | Soundproof | Psychic, Thunderbolt, Reflect, Light Screen |
Girafarig | 59 | Inner Focus | Psychic, Shadow Ball, Double Hit, Crunch |
Medicham | 60 | Pure Power | Drain Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Fire Punch |
Alakazam | 60 | Synchronize | Psychic, Energy Ball, Focus Blast, Recover |
Bronzong | 63 | Levitate | Psychic, Gyro Ball, Earthquake, Calm Mind |
Three of Lucian’s Pokemon have secondary typings that make them difficult to sweep with a single Pokemon. Use Ghost and Dark moves to defeat his team.
How To Defeat Champion Cynthia in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Spiritomb | 61 | Pressure | Dark Pulse, Psychic, Silver Wind, Embargo |
Roserade | 60 | Natural Cure | Energy Ball, Sludge Bomb, Extrasensory, Shadow Ball |
Gastrodon | 60 | Sticky Hold | Muddy Water, Stone Edge, Earthquake, Sludge Bomb |
Lucario | 63 | Steadfast | Aura Sphere, Dragon Pulse, Psychic, Earthquake |
Milotic | 63 | Marvel Scale | Surf, Ice Beam, Mirror Coat, Aqua Ring |
Garchomp | 66 | Sand Rush | Dragon Rush, Earthquake, Brick Break, Giga Impact |
Cynthia remains one of the greatest champions in Pokemon history. From her Spiritomb with no weakness to her Garchomp, everything on her team is deadly. Make sure to bring Pokemon with Ice, Grass, Fire, and Fighting-type moves, as well as Pokemon with good stats, just to go toe-to-toe with her team.
Best Team To Defeat the Elite Four and Champion Cynthia in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

Pokemon | Recommended Moves | Ability | Held Item | Nature(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Infernape | Flare Blitz, Close Combat, Mach Punch, Flamethrower | Blaze | Sitrus Berry | Serious or Bashful |
Roserade | Giga Drain, Leech Seed, Toxic Spikes, Grass Knot | Poison Point | Choice Specs | Timid (+Spe,-Atk) |
Gyarados | Dragon Dance, Waterfall, Ice Fang, Rain Dance | Intimidate | Sitrus Berry | Adamant (+Atk, -SpA) or Jolly (+Spe, -SpA) |
Weavile | Night Slash, Ice Shard, Shadow Claw, Swords Dance | Pressure | Sitrus Berry | Adamant (+Atk, -SpA) |
Bronzong | Extrasensory, Gyro Ball, Reflect, Light Screen | Levitate | Light Clay | Relaxed (+Def,-Spe) |
Garchomp | Dragon Claw, Crunch, Swords Dance, Earthquake | Sand Rush | Soft Sand | Jolly (+Spe, -SpA) |
How To Use The Best Team To Defeat the Elite Four and Champion Cynthia in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl
- Infernape: The best starter and one of two fully evolved Fire-types available before the Elite Four. Infernape sweeps through Aaron and deals with Flint’s Steelix and Lopunny, Lucian’s Bronzong, and Cynthia’s Roserade and Lucario.
- Roserade: Roserade is a fast Grass-type that can sweep through Bertha with Choice Specs-boosted Giga Drain. It can also help against Cynthia’s Gastrodon and Milotic.
- Gyarados: One of the best Pokemon in the game, Gyarados can set up with Rain Dance and Dragon Dance to ruin Flint and Cynthia, respectively.
- Weavile: A common pick on Elite Four teams in other games, Weavile can outspeed Cynthia’s Garchomp with priority Ice Shard. It can also deal with Lucian with access to both Night Slash and Shadow Claw.
- Bronzong: The team’s wall, Bronzong can set up dual screens, and thanks to its held Light Clay, they will last longer.
- Garchomp: Bring your own Garchomp and use your sole Earthquake TM on it. It can deal with Aaron’s Drapion, Bertha’s Golem, Flint’s Rapidash, Steelix, and Infernape, and Cynthia’s Lucario and Garchomp (you’ll need to be lucky for the last one).
Best IVs and EVs To Train For This Team
Try to get Pokemon with as high IVs as possible. Invest in Speed for all of them except Bronzong, while Roserade and Weavile need as close to max EVs in Special Attack and Attack as well.
Tips and Tricks To Defeat the Elite Four and Champion Cynthia in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl
- Do not use the Sitrus Berries you pluck from the overworld. Instead, plant them and grow more for each battle.
- Level up to around 60 before starting the gauntlet.

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