The Gen 4 Pokemon games are regarded as some of the most ground-breaking entries in the series due to the number of changes they made to the series' mechanics. Along with these changes was the introduction of even more new creatures for players to collect, including many evolutions for monsters that previously had none. Although the Pokemon series isn't the hardest compared to other JRPGS, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl and Pokemon Platinum can be some of the toughest in the series, so players will want to ensure they have the best team possible for a successful playthrough.

Gen 4 offers players some of the most challenging battles in the series, including against Champion Cynthia, who is infamously considered the most difficult champion among fans. As such, players will want to make sure their team is balanced appropriately so that they are prepared for any tough opponent the game throws at them. These games also heavily feature HMs as necessary moves for advancing to certain areas of the region required for completing the game, meaning players will need to ensure they have a team that can learn all the required HMs.

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The Best Pokemon to Use in Gen 3 Playthroughs Explained

The introduction of new mechanics brought new challenges to the Gen 3 Pokemon games, and players will want to know the best team for a successful run.

The Best Pokemon Team for a Successful Gen 4 Playthrough

With the jump to Gen 4 on the Nintendo DS, the Pokemon series introduced a handful of mechanical changes that drastically altered battles. The biggest change made in Gen 4 was the Physical/Special split, which changed the determining factor for whether an attack used a mon's Physical or Special stats for damage calculation to be based on the move itself rather than the move's type. It's also important to consider that many of the new creatures added in Gen 4 were not available until the post-game in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, so players will need to consider this fact when building their team.

Infernape

For the optimal starter in Gen 4, players will want to choose Chimchar since it has an advantage against the first two gyms, taking down Roark's Rock types with ease as long as players evolve it into the Fire/Fighting type Monferno beforehand, and naturally having the type advantage against Gardenia's Grass types. The limited number of Fire types in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl's Pokedex also makes Infernape a must-have mon. It can also be quite useful in the late game as well, with the type advantage over Gym Leader Byron's Steel types, Gym Leader Candice's Ice types, and Elite Four Aaron's Bug types.

Staraptor

Staraptor is one of the best early-game Flying types in the series, with a solid movepool that includes the Fighting type move Close Combat, and great stats that give it high Speed and Physical attack. Starly can also be found on most early-game routes, giving players access to this mon as soon as they gain Poke Balls. Staraptor can be a huge help against a Gym Leader like Maylene and her Fighting types, as well as against Cynthia's Lucario in the final battle, and is also the perfect mon to teach the HMs Defog and Fly to.

Luxray

Another early-game mon that can be a huge help throughout the entire playthrough is Shinx, which can become the terrifying Luxray. As a Physical Electric-type with solid bulk, Luxray can utilize moves like Spark and Thunder Fang to deal some serious damage to opponents like Gym Leader Crasher Wake's Water types and Cynthia's Togekiss in Pokemon Platinum. Luxray can also learn the powerful Dark-type move Crunch, making it a great choice to use against Gym Leader Fantina's Ghost types.

Garchomp

Garchomp is one of the strongest creatures in all of Sinnoh being the generation's pseudo-Legendary, but when players can acquire this mon differs between Pokemon Diamond and Pearl and Pokemon Platinum. In all versions of the game, Gible can be caught in Wayward Cave, but players in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl will need to wait until they obtain the HM Strength and earn the Canalave City Gym Badge to move the boulders blocking the entrance to the floor where Gible can be found. This makes Garchomp accessible much earlier in Pokemon Platinum, but it's still a great mon for dealing with Gym Leader Volkner's Electric types as well as other powerful foes.

Gastrodon

Gastrodon is an all-around fantastic critter in Gen 4, and a worthy addition to the team despite having the overlapping Ground type with Garchomp. The Water/Ground typing is incredibly strong since it turns Water's weakness against Electric types into an immunity, and Gastrodon also has the ability Storm Drain which raises its Special Attack when hit by a Water-type move. With Shellos being accessible as early as the Valley Windworks, Gastrodon is the perfect mon for dealing with Volkner's Electric types, Elite Four Flint's Fire types, as well as a surprising candidate for gaining the advantage against Crasher Wake's Water types.

Bronzong

To round out this Gen 4 team, a Steel/Psychic type like Bronzong is the ideal choice since it has a solid defensive typing for Gen 4 and great defensive stats. Bronzor can be caught as early as Route 206, just below the Cycling Road, and having Bronzong for battles against Team Galactic and their many Poison types can be incredibly useful since it is immune to Poison attacks and can deal super effective Psychic damage to foes like Saturn's Toxicroak and Cyrus' Crobat. Bronzong also has access to a wide movepool, making it a great team member to have for Candice's Ice types, as well as dealing with Cynthia's Roserade.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Franchise

Pokemon

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

November 18, 2022

Developer(s)

Game Freak

Publisher(s)

Nintendo , The Pokemon Company

Genre(s)

RPG

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence

How Long To Beat

32 Hours

Metascore

72

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