Pokemon made its way into the world of MOBA gaming with the newly released Pokemon Unite. The multiplayer title is currently only available on the Switch, but it is set to release in September for Android and iOS devices.
As a free-to-play game, it has attracted impressive launch day Twitch viewership numbers and a lot of downloads. Players should be working towards the best builds for their favorite characters, and this guide will cover all the best moves, items, and strategies when playing Garchomp in Pokemon Unite.
Best Garchomp Builds
As an All-Rounder, there are a few different ways to play Garchomp. He can become an attacker, a scorer, or a defender, depending on the situation. However, he starts as Gible who is fairly weak. This means no matter what build players are aiming for, they should always farm the wild Pokemon to reach level 10 and evolve into Garchomp as soon as possible. 1V1 fights should be avoided until evolving into Gabite at level 6 at the earliest.
Best Attack Garchomp Build
Attack Garchomp Build moveset:
- Sand Attack (first pick)
- Dragon Rush
- Dragon Claw
Attack Garchomp Build items:
- Muscle Band
- Float Stone
- Attack Weight
- X Attack
This Attack Garchomp Build in Pokemon Unite is all about building that basic attack. Special Attacks are best used in group battles or to flee a losing fight. The best strategy when starting a match is to follow a teammate (preferably a defender, like Slowpoke or Snorlax), and farm wild Pokemon for experience while guarding a goal with the teammate. It’s important not to take on another player solo yet.
Choose Sand Attack first to keep movement and attack speed up, and then Dragon Rush when Gible has evolved to Gabite at level 6. This slows enemies, who Garchomp can easily catch up to with the extra movement speed gained from the Float Stone. The Float Stone also has the underrated extra benefit of raising basic Attack, making it perfect for this Attack Garchomp Build. When Dragon Claw is unlocked, use it as soon as possible in battles to raise Garchomp’s attack speed and dominate in a 1v1 fight.
It is very important to score, even when only holding a few energy, as Garchomp’s attack is increased with the Attack Weight every time it scores. Don’t be afraid to change lanes if an enemy's goal is free. Remember to upgrade items in Pokemon Unite to take full advantage of the boosts they provide.
Garchomp’s Unite move, Livid Outrage, should be used to finish off a 1v1 encounter, or when very low on health and needing a quick escape. It leaves Garchomp stunned for a short while, so should be avoided in a group situation, unless the player has a lot of support.
Best Defence Garchomp Build
Defence Garchomp Build moveset:
- Sand Attack (First pick)
- Dig
- Earthquake
Defence Garchomp Build items:
- Assault Vest
- Buddy Barrier
- Focus Band
- Eject Button/X Speed
Garchomp can be turned into a heavy-hitting defender with this Defence build. The player’s main goal with these moves and items is to inflict a lot of damage over an area, while their friends/teammates finish with the final blow-- all while trying to stay alive to rinse and repeat, and return to defend a goal. Players can scoop up energy and quickly score to help the team, but they are primarily making it easier for others to rack up the points.
As with the previous build, the Defence Garchomp Build will choose Sand Attack first, for farming the wild Pokemon. With the other moves, it’s best to choose Dig and Earthquake. These offer good damage over a large area, making for easier farming, and assisting teammates in tough battles. Dig is also great for running from a losing fight.
The Assault Vest will create a shield for Garchomp when not in combat, protecting it from surprise attacks, and leading to a lot less respawns. Focus Band provides health, gradually healing Garchomp when HP is low. The Buddy Barrier is a fantastic item when paired with Garchomp’s Unite ability, as it provides shields after activating Livid Outrage, and also provides shields to the ally Pokemon with the lowest HP who is closest to Garchomp. This opens up the move to be used more, as players will be protected when stunned.
The Eject Button or X Speed can be chosen depending on the preferred play style. Risky players might want to deal as much damage as possible and eject late on to start healing (aided by dig to gain more distance). Or, X Speed can be used for speedy early farming, rushing for a goal, or chasing down a player with low health.
Pokemon Unite may be considered pay-to-win by some, but players have to choose the right combination of items, moves, and strategies if they want to reach the top of the ranked leaderboards, regardless of how much money they throw at the game. These two Garchomp builds will help players achieve this, and have fun while doing it.
Pokemon Unite is now available as a free download on Switch, and later for iOS and Android devices.