Pokémon Unite is an exhilarating MOBA that marries together the team-based battle format with the ranks of powerful Pokémon. Whilst Pokémon Unite Garchomp is not in the starting lineup for the game, he is one of the free choices in rotation. Garchomp’s all-rounder gameplay makes for a popular choice and with moves like bulldoze and earthquake, Garchomp is a tank in the battlefield.
As the battle progresses, so do you, levelling up and evolving as you go. So, your battle choices change as your moves expand. If you’re looking for some tips on how to play Pokémon Unite’s Garchomp, we’ve put together our ultimate Pokémon Unite Garchomp build guide to help you make the best selection when it comes to the items and moves you use as you head deeper into battle.
If you’re a big fan of Pokémon Unite and want to see where Garchomp ranks, you can check out our Pokémon Unite tier list. We’ve also got a list of all the available Pokémon Unite skins, so you can get your Pokémon looking fresh for battle.
Pokémon Unite Garchomp Abilities and best moveset
Every Pokémon has a variety of moves to choose from, depending on your level. Of course, how you play the game is completely up to you, but we have a few suggestions that could help you make your mind up. As mentioned, Garchomp is a tank of a Pokémon, burrowing, bruising, and bashing his way through the opposing team. For this, you’ll want to build up your attack strength as well as giving Garchomp an option to retreat.
Pokémon Unite Garchomp’s passive ability
Move name | Attack type | Description |
Rough Skin | Passive | When struck by a melee attack, a portion of the damage will be taken from the attacking Pokémon’s HP as well. |
Pokémon Unite Garchomp’s early game abilities
Between levels one to three, you’ll have a choice to make. Eventually, you’ll be given both but in the early game you need to pick what move you want to help steer you through those initial fights as Gible. Sand attack is all about inflicting some damage but getting away. Bulldoze is all about stomping your way into battle with this AOE damage move.
The later game will bolster your damage, but for now, we recommend sand attack first for its ability to place into both attack and movement, followed by bulldoze.
Move name | Attack type | Cooldown | Description |
Sand Attack | Debuff | Six seconds | Hurls sand, narrowing the field of vision of opposing Pokémon and decreasing their movement speed for a short time. This move also increases Garchomp’s movement and basic attack speed. |
Bulldoze | Area | Five seconds | Stomps the ground, dealing damage to nearby opposing Pokémon in the area. |
Pokémon Unite Garchomp’s mid-game abilities
When you get to level six, you’ll have to choose one of two moves as you evolve into Gabite. Dig is an AOE damage move which makes you temporarily untargetable as well as reducing damage received for a short time. Dragon rush is all about diving, damaging, and destroying.
Depending on how you want to play it, we’d recommend dig for the ability to attack and retreat.
Move name | Attack type | Cooldown | Description |
Dig | Dash | Eight seconds | Burrows underground and emerges at opposing Pokémon’s feet or at max distance of move. When emerging, move deals damage and knocks opposing Pokémon back. Upgrading reduces damage received upon emerging. |
Dragon Rush | Dash | Eight seconds | Dives into opposing Pokémon, dealing damage and shoving them backwards. Upgrading also slows down opponents after they’ve been displaced. |
Pokémon Unite Garchomp’s late game abilities
At level eight, you have another choice between two. Earthquake plays more into Garchomp’s ground attack jumping into the air and crashing into nearby opponents, dealing out damage for all those around. Dragon claw is, like it says on the tin, playing into Garchomp’s draconic side, unleashing a claw attack that can be boosted on the second hit.
At this point, it’s battle-dependent on the moves you want to pick. It might be time to unleash your dragon or it might be a better bet to deal your offense on the ground. For this build, working up from the dig move seen at level six, we’d recommend earthquake.
Move name | Attack type | Cooldown | Description |
Earthquake | Area | Seven seconds | Jumps high into the air and crashes into ground, damaging nearby opponents. Upgrading also slows opponents movement speed for a short time. |
Dragon Claw | Melee | Five seconds | Uses claws to attack twice. The first deals damage and throws opposing Pokémon, and the second deals increased damage with a boosted attack. Basic attack speed is also increased for a short time after using. |
Pokémon Unite Garchomp’s end game abilities
You’re at level ten and you’ve finally reached your final form as Garchomp. At this point, you’ve unlocked your Unite move, livid outrage, a powerful flurry of high-damage attacks that will leave your opposing team both injured and scattered. Be aware though that by unleashing this move, you’ll also stun your Garchomp in battle so be ready to fight once you’re back in action.
Move name | Attack type | Cooldown | Description |
Livid Outrage | Melee | Percent-based | Expels a powerful chain attack while dashing forward. The final attack in the chain will also displace opposing Pokémon but will also stun Garchomp for a short time. |
Pokémon Unite Garchomp build
We’ve put together just one example of how to play with Pokémon Unite’s Garchomp as you progress through battle. This build focuses on the ground attack abilities, harnessing high HP damage and displacing your opponents.
- Level one: Sand Attack
- Level three: Bulldoze
- Level five: Dig
- Level seven: Earthquake
Pokémon Unite Garchomp Held Items
You can choose up to three held items. These are some of the best options in the game to increase both attack power and movement speed to enable Garchomp to unleash his full dragon tank potential.
- Assault vest
Gains a percentage of your maximum HP as a shield that blocks special attacks (out of combat).
- Float stone
Moves faster when out of combat.
- Rocky helmet
Deals percent damage to nearby opponents after taking a certain amount of personal damage.
- Shell bell
Special attacks heal 45 HP as well as a percentage of special attack.
- Muscle band
Increases attack power and speed.
Pokémon Unite Garchomp Battle item
You can choose one battle item per match. For Garchomp, we recommend you choose one of the following.
- X Speed
Temporarily increases movement speed.
- Eject Button
Instantly teleports you to a nearby location.
- X Attack
Temporarily increases attack damage.
Pokémon Unite Garchomp attack type
All the critters in Pokémon Unite either specialise in attack or special attack, which dictates what items are effective for them, and what enemies they are weak or strong against. Garchomp is an attack Pokémon, meaning the damage it deals is physical.
Is Garchomp good in Pokémon Unite?
In our Pokémon Unite tier list, Garchomp lands in B overall, and A as an All-Rounder, meaning it’s a pretty decent pick and has a good win rate, but isn’t topping the charts at the moment. Of course, any Pokémon can be brilliant in the right trainer’s hands, and the meta often updates shifting their ranks around. So, if Garchomp suits your playstyle and you have fun stomping around the arena, go for it!
If you want to delve more into the world of Pokémon Unite, why not check out our fully-loaded Pokémon Unite guide? Or, if you’re looking to research some more Pokémon specific builds, we’ve got Pokémon Unite’s Blastoise, Pokémon Unite’s Gardevoir, Pokémon Unite’s Wigglytuff.
We can also help you learn more about Garchomp through our ground Pokémon, ground Pokémon weakness, dragon Pokémon, and dragon Pokémon weakness guides. But why stop there? Brush up your knowledge with our dark Pokémon weakness, ice Pokémon weakness, psychic Pokémon weakness, and ghost Pokémon weakness articles, too.