Top 3 Methods for Shiny Garchomp Hunting in Brilliant Diamond

Shiny hunting in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond can be a rewarding, albeit time-consuming, endeavor. Garchomp, the fearsome Dragon/Ground-type pseudo-legendary, is a popular target. Its subtle shiny form makes it a challenge to spot, so knowing the best methods is crucial. Here are the top 3 methods for shiny hunting Garchomp in Brilliant Diamond.

## Understanding Shiny Hunting Basics

Before diving into specific methods, it's important to understand the fundamentals:

* **Shiny Charm:** Obtaining the Shiny Charm significantly increases your chances of encountering a shiny Pokemon. You get this by completing the Sinnoh Pokedex and talking to Professor Oak in Ramanas Park.

* **Patience is Key:** Shiny hunting requires dedication and perseverance. Don't get discouraged if you don't find a shiny quickly.

* **Save Before Encounter:** Save your game before initiating any encounter to reset if the Pokemon isn't shiny.

* **Know your odds:** Without the Shiny Charm, the odds of encountering a shiny are 1/4096. With the Shiny Charm, the odds improve to 1/1365.33.

## Method 1: Static Encounter (Cynthia's Garchomp)

The most straightforward, yet arguably most challenging, method is to shiny hunt Cynthia's Garchomp at the end of the game. This method relies on resetting the game if Garchomp is not shiny.


Here's how:

1. **Defeat the Elite Four and Champion:** Progress through the game until you reach Cynthia in the Pokemon League.

2. **Save Before the Battle:** Save your game right before initiating the battle with Cynthia.

3. **Engage in Battle:** Start the battle and carefully observe Garchomp's coloring. Remember, its shiny is a VERY subtle change.

4. **Check for Shininess:** If Garchomp is shiny, congratulations! Capture it. If it is not shiny, proceed to the next step.

5. **Reset the Game:** Turn off or reset your Nintendo Switch. Load your save file.

6. **Repeat:** Repeat steps 3-5 until you encounter a shiny Garchomp.

**Pros:**

* Guaranteed Garchomp encounter.

* Relatively simple method.

**Cons:**

* Can be incredibly time-consuming due to the full battle sequence.

* Requires defeating the Elite Four each time.

* Shiny is hard to notice.

## Method 2: Grand Underground Dig Spots

The Grand Underground offers another, albeit less direct, method. You can find Pokemon statues that boost the spawn rates of specific types of Pokemon.


While you can't directly influence Garchomp's spawn rate via statues as it's a Dragon/Ground type and no statues boost both types, statues can increase the general number of encounters, resulting in more chances for a shiny to appear.

1. **Obtain the National Pokedex:** This unlocks Pokemon from other regions, including Gible and Gabite.

2. **Explore the Grand Underground:** Use the Explorer Kit to enter the Grand Underground.

3. **Find Pokemon Hideaways:** Look for rooms that spawn Gible or Gabite.

4. **Manipulate Statues (Optional):** While direct Dragon/Ground boosts are unavailable, place statues that increase the spawn rate of other types to maximize Pokemon encounters. More encounters, means slightly higher chance of a shiny encounter.

5. **Encounter and Check:** Enter and exit the rooms to refresh the Pokemon spawns. Battle each Gible/Gabite and check if it's shiny. Reset if it isn't.

**Pros:**

* More variety in encounters.

* Can passively hunt while exploring.

**Cons:**

* Relies on random spawns.

* Can be slow due to the need to refresh rooms.

* Still relies on the very low chance of shiny generation.

## Method 3: Breeding (Masuda Method)

This method is best to get a shiny Gible which you can then train into a Garchomp. The Masuda Method is the best way to go about this.


This involves breeding a Gible (or its evolutions) with a Ditto from a different region than your game.

1. **Obtain a Foreign Ditto:** Trade for a Ditto from a different region (e.g., Japanese, European) via online trading or the GTS.

2. **Breed Gible with Ditto:** Place your Gible/Gabite/Garchomp and the foreign Ditto in the Day-Care Center on Route 214.

3. **Collect Eggs:** After a short while, the Day-Care Man will have an egg for you. Collect it and hatch it.

4. **Check for Shininess:** Check the newly hatched Gible for shininess. If it isn't shiny, release or keep it.

5. **Repeat:** Repeat steps 3-4 until you hatch a shiny Gible.

**Pros:**

* Increased shiny odds with the Masuda Method (approximately 1/683 without Shiny Charm, 1/512 with Shiny Charm).

* Allows for control over Gible's nature and IVs with items like Everstones and Destiny Knots.

**Cons:**

* Can be repetitive.

* Requires a foreign Ditto.

No matter which method you choose, shiny hunting Garchomp in Brilliant Diamond requires patience and dedication. Good luck, and happy hunting!

Which of these methods seems like the most appealing to you, and why?

Hey! Definitely agree that the Shiny Charm is essential for Garchomp. I'm curious to hear which methods you've had the most success with!