The Elite Four and Cynthia: Teams and Tips (Pt, D, P)

Four specialists and a Champion who has become a legend: the Sinnoh Elite Four is one of the toughest in the series, and Cynthia one of the most feared opponents in Pokémon history. Here are their teams in each version, and how to approach them.

The five battles come back to back with no way to return to a Pokémon Center: you can only heal with the items in your Bag. Each Elite Four member has a favorite type, but not a uniform team, especially in Diamond and Pearl.

Platinum’s teams are a little weaker on the first run (levels 49 to 62) than those of Diamond and Pearl (53 to 66), but Platinum offers far tougher rematches.

🎒Getting ready

Level: aim for 55 to 60 in Diamond and Pearl, 50 to 55 in Platinum, at least for your four best Pokémon.
Coverage: an Ice-type move for Garchomp, Fire or Flying for Aaron’s Bugs, Water or Grass for Bertha, Water or Ground for Flint, Dark or Ghost for Lucian.
Healing: around fifteen Hyper Potions or Max Potions, a few Revives and Max Revives, and Full Heals. The League shop sells all of these.
Held items: Leftovers, Sitrus Berries, Choice Scarf or Choice Band if you have them.

🐞Aaron (Bug)

Elite Four

Aaron

📍 Pokémon League, first chamberBug

💰 6,840 ₽

DustoxNo. 53BugPoison
- Bug Buzz
- Light Screen
- Toxic
- Double Team
Ability: Shield Dust
BeautiflyNo. 53BugFlying
- Bug Buzz
- Energy Ball
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
Ability: Swarm
HeracrossNo. 54BugFighting
- Megahorn
- Night Slash
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
Ability: Swarm
VespiquenNo. 54BugFlying
- Power Gem
- Heal Order
- Attack Order
- Defend Order
Ability: Pressure
DrapionNo. 57PoisonDark
- Aerial Ace
- Cross Poison
- Ice Fang
- X-Scissor
Ability: Battle ArmorItem: Sitrus Berry

Our strategy

Fire, Flying and Rock. Drapion, his ace, only fears Ground.

🌋Bertha (Ground)

Elite Four

Elite Four Bertha

📍 Pokémon League, second chamberGround

💰 7,080 ₽

QuagsireNo. 55WaterGround
- Protect
- Sandstorm
- Dig
- Double Team
Ability: Damp
SudowoodoNo. 56Rock
- Sucker Punch
- Hammer Arm
- Sandstorm
- Earthquake
Ability: Sturdy
WhiscashNo. 55WaterGround
- Fissure
- Rock Slide
- Zen Headbutt
- Aqua Tail
Ability: Oblivious
GolemNo. 56RockGround
- Brick Break
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake
- Sandstorm
Ability: Rock Head
HippowdonNo. 59Ground
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Curse
- Earthquake
Ability: Sand StreamItem: Sitrus Berry

Our strategy

Water, Grass and Ice. Whiscash only fears Grass; Gliscor (Platinum) is four times weak to Ice.

🔥Flint (Fire)

Elite Four

Flint

📍 Pokémon League, third chamberFire

💰 7,320 ₽

RapidashNo. 58Fire
- Sunny Day
- Flare Blitz
- Solar Beam
- Bounce
Ability: Run Away
SteelixNo. 57SteelGround
- Rock Tomb
- Fire Fang
- Sunny Day
- Screech
Ability: Rock Head
DrifblimNo. 58GhostFlying
- Double Team
- Baton Pass
- Ominous Wind
- Will-O-Wisp
Ability: Aftermath
LopunnyNo. 57Normal
- Mirror Coat
- Charm
- Sunny Day
- Fire Punch
Ability: Cute Charm
InfernapeNo. 61FireFighting
- Earthquake
- Thunder Punch
- Flare Blitz
- Mach Punch
Ability: BlazeItem: Sitrus Berry

Our strategy

Water, Ground and Rock. In Diamond and Pearl, he has only two Fire Pokémon: make sure you can beat Steelix, Drifblim and Lopunny.

🔮Lucian (Psychic)

Elite Four

Elite Four Lucian

📍 Pokémon League, fourth chamberPsychic

💰 7,560 ₽

Mr. MimeNo. 59Psychic
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Psychic
- Thunderbolt
Ability: Soundproof
GirafarigNo. 59NormalPsychic
- Shadow Ball
- Double Hit
- Crunch
- Psychic
Ability: Inner Focus
MedichamNo. 60FightingPsychic
- Drain Punch
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch
Ability: Pure Power
AlakazamNo. 60Psychic
- Energy Ball
- Focus Blast
- Psychic
- Recover
Ability: Synchronize
BronzongNo. 63SteelPsychic
- Gyro Ball
- Calm Mind
- Psychic
- Earthquake
Ability: LevitateItem: Sitrus Berry

Our strategy

Dark and Ghost, not forgetting Bug. Bronzong resists a lot of things: use Fire or Dark.

👑Cynthia, Champion of the League

A passionate archaeologist with a love of myths, Cynthia guides you throughout the adventure before waiting for you at the summit. Her team is balanced, fast and powerful, and her Garchomp traumatized a generation of players.

League Champion

Cynthia

📍 Pokémon League, Champion's chamber

💰 13,200 ₽

SpiritombNo. 61GhostDark
- Silver Wind
- Embargo
- Dark Pulse
- Psychic
Ability: Pressure
LucarioNo. 63FightingSteel
- Dragon Pulse
- Aura Sphere
- Psychic
- Earthquake
Ability: Steadfast
RoseradeNo. 60GrassPoison
- Extrasensory
- Energy Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Shadow Ball
Ability: Natural Cure
MiloticNo. 63Water
- Mirror Coat
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Aqua Ring
Ability: Marvel Scale
GastrodonNo. 60WaterGround
- Sludge Bomb
- Muddy Water
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
Ability: Sticky Hold
GarchompNo. 66DragonGround
- Dragon Rush
- Giga Impact
- Earthquake
- Brick Break
Ability: Sand VeilItem: Sitrus Berry

Our strategy

Garchomp: Ice, four times effective. That is the whole battle.
Spiritomb has no weakness in this generation: use your most powerful attacks.
Milotic sends special attacks back with Mirror Coat: hit it with physical attacks.

🔁The rematches

Platinum

In Platinum, the Elite Four and Cynthia then await you with reinforced teams: levels 65 to 78. It is some of the best training in the game.

Diamond · Pearl

In Diamond and Pearl, the Elite Four and Cynthia keep the same teams every time: the League remains an excellent source of money and experience.

Winning the League opens up the postgame: the National Pokédex, then the Battle Zone.

The Elite Four and Cynthia

🎒Getting ready

🐞Aaron (Bug)

🌋Bertha (Ground)

🔥Flint (Fire)

🔮Lucian (Psychic)

👑Cynthia, Champion of the League

🔁The rematches

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