How to beat Crasher Wake in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Crasher Wake has both a powerful personality and a powerful team of Water-type Pokémon, making him a force to be reckoned with. He can be fought as either the third or fourth gym leader.

Note: This guide is for the gym leader fight, not the rematch.

His Team

Wake brings three Pokémon to his gym leader battle:

• Gyarados - Level 27
  • Moves: Brine, Ice Fang, Crunch, and Flail
  • Ability Intimidate
  • Item: Wide Lens
• Quagsire - Level 27
  • Moves: Rain Dance, Haze, Mud Shot, and Scald
  • Ability: Damp
  • Item: Damp Rock
• Floatzel - Level 30
  • Moves: Brine, Ice Fang, Bite, and Aqua Jet
  • Ability: Swift Swim
  • Item: Sitrus Berry

To our knowledge, he will use up to two Hyper Potions when his Pokémon are low.

Related: How to beat Maylene in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Strategy

Gyarados is the first out. Its Intimidate ability will lower the attack of your first Pokémon, so plan to either switch immediately or use a special attacker. Electric-type attacks will fry Gyarados quickly, but Rock-type attacks will get the job done too.

Two of Wake's three Pokémon know Ice Fang, which makes Flying and Grass-type Pokémon liabilities. This makes taking advantage of Quagsire's only weakness (Grass) harder to do, but still doable.

If Quagsire gets off a Rain Dance, prepare for a rough time. All Water-type moves used will get a damage buff once it starts raining. Add that onto the same-type attack bonus all his Pokémon will get and you'll be taking some serious damage from every Water attack even if you resist them.

You can overwrite Rain Dance with a weather move of your own or even use your own Water-type attacks to take advantage of your opponent's strategy. This works especially well on Quagsire itself since it takes neutral damage from Water moves.

Between its ability Swift Swim and Aqua Jet (which is guaranteed to hit first in a turn) you likely won't be out-speeding Floatzel. Your best bet is to either hope your Pokémon can take a hit and then crush Floatzel with an Electric or Grass move, or bring out a Water-type of your own and trade blows.

If you weather out Wake's weather and keep yourself healed up, then you should be able to beat Wake's team in no time!

For more Brilliant Diamond and Shing Pearl guides, check out our Pokémon category here on Pro Game Guides!