How to beat Volkner in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Though Volkner acts lax, his Electric-type Pokémon will shock you if you think they'll be the same. Well... his two Electric-type Pokémon, anyways. For an Electric-type gym leader, his team doesn't match the theme all that well.

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

His Team

Volkner follows Candice's lead and brings four Pokémon to combat you:

• Raichu - Level 46
  • Moves: Nuzzle, Volt Switch, Surf, Charge Beam
  • Ability: Static
  • Item: Shuca Berry
• Ambipom - Level 47
  • Moves: Fake Out, Thunderbolt, Double Hit, Last Resort
  • Ability: Technician
  • Item: Chople Berry
• Octillery - Level 47
  • Moves: Octazooka, Focus Energy, Aurora Beam, Charge Beam
  • Ability: Sniper
  • Item: Expert Belt
• Luxray - Level 49
  • Moves: Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Crunch, Iron Tail
  • Ability: Intimidate
  • Item: Sitrus Berry

To our knowledge, Volkner will use up to two Full Restores when his Pokémon are low.

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

Strategy

Raichu will be a recurring nuisance in this fight unless you can wipe out the electric mouse early on. It has Nuzzle, which is guaranteed to paralyze the Pokémon it hits. If Volkner senses danger, Raichu will Volt Switch into either Octillery or Ambipom to escape.

Taking out Raichu is a nuisance in and of itself. It's holding a Shuca Berry, so the first super-effective Ground-type attack will do drastically reduced damage. You'll need to either smack it twice with Ground attacks or deal enough with another type to score a KO.

Ambipom won't go down to its sole weakness either since it's holding a Chople Berry, which will reduce a Fighting-type attack. Its ability Technician makes it dangerous as well. Technician increases the power of low-power moves like Fake Out and Double Hit, letting it score a scary amount of damage.

Your best shot with Ambipom is to have a Rock, Steel, or Ghost-type Pokémon ready to absorb the Normal-type attacks and KO it before it can do too much with Thunderbolt.

Octillery isn't much of a threat. It can be potentially threatening with its diverse move set and Expert Belt, but it's slow and easy to KO. Volkner will want to use Focus Energy to take advantage of the extra damage from Octillery's Sniper ability, but that just gives you an extra turn to wipe the octopus Pokémon out.

Luxray will immediately cut the attack of its opponent with Intimidate, which is unfortunate as most of the Ground-type Pokémon and moves in Sinnoh are physical. You'll either need to deal with the lessened attack or swap into your Ground attacker afterward.

Luxray also has an impressive diversity of moves. Grass, Ground, Flying, Water, Ghost, Psychic, Fairy, Rock, and Ice-type Pokémon will all find themselves in danger against Luxray. Avoid sending out those types and you should stand a good chance at winning.

For the best way to make your own lethal Luxray, check out Best Nature for Shinx, Luxio, and Luxray in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl on Pro Game Guides!