You’ve almost reached the end of your Gym Challenge in Pokémon Sword and Shield, but you still have one last test in Hammerlocke City. The Hammerlocke Gym is one of the most unique Gyms in any Pokémon game. Here’s how to beat it and complete your Gym Challenge.
Pokémon to bring to the Hammerlocke Gym
Before starting the Gym Mission, you should make sure you have a solid Pokémon party. In the Hammerlocke Gym, you will face a series of Doubles Battles under different weather conditions. This Gym doesn’t have a set type of Pokémon, although exactly half of the Pokémon you will fight will be at least part Dragon-type.
The best strategy for beating this Gym is to bring Pokémon with a wide variety of coverage moves. You will definitely want a strong Ice-type move. Having a good Ground-type move is also valuable in this Gym. Having a Fairy-type that’s immune to Dragon-type moves is helpful as well.
Alcremie is very useful in this Gym because it’s a Fairy-type that can learn Dazzling Gleam, which will hit both opponents in a Doubles Battle and is super effective against Dragon-type. Sandaconda is a great option for Ground-type attacks, and Sneasel and Weavile are strong Ice-type attackers.
The Gym Mission
The Gym Mission is very straightforward. You will have to beat three trainers who use different weather conditions. The first trainer will use a Level 45 Pelipper with Drizzle to set up rain and then a Level 45 Sliggoo, a Dragon-type. Any Electric-type move will own Pelipper, and you can use a Fairy, Ice, or Dragon-type move to deal with Sliggoo.
The second trainer uses a Level 45 Ninetales with Drought to set up Sun and then a Level 45 Turtonator. Both of these Pokémon are weak to Ground-type moves, so Sandaconda or another Ground-type Pokémon will be great in this fight. Beware though, as using the Ground-type move Earthquake will also hit your partner in a Doubles Battle.
The third trainer sets up Hail with a Level 45 Abomasnow and then uses a Level 45 Hakamo-o. Fire-type moves will destroy Abomasnow, but if you don’t have one it’s also weak to Flying, Steel, Bug, Rock, and Poison-type moves. Hakamo-o is mono Dragon-type like Sliggoo.
Once you beat these three trainers, you will fight the Gym Leader Raihan. This fight will also be a Doubles Battle, and he will open with a Level 46 Gigalith to set up a Sandstorm along with a Level 47 Flygon. He has a Level 46 Sandaconda and a Level 48 Duraludon that he will Gigantamax in the back. Ice-type moves will be super effective against Flygon, and Sandaconda and Ground-type moves will be super-effective against Gigalith and Duraludon.
Once you’ve beat Raihan, you will be done with your Gym Challenge, and it will be off to Wyndon City to take on the Tournament!
