Notes and Strategy (10)

Learn how to counter Ardos's powerful Pokémon in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, including strategies for Swellow, Alakazam, Kingdra, Heracross, and Snorlax.

Alright, so you're up against Ardos, and he's got some seriously fast Pokémon that can really mess you up before you even get a turn. His Swellow and Alakazam are the main culprits here. My best advice? Try to paralyze them right off the bat. That'll give you the breathing room you need.

You'll want to watch out for the movesets of his other Pokémon too. Alakazam has a nasty Psychic, plus Ice Punch and Thunderpunch. Kingdra is packing Hydro Pump, Double-Edge, and Ice Beam. And Heracross? It's got Brick Break, Double-Edge, and Megahorn. Kingdra is a Water/Dragon type, so it's only really weak to Dragon-type moves, but its Ice Beam can hit your Dragons hard. Honestly, a couple of neutral hits like Psychic or Thunderbolt should take care of it, though.

Now, Snorlax might be Ardos's slowest Pokémon, but don't underestimate it. It knows a move called Shadow End, which hits like a truck. If your Pokémon get caught by it, you're in for a world of hurt, but the good news is Snorlax will probably lose about half its HP too. Just keep in mind that its Leftovers item will slowly heal it back up. Also, Swellow (or Electabuzz, depending on your version) can use Shadow Mist, which makes it way easier for Snorlax's Shadow End to connect. To counter this combo, I'd suggest leaving Kingdra out for a bit; its attacks aren't super strong offensively, and it's more about defense, which can help disrupt Ardos's strategy.

After you deal with Ardos, he'll realize he messed up and couldn't stop you. He'll then punt you over to Greevil himself. Head inside the dome – there's a Healing Machine and a PC there, so make sure to use them! Then, go through the sliding door. You'll find Greevil and Eldes waiting for you. Greevil will congratulate you on beating his goons but won't let you stop his Shadow Pokémon plan. He'll throw up a glass wall to block your path, which is pretty lame, honestly. At this point, you can't go any further, so you'll have to leave. As you're making your exit, Gorigan will challenge you to a rematch. Get ready!