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Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

How to Defeat Gym Leader Candice

By
Vincent Lau

Need help fighting Gym Leader Candice? This page has strategies and tips to deal with the Ice-type master.

Candice is the 7th Gym Leader, waiting at the end of Snowpoint City Gym. True to her name, she’s unabashedly a big fan of Ice-types.

Gym Leader Candice

(1 of 2) Candice is the penultimate Gym Leader.

Candice is the penultimate Gym Leader. (left), Snover will cause Hail when it enters battle. (right)

Pokémon Level Type
459.png"Snover" IconSnover 38 pokemon_bdsp_grass17.pngpokemon_bdsp_ice17.png
215.png"Sneasel" IconSneasel 38 pokemon_bdsp_dark17.pngpokemon_bdsp_ice17.png
308.png"Medicham" IconMedicham 40 pokemon_bdsp_fighting17.pngpokemon_bdsp_psychic17.png
460.png"Abomasnow" IconAbomasnow 42 pokemon_bdsp_grass17.pngpokemon_bdsp_ice17.png

Candice leads with "Snover" IconSnover. Thanks to its Snow Warning ability and Icy Rock, Hail will appear in battle for 8 turns, damaging non-Ice Pokémon.

Fielding your own Ice-type generally isn’t that useful, so do your best to finish this Gym Leader fight fast and/or vary your Pokémon. You could also use a Pokémon with the Cloud Nine ability (mainly "Psyduck" IconPsyduck/"Golduck" IconGolduck) to cancel the weather or summon your own weather with Sunny Day/Rain Dance etc.

Anyway, Snover itself isn’t too scary. It can use Mist to protect its team from status conditions, Razor Leaf and Avalanche for STAB, plus Water Pulse to annoy Fire-types. That said, Fire-types are highly recommended for their quadruple damage. Besides that, Fighting, Poison, Bug or Steel are good choices.

Meanwhile, "Sneasel" IconSneasel has Avalanche for STAB, Dig to waste your time and hurt Fire, Rock and Steel-types, Metal Claw to hurt Fairy-types and Hone Claws to boost its Attack and Accuracy. Fighting-types deal quadruple damage, although Sneasel is holding a Chople Berry, which weakens one Fighting-type attack. We’d still suggest a Fighting-type though or a Bug-type.

(1 of 2) Candice’s ace is her Abomasnow.

Candice’s ace is her Abomasnow. (left), A decent Fire-type that’s not slow should KO Abomasnow with ease. (right)

"Medicham" IconMedicham isn’t an Ice-type, but it is found near Snowpoint City, if that counts for anything. Candice’s can use Brick Break for STAB and to shatter screens, Rock Slide to terrorize Flying-types, Ice Punch for a similar reason and Bulk Up to raise its Attack and Defense. Ghost or Fairy-types would be great here.

Finally, "Abomasnow" IconAbomasnow also has Snow Warning, but no Icy Rock, so it’ll only cause 5 turns of Hail. For attacks it has Blizzard, which hits hard and has 100% accuracy in Hail, Giga Drain for STAB and to siphon health, Earthquake to punish Fire, Rock and Steel-types and Aurora Veil to trigger Reflect and Light Screen in hail. Like with Snover, Fire-types are highly recommended. Otherwise, go with Fighting or Bug.

After the Fight

Once you’ve defrosted Candice’s team, she’ll hand you her Icicle Badge, which lets you use HM Rock Climb outside of battle. Plus a stack of TM72 Avalanche.

From here, the Galactic Grunts blocking the entrance to Lake Acuity, towards the west, will have gone. Hmm, better go see if your rival needs help over there…

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Pokemon Company International
  • Platforms,
    Switch
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    29 October 2021
  • Last Updated
    23 April 2022
    Version History
  • Guide Author

Share this free guide:

This strategy guide for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl contains all the information Pokémon trainers will need to complete the game and catch every single Pokémon!

In this remake of the classic Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, you’ll journey through the mystical Sinnoh region to become a Pokémon master. Along the way, you’ll confront the scheming Team Galactic and witness the awesome power of the Legendary Dialga or Palkia.

Currently included in our guide:

The following will be available via free updates to our guide:

  • A complete walkthrough of the main story and postgame.
  • A full guide for Super Contest Shows.
    • How to cook the best quality Poffins.
  • Explanation of advanced mechanics, such as IVs and EVs.
  • A detailed Sinnoh region Pokédex.

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