Arcanine is Fire-type Pokémon that players can get in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl that has incredible stats and a unique movepool to follow. Arcanine is the evolved form of Growlithe, and both Pokémon are long-time fan favorites from the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green. Though Arcanine's species is the "Legendary Pokémon," it is not one of the Legendary Pokémon available in-game.
When Arcanine was first designed, it was supposed to be the final member of the Legendary trio alongside Articuno and Zapdos. However, in order to keep the three Pokémon similar in design and overall representation, Moltres was developed and Arcanine became available as a more common Pokémon. Considering Arcanine's stats are near-Legendary status, it's safe to say that the Fire-type Pokémon is still one of the best Fire-type Pokémon in BDSP.
Arcanine is one of the few offensively strong Fire-type Pokémon that can be used as either a physical or special attacker in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, although its Attack stat has a slightly greater potential than its Special Attack. Arcanine also has good HP and Speed stats, and overall solid Defense and Special Defense stats. Though it will still struggle against Water- and Ground-type Pokémon, Arcanine can really mix things up by using the Grass-type move, Solar Beam. Additionally, with moves like Play Rough and Dragon Pulse in its arsenal, Arcanine has the potential to give even the best competitive Dragon-type Pokémon in BDSP a run for their money.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: How To Get Arcanine
The only way players can get an Arcanine in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is by using a Fire Stone on Growlithe. Multiple Fire Stones can easily be obtained in-game by digging in the Grand Underground, but obtaining a Growlithe is a much more difficult process. Growlithe is a Brilliant Diamond exclusive, and can only be obtained once players have the National Dex. Afterward, players can travel to the Grand Underground and find Growlithe in the Spacious, Typhlo, Volcanic, and Sandsear caves.
Once Growlithe evolves into Arcanine it has access to a larger array of unique moves, however, Arcanine will not learn any moves upon leveling up or afterward outside of Extreme Speed. Players can, fortunately, bring a Heart Scale and Arcanine to a Move Tutor in Pokémon BDSP to have it learn any of the moves it would have otherwise learned as a Growlithe. For example, Growlithe learns the move Play Rough at level 48, but if trainers evolve a level one Growlithe into Arcanine they can also use a Heart Scale on Arcanine to have it learn Play Rough instantly. For players looking to have an easier-to-acquire pure Fire-type, Arcanine is absolutely the best choice in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl are available on Nintendo Switch.