2025 Garganacl Pokémon Go Debut: Best Moveset, Evolution & Weakness

by Jerry Cook Updated on 2025-12-02 14:34:23 / Update for Pokemon iOS

Niantic is finally debuting Garganacl in Pokémon Go! This blocky Pokémon is a pure Rock-type and boasts solid bulk, which is nothing short of breaking news if you currently lack Pokémons with good bulk in your team.

In this guide article, from Garganacl weakness and Garganacl evolution to shiny Garganacl and how to get Garganacl in Pokémon Go, we tell you all you need to know!

how to get garganacl pokemon go

Part 1. Is Garganacl Available in the Wild in Pokémon Go?

Ever since the announcement by Niantic, trainers have been asking: Is Garganacl in Pokémon Go really available in the wild?

The short answer is yes! But… only during the event window; at least for now.

1Nacli & Naclstack & Garganacl Debut Date and Time

The full “salt-rock” Garganacl evolution line: Nacli, Naclstack, and Garganacl, debuts with the event Journey to Paldea. It runs from December 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. local time to December 9, 2025, at 8:00 p.m.

journey to paldea

During this event, you’ll be able to evolve Nacli into Naclstack and then later evolve Naclstack into Garganacl.

2Event Bonuses

During the Journey to Paldea Pokémon Go event, trainers will get some nice boosts:

  • 2x XP for winning Raid Battles
  • 2x XP for evolving Pokémon
  • Increased shiny chance for Shiny Larvitar and Shiny Bagon

3Can Garganacl be Shiny?

Unfortunately, as of the event’s release notes, there’s no mention of a shiny Nacli, shiny Naclstack, or even shiny Garganacl in Pokémon Go.

The increased shiny odds only apply to some wild Pokémon featured in the event, and not the new Paldean Garganacl evolution line debut.

Part 2. How to Evolve Garganacl? Garganacl Evolution Guide!

nacli evolution pokemon go

If you’re new to the AR game, know that you will not directly catch Garganacl during the Journey to Paldea Pokémon Go event. You’ll first need to evolve it from its base form.

As such, we show you how to evolve Nacli all the way up to Garganacl in Pokémon Go, and what to watch for when picking the best one below!

How to Evolve Nacli into Garganacl?

how to evolve garganacl pokemon go

Wondering how to evolve Nacli? We got you!

In Pokémon Go, Nacli evolves into Naclstack using 25 Nacli Candy. Then, to get Garganacl from Naclstack, you need 100 Nacli Candy. This is how the Garganacl evolution line looks:

  • Nacli → Naclstack → Garganacl

A quick tip: If you want to quickly get the Garganacl evolution, catch as many Nacli as possible.

This is because catching Nacli gives you candy, and catching as many as possible increases your Nacli candy count quickly. Even better, using Pinap Berries doubles the candy per catch! This makes farming much more efficient.

Best IVs for Evolving Garganacl in Pokémon Go?

Since Garganacl is a pure Rock-type with good bulk, and most likely to be part of your main team, it’s wise to evolve a Naclstack into Garganacl that has high Defense and Stamina IVs.

This will help your Garganacl in Pokémon Go survive longer in raids or gym battles. While IVs don’t change when you evolve, choosing a base Nacli Pokémon with strong IV stats will make the final Garganacl evolution much stronger overall.

Here’s a table for the recommended IVs for different purposes:

  • Build Type
  • A/D/S IV
  • Ideal Use
  • PvP (Great / Ultra League)
  • 8–12/13–15/13–15
  • Balances bulk and charge efficiency for competitive battles.
  • PvE (Raids & Gyms)
  • 14–15/13–15/13–15
  • Focus on Attack for better raid performance while keeping high Defense for durability.
  • All-Rounder / General Use
  • 12–15/12–15/12–15
  • A safe spread for players who want one reliable Garganacl for both PvP and PvE.

Part 3. Why Garganacl Is So Good in Pokémon Go?

garganacl pokemon go 2025

When you get a Garganacl in Pokémon Go, you’re not just getting a cool Rock-type; you’re getting one of the bulkiest, most reliable picks available!

From Garganacl stats to Garganacl best movesets, this section shows why many players consider it a top pick.

Garganacl Pokémon's Stats & Max CP

At level 50 (max), Garganacl in Pokémon Go can reach up to:

  • Max CP: 3065
  • Attack: 171
  • Defense: 212
  • Stamina: 225

These high Defense and Stamina values make Garganacl bulky, which allows it to survive longer in gyms, raids, and even PvP!

What Is the Ability of Garganacl?

In mainline Pokémon games, Garganacl’s abilities include “Purifying Salt” and “Sturdy”. These traits emphasize defense and survival.

However, abilities don’t exist in Pokémon Go. Instead, Garganacl’s strength comes from its solid defensive stats, good stamina, and type.

Garganacl's Best Movesets for PvP & PvE

For PvE

  • The top moveset is Smack Down (fast move) + Rock Blast (charged move).
  • This yields the highest DPS and overall damage output.

For PvP

  • The same Smack Down + Rock Blast Garganacl moveset works well for PvP thanks to its solid balance of speed and power.

Garganacl's Battle Performance

In PvP

  • Thanks to Garganacl’s high DEF and STA stats, it can outlast many attackers and become a wall in battle, especially against types it resists.
  • Its Rock-type moves give it strong neutral or super-effective hits against many opponents, including Steel, Fire, Flying, and Bug-types.

In PvE

  • In raids and gyms, Garganacl shines as a reliable defender with good TDO (total damage output).
  • While it’s not the fastest Pokémon, its rock moves, staying power, and resilience make it a reliable choice in many matchups.

Part 4. What Is Garganacl Weak to in Pokémon Go? Top 5 Counters!

garganacl pokemon go counter

Understanding “what is Garganacl weak to” can help you pick the best Garganacl counters for PvP and PvE fights.

Why? Because, like all Rock-type Pokémon, it has clear weaknesses that trainers can use in battles.

What Is Garganacl's Weakness?

All Garganacl’s weaknesses come down to Garganacl’s type. In that, its Rock-typing makes it vulnerable to:

  • Water
  • Grass
  • Fighting
  • Ground
  • Steel

These type moves deal +60% damage to Garganacl in Pokémon Go. Therefore, it’s wise to bring Garganacl counters whose moves exploit these weaknesses.

5 Best Counters for Garganacl Pokémon

  • Name
  • Type
  • Best Moveset
  • Reason
  • Annihilape
  • Fighting / Ghost
  • Counter + Close Combat
  • Fighting-type moves hit Garganacl’s Rock typing for super-effective damage.
  • Garchomp
  • Dragon / Ground
  • Dragon Tail + Breaking Swipe
  • Dragon and Ground-typing attacks deal strong damage to Garganacl fast.
  • Machamp
  • Fighting
  • Counter + Dynamic Punch
  • Classic Fighting-type counter; high DPS makes it one of the best Garganacl counters.
  • Zacian (Crowned Sword)
  • Fairy / Steel
  • Metal Claw + Behemoth Blade
  • Zacian’s high attack and bulk make it a top-tier Garganacl counter.
  • Lucario
  • Fighting / Steel
  • Counter + Aura Sphere
  • One of the strongest Fighting Pokémon; Aura Sphere hits very hard.

Bonus Tip: How to Spawn & Evolve Garganacl without Moving?

garganacl in pokemon go

The Journey to Paldea event focuses on wild spawns, exploration, raids, and bonuses. From Dec 2–9, two spawn sets rotate daily, featuring Pokémon like Larvitar, Drifloon, Misdreavus, and Bagon. You may even find a wild Nacli to evolve into Garganacl. For faster catches, PoGoskill can help.

PoGoskill is a cutting-edge location spoofer app for Pokémon Go that lets you play from the cozy indoors when it's chilling December cold outside. Not only can you spoof your GPS coordinates to any location in the world, but you can also create custom routes on your virtual position and simulate your movement on them naturally with the built-in joystick mode in 360-degree freedom!

Key Features of PoGoskill

  • Auto-Catch Pokémons: Catches Pokémons for you without the need to constantly swipe at the screen.
  • Cooldown Timer: Protects your account by limiting the frequency of teleportation based on the distance spoofed.
  • Device Compatibility: Runs flawlessly on the latest versions of both Android and iOS devices.

How To Use PoGoskill

  • Step 1Click on the Download button above and install PoGoskill.

    install PoGoskill
  • Step 2Connect your device and choose “Game Mode”.

    pokemon go festival of lights 2025 location changer
  • Step 3Find a good spot with many PokeStops on the PoGo map, hit Start and move around to find featured Pokémons in the wild during the Journey to Paldea Pokémon Go event.

    pokemon go festival of lights 2025 location changer

FAQs about Garganacl Pokémon Go

Is Garganacl the Best Rock Type?

Garganacl in Pokémon Go is not the strongest Rock-type in raw damage, but its excellent bulk and endurance make it one of the most reliable defenders. It shines more in PvP due to bulk.

Where Do You Find Nacli in Pokémon?

Currently, you can find Nacli in the wild during the Journey to Paldea Pokémon Go event. Participate in the event, and you may come across a Nacli Pokémon Go spawn.

What Does Nacli Shiny Look Like?

Currently, Shiny Nacli and Shiny Garganacl are not available in Pokémon Go. In the mainline games, their shiny forms feature subtle color changes, but players cannot encounter or obtain them in Go yet.

Is Garganacl a Legendary Pokémon

No. Garganacl is not a Legendary Pokémon. It’s a standard Rock-type species that belongs to a simple three-stage evolution line. Although bulky and useful in battles, it does not have Legendary status or rarity.

What Level Does Garganacl Evolve At?

In Pokémon Go, evolution uses candy, not levels. That said, Naclstack evolves into Garganacl at Level 38 in mainline games.

At What Level Does Naclstack Evolve?

Evolution in Pokémon Go requires candy rather than levels. In the mainline series, Nacli evolves into Naclstack at Level 24, beginning the progression toward its final form, Garganacl, in this evolutionary line.

Final Thoughts

Garganacl in Pokémon Go brings a strong, reliable Rock-type option for both new and veteran players. With solid bulk, a simple evolution line, and useful moves, it fits well in both PvP and PvE teams.

We recommend using PoGoskill Location Changer to find and catch Garganacl in Pokémon Go, especially if you prefer staying indoors and avoiding the chilling cold outside during this December Pokémon Go event.

pogoskill location changer PoGoskill

Best Pokemon Go Spoofer

  • Play Pokemon GO safely with the Original App
  • Enjoy Game Mode for PoGo spoofing
  • Quickly find Pokémon, Raids, and Routes nearby
  • Scan 2000+ PokéStops and Gyms in 1 Second
  • Compatible with latest iOS 18 & Android 15
jerry cook Jerry Cook

480+ Articles

  • Fix Gaming Problems
  • AR Gamer
  • Location Issues Technist

With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Jerry Cook has helped over 10,000 gamers conquer their gaming challenges. His expertise in resolving gaming problems is unparalleled.