Master the hunt for Totodile and its powerful evolutions in Pokemon BDSP with this complete Grand Underground strategy guide.
Unlocking Totodile: Prerequisites and Setup
The beloved Water-type starter from the Johto region, Totodile, makes a triumphant return in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (BDSP). Unlike your initial Sinnoh starter, acquiring this fan-favorite requires specific post-game progress. This guide details the exact steps to unlock, locate, and fully evolve this powerful aquatic ally.
Before Totodile can appear anywhere in Sinnoh, you must first complete a major milestone: obtaining the National Pokedex. This expands your Pokedex from 150 Sinnoh species to include Pokemon from all previous generations.
The journey begins after you defeat the Elite Four and become the Champion. You must see all 150 Pokemon in the Sinnoh Dex—you do not need to catch them. Once accomplished, return to Sandgem Town and speak with Professor Rowan. He will upgrade your Pokedex to the National version, a critical gate for accessing rare Pokemon like Totodile and its fellow Johto starters.
A common point of confusion is attempting this hunt too early. Totodile, Cyndaquil, and other non-Sinnoh species are completely absent from the Grand Underground until the National Dex is acquired. Ensure this step is done first to avoid wasting time.
Totodile’s Spawn Locations and Hunting Strategy
The Grand Underground is a vast network of tunnels and special Hideaways. Totodile exclusively spawns in Hideaways with a water biome. Your goal is to find these specific rooms.
Finding the right room is only half the battle. Totodile is a rare spawn, meaning it won’t appear every time you enter. An efficient reset strategy is essential.
Pro Tip: Have a Pokemon with the Super Repel ability (like a Keen Eye Pokemon) at the front of your party or use Max Repels. This prevents low-level wild Pokemon in the tunnels from interrupting your farming loop, saving significant time.
Once spotted, approach and initiate battle. Come prepared with plenty of Ultra Balls and status-inflicting moves like Sleep Powder or Thunder Wave to make the catch easier. Totodile caught here will be between levels 58 and 63, giving you a powerful Pokemon right off the bat.
Evolving Totodile to Croconaw and Feraligatr
After successfully catching your Totodile, evolution is your next step. Its evolution line follows a standard level progression, but the high starting level from the Grand Underground offers a unique advantage.
In the wild, Totodile evolves into Croconaw at Level 18. Since your captured Totodile is already far beyond that, it is likely ready to evolve immediately. If for some reason it’s not, gain a small amount of XP through one battle or an Exp. Candy.
This is a massive benefit. You can add a fully-evolved, high-level Feraligatr to your team within minutes of catching its pre-evolution. Rare Candies can be found in the Grand Underground, received as rewards, or purchased with Battle Points (BP) at the Battle Tower.
Important Note: Evolution happens automatically upon leveling up. You cannot cancel it. If you wish to keep Croconaw for any reason (such as learning a move earlier), avoid leveling it up to 30. Check its move learnset on the status screen first.
Feraligatr is a formidable Physical Attacker with high Attack and HP stats. Its ability, Torrent, boosts Water-type moves when its HP is low, making it a potent sweeper for the post-game Battle Tower or rematches.
Advanced Tips and Common Pitfalls
To maximize your new Water-type powerhouse, consider team synergy and avoid these common errors.
Team Synergy: Feraligatr’s Water typing leaves it weak to Electric and Grass moves. Pair it with a Ground-type like Garchomp to absorb Electric attacks, or a Flying/Fire-type like Crobat or Infernape to handle Grass-types. Its high physical attack pairs well with support Pokemon that can use Rain Dance (to boost Water moves) or inflict status conditions like paralysis.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
With patience and the right strategy, Totodile and its powerful evolution line will be a valuable asset for conquering the post-game content of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
Now that you have the Water-type and its evolutions, make sure to check out our other Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl guides and walkthroughs:
How to get Jirachi | How to get Mew | Version exclusives | All Legendary Pokemon | How to get the Poketch | Best starter to pick | All Styles | How to beat all Gym Leaders | How to walk with your Pokemon
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » How to catch Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Master the hunt for Totodile and its powerful evolutions in Pokemon BDSP with this complete Grand Underground strategy guide.