TL;DR
- Complete The Indigo Disk DLC story to access Elite Four battles
- Defeat Drayton’s trial using Terarium-caught Pokémon only
- Obtain Dragon Cheer TM from Drayton or craft it with specific materials
- Teach Dragon Cheer to Dipplin and level up once to trigger evolution
- Use strategic team building and resource management for efficient completion
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s second expansion, The Indigo Disk DLC, introduces a fascinating new evolutionary path for Dipplin, transforming it into the formidable Hydrapple. This evolution represents a significant power upgrade that many trainers are eager to unlock for their teams.
Dipplin can evolve into Hydrapple once it learns Dragon Cheer.
Before attempting this evolution, you’ll need to progress through the initial story quests of The Indigo Disk DLC to unlock access to the Blueberry Academy Elite Four challenges. A crucial preparatory step involves obtaining Dipplin itself, which cannot be captured within the Terarium biome. Instead, you must journey to Kitakami from the first DLC and use a Syrupy Apple to evolve an Applin into Dipplin. Many trainers overlook this requirement and waste time searching for Applin in the wrong locations.
Story progression is non-negotiable here—if you cannot access the Elite Four battles, you’ll need to advance further in the main DLC storyline. This typically requires completing several key missions and establishing your reputation at Blueberry Academy before the Elite Four becomes available.
The cornerstone of evolving Dipplin into Hydrapple revolves around obtaining the Dragon Cheer move, specifically through TM 226. This technical machine becomes available only after you defeat Drayton, the dragon-type specialist of the Blueberry Academy Elite Four stationed in the Polar Biome.
Drayton presents a unique challenge that requires strategic preparation. Before you can even battle him, you must complete his specialized trial: defeating three different trainers using exclusively Pokémon captured within the Terarium’s diverse ecosystems. This restriction forces trainers to build temporary teams specifically for this challenge, which many players find unexpectedly difficult.
Upon conquering Drayton’s trial and emerging victorious in your battle against him, you’ll be rewarded with TM 226 Dragon Cheer. This valuable item can then be replicated at the TM Maker located in Central Plaza. The crafting requirements include 1,500 League Points plus specific material components: 2 Tatsugiri Scales, 2 Lapras Teardrops, and 1 Applin Juice. These materials can be efficiently farmed by targeting the respective Pokémon in wild encounters.
For trainers seeking alternative acquisition methods or needing multiple copies, understanding the material farming locations and efficient League Point accumulation becomes essential. The Tatsugiri Scales typically drop from Tatsugiri found in watery areas, while Lapras Teardrops come from Lapras encounters in ocean zones.
Once you possess the Dragon Cheer TM, the actual evolution process becomes straightforward but requires precise execution. You must teach this move to your Dipplin, then initiate a single level increase through either traditional battling or using EXP Candy items.
The teaching process involves selecting the TM from your inventory and applying it directly to Dipplin. A common mistake trainers make is attempting to evolve Dipplin before it learns Dragon Cheer, which will inevitably fail regardless of level or other conditions.
For the level-up requirement, strategic approaches vary based on your available resources. Using EXP Candy provides instant results but consumes valuable items. Traditional battling allows you to simultaneously earn other rewards but takes more time. Advanced players often combine both methods—using battles for most of the level progression then finishing with candy for precision control.
Post-evolution, Hydrapple gains significant stat improvements and new abilities that make it a valuable addition to any competitive team. Its dual Grass/Dragon typing provides both offensive coverage and defensive utility, though it introduces new vulnerability to Ice-type attacks that require strategic team compensation.
Seasoned trainers recommend preparing a moveset and held items in advance since Hydrapple’s improved capabilities allow for more sophisticated battle strategies. Understanding type matchups and team synergy becomes crucial when integrating this powerful Pokémon into your roster.
Action Checklist
- Progress through The Indigo Disk DLC main story until Elite Four access unlocks
- Capture Applin in Kitakami and evolve it using Syrupy Apple
- Build a Terarium-only team and defeat Drayton’s three trial trainers
- Battle and defeat Drayton to obtain Dragon Cheer TM
- Teach Dragon Cheer to Dipplin and level up once to trigger evolution
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » How To Evolve Dipplin Into Hydrapple In Pokemon Scarlet And Violet Indigo Disk DLC Complete guide to evolving Dipplin into Hydrapple with Dragon Cheer TM and battle strategies
