Garchomp are dark blue, with a red underbelly that covers from the middle of its abdomen, to its jaws, and then to the undersides of its arms. Underneath the red is a gold diamond shape as well a gold cross on its snout; which gives Garchomp a close resemblance to Sharpedo, with close to the same body color as it. Garchomp have appendages that resemble jets, planes and hammerhead sharks; its four fins, one on each arm, one dorsal fin and another on its tail that resembles a sharktailfin; horns that resemble jet/plane engines rest on its head, resembling a hammerhead. It has spikes on its hind limbs and arms as well as sharper claws than its previous evolution. Its eyes have black scleras and gold-colored irides. Its pupils have shrunk.
Gender differences
A male has a cut on his dorsal fin, while the female does not.
Special abilities
Though Garchomp is not able to learn the move Fly and cannot possess Levitate, it can still fly at an incredible speed to catch its prey. This is evident in both the anime and Pokédex entries, as well as its species name.
Garchomp "flying"
Behavior
Judging from its pre-evolution and Pokédex entries, they are territorial creatures and ferocious predators that will not hesitate to lash out at intruders nor will they allow its prey to escape.
Habitat
Garchomp are cave-dwellers, but they are seldom seen in the wild.
Garchomp, the Mach Pokémon. When it folds up its body and spreads its wings, it can fly like a jet plane at the speed of sound.
In the manga
Cynthia's signature Pokémon, like in the games, is a Garchomp. It first appeared by her side in VS. Roserade, when she came across Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum training for the gym match with Gardenia. It later reappeared when she met the trio again in VS. Psyduck, where it raced with its trainer to Route 210, where a herd of Psyduck was blocking the way to Celestic Town. After Cynthia left to return a Psyduck that was separated from its owner by Team Galactic, Garchomp was left behind so that it may protect her grandmother and the three children. When Cyrus invades the Celestic Ruins, it was instructed well enough to fight even without its Trainer, but was easily exploited by the megalomaniac.
Although Garchomp is said to fly at the speed of sound, Pidgeot has a lower Speed stat but is said to fly at Mach 2 speed, twice the speed of sound.
Though its Pokédex entries make note of its astounding flying abilities, Garchomp cannot learn Fly or even possess the ability Levitate. Similarly, although Garchomp is known as the Mach Pokémon, it cannot learn Mach Punch or any other variation of Quick Attack (including Quick Attack itself).
Despite Pokédex entries noting that, when in flight, Garchomp's wings create blades of wind that can fell nearby trees, Garchomp cannot learn Air Slash or Air Cutter.
Similarly, Garchomp's HeartGold and SoulSilver Pokédex entries mention that its body is covered in fine scales, yet its Generation V Dream World ability is Rough Skin.
Garchomp is one of the only Pokémon that have their Shiny and Normal forms similar.
Origin
Appearance-wise, Garchomp seems like a cross between a European dragon and a hammerhead shark. It may have the genuine appearance of a land shark. It also seems to have the appearance of a jet.
Name origin
Its English name clearly comes from chomp. The gar- in its name may come from garpike, a species of fish similar to Garchomp. Gar- may also be a corruption of guard. The Japanese name may come from がぶがぶ gabugabu, the sound of gobbling or gulping down, がぶりと gaburito, bite or chew, or がぶりと噛み付く gaburitokamitsuku, sink one's teeth into, and アース āsu, earth, or Carcharias, a genus of sand shark.
In other languages
German: Knakrack - From knacken (to crack) and Racker (rascal).
French: Carchacrok - From Carcharodon, scientific name of sharks, and croquer (to bite).
Chinese (Taiwan): 烈咬陸鯊 Liè Yǎo Lù Shā - Literally "Violent biting land shark". Contains 陸鯊 (land shark) like the Chinese name of its pre-evolutionary form, 圓陸鯊 Yuán Lù Shā (Gible) and 尖牙陸鯊 Jiān Yá Lù Shā (Gabite).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.