After a brief hint in The Teal Mask, a new evolution for Applin, one of Generation 8’s best Pokemon, has become available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disc. Dipplin, the Candy Apple Pokemon which first appeared in Part 1 of the SV DLC, was able to use the battle item the Eviolite which only works on Pokemon capable of evolving, hinting that we may see yet another new evolution to the Applin line. That theory was proven to be true because, with Part 2 of the DLC called The Indigo Disc, we’ve been introduced to Hyrapple.
Based on the hydra of Greek myth and legend, Hydrapple is a humourous and amazing mix of syrupy sweet candy apple and fearsome, multi-headed monster. As a stronger, more capable version of Dipplin, there are sure to be many trainers who want this Pokemon on their team as they battle Legendaries and Blueberry opponents alike in the new DLC. However, if you want Hydrapple for yourself, you’ll have to work to get it as Dipplin requires something special to evolve.
Here’s how to evolve Dipplin into Hydrapple in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disc.
Want more Pokémon Scarlet and Violet content and articles, including those relevant to The Indigo Disc DLC? Then you can find more here on KeenGamer:
- All Starter Locations in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disc
- How to Get Dipplin in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask
- 10 Best and Most Expensive Pokémon Obsidian Flames Cards | Pokémon TCG
- How to Increase Your Shiny Odds in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
- How to Change Your Pokémon’s Tera Type in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
How to Get Dipplin in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
First and foremost, before you can get Hydrapple you need to get its pre-evolution, Dipplin. Dipplin is, in and of itself, one of three possible evolutions from the Generation 8 Pokemon Applin. You can find Dipplin in either Paldea, the region you explore in the base game, or in Kitakami, the area where Part 1 of the Treasures of Area Zero DLC takes place: that second location is also where you need to go to evolve Applin into Dipplin so we recommend heading there if you’re down a candy apple.
In short, evolving Applin into Dipplin requires finding a special consumable, an apple to be specific, just like how you get Flapple or Appletun. The apple required to get Dipplin is called the Syrupy Apple and it can only be found in Kitakami.
If you want to find some more precise information and a step-by-step guide on where to find an Applin in Kitakami easily and how to evolve it, you can find our Dipplin evolution guide here on KeenGamer.
Dipplin, the Candy Apple Pokémon
How to Evolve Dipplin into Hydrapple in The Indigo Disc
Dipplin is the only one of Applin’s three evolutions – Flapple, Appletun and Dipplin – to get a third evolution. Unlike those Applin evolutions, you won’t need to garb a specific kind of apple to get Hydrapple. Instead, you’ll need to teach your Dipplin a special new Dragon-type move.
To evolve Dipplin into Hydrapple in The Indigo Mask DLC, you need to level up a Dipplin while it knows the move Dragon Cheer. Dragon Cheer is a brand new move introduced with The Indigo Disc. This move raises its allies’ morale with a draconic cry so that their future attacks have a heightened critical hit chance, boosting the power of Dragon-type moves for the target.
However, because this move was introduced in this newest piece of DLC, Dipplin doesn’t learn the move through level-up: instead, you need to teach it to Dipplin via the Dragon Cheer TM.
Dragon Cheer
Dragon Cheer TM Location
You won’t find Dragon Cheer as a TM out in the open world of the Terrarium: instead, you can only get the first copy of Dragon Cheer by progressing the main story of The Indigo Disc.
The real work can start after you perform all of the introductory steps and meet up with Carmine again (it goes without saying but you also need to have completed the main story of The Teal Mask to proceed). She’ll introduce you to Drayton, one of the Elite Four members of Blueberry Academy. Eventually, you’ll be drafted into the BB Club by Drayton and be asked to take on Blueberry Academy’s Elite Four.
You can take on the Elite Four in any order and find one member in each Biome within the Terrarium. If you’re just after the Dragon Cheer TM and want to get it as quickly as possible, go to the Polar Biome and immediately challenge Drayton to a battle.
Drayton of the Blueberry Elite Four
Before you can battle him, you’ll be asked to undertake a Trial where you must beat three trainers using only Pokémon caught inside the Terrarium. Fortunately, seeing as you’re in the Polar Biome, you can use many useful Pokemon to crush these trainers, including Beartic and Reuiniclus.
After that, you can fight Drayton himself. Like the other Indigo Disc trainer battles, Drayton is actually pretty tough with plenty of coverage for types which deal super effective damage to Dragon types: in particular, watch out for Earthquake which his Flygon and Haxorous use as well as his Terastalised Archaludon. To make it as painless as possible, be sure to equip your team with battle items and bring plenty of Full Restores and Revives.
Beat Drayton and he’ll give the Dragon Cheer TM as a reward.
Reward for Beating the Best
This will also unlock the ability to create additional Dragon Cheer TMs at one of the many green Technical Machine Machines, allowing you to evolve more Dipplin in the future. If you want to create more Dragon Cheers, you’ll need:
- 1,500 LP
- 2 Tatsugiri Scales
- 2 Lapras Teardrops
- 1 Applin Juice
Whatever the case and however you get it, teach Dragon Cheer to your chosen Dipplin and then simply level it up. Once you do, it will evolve into a majestic and mythical Hydrapple, one of the coolest new Pokemon from The Indigo Disc.
Spreading More (Dragon) Cheer
Hydrapple Pokémon Overview
Just like all of Applin’s evolutions, Hydrapple is a dual Dragon/Grass-type Pokémon and takes after Dipplin as the bulkiest of the Dragon Apple Pokémon. Hydrapple has the same Defence as Dipplin (110) but backs it up with some really solid Sp. Attack (120). This is a significant improvement from Dipplin and allows Hydrapple to be a bit scrappier and more comfortably engage opponents while remaining primarily a support Pokémon. However, Speed is still a big struggle for Hydrapple, with it only having 4 more Speed than Dipplin (44 Speed total), meaning that it will consistently be going last in almost every single combat engagement.
In terms of Hydrapple’s available abilities, it still has access to Supersweet Syrup, Dipplin’s signature ability which lowers the Evasion of opposing Pokemon by 1 when the user first enters a battle, as well as Regenerator, a powerful ability that heals a third of the Pokémon’s HP whenever it gets switched out. Alongside these, it can also have Sticky Hold as a Hiden Ability. Of the three, Supersweet Syrup is still really good for either improving the consistency of low-accuracy moves or messing with Pokémon with high-Speed stats, whereas Regenerator can play into Hydrapple’s impressive Physical bulk to make for an annoying rotator Pokemon.
Hydrapple Pokedex Entry
Another similarity that Hydrapple shares with its pre-evolution is that it has a special signature move. While it can still use Syrup Bomb, it will learn the Dragon-type move Fickle Beam upon evolving. This move makes the user shoot out a beam of light to inflict damage, with a rare chance for all of Hydrapple’s heads to attack at once, doubling the move damage from 80 to 160. With only 5 PP and only a low chance to get that double damage, Fickle Beam isn’t going to be ruling the roost in terms of powerful offensive Dragon moves but, in terms of theme, it’s a perfect move which ties in amazingly with Hydrapple’s multi-head motif.
So, how does Hydrapple fare in terms of strength? Well, in almost every instance, it’s just a much stronger and more viable version of Dipplin, one able to leverage its impressive bulk to make use of some high Special Attack. On one hand, that high Defence paired with things like Regenerator or Supersweet Syrup can make Hydrapple a superb switch in Pokémon, one you bring in when you need to set something up or take heat off of one of your other Pokémon. On the other hand, that bulk can ensure that Hydrapple can stay in the fight for longer, potentially allowing it to become a decent attacker. Whether support or offensive, Hydrapple is a credible and excellent addition to any team.
Finally, for those curious, Hydrapple retains the unique shiny effect of Syrup Bomb that we first saw on Dipplin: if your shiny Dipplin or Hydrapple – which both has lush golden syrup instead of the classic red – use Syrup Bomb, the attack will be a bright yellow instead of red, reflecting the special nature of the attacker.
Best Friends
That was how to evolve Dipplin into Hydrapple in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disc.
