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Assisting Arven with his “Path Of Legends” in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will eventually bring you to the Asado Desert. Roaming here, slowly plodding through the burning sands, is the Quaking Earth Titan. The name only clues you into the typing, but seeing the beast will be instantly familiar to longtime Pokémon fans with a fondness for generation II.
The Quaking Earth Titan’s true name is Great Tusk, a mountain-sized Donphan with high defenses and strong attacks. It is even smart enough to boost its slower speed as often as it can. Going in unprepared is a recipe for complete disaster.
Dealing With Typing
Before you go anywhere near the Asado Desert, you’re given the information that Great Tusk is a ground-type, thanks to the quest name and if you look on the map for further details. According to the Pokedex, Great Tusk is also a fighting type.
Scarlet and Violet allow you to switch your boxed and party Pokémon at any time without a Pokémon center PC, carrying the improved mechanic first seen in Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, so it’s up to you if you want to switch out just before the fight or on your way there. This dual-typing leaves these weaknesses:
- Water
- Grass
- Ice
- Psychic
- Flying
- Fairy
If you are planning on using a flying type, Great Tusk only uses one ground-type attack, so the immunity to ground moves that comes with flying types is not as useful as it sounds. As there is a weakness, there’s still reason to use one, just be warned, it’s not so easy. As for Pokémon types, you should completely avoid using:
- Electric
- Fire
- Rock
- Poison
- Steel
- Normal
Ground-type Pokémon are fully immune to electric attacks, so under no circumstance should you even consider an electric-type Pokémon or move. You’ll do nothing but waste your time.
Managing The Desert
Make your way to the Asado Desert on your map. There are a handful of trainers and a lot of Pokémon to encounter. This Great Tusk does not have a level, so when it comes to recommended levels, the only thing to base that on would be these trainers and Pokémon.
The average level for trainers is the early twenties, and a majority of the wild Pokémon will be between levels 21 and 25. That said, after you beat the Titan version, a smaller Great Tusk can be caught in the desert, and it will be level 45. It’s possible this is the basis for the Titan. Ultimately, just remember that Titan or not, this is only one Pokémon, so grind your party as you see git. One last piece of advice involves the weather of the area.
There will occasionally be a sandstorm. It is wise to wait out a sandstorm before attacking Great Tusk because it will never take damage from the sandstorm. Unless you can plan your party around this hazard, simply avoid it the best you can.
Finding And Fighting Great Tusk
Finding Great Tusk will be the easiest part of the entire quest. It’s bigger than most of the rock structures. You can’t throw a Pokéball to catch the Titan off-guard. Unfortunately, the battle just automatically starts once you get close enough. You have to be very close to it to start the fight, so you’ll have plenty of room to avoid the Titan until you’re ready.
This is the Great Tusks moves:
- Stomping Tantrum
- Knock Off
- Brick Break
- Rapid Spin
This move set is designed to benefit from Great Tusk’s high attack and cover some of its weaknesses. Knock Off will remove your Pokémon’s held item and will do double damage to the psychic-type Pokémon Great Tusk is weak against. Brick Break and Stomping Tantrum will have a same-type-attack bonus. But the worst attack to bear in mind is Rapid Spin. If Great Tusk can do Rapid Spin, its speed will increase, and you do not want this Titan to go first. If you are planning on stopping Rapid Spin by using a ghost-type as they are immune, Knock Off would instantly crush that idea.
Aside from water or grass attacks, another smart move would be to lead with a Pokémon that has the ability to intimidate. This will weaken Great Tusk’s attack stat. So, if it does start gaining speed on you, it won’t hit as hard as it hopes to. Once you get Great Tusk to the final section of its health bar, it will run away. It won’t go far, though.
Powered Up Rematch
This part is typical of the quest line. The Titan will not go out just yet; it will run off to a cave and eat the Herba Mystica to grow even stronger. But Arven will show up to help. Arven’s Pokémon of choice this time is a Scovillain, a grass-fire type. Arven’s Pokémon is a great choice, thanks to knowing Razor Leaf, but nothing will stop Great Tusk from crushing Scovillain in an instant besides sheer luck. There’s not much else changed other than Great Tusk being stronger, so use the same method as before. Just be warned – you’ll likely have a harder time even with the help.
Hold out and beat this powered-up version of the Earth Titan, and you’ll be rewarded with further story progression and an upgrade for Koraidon/Miraidon.
