Stark Mountain (Encounters & Items)

Discover all the wild Pokémon, trainers, and hidden items within Stark Mountain in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Includes detailed walkthroughs for exterior, entrance, and main areas.

Ally: Trainer Buck

Upon entering the main area, Trainer Buck will join you. While Buck is present, all wild Pokémon encounters will be double battles, with Buck as your partner. He will also fully restore your party after every fight. Buck will permanently leave your party when you reach the exit to the north.

Stark Mountain - Exterior

Upon arriving from Route 227, you'll be in the south-east corner. Ignore the stairs leading up the mountain for now and head left along the ledge. Use Rock Climb to ascend and defeat the Dragon Tamer. Then, Rock Climb down to his left. Proceed through the tall grass on the left.

Rock Climb up the next wall, collect the Life Orb, and then climb back down. Head south back to Route 227 and hop over the ledge. Search a nearby rock for a hidden Protein. Return east towards the start of Stark Mountain and ascend the two staircases. In the top-right corner of the grassy field, find an Ether. Head west and enter the cave.

• Wild Pokémon - Exterior: Same as Route 227, except Spinda won't appear during Mass Outbreaks.
• Item Locations (Exterior):
  • Ether: North-east corner of the grassy field.
  • Life Orb: Towards the west. Before ascending the initial stairs, head west and use Rock Climb up and down the wall three times.
  • Protein: Hidden in a rock near Route 227 after hopping the ledge.
• Trainer Battle: Dragon Tamer Darien
  • Gyarados - Level 60

Stark Mountain - Entrance

Inside the entrance area, locate the cracked rock between solid rocks and use Rock Smash. Use Strength to push the grey boulder two spaces to the right. Then, position yourself below the boulder and push it north all the way down the stairs until it slots into a gap. Push the boulder directly opposite to the left to proceed. Follow the path to find an Escape Rope.

Return to the base of the stairs and head right. Carefully push the next three boulders: push the top and bottom boulders to the right, then push the middle boulder up or down. Past these boulders, head south to find a PP Up in the corner. Head north to the opposite corner, go up the stairs, and push the next boulder all the way left. Go up the next stairs, travel west, down the subsequent stairs, and then up the stairs after that. Take a left to find a Burn Heal in the far corner.

Continue right from the top of the previous stairs and use Rock Smash on the cracked rock. Ascend more stairs, then proceed east. Push the boulder about 3 spaces to the right. Go up the stairs, then down the stairs on the right. Collect the Full Restore and search the wall above it for a hidden Max Elixir.

Finally, take a left from the top of both sets of stairs. You will encounter your rival. Ignore him and enter the cave ahead.

• Wild Pokémon - Entrance:
  • Camerupt (5%)
  • Geodude (5%)
  • Golbat (10%)
  • Graveler (20%)
  • Machoke (10%)
  • Magcargo (30%)
  • Onix (5%)
  • Slugma (5%)
  • Weezing (15%)
• Item Locations (Entrance):
  • Escape Rope: South-west corner.
  • PP Up: South-east corner.
  • Burn Heal: North-west corner.
  • Full Restore: Towards the north-east. Do not push the last boulder all the way; leave a gap and go around the nearby stairs.
  • Max Elixir: Towards the north-east, hidden in the wall above the Full Restore.

Stark Mountain - Main Area

In the main area, head north towards the steps. Buck will offer to accompany you, providing his usual benefits (double battles, party healing). However, you cannot use Rock Climb while Buck is with you. Some items will be inaccessible until Buck departs.

From Buck's position, head left. At the end, search the smaller rock near a large rock for a Hyper Potion. Go down the stairs ahead, then up the stairs on the left. Head west...