Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Welcome to Sinnoh! You've just started your adventure in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. This section covers the very beginning of your journey, from receiving your first Pokémon to the initial steps you'll take. Think of this as getting your starter pack for the Sinnoh region!

Your First Steps

When you start the game, you'll be prompted to choose a gender and then customize your character. After that, you'll find yourself in your hometown, Twinleaf Town. Your journey officially begins when you head north to Lake Verity.

Meeting Professor Rowan

Up at Lake Verity, you'll encounter Professor Rowan, a researcher of Pokémon evolution. He's in a bit of a pickle and needs your help. You'll be given a choice between three starter Pokémon: Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup. Choose wisely, as this Pokémon will be your partner for a good portion of the game!

• Turtwig: A Grass-type Pokémon.
• Chimchar: A Fire-type Pokémon.
• Piplup: A Water-type Pokémon.

After your first battle with a wild Pokémon (usually a Starly), Professor Rowan will invite you back to his lab. You'll then be able to name your Pokémon and officially begin your adventure as a Trainer.

Heading to Sandgem Town

Your next destination is Sandgem Town, where you'll meet your rival and Professor Rowan's assistant, Dawn (or Lucas, if you chose her as your rival). She'll give you your first Poké Balls and teach you the basics of catching Pokémon. You'll also receive your Pokédex, which is essential for cataloging all the Pokémon you encounter.

Early Game Tips

• Save Often: It's always a good idea to save your game frequently, especially after significant events or before challenging battles.
• Talk to Everyone: NPCs often provide valuable hints, items, or even side quests.
• Heal Your Pokémon: Remember to visit Pokémon Centers to heal your team after battles.

This covers the very initial stages of your Pokémon Diamond and Pearl journey. As this is an incomplete version, we'll be adding more details on your progression through Sinnoh soon!

This guide covers updates for Pokémon Diamond and Pearl starting from Version 3.00, released on July 12, 2009, with the final update on January 7, 2010. The guide has been finalized with the addition of the Battle Castle to the Battle Frontier section and includes spell-checking and formatting improvements.

Choosing Your Starter:

Several factors should influence your starter choice:

• Trading Partners: Consider what starters your friends have chosen to facilitate easier online trading.
• Experience Level: Your familiarity with previous Pokémon games can guide your decision.
• Evolutionary Timings and Types:
  • Turtwig: Evolves late at level 18, then at level 32. Grass/Ground type.
  • Chimchar: Evolves early at level 14, then at level 36. Fire/Fighting type.
  • Piplup: Evolves at level 16, then at level 36. Water/Steel type.
• Previous D/P Experience: If you've played Diamond or Pearl before, you know what to expect. Platinum's increased Fire-type presence might make Chimchar less essential. Consider trying a new starter.
• Gym Battles: Each starter has advantages and disadvantages against different gym leaders:
  • First Gym (Rock): Turtwig and Piplup are strong; Chimchar is weak until it learns fighting moves.
  • Second Gym (Grass): Chimchar is strongest; Piplup is weakest.
  • Third Gym (Ghost): No starter has a strong advantage. Turtwig's evolutions' ground attacks are ineffective against Ghost-types, and Chimchar's evolutions' fighting moves are ineffective against Ghost-types.
  • Fourth Gym (Fighting): No starter has a strong advantage, though Chimchar's evolutions have an advantage against Lucario.
  • Fifth Gym (Water): Turtwig is strongest; Chimchar is weakest.
  • Sixth Gym (Steel): Chimchar is very effective. Turtwig can be useful against non-Bronzong Pokémon with ground-type attacks. Piplup can hit Steelix effectively with water attacks.
  • Seventh Gym (Ice): Chimchar is effective; Turtwig is ineffective.
  • Eighth Gym (Electric): Turtwig's evolutions are very strong.

Alright, let's head into the Trainer's School! It’s a good place to get a feel for battling and pick up some useful items. Inside, you'll find your Rival, so make sure to talk to him to hand over that parcel. He'll give you the Town Map in return – handy, even if it's a bit basic.

Don't forget to check out the blackboard for some quick tips, and definitely battle the two trainers inside. They're great for getting some easy experience points. After you beat the male trainer, chat with him again, and he’ll toss you a free Potion. Oh, and there’s a X Attack hiding in the upper left corner, so grab that too!

Now, for a little side quest that's totally worth it: talk to the guy standing between the Pokémon Center and the Trainer's School. He'll send you on a hunt for three clowns scattered around town. They're easy to spot – yellow outfits and jester hats! You’ll find one in front of the Pokémart (north of the Pokémon Center), another in front of the Jublife TV station (north of town), and the last one in front of the Pokétch Company (northwest of town).

Just answer their questions honestly (saying 'yes' to all three worked for me!), and you'll snag a Pokétch Coupon from each. Once you've got all three coupons, head back to the man to the left of the Pokémon Center. He'll give you the Pokétch itself! This cool device lets you use a bunch of neat apps on your touch screen, which will get even better as you progress. Right now, it's mostly for time, but it's a great start.

Before we move on, there's a little detour you might want to take. Head west from Jublife to Route 218. In the gatehouse there, a fisherman is waiting with an Old Rod. While it mostly catches Magikarp, grabbing one early can be super useful if you don't have a Water-type Pokémon yet. Just remember, Magikarp itself is weak, but its evolution, Gyarados, is a total powerhouse at level 20!

Once you’ve stocked up on Poké Balls and Potions from the Pokémart and explored everything you wanted in Jublife, it’s time to head east to Route 203.

Route 203 Pokémon Encounters

As soon as you step onto Route 203, get ready – your Rival will challenge you right away! Make sure your Pokémon are around level 6-10. If they're not quite there yet, don't worry, just do a little training on this route.

Trainer: School Kid Harrison

• Pokémon: Starly lv 6 (Normal/Flying)
• Info: Harrison likes to use a X Speed at the start of the battle to boost Starly's Speed, and it often uses Quick Attack. It's best to have Pokémon at least level 5 or higher. Keep a Potion handy just in case things get tough.

Trainer: School Kid Christine

• Pokémon: Bidoof lv 6 (Normal)
• Info: Christine's Bidoof is pretty standard, but watch out! She likes to use a Potion near the end of the battle. Make sure your Pokémon are evenly leveled and have a Potion ready for yourself.