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July 12, 2009 - January 7, 2010: Version 3.00 and above
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

July 12, 2009 - January 7, 2010: Version 3.00 and above

Begin your adventure in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl! Learn about choosing your starter Pokémon, understanding rival interactions, and navigating Twinleaf Town in this guide.

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Begin your adventure in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl! Learn about choosing your starter Pokémon, understanding rival interactions, and navigating Twinleaf Town in this guide.

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.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Upon starting the game, you will be prompted to name your character, choose your gender, and name your rival. These choices are permanent.
  2. 2
    You begin in your room on the top floor of your house. Your rival will appear briefly when you try to move.
  3. 3
    Go downstairs, where your mother will inform you that your rival is looking for you. Head outside to proceed.
  4. 4
    Twinleaf Town now features snow on the ground and a small, non-interactive puddle to the south.
  5. 5
    There are three other houses in town; two are empty. The rival's house is in the northwest corner.
  6. 6
    Enter the rival's house, go upstairs, and interact with your rival, who will then run off again.
  7. 7
    Proceed to Route 201.
  8. 8
    After a short conversation with your rival, Professor Rowan will appear and ask you a series of questions. Select the top option when prompted.
  9. 9
    Professor Rowan's assistant will arrive with a briefcase containing the three starter Pokémon: Piplup, Chimchar, and Turtwig.

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.

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