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Sinnoh field journalPokémon Diamond / PearlGUIDES

Diamond & Pearl Walkthrough: Sinnoh in Badge Order

The whole adventure in 12 parts, from Twinleaf Town to Champion Cynthia and the post-game. Each part links to the location pages for wild Pokémon and items.

Edition: the original Diamond and Pearl (Nintendo DS, 2006–07). Platinum and Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl differ.

Parts
12
Badges
8
Elite Four
4 + Champion
Starters
Turtwig · Chimchar · Piplup

Part 1 Twinleaf Town to Sandgem Town

Twinleaf Town Route 201 Lake Verity Sandgem Town Route 202

  1. Leave home with Barry and head for Lake Verity on Route 201.
  2. Wild Starly attack at the lake: pick Turtwig, Chimchar or Piplup from Professor Rowan’s briefcase.
  3. Go to Sandgem Town and get the Pokédex from Rowan; his assistant (Lucas or Dawn) shows you how to catch Pokémon on Route 202.

Worth catching: Starly Bidoof Shinx Kricketot

Part 2 Jubilife City and the first Gym

Route 202 Jubilife City Route 203 Oreburgh Gate Oreburgh City Oreburgh Mine

  1. Walk to Jubilife City, hand Barry the Parcel (it holds your Town Map) and track down the three clowns for a Pokétch.
  2. Head east over Route 203 and through Oreburgh Gate to Oreburgh City.
  3. Roark is down in Oreburgh Mine; once he returns, beat his Rock team for the Coal Badge.
Roark

Worth catching: Abra Zubat Geodude Machop

Turtwig and Piplup have the edge on Roark; Chimchar should learn a Fighting move or lean on a Machop from Route 207, just north of town.

Part 3 Floaroma, the Windworks and Eterna

Route 204 Ravaged Path Floaroma Town Valley Windworks Route 205 Eterna Forest Eterna City

  1. Go north from Jubilife over Route 204 to Floaroma Town.
  2. Take the Works Key from the Team Galactic grunts in Floaroma Meadow and clear Commander Mars out of Valley Windworks.
  3. Cross Route 205 and team up with Cheryl in Eterna Forest.
  4. Beat Gardenia for the Forest Badge; Cynthia then gives you HM01 (Cut).
Gardenia

Worth catching: Budew Buneary Pachirisu Shellos Buizel Drifloon

Fire, Flying and Bug moves make short work of Gardenia’s Grass team.

Part 4 Team Galactic in Eterna and the road south

Galactic Eterna Building Route 206 Wayward Cave Route 207 Mt. Coronet Route 208 Hearthome City

  1. Storm the Team Galactic building in Eterna and beat Commander Jupiter.
  2. Collect a Bicycle from the cycle shop and ride down Route 206 (Cycling Road).
  3. Cut through Route 207 and Mt. Coronet’s first tunnel, then cross Route 208 to Hearthome City.

Worth catching: Ponyta Bronzor Kricketune Geodude

Hearthome gives you the Poffin case and Amity Square; its Gym comes later in the original games.

Part 5 Solaceon and Veilstone

Route 209 Lost Tower Solaceon Town Solaceon Ruins Route 210 Route 215 Veilstone City

  1. Head east on Route 209, past the Lost Tower, to Solaceon Town and its Day Care.
  2. Go north on the southern half of Route 210, then east along rainy Route 215.
  3. Beat Maylene in Veilstone City for the Cobble Badge.
  4. Team up with Lucas or Dawn against two Galactic Grunts, then pick up HM02 (Fly) in the Galactic Warehouse.
Maylene

Worth catching: Chansey Mime Jr. Bonsly Unown Ponyta

Psychic and Flying moves beat Maylene’s Fighting team; watch out for Lucario.

Part 6 Pastoria City and the Great Marsh

Route 214 Lake Valor Route 213 Pastoria City Great Marsh

  1. Go south from Veilstone along Route 214 to Pastoria City.
  2. Beat Crasher Wake for the Fen Badge, then try the Great Marsh safari game.
Crasher Wake

Worth catching: Croagunk Carnivine Skorupi Wooper Roselia

Electric and Grass moves cover Wake’s Water team; Quagsire is immune to Electric, so bring a Grass move.

Part 7 Celestic Town, Surf and Hearthome’s Gym

Route 212 Route 210 Route 211 Celestic Town Hearthome City

  1. Cynthia gives you the SecretPotion on Route 210 to clear the Psyduck blocking the way north.
  2. Push through the fog to Celestic Town, stop the Galactic grunt and take the Old Charm to Cynthia’s grandmother for HM03 (Surf).
  3. Return to Hearthome City and beat Fantina for the Relic Badge, which lets you Surf outside battle.
Fantina

Worth catching: Noctowl Psyduck Bibarel Chingling

Normal-type Pokémon are immune to Fantina’s Ghost attacks; Dark moves hit her whole team hard.

Part 8 Canalave City and Iron Island

Route 218 Canalave City Iron Island

  1. Surf west from Jubilife over Route 218 to Canalave City and beat your rival on the bridge.
  2. Beat Byron for the Mine Badge (Strength outside battle).
  3. Take the boat to Iron Island, team up with Riley against Team Galactic and receive a Riolu Egg.
Byron

Worth catching: Wingull Tentacool Graveler Onix

Fire, Fighting and Ground moves crack Byron’s Steel team.

Part 9 The three lakes

Lake Valor Lake Verity Mt. Coronet Route 216 Route 217 Snowpoint City

  1. After a meeting in the Canalave Library, Team Galactic bombs Lake Valor; Commander Saturn waits there.
  2. Fly to Lake Verity to stop Mars, then climb through Mt. Coronet to snowy Routes 216 and 217.
  3. Pick up HM08 (Rock Climb) on Route 217 and push on to Snowpoint City.

Worth catching: Snover Sneasel Machoke Meditite Medicham

Part 10 Snowpoint, Galactic HQ and Spear Pillar

Snowpoint City Lake Acuity Veilstone City Team Galactic HQ Mt. Coronet Spear Pillar

  1. Beat Candice in Snowpoint City for the Icicle Badge (Rock Climb outside battle).
  2. At Lake Acuity, Commander Jupiter has already taken Uxie after beating Barry.
  3. Return to Veilstone and break into the Team Galactic HQ: free the lake Pokémon and take the Master Ball from Cyrus.
  4. Climb Mt. Coronet to Spear Pillar, beat Mars and Jupiter with Barry’s help, then Cyrus on your own, and catch Dialga (Diamond) or Palkia (Pearl) at level 47.
Candice

Worth catching: Dialga Palkia

Save before the legendary battle; the Master Ball is safest kept for a roaming Pokémon.

Part 11 Sunyshore City and the Pokémon League

Route 213 Lake Valor Route 222 Sunyshore City Route 223 Victory Road Pokémon League

  1. From Pastoria, go through Route 213 to Valor Lakefront, then east along Route 222 to Sunyshore City and beat Volkner for the Beacon Badge.
  2. Jasmine gives you HM07 (Waterfall); Surf north over Route 223 to the Pokémon League.
  3. Climb Victory Road, then beat Aaron, Bertha, Flint, Lucian and Champion Cynthia.
Volkner

Worth catching: Gastrodon Pelipper Mantyke Floatzel

Ground moves cover Volkner, but bring an Ice move for Cynthia’s Garchomp.

Part 12 After the credits

Fight Area Survival Area Resort Area Stark Mountain Route 224 Snowpoint Temple Turnback Cave Pal Park

  1. See every Sinnoh Pokémon to unlock the National Pokédex: Professor Oak upgrades it at Rowan’s lab, and Rowan gives you the Poké Radar.
  2. Ride the ferry from Snowpoint to the Battle Zone and explore Stark Mountain, home of Heatran.
  3. Catch the post-game legendaries (Giratina, Heatran, Regigigas and Cresselia) and migrate Pokémon from the GBA games at Pal Park.

Worth catching: Heatran Giratina Regigigas Cresselia

The Pokémon League

Aaron (Bug, Lv. 57) → Bertha (Ground, Lv. 59) → Flint (Fire, Lv. 61) → Lucian (Psychic, Lv. 63) → Cynthia (Mixed, Lv. 66)

FAQ

What is the Gym order in Diamond and Pearl?

Roark (Oreburgh City), Gardenia (Eterna City), Maylene (Veilstone City), Crasher Wake (Pastoria City), Fantina (Hearthome City), Byron (Canalave City), Candice (Snowpoint City), Volkner (Sunyshore City).

Which starter should I pick?

All three work. Chimchar is pure Fire until it becomes Fire/Fighting as Monferno: it struggles against Roark but is strong against Gardenia, Byron and Candice, and few other Fire types are available. Piplup and Turtwig handle Roark well.

When do you get the National Pokédex?

After the Hall of Fame, once you have seen every Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex; Professor Oak upgrades it at Rowan’s lab and Rowan hands you the Poké Radar.

Where do you get Surf in Diamond and Pearl?

From Cynthia’s grandmother in Celestic Town; you need the Relic Badge from Fantina to use it outside battle.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Bulbapedia and the game data. Wild Pokémon tables come from the Diamond/Pearl encounter data in PokeAPI; Gym and League teams from the pret/pokediamond decompilation. Maps and screenshots © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, archived from the Bulbagarden Archives (listed on the image gallery).