Sinnoh field journalPokémon PlatinumGUIDES

Lake Valor Platinum · Area

Lake Valor in Pokémon Platinum
Lake Valor

Lake Valor is the largest of Sinnoh's three lakes, reached from Valor Lakefront. Later in Platinum, Team Galactic sets off its Galactic Bomb here, draining the lake and leaving Magikarp stranded on the dry bed. You fight through the Grunts and face Commander Saturn in Valor Cavern, but Galactic still captures Azelf. After the Distortion World events, Azelf returns to the cavern and can be caught.

Wild Pokémon
8
Items
2
Trainers
4
HMs
Surf

Connects to: Valor Lakefront

Where Lake Valor is on the Sinnoh mapLake Valor on the Sinnoh map

Gift, legendary and roaming Pokémon

Azelf Lv. 50 · One-off encounter · Valor Cavern

In Valor Cavern in the middle of Lake Valor, after the Distortion World and a visit to Professor Rowan in Sandgem Town.

Wild Pokémon

Tall grass encounter rate 30
PokémonTypeLv.MorningDayNight
StaraviaNormalFlying38–4035%35%35%
BibarelNormalWater39–4135%35%35%
PsyduckWater38–3915%15%15%
GolduckWater40–4115%15%15%
Poké RadarWobbuffet 22%Only in shaking grass while using the Poké Radar (after the National Pokédex).
Game Boy Advance game in slot 2Ruby: Solrock 8%Sapphire: Lunatone 8%With the National Pokédex and that GBA game inserted, these replace two 4% grass slots.
Surfing encounter rate 10
PokémonTypeLv.Chance
PsyduckWater20–3090%
GolduckWater20–4010%
Fishing
RodPokémonLv.Chance
Old RodMagikarp3–15100%
Good RodMagikarp10–2555%
Goldeen15–2040%
Seaking25–355%
Super RodGyarados30–5555%
Seaking30–5545%

Chances are the game’s encounter slots: grass and caves 20/20/10/10/10/10/5/5/4/4/1/1, with the two 10% slots changing by time of day (morning 4:00–9:59, day 10:00–19:59, night 20:00–3:59); surfing and the Old Rod 60/30/5/4/1, the Good and Super Rods 40/40/15/4/1. Where to find every Pokémon.

Trainers

Commander Saturn

Commander Saturn Valor Cavern

GolbatGolbat 38BronzorBronzor 38ToxicroakToxicroak 40

Prize ₽3,200

TrainerPokémonPrize
Team Galactic GruntGruntGolbatGolbat 37₽1,480
Team Galactic GruntGruntGlameowGlameow 35MurkrowMurkrow 35₽1,400
Team Galactic GruntGruntCroagunkCroagunk 33GlameowGlameow 33StunkyStunky 33HoundourHoundour 33₽1,320

Prize money is four times the level of the trainer’s last Pokémon times the trainer class’s rate (doubled in double battles). Trainers with rematches battle you again when the VS Seeker shows they are ready.

Items

ItemHow
TM25 ThunderItem ball
HP UpHidden

Hidden items show up on the Dowsing Machine Pokétch app.

Tips

  • Azelf waits in Valor Cavern on the island in the middle of the lake at Lv50, so save before you battle it.
  • Commander Saturn uses Golbat, Bronzor and a Lv40 Toxicroak; Psychic moves handle Golbat and Toxicroak, and Fire works well on Bronzor.
  • Staravia and Bibarel make up 70% of the grass encounters, with Psyduck and Golduck at 15% each.
  • TM25 Thunder lies by the lake, and an HP Up is hidden nearby.
  • Wobbuffet can only be found here with the Poké Radar.

Walkthrough: Part 13: The Canalave Library, Lake Valor and Lake Verity · Part 17: The Lake Guardians and the Sunyshore Gym

FAQ

How do you catch Azelf in Pokémon Platinum?

After the Distortion World events and your visit to Professor Rowan's lab in Sandgem Town, Surf to the island in the middle of Lake Valor and enter Valor Cavern to battle Azelf at Lv50.

What happened to Lake Valor in Platinum?

Team Galactic set off a bomb that drained the lake so they could reach Valor Cavern and capture Azelf.

What team does Saturn use at Lake Valor?

Commander Saturn uses Golbat Lv38, Bronzor Lv38 and Toxicroak Lv40.

What Pokémon can you catch in Lake Valor in Platinum?

8 species: Staravia, Bibarel, Psyduck, Golduck, Magikarp, Goldeen, Seaking, Gyarados.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Bulbapedia and the game data. Wild Pokémon and encounter chances, items, trainers, rematch teams, gifts, trades and shops come from the pret/pokeplatinum decompilation, and the Pokémon and trainer sprites are drawn from the game’s own graphics in it. Location pictures © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, archived from the Pokémon Wiki on Fandom (listed on the image gallery).