Route 201 Platinum · Route
Route 201 is the short grassy path linking Twinleaf Town and Sandgem Town, with a side path north to Lake Verity. Your adventure starts here: after a strange encounter with Cyrus at the lake, you and Barry try to cross the tall grass without Pokémon. Professor Rowan stops you, his assistant brings his forgotten briefcase, and you choose Turtwig, Chimchar or Piplup before your first battle against Barry.
- Wild Pokémon
- 3
- Items
- 1
- Trainers
- 3
Connects to: Lake Verity · Twinleaf Town · Sandgem Town
Route 201 on the Sinnoh map
Gift, legendary and roaming Pokémon
Wild Pokémon
| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Morning | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Starly | Normal | 2–3 | 50% | 50% | 40% |
 Bidoof | Normal | 2–3 | 40% | 50% | 50% |
 Kricketot | Bug | 3 | 10% | – | 10% |
Doduo 40%Only on the day a swarm is reported here (ask Barry’s sister in Sandgem Town after the National Pokédex).
Nidoran♀ 11% 
Nidoran♂ 11%Only in shaking grass while using the Poké Radar (after the National Pokédex).
Growlithe 8%With the National Pokédex and that GBA game inserted, these replace two 4% grass slots.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
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
| Item | How |
|---|---|
| Potion | Gift |
Hidden items show up on the Dowsing Machine Pokétch app.
Tips
- Starly and Bidoof make up most encounters at Lv2–3, while Kricketot appears 10% of the time in the morning and at night only.
- A Poké Mart employee hands out a free Potion sample.
- Jump the one-way ledge for a shortcut back to Twinleaf Town.
- Barry's starter always has the type advantage over yours, so his Lv5 Pokémon can be tricky.
- Later, the Poké Radar finds Nidoran♀ and Nidoran♂ here, and swarms bring Doduo.
- With Pokémon FireRed in the DS's GBA slot, Growlithe can appear here.
Walkthrough: Part 1: Twinleaf Town to Sandgem Town
FAQ
Where do you choose your starter in Pokémon Platinum?
On Route 201, from Professor Rowan's briefcase, after he stops you and Barry in the tall grass. You choose from Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup at Lv5.
What Pokémon are on Route 201 in Platinum?
Starly and Bidoof are common, Kricketot appears in the morning and at night, and later Nidoran♀ and Nidoran♂ (Poké Radar) and Doduo (swarms) show up.
How do you get to Lake Verity?
Take the path north from the west end of Route 201, near Twinleaf Town.
What Pokémon can you catch in Route 201 in Platinum?
3 species: Starly, Bidoof, Kricketot.
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).