Platinum expands the Sinnoh Pokedex over Diamond and Pearl. More Pokemon are available before the Elite Four, including Fire types that DP lacked. Houndoom and Flareon show up before postgame now. Giratina is the box legendary, caught in the Distortion World as part of the main story. Same 493 total roster, better distribution across the game.

C
Venomoth
#0049

Venomoth

bugpoison
D
Diglett
#0050

Diglett

ground
C
Dugtrio
#0051

Dugtrio

ground
D
Meowth
#0052

Meowth

normal
C
Persian
#0053

Persian

normal
D
Psyduck
#0054

Psyduck

water
C
Golduck
#0055

Golduck

water
D
Mankey
#0056

Mankey

fighting
C
Primeape
#0057

Primeape

fighting
D
Growlithe
#0058

Growlithe

fire
C
Arcanine
#0059

Arcanine

fire
D
Poliwag
#0060

Poliwag

water
D
Poliwhirl
#0061

Poliwhirl

water
C
Poliwrath
#0062

Poliwrath

waterfighting
C
Abra
#0063

Abra

psychic
C
Kadabra
#0064

Kadabra

psychic
B
Alakazam
#0065

Alakazam

psychic
D
Machop
#0066

Machop

fighting
C
Machoke
#0067

Machoke

fighting
C
Machamp
#0068

Machamp

fighting
D
Bellsprout
#0069

Bellsprout

grasspoison
D
Weepinbell
#0070

Weepinbell

GrassPoison
C
Victreebel
#0071

Victreebel

grasspoison
D
Tentacool
#0072

Tentacool

waterpoison
B
Tentacruel
#0073

Tentacruel

waterpoison
C
Geodude
#0074

Geodude

rockground
C
Graveler
#0075

Graveler

RockGround
C
Golem
#0076

Golem

rockground
D
Ponyta
#0077

Ponyta

fire
C
Rapidash
#0078

Rapidash

fire
D
Slowpoke
#0079

Slowpoke

waterpsychic
C
Slowbro
#0080

Slowbro

waterpsychic
D
Magnemite
#0081

Magnemite

electricsteel
C
Magneton
#0082

Magneton

electricsteel
D
Farfetch'd
#0083

Farfetch'd

normalflying
D
Doduo
#0084

Doduo

normalflying
C
Dodrio
#0085

Dodrio

normalflying
D
Seel
#0086

Seel

water
C
Dewgong
#0087

Dewgong

waterice
D
Grimer
#0088

Grimer

poison
C
Muk
#0089

Muk

poison
D
Shellder
#0090

Shellder

water
C
Cloyster
#0091

Cloyster

waterice
C
Gastly
#0092

Gastly

ghostpoison
C
Haunter
#0093

Haunter

ghostpoison
A
Gengar
#0094

Gengar

ghostpoison
C
Onix
#0095

Onix

rockground
D
Drowzee
#0096

Drowzee

psychic
  • The national dex is still 493, but the regional Sinnoh dex jumped from 151 to 210 Pokemon. Platinum didn't add new species. It added access. Fire types that were locked behind the National Dex in DP show up before the postgame here, and several other coverage gaps are filled.

  • The Sinnoh dex is expanded from 151 to 210 Pokemon. Houndoom, Flareon, and other missing types are available before postgame. Giratina is the box legendary with a Distortion World storyline. The Battle Frontier replaces the Battle Tower. Gym Leader and Elite Four teams are remixed. And the game runs faster.

  • Chimchar is still strong, but the gap is smaller than in DP because Platinum adds more Fire types to the regional dex. Infernape's Speed and coverage are still top-tier. Piplup's Empoleon handles Giratina well with its Steel typing. All three starters are viable here.

  • Yes. The Distortion World is part of the main story. After the events at Spear Pillar, you enter the Distortion World and battle Giratina in its Origin Forme. Level 47, 680 BST. It's a mandatory encounter, so save before the fight.

  • Gen 4, Nintendo DS, 2008. Platinum is Sinnoh's third version. The regional dex grows from 151 to 210 Pokemon compared to DP. Giratina gets a full Distortion World storyline, and the Battle Frontier replaces the Battle Tower. Same gen, better pacing.

  • Five battle facilities replace Diamond and Pearl's single Battle Tower: Battle Tower, Battle Factory, Battle Hall, Battle Castle, and Battle Arcade. Each has unique rules and a Frontier Brain boss. It's the postgame endgame for competitive-minded players.

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Pokemon Comparison