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
Yanma
#0193

Yanma

bugflying
D
Wooper
#0194

Wooper

waterground
C
Quagsire
#0195

Quagsire

waterground
C
Espeon
#0196

Espeon

psychic
C
Umbreon
#0197

Umbreon

dark
C
Murkrow
#0198

Murkrow

darkflying
C
Slowking
#0199

Slowking

waterpsychic
C
Misdreavus
#0200

Misdreavus

ghost
D
Unown
#0201

Unown

Psychic
C
Wobbuffet
#0202

Wobbuffet

psychic
C
Girafarig
#0203

Girafarig

normalpsychic
D
Pineco
#0204

Pineco

bug
B
Forretress
#0205

Forretress

bugsteel
C
Dunsparce
#0206

Dunsparce

normal
C
Gligar
#0207

Gligar

groundflying
C
Steelix
#0208

Steelix

steelground
D
Snubbull
#0209

Snubbull

fairy
C
Granbull
#0210

Granbull

fairy
C
Qwilfish
#0211

Qwilfish

waterpoison
A
Scizor
#0212

Scizor

bugsteel
C
Shuckle
#0213

Shuckle

bugrock
B
Heracross
#0214

Heracross

bugfighting
C
Sneasel
#0215

Sneasel

darkice
D
Teddiursa
#0216

Teddiursa

normal
C
Ursaring
#0217

Ursaring

normal
D
Slugma
#0218

Slugma

fire
C
Magcargo
#0219

Magcargo

firerock
D
Swinub
#0220

Swinub

iceground
C
Piloswine
#0221

Piloswine

iceground
D
Corsola
#0222

Corsola

waterrock
D
Remoraid
#0223

Remoraid

water
C
Octillery
#0224

Octillery

water
D
Delibird
#0225

Delibird

iceflying
C
Mantine
#0226

Mantine

waterflying
B
Skarmory
#0227

Skarmory

steelflying
D
Houndour
#0228

Houndour

darkfire
C
Houndoom
#0229

Houndoom

darkfire
B
Kingdra
#0230

Kingdra

waterdragon
D
Phanpy
#0231

Phanpy

ground
B
Donphan
#0232

Donphan

ground
C
Porygon2
#0233

Porygon2

normal
D
Stantler
#0234

Stantler

normal
C
Smeargle
#0235

Smeargle

normal
D
Tyrogue
#0236

Tyrogue

fighting
C
Hitmontop
#0237

Hitmontop

fighting
D
Smoochum
#0238

Smoochum

icepsychic
D
Elekid
#0239

Elekid

electric
D
Magby
#0240

Magby

fire
  • 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.

0 selected

Pokemon Comparison