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.

B
Slaking
#0289

Slaking

normal
D
Nincada
#0290

Nincada

bugground
C
Ninjask
#0291

Ninjask

bugflying
C
Shedinja
#0292

Shedinja

bugghost
D
Whismur
#0293

Whismur

normal
D
Loudred
#0294

Loudred

normal
C
Exploud
#0295

Exploud

normal
D
Makuhita
#0296

Makuhita

fighting
C
Hariyama
#0297

Hariyama

fighting
D
Azurill
#0298

Azurill

normalfairy
D
Nosepass
#0299

Nosepass

rock
D
Skitty
#0300

Skitty

normal
C
Delcatty
#0301

Delcatty

normal
D
Sableye
#0302

Sableye

darkghost
C
Mawile
#0303

Mawile

steelfairy
C
Aron
#0304

Aron

steelrock
C
Lairon
#0305

Lairon

steelrock
C
Aggron
#0306

Aggron

steelrock
D
Meditite
#0307

Meditite

fightingpsychic
D
Medicham
#0308

Medicham

fightingpsychic
D
Electrike
#0309

Electrike

electric
C
Manectric
#0310

Manectric

electric
D
Plusle
#0311

Plusle

electric
D
Minun
#0312

Minun

electric
C
Volbeat
#0313

Volbeat

bug
D
Illumise
#0314

Illumise

bug
D
Roselia
#0315

Roselia

grasspoison
D
Gulpin
#0316

Gulpin

poison
C
Swalot
#0317

Swalot

poison
D
Carvanha
#0318

Carvanha

waterdark
C
Sharpedo
#0319

Sharpedo

waterdark
C
Wailmer
#0320

Wailmer

water
C
Wailord
#0321

Wailord

water
D
Numel
#0322

Numel

fireground
C
Camerupt
#0323

Camerupt

fireground
C
Torkoal
#0324

Torkoal

fire
D
Spoink
#0325

Spoink

psychic
C
Grumpig
#0326

Grumpig

psychic
D
Spinda
#0327

Spinda

normal
C
Trapinch
#0328

Trapinch

ground
D
Vibrava
#0329

Vibrava

grounddragon
A
Flygon
#0330

Flygon

grounddragon
D
Cacnea
#0331

Cacnea

grass
C
Cacturne
#0332

Cacturne

grassdark
D
Swablu
#0333

Swablu

normalflying
C
Altaria
#0334

Altaria

dragonflying
C
Zangoose
#0335

Zangoose

normal
C
Seviper
#0336

Seviper

poison
  • 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