Pokémon Platinum, a beloved entry in the Pokémon franchise, continues to captivate trainers with its engaging storyline, diverse Pokémon, and challenging gameplay. One essential Hidden Machine (HM) that trainers need to progress through the game and access hidden areas is Rock Climb. This guide will provide you with a detailed walkthrough on how to obtain the Rock Climb HM in Pokémon Platinum, enabling you to scale cliffs and discover new secrets within the Sinnoh region.
Reaching Route 217 and Acuity Lakefront
The journey to acquire Rock Climb starts with navigating to specific locations within the Sinnoh region. Firstly, you need to reach Route 217. This snowy route is located north of Snowpoint City and is known for its harsh weather conditions, making navigation tricky.
To get to Snowpoint City, you must first defeat Candice, the Gym Leader of Snowpoint Gym, who specializes in Ice-type Pokémon. Once you’ve earned the Icicle Badge, you’ll be able to traverse the snowy paths leading to Route 217.
Navigating through Route 217 can be challenging due to the blizzard. Trainers need to be mindful of their Pokémon’s health and be prepared to battle trainers along the way. Don’t forget to equip a Pokémon with the ability to learn the HM Rock Smash, which you’ll need to proceed through some areas.
After enduring the snowy ordeal of Route 217, your next destination is Acuity Lakefront. This location is directly north of Route 217. Here, you’ll find more snow, icy terrain, and a crucial event that sets the stage for obtaining Rock Climb.
The Acuity Lakefront Encounter
Upon reaching Acuity Lakefront, you’ll encounter a pivotal moment in the game’s storyline. You’ll find Professor Rowan and Lucas or Dawn, depending on your chosen gender, investigating the situation at the lake. They will be discussing Team Galactic’s nefarious plans and their connection to the Legendary Pokémon Uxie.
Team Galactic’s presence is strongly felt here, and their intentions are clearly antagonistic. You’ll learn more about their ambition to capture and control the power of the Legendary Pokémon, which will lead you to your next major objective.
After the discussion with Professor Rowan and Lucas/Dawn, you’ll be prompted to head towards Lake Acuity itself, which is located inside a cave within Acuity Lakefront. This lake is where the Legendary Pokémon Uxie resides.
The Lake Acuity Cave and Uxie’s Departure
Inside the Lake Acuity cave, you’ll find the entrance to Lake Acuity itself. You’ll discover that Uxie has already been captured by Team Galactic. This event marks a critical turning point in the storyline and sets the stage for your next objective: rescuing Uxie and thwarting Team Galactic’s plans.
After discovering that Uxie is missing, you’ll need to leave Lake Acuity and head back towards Snowpoint City. Your next destination is Team Galactic HQ in Veilstone City.
Infiltration of Team Galactic HQ
Your next significant step is to infiltrate Team Galactic HQ, located in Veilstone City. To successfully infiltrate the HQ, you’ll need to obtain the Galactic Key. This key is essential for unlocking the doors and navigating through the complex structure of the Galactic HQ.
Acquiring the Galactic Key
To get the Galactic Key, you’ll need to defeat a Team Galactic Grunt who is guarding it. This Grunt is located outside the Galactic Warehouse, which is connected to the Galactic HQ. After defeating the Grunt, they will drop the Galactic Key, which you can then pick up.
With the Galactic Key in your possession, you can now unlock the doors leading into Team Galactic HQ. Prepare for battles against Team Galactic members and solving puzzles within the HQ.
Navigating Team Galactic HQ
Team Galactic HQ is a complex building with multiple floors and rooms. You will need to battle Team Galactic members, solve puzzles involving warp panels, and navigate through various obstacles to progress. Be prepared to use healing items and strategize your battles carefully.
Your ultimate goal within Team Galactic HQ is to rescue the three Legendary Pokémon: Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf. These Pokémon are being held captive by Team Galactic to extract their power.
Rescuing the Legendary Pokémon
After navigating through the maze-like structure of Team Galactic HQ, you’ll eventually reach the room where Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf are being held captive. After a series of battles and plot developments, you’ll be able to release the Legendary Pokémon from their confinement.
Once the Legendary Pokémon are freed, Team Galactic’s plans are temporarily thwarted, and you can proceed to the next stage of your adventure. Now, it’s time to confront Commander Saturn at Lake Valor.
Confronting Commander Saturn at Lake Valor
Following the events at Team Galactic HQ, you’ll be directed to Lake Valor to confront Commander Saturn. Lake Valor is located in the southwestern part of Sinnoh, near Pastoria City.
Commander Saturn will be attempting to activate a Galactic Bomb at Lake Valor, which threatens the ecosystem and the Pokémon living there. You will need to battle Commander Saturn to stop him from carrying out his plan.
Defeating Commander Saturn at Lake Valor is a crucial step in disrupting Team Galactic’s schemes. After your victory, the situation at Lake Valor will be somewhat resolved, allowing you to proceed further in the storyline.
Sunyshore City and Volkner
With the events at Lake Valor behind you, your next major objective is to reach Sunyshore City, located in the southeastern part of Sinnoh. However, the path to Sunyshore City is initially blocked, preventing you from directly accessing it.
To clear the path to Sunyshore City, you’ll need to visit the Valor Lakefront area, which is close to Lake Valor. There, you’ll encounter Jasmine, the Gym Leader from Olivine City in Johto. She will provide you with a key item that helps to clear the roadblocks preventing access to Sunyshore City.
Once you’ve cleared the path, you can finally reach Sunyshore City. This vibrant city is known for its solar panels and unique layout. However, the Sunyshore City Gym is initially without power, preventing you from challenging the Gym Leader, Volkner.
Restoring Power to the Sunyshore Gym
Before you can challenge Volkner, you need to restore power to the Sunyshore Gym. This involves solving a series of puzzles within the city’s power grid. You’ll need to interact with various switches and platforms to redirect the flow of electricity and bring the gym back online.
After successfully restoring power to the Sunyshore Gym, you can now challenge Volkner, the Electric-type Gym Leader. Defeating Volkner will earn you the Beacon Badge, which is essential for progressing further in the game.
Obtaining Rock Climb from Jasmine
After defeating Volkner and earning the Beacon Badge, it’s time to finally obtain the Rock Climb HM. To do this, you need to return to Jasmine, who is still located near the entrance to Sunyshore City.
Jasmine will congratulate you on your victory over Volkner and acknowledge your progress. As a reward for your efforts, she will gift you the HM Rock Climb. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for!
Now that you have Rock Climb, you can teach it to a compatible Pokémon in your party. Remember that you can only use Rock Climb outside of battle once you have obtained the Beacon Badge.
Utilizing Rock Climb
With the Rock Climb HM in your possession and taught to a Pokémon, you can now access previously inaccessible areas. Look for climbable rock faces throughout the Sinnoh region. These rock faces are marked with distinctive cracks and handholds, indicating that they can be scaled using Rock Climb.
Rock Climb allows you to reach hidden locations, find valuable items, and discover new Pokémon. It’s an essential tool for any trainer looking to fully explore the Sinnoh region and complete their Pokédex.
Conclusion
Obtaining Rock Climb in Pokémon Platinum involves a series of interconnected events, from navigating snowy routes to infiltrating Team Galactic HQ and ultimately defeating Volkner in Sunyshore City. By following this comprehensive guide, you can successfully acquire the Rock Climb HM and unlock new possibilities within the Sinnoh region. Happy climbing!
Where can I find the Rock Climb HM in Pokémon Platinum?
The Rock Climb HM can be found on Route 217, which is located north of Route 216. The route is known for its heavy snowfall, making visibility limited and movement challenging. You will need to navigate through the snow-covered terrain to reach the area where the HM is located.
To find the HM, you must reach the Acuity Lakefront. In the Acuity Lakefront, look for a house hidden near a snowdrift. The HM Rock Climb will be inside this house, guarded by a trainer who challenges you to a battle. After defeating the trainer, you can collect the HM.
What Pokémon can learn Rock Climb in Pokémon Platinum?
A variety of Pokémon can learn the HM Rock Climb in Pokémon Platinum, allowing you to overcome obstacles on your journey. Some of the most common and useful Pokémon for this purpose include Bibarel, Staraptor, and Torterra, all of which are relatively easy to obtain early in the game. Other viable options include many Ground, Rock, and Normal-type Pokémon.
Beyond these easily accessible options, you can also teach Rock Climb to more powerful Pokémon like Garchomp, Lucario, and even legendary Pokémon like Regigigas. Consider your team composition and what Pokémon you intend to use throughout the game when deciding which Pokémon to teach Rock Climb. Having a Pokémon that can also contribute offensively in battle is often preferable.
When can I use Rock Climb outside of battle?
You can use Rock Climb outside of battle once you have obtained the Icicle Badge. This badge is earned by defeating Candice, the Gym Leader of Snowpoint City. Snowpoint City is located in the northern part of the Sinnoh region.
After defeating Candice and obtaining the Icicle Badge, your Pokémon will be able to scale rocky cliffs using Rock Climb, opening up new areas and hidden locations throughout Sinnoh. This allows you to explore previously inaccessible parts of the map and discover new items, Pokémon, and secrets.
What are some key locations where Rock Climb is required?
Rock Climb is essential for accessing several important areas in Pokémon Platinum. One significant location is Acuity Lakefront, where you need to use Rock Climb to reach Lake Acuity and progress the storyline. Additionally, it’s crucial for exploring the Stark Mountain area in the post-game.
Another important area is the Survival Area and Route 225 which lead towards the Fight Area. These areas contain powerful trainers and Pokémon, and Rock Climb is necessary to traverse the rugged terrain. Furthermore, several smaller, hidden areas throughout the Sinnoh region are only accessible by using Rock Climb to reach secret caves and item locations.
How can I effectively navigate Route 217 to find the Rock Climb HM?
Route 217’s heavy snowfall makes navigation challenging, but sticking to the edges of the route can help. Follow the western edge of the route to find the Acuity Lakefront entrance quicker. Watch out for trainers along the way, as they can impede your progress and drain your Pokémon’s health.
Utilize the D-pad (directional pad) for more precise movement in the snow. Running can sometimes make it harder to control your character, so walking may be preferable in particularly dense areas. Remember to heal your Pokémon frequently using items like Potions and Super Potions to ensure they are ready for any trainer battles along the way.
Are there any specific Pokémon I should avoid teaching Rock Climb to?
While most Pokémon that can learn Rock Climb can benefit from it, it’s generally not recommended to teach it to Pokémon with limited move slots or those who heavily rely on specific sets of battle-oriented moves. For example, a Pokémon with a carefully crafted competitive moveset might suffer from having to dedicate a move slot to an HM like Rock Climb.
Consider the role of the Pokémon within your team. If a Pokémon’s primary purpose is to battle, it’s often better to designate a separate “HM slave” Pokémon specifically for traversing the environment and using HMs like Rock Climb, Cut, Surf, and Strength. This allows your dedicated battlers to maintain optimal movesets for competitive play.
What happens if I forget to get the Rock Climb HM before a certain point in the game?
If you happen to miss obtaining the Rock Climb HM on Route 217 before progressing too far in the game, don’t worry, it’s not permanently missable. You can always return to Route 217 and Acuity Lakefront to retrieve it. The location of the HM will remain unchanged, and the trainer guarding it will still be there waiting for a rematch.
Because the HM is located in a static location and doesn’t disappear after obtaining the Icicle Badge or progressing through the storyline, you can freely revisit the area at any point in your journey. Just be prepared to navigate the snowy terrain again, and ensure your team is adequately leveled to handle any trainers you might encounter along the way.