Q plays Platinum

[SSJ2]

I probably need a ground/rock type.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

A ground type would be advised for coverage against most of Team Galactic, so Drama's advice of going with a Hippopotas when you get it would be good. You could otherwise go with a Shellos as you have access to one now, though the team is getting shafted of that 10/10 rating down to 7.8 when there's too much water Hippowdon is quite slow, however, so you may want to find a faster Earthquake user. Gallade may make a potential one for coverage with Psycho Cut, Close Combat, Energy Ball and Earthquake seeing as how the only one on your team that brings hard-hitting fighting moves to the table is Staraptor with Close Combat (and not until reaching evolution), and you find Ralts earlier than Hippopotas with the former being at Route 208. Overall, getting that ground coverage is the priority, so going for Hippopotas/Ralts as the permanent member and having something like Shellos fill the role until then would work.

 

[Symbiote]

Hippowdon is slow but it tanks shit as long as it’s not a water or grass type. The VS Seeker is available in this game so grinding a newly hatched Riolu isn’t that big of a deal. Also if you’re playing an actual game and not a ROM just change the date a day ahead if you plan on using the honey trees or going for Drifloom.

 

[SSJ2]

Do you know when you get the vs seeker?

 

[Symbiote]

Pretty early. I think after the 2nd gym.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

You get it at Route 207 from Dawn near the entrance of Mt. Coronet, so you'll need to beat the first two gyms and deal with Team Galactic in Eterna City first.

 

[SSJ2]

Just beat Team Galactic at the windmill which randomly gave me some trouble. The lv 17 Purugly was continually landing critical hits with fury swipes and nearly took out my team lol

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Never had trouble with Purugly personally. I guess the RNG must have been really against you 2 That said, probably best get a Ralts to evolve into Gallade as soon as you have access to Route 208 or maybe find a psychic or ground type to deal with Team Galactic until then.

 

[Kyo]

Gallade shreds, such a good addition in Gen 4 for singleplayer. Good type coverage and really fun, just not as fast as you might like all the time. Also available way earlier in Platinum since this game doesn't blow chunks.

 

[SSJ2]

I will invest in a Ralts when I get to 208. Is it even possible to evolve it into Gardevoir?

 

[Captain Cadaver]

It evolves into Gardevoir when Kirlia hits Level 30, whereas it evolves into Gallade if Kirlia is given a dawn stone. Gallade is the better choice due to the physical coverage being a fair bit better than Gardevoir's Special coverage in Gen 4, which is a bit too psychic-centric.

Also, minor correction: I meant Leaf Blade rather than Energy Ball for the ideal Gallade moveset.

 

[Symbiote]

the first available dawn stone in the game is in the swamp route. Don’t remember the number but it’s either before or after the water gym which would be badge #5 iirc.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Route 212, near the entrance to Pastoria City in the swamp. It's hidden though, so you'll have to walk around the swamp part pressing A a fair bit.

 

[SSJ2]

Ah ok. I thought it naturally evolved into Gallade in Sinnoh. Good to know.

 

[SSJ2]

I don't understand the berries in this game. You can clearly see two berries on a tree yet the game only gives you 1. That's pretty stupid.

 

[Kyo]

Yeah it doesn't match visually. If you replant berries they'll grow back with 2, and if you water them correctly you can get more. I don't like that they generally start with 1, since if you replant you've not made a net gain on your first go.

 

[SSJ2]

It looks like the exact same sprite as in gen 3 so idk why they wouldn't make it function the same way.

 

[SSJ2]

Beat the Eterna Gym which was pretty straightforward due to Staravia. The design of the gym was pretty creative and unique. The gyms seem to be a big improvement from gen 3.

 

[SSJ2]

It's pretty questionable as to how Team Galactic managed to obtain a skyscraper in the middle of a city with a gym. Shouldn't the leader have tried to take action or call on help from the league? Ridiculous lol

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Considering how easy Gardenia is to beat, I wouldn't be surprised if Team Galactic was too much for her.

More seriously though, this is a flaw pretty evident in all games except Black/White, with Gym Leaders not really doing anything to help out against an evil team's actions and a Legendary Pokemon's consequences.