Gym Leaders
Roark
Rock-type gym leader located in Oreburgh City. Awards the Coal Badge.
Pokémon Diamond, Pearl & Platinum Team
Strategy
Water-, Grass- or Fighting-type Pokémon will easily sweep his team. If you didn’t choose Piplup or Turtwig in the beginning of the game, you can catch Budew on Route 204 or Buizel or Shellos on Route 205.
Gardenia
Grass type gym leader located in Eterna City. Awards the Forest Badge.
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Team
Pokémon Platinum Team
Strategy
Bug-, Fire- or Flying-type Pokemon will have the easiest time defeating her. Kricketot and Starly are commonly available before reaching her gym. Route 206 is also a great place to find Pokémon such as Ponyta and Zubat which can prove useful in her gym.
Maylene
Fighting-type gym leader located in Veilstone City. Awards the Cobble Badge.
Crasher Wake
Water-type gym leader located in Pastoria City. Awards the Fen Badge.
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Team
Pokémon Platinum Team
Strategy
Use Grass- or Electric-type Pokémon to decimate Crasher Wake. Pachirisu (Route 205 or Valley Windworks) will take care of Gyarados and Floatzel, while any Grass-type Pokémon will be able to take care of Quagsire.
Fantina
Ghost type gym leader located in Hearthome City. Awards the Relic Badge.
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Team
Pokémon Platinum Team
Strategy
Dark-type Pokémon will easily be able to overwhelm Fantina’s team, but unfortunately there are next to no options at the point in the game in which you face her. Instead, we recommend training a Shinx to learn Bite and being sufficiently high enough in level to wipe her team. The Turtwig line also learns Bite.
Byron
Steel type gym leader located in Canalave City. He awards the Mine Badge.
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Team
Pokémon Platinum Team
Strategy
Byron’s team makes it hard to choose a single Pokémon that can sweep each member of his team. Luckily, there’s one that fits the bill: Gastrodon (found as Shellos on Routes 205 & 218). If you raise a Shellos high enough to learn Earth Power (Lv. 35) or evolve it and have Gastrodon learn it (Lv. 39), you’ll have a powerhouse that won’t have a problem facing part Rock-type Pokémon (that would destroy Fire-types) or part Psychic-type Pokémon (that would decimate Fighting-types).
Candice
Ice-type gym leader located in Snowpoint City. She will give players the Icicle Badge after being defeated.
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Team
Pokémon Platinum Team
Strategy
As long as you bring a strong Fire- or Fighting-type Pokémon, Candice shouldn’t give you too much trouble.
Volkner
Electric-type gym leader located in Sunyshore City. Awards the Beacon Badge.
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Team
Pokémon Platinum Team
- Jolteon (Level 46)
- Raichu (Level 46)
- Luxray (Level 48)
- Electivire (Level 50)
Strategy
A Ground-type Pokémon will clearly be your best route to victory. Gastrodon, Hippowdon (found as Hippopotas, a rare spawn in Ruin Maniac Cave) or Graveler/Golem will be good allies for this fight.
Elite 4
The Elite 4 and Champion of Sinnoh are not to be taken lightly. Since you cannot switch Pokémon while challenging them, we will only give general advice for defeating them. We recommend leveling your Pokémon to at least 60 and carrying plenty of restorative items and revives so that you can take on each battle fully refreshed.
Fire-, Grass- and Water-type Pokémon will all prove very useful. Make sure that your team also knows Dark-, Bug- or Ghost-type attacks to take care of Lucian. Fighting- and Ice-type attacks can also be helpful. Good luck 😉
Aaron
The first E4 member who uses Bug-type Pokémon.
Bertha
Second Elite 4 member you’ll face—she specializes in Ground-type Pokémon.
Flint
Third Elite 4 member who specializes in Fire-type Pokémon.
Lucian
Final Elite 4 member who specializes in Psychic-type Pokemon. His team consists of:
Champion of the Sinnoh Region
Cynthia
The champion of Sinnoh.
