If you enjoy playing Pokemon, and as soon as you had the chance bought a copy of Pokemon Platinum, you probably want to have a strong and balanced team that can help you finish the game smoothly. This article will help you find the perfect balance of types and attacks to easily defeat all gyms, trainers, and the Pokemon League.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Getting to know the Pokemon
Step 1. Choose your starter Pokemon wisely
The first Pokemon you get will determine the development of the rest of the team. You will have three options at your disposal: the aquatic Piplup, the fire Pokemon Chimchar and the grass Pokemon Turtwig.
- Piplup evolves into a Water / Steel-type Pokemon and can also learn Ice-type moves. Thanks to his types he has very few weaknesses and can learn many useful moves; for this reason its evolved form is very powerful. He is often considered the best starter.
- Turtwig it is slow, but it has excellent Attack and Defense stats and will be useful against almost any gym in the game. It is a good choice for novice players.
- Chimchar becomes a Fire / Fighting hybrid, making it useful in many challenges and almost all gyms. Pokemon Platinum offers fewer Fire Pokemon than the other titles in the series, so Chimchar is a good choice if you don't want to waste time looking for other Pokemon of that type.
Step 2. Learn the effectiveness of the different types of Pokemon
When building a team, your first concern should be that you are not weak against a specific type of Pokemon. This can happen because the game is based on a complex "rock, paper or scissor" system, where each type of Pokemon has an advantage against others. For example, Fire attacks deal double damage against Grass-type Pokemon. The opposite is also true, as Grass's attacks only deal half damage to Fire-type Pokemon. Often, attacks of one type deal half damage to Pokemon of the same type (for example, a flying attack against a Flying-type Pokemon). On the Pokémon Database you can find a complete table on the effectiveness of Pokemon types.
- Almost all relationships between types are based on logic: Flying beats Beetle (because birds eat insects), Water beats Fire, Steel beats Rock, and so on.
- A Fire Pokemon will not deal double damage to a Grass Pokemon if it attacks it with a Normal-type move. It would deal damage normally, because Normal-type moves aren't super effective against Grass-type.
- Some moves cannot harm certain types of Pokemon. For example, Ground-type moves have no effect on Flying Pokemon.
Step 3. Learn about each Pokemon's informal classes
More experienced players have developed jargon to identify Pokemon and facilitate team building. These terms do not refer to a type of Pokemon, but rather to its function.
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Sweeper:
the most common Pokemon in teams are powerful offensive monsters capable of dealing damage and defeating enemies. You will likely have 3-4 on your team, and some players use 5-6.
Try Alakazam, any legendary Pokemon, Metagross, Luxray, Scizor
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Sustainer:
these Pokemon have a lot of health and high defense. They can take massive damage and give you time to use items to heal the rest of your team; for this they are very valuable for prolonged clashes. In some cases they are called "Tank".
Try Shuckle, Steelix, Bastidon, Turtwig, or Blissey
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Assist:
these Pokemon use many moves that can boost their stats or reduce those of the opponents, to weaken the enemy team. To take advantage of the stat boosts, they will need to know the "Relay" move, which gives the Pokemon that enters the same bonus just used.
Try Raichu, Sandslash, Umbreon and Blissey
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MN slaves:
these Pokemon are generally not used in combat, but they are very useful for navigating the map, because they can learn moves such as Surf, Flight, Strength, etc., which are necessary to progress in the game.
Try Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Psyduck, Tropius, or Bibarel
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Catcher:
these Pokemon are not used in combat, but to catch new wild Pokemon. They usually offer a combination of powerful moves, weak moves, and moves capable of inflicting negative states such as Sleep or Paralysis to facilitate the capture of the opposing Pokemon. They often know the False Swipe move.
Try Scyther, Farfetch'd, or Galade
Step 4. Learn the influence of stats on a Pokemon's effectiveness
Attacks deal different damage depending on your stats, and knowing these interactions will help you build an effective team. For example, if you have a Sweeper who mostly uses Special Attacks, like Luxray, you will need to make sure it has a high Special Attack value. If you are fighting a trainer with Pokemon with high Attack value, for example in a Rock-type gym, use Pokemon with high Defense value, such as Golem.
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Attack:
affects the strength of physical attacks or moves the Pokemon come into contact with. Fighting, Normal, Flying, Ground, Rock, Bug, Ghost, Poison, Steel, and some Shadow-type moves are physical.
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Special Attack:
is the statistic used for mental or indirect attacks, such as attacks with rays or environmental attacks, such as Fire, Water or Psychic type. All non-physical moves use this stat.
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Defence:
determines the damage taken from physical attacks.
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Special Defense:
determines the damage taken by special attacks.
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Speed:
determines who attacks first. The Speed stats of two Pokemon facing each other are compared, and the one with the higher value attacks first. In the event of a tie, the Pokemon that attacks first is randomly determined.
Step 5. Raise your team's Pokemon to level 50
You will need a team of this level to take on the best trainers in the game, especially the Pokemon League. As a Pokemon levels up, it improves its stats, gains new moves, and has the ability to evolve into more powerful forms.
Part 2 of 2: Creating a Balanced Combat Squad
Step 1. Try to create a balanced team, and not just bring together the strongest Pokemon
As strong as your Pokemon may be, a team of three Electric and three Fire Pokemon will have major problems facing a Ground-type Pokemon. You should vary a lot the types available to you, so that you have more arrows in your bow. This is the most important aspect of a balanced team, which will allow you to face any battle.
Think about the roles of your Pokemon. Your team should be mostly "Sweeper", but you should also include a "Sustainer", such as Snorlax or Blissey (which have a lot of health and defense), to be able to heal your injured Pokemon
Step 2. Get an Electric-type Pokemon
They are one of the most important types, as they are only weak against Grass, Dragon and Earth and can learn many different moves. You will be able to catch Shinx early in the game, and his evolved form, Luxray, can be a key component of your team.
- Try Electivire or Raichu, if you don't want to use Luxray.
- If you manage to capture the legendary bird Zapdos you will be ready to face all future challenges.
- Teach your Electric Pokemon moves like Thunder, Lightning, and Lightning Bolt.
Step 3. Make sure you have a Water-type Pokemon:
these Pokemon can use Ice-type moves and are only weak against Grass and Electric. Ice moves are also effective against Grass and Dragon-types and work normally against Electric Pokemon; for this the Water Pokemon are very useful. They will also be able to learn HM Surf. If you haven't chosen Piplup as a starter, try one of the following Pokemon:
- Floatzel, Gyarados or Vaporeon.
- Teach your Pokemon moves like Surf, Waterfall, and Hydro Pump.
Step 4. Get a Psychic / Dark type Pokemon
These rare but powerful Pokemon are valuable, especially those that can learn moves of both types. They will be very useful against Psychic, Bug, Poison and Dark Pokemon. Most importantly, these Pokemon often have high Special Attack value and lots of moves that make use of them.
- Metagross, Alakazam, Gengar, Gallade (Fight / Psychic).
- Teach your Pokemon moves like Psychic and Night Slash.
Step 5. Get a Ground, Rock, or Fighting Pokemon
Many of these Pokemon have types in common and can learn the moves of others; for this they are useful against many Pokemon. Some of the best include:
- Mamoswine, Metagross, Infernape, Lucario.
- Teach the Pokemon Earthquake, Landslide, Rock Smash, and Scuffle if possible.
Step 6. Consider a Grass-type Pokemon if you haven't chosen it as a starter
Grass Pokemon, while weak against many types, have a varied and powerful arsenal of moves that make them great in some situations. The most common is generally Roserade, because it can learn Psychic and Poison-type moves and has a high Special Attack value.
- Try Tropius, Torterra, Carnivine.
- Use moves like Gig Drain, Mud Bomb, and Energy Ball.
Step 7. Find a Fire-type Pokemon
Since (unfortunately) there aren't many Fire-type Pokemon in Platinum, catch Ponyta early in the game, which you can evolve into the fast and powerful Rapidash. If you have chosen Chimchar as a starter, you will be able to use it on all occasions when a Fire Pokemon will be useful to you, including gyms. Will be effective against Grass, Ice, Beetle and Steel.
- The legendary bird Moltress is also a great choice, if you can catch one.
- You can find an Eevee in the town of Hearthome. This pokemon can evolve into Fire, Water, Electricity, Psychic, Dark or Ice, if you qualify.
- Teaches the Pokemon moves such as Fire Charge, Fire Bomb, and Sun Day.
- Fire Pokemon aren't strictly necessary - a good Fighting-type Pokemon can often make up for the lack of a Fire-type.
Step 8. Complete your team with powerful Pokemon that compensate for weaknesses
On the internet you can find an online team generator that allows you to enter your team to view its statistics. It will allow you to identify weaknesses and offer you suggestions for improving the team. Here are some Pokemon to consider:
- Flying Pokemon, such as the powerful and common Staraptor (must know Flight and Scuffle).
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All Legendary Pokemon. They are Pokemon that only appear once in the game, such as Mewtwo and Latios. They are very powerful and are a valuable addition to any team.
- Try Giratina. It is a Dragon and Ghost type Pokemon, which will allow you to take advantage of Dark and Dragon type moves, effective against many opponents.
- Find Heatran, a powerful Fire / Steel-type Pokemon that can burn your enemies.
Make a Balanced Team in Pokémon Platinum Step 14 Step 9. Remember that the moves your Pokemon know are as important as the monsters themselves
Having Pokemon of the correct type is critical to surviving enemy attacks, but you won't be able to respond as effectively if you haven't taught them the right moves. Just as your team needs to be balanced, the moves your Pokemon know need to be too.
- Find the balance between offensive and defensive moves.
- Moves of the same type as the Pokemon using them deal 50% more damage. If possible, teach your Pokemon moves of their type.
Advice
- Remember to choose Pokemon that have a good balance of type and moves. You will have to try to make the most of your opponent's weaknesses.
- When facing a fight, remember to rotate your Pokemon. Don't be afraid of losing HP - if you have a better Pokemon on your team that can easily beat your opponent, switch now! In almost all cases, you will be able to pay a visit to a nearby Pokemon Center to get your Pokemon back energized.
