This section of the AntMag guide to Pokémon Platinum covers the Contest Hall and how to succeed in Pokémon Contests. Learn about moves, conditions, and more!
Pokémon Platinum Walkthrough: Contests
Alright, let's talk about the Contest Hall! While not a main story requirement, participating in Pokémon Contests can be a fun way to earn rewards and show off your Pokémon's unique talents. You'll find the Contest Hall in Hearthome City.
What are Pokémon Contests?
Contests are battles of a different sort. Instead of focusing on HP and damage, they're judged on your Pokémon's Appeal. You'll choose a category – Cool, Beauty, Cute, Smart, or Tough – and your Pokémon will perform moves to impress the judges and the audience. The goal is to have the highest Excitement level by the end of the contest.
Contest Mechanics
Each move has two key stats in a Contest:
- Appeal: How many Excitement points the move earns.
- Jamming: How many turns the move prevents other Pokémon from acting.
Moves also have a Condition they work best in. Using a move that matches the contest's condition gives it a bonus to its Appeal. For example, a 'Cute' move will have higher Appeal in a 'Cute' contest.
Conditions
There are five Contest Conditions, one for each category:
- Cool
- Beauty
- Cute
- Smart
- Tough
Your Pokémon's Nature influences which condition it excels in. For instance, a Naughty Nature Pokémon might do well in 'Tough' contests, while a Timid Nature might prefer 'Smart' contests.
Preparing for a Contest
Before you enter, consider these:
- Pokémon Choice: Some Pokémon naturally have higher base stats for certain conditions.
- Moveset: Choose moves that have good Appeal and match the contest's condition. Moves that can also Jam other Pokémon are great for disrupting opponents.
- Condition-Boosting Items: Items like the Red Scarf (Cool), Blue Scarf (Beauty), Pink Scarf (Cute), Green Scarf (Smart), and Yellow Scarf (Tough) can significantly boost your Pokémon's Appeal in their respective conditions. You can obtain these scarves from Riley's sister in Pastoria City after winning Master Rank contests.
- Poké Blocks: You can feed your Pokémon Poké Blocks made from Berries. These can raise specific Contest conditions. Experiment with different Berry combinations to create the best Poké Blocks!
Contest Ranks
There are four ranks of contests you can enter:
- Normal Rank
- Super Rank
- Hyper Rank
- Master Rank
You'll need to win lower ranks to unlock the higher ones. Master Rank is the ultimate challenge!
Gameplay Tips
- Turn Order: Your Pokémon's Speed stat influences turn order. Faster Pokémon go earlier.
- Excitement Meter: Keep an eye on the Excitement meter. If it gets too low, your Pokémon might faint!
- Crowd Appeal: Performing well, especially with moves that have high Appeal or jam opponents, will increase the crowd's excitement, giving you bonus points.
- Strategic Jamming: Use moves that Jam to prevent opponents from using their best moves, especially when they have high Excitement.
Rewards
Winning contests earns you prizes. The main reward for winning Master Rank contests is a special item related to the contest category. For example, winning the Master Rank Tough contest will earn you the Yellow Scarf.
Have fun with the Contests! It's a great way to diversify your Pokémon training.
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