Pokémon Platinum
Pokémon Platinum

Great Marsh & Route 210 (North)

Navigate the Great Marsh and Route 210 North in Pokémon Platinum. Track the Team Galactic Grunt after your battle with Crasher Wake.

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Great Marsh & Route 210 (North)

Following your victory against Gym Leader Crasher Wake in Pastoria City, he'll immediately enlist your aid in pursuing a Team Galactic Grunt. This chase will lead you directly into the unique environment of the Great Marsh.

Pursuing the Grunt in the Great Marsh

The chase through the Great Marsh is straightforward. Simply follow the Grunt's path. You'll eventually corner him, at which point the formidable Champion Cynthia will make a timely appearance. She'll provide you with a crucial item:

  • SecretPotion: This special medicine is essential for curing the group of Psyduck that are currently blocking the northern section of Route 210.

With the SecretPotion in hand, your next objective is to return to the previously inaccessible part of Route 210. While you could walk, the most efficient method is to:

  • Fly back to Solaceon Town: This is the closest town with a Pokémon Center and a Fly point to the southern entrance of Route 210.
  • From Solaceon Town, head directly north onto Route 210. This will bring you to the southern end of the Psyduck blockade.

Why return to Solaceon Town? The Psyduck blockade on Route 210 (North) prevented you from accessing this area earlier. By Flying to Solaceon Town, you position yourself perfectly to approach the Psyduck from the south and administer the SecretPotion, opening up the path to Celestic Town.

Great Marsh & Route 210 (North) - Pokémon Platinum screenshot
Great Marsh & Route 210 (North)

Navigating Route 210 (North)

Upon reaching the Psyduck, use the SecretPotion from your Bag. The Psyduck will immediately feel better and disperse, clearing the path forward. Champion Cynthia will once again appear, grateful for your assistance, and reward you with a vital Hidden Machine:

  • HM03 (Surf): This HM allows your Pokémon to traverse bodies of water, opening up many new areas in Sinnoh. Teach it to a compatible Water-type Pokémon as soon as possible!

Route 210 (North) presents a unique environmental challenge: dense fog. This fog significantly lowers the accuracy of all Pokémon in battle, including your own. To mitigate this effect, consider the following strategies:

  • Use HM05 (Defog): If you've already obtained Defog from the Great Marsh, teaching it to a Pokémon and using it in battle will clear the fog for the duration of that specific encounter.
  • Pokémon with specific Abilities: Pokémon with Abilities like Keen Eye or Compound Eyes are unaffected by accuracy drops or have increased accuracy, respectively, making them excellent choices for navigating this route.
  • Accuracy-boosting items/moves: Items like X Accuracy or moves like Sweet Scent (which lowers evasion) can help, but Defog is generally the most effective solution.

As you make your way through the foggy Route 210 (North) towards Celestic Town, you'll encounter several trainers eager for a battle and various hidden items.

Trainers and Items on Route 210 (North)

Be prepared for battles as you explore this misty route. Many trainers here utilize Pokémon that can benefit from the fog or have high accuracy moves. Here's a breakdown of the trainers and notable items you can find:

Trainers:

The trainers on Route 210 (North) offer good experience and cash. Their Pokémon levels typically range from mid-20s to low-30s.

  • Bird Keeper Briana:
    • Staravia (Lv. 26)
    • Noctowl (Lv. 26)
    Strategy: Electric or Rock-type moves are effective against her Flying-types.
  • Ninja Boy Fabian:
    • Croagunk (Lv. 25)
    • Skorupi (Lv. 25)
    • Zubat (Lv. 25)
    Strategy: Psychic-types for Croagunk, Fire/Flying for Skorupi, Electric/Rock for Zubat.
  • Dragon Tamer Darius:
    • Gible (Lv. 29)
    Strategy: Ice-type moves are devastating against Gible. Be cautious of its high Attack.
  • Pokémon Ranger Ashley:
    • Roselia (Lv. 27)
    • Ponyta (Lv. 27)
    Strategy: Fire/Flying for Roselia, Water/Ground/Rock for Ponyta.
  • Pokémon Ranger Jeffrey:
    • Grotle (Lv. 27)
    • Buizel (Lv. 27)
    Strategy: Fire/Flying/Ice for Grotle, Electric/Grass for Buizel.
  • Psychic Abigail:
    • Kadabra (Lv. 28)
    Strategy: Bug, Ghost, or Dark-type moves are super effective. Kadabra is fast but frail.
Notable Items:

Keep an eye out for these valuable items scattered throughout the route. Some may require the use of the Dowsing Machine or careful exploration.

  • Super Repel: Found near the entrance from Solaceon Town, often hidden in tall grass.
  • Hyper Potion: Located near Bird Keeper Briana.
  • TM30 (Shadow Ball): A powerful Ghost-type special attack. This is a significant find and can be very useful for many Pokémon. Look for it near the northern part of the route, often requiring you to navigate through a patch of tall grass or a small ledge.
  • Max Revive: Often found in a secluded corner or behind a tree, requiring careful exploration.
  • Protein: A stat-enhancing item, usually found in a visible Poké Ball.
  • Full Heal: Useful for curing status conditions, often found in the grass.
  • Burn Heal: Another common healing item.

After successfully navigating the fog, battling trainers, and collecting all the items, you will reach the entrance to Celestic Town. This historic town holds ancient secrets and your next Gym Badge challenge.