It all begins in Twinleaf Town, the smallest village in Sinnoh: four houses, no Pokémon Center, and a neighbor, Barry, who is always in a hurry. In a few minutes, you will receive your first Pokémon and cross paths, by a misty lake, with a man you will hear a lot about.
- Objective
- Get your starter Pokémon and beat Barry for the first time
- Rewards
- Turtwig, Chimchar or Piplup, Running Shoes
- Duration
- 15 to 20 minutes
🏠Twinleaf Town
You wake up in your bedroom, in the house at the bottom right of the village. Your neighbor and friend Barry bursts in without knocking: he has an idea in mind and tells you to meet him outside. Follow him to his house, at the top left; he comes right back out, bumps into you on the way, then waits for you at the start of Route 201, north of the village.
Twinleaf Town has no Pokémon Center or Poké Mart: your mother will heal your team every time you come home. A small pond sits in the middle of the village. It hides a very special item, the Odd Keystone, in one of the trees on its left bank: you will need Surf to reach it, much later.
Twinleaf Town
🎒Items
- 🎁Running ShoesGift from the player's mother once the player has received their starter Pokémon.
- 🎁JournalGift from the player's mother once the player has come back from Sandgem Town.
- 🎁ParcelPackage given by Barry's mother; it must be delivered to the rival in Jubilife City.
- 🎁Odd KeystoneHidden item: In one of the trees on the left edge of the pond (requires HM03 Surf).
🌊Diamond and Pearl: the red Gyarados and the briefcase
On TV, a report mentions a red Gyarados spotted in a lake. Barry is convinced that an extraordinary Pokémon is hiding at Lake Verity, nearby: he drags you there via Route 201, to the west.
By the lake, you run into Professor Rowan and his assistant. They leave, forgetting a briefcase. As you look at it, wild Starly attack: the briefcase opens to reveal three Poké Balls. You have to choose one of the three Pokémon and defeat a level 2 Starly. Barry takes the Pokémon that has the advantage over yours.
🍃Platinum: the choice on Route 201
In Platinum, Barry wants to go ask Professor Rowan for Pokémon in Sandgem Town. As you rush into the tall grass of Route 201, the professor stops you and has you pick your Pokémon from his assistant’s briefcase. Barry challenges you right away. The visit to Lake Verity comes next: a blue-haired man is gazing silently at the water there, then leaves. You will learn his name later: Cyrus.
✨Turtwig, Chimchar or Piplup?
A permanent choice, which mostly changes the start of the adventure. All three Pokémon gain a second type at their final evolution.
TurtwigNo. 5GrassGrass, then Grass and Ground with Torterra (level 32). Very sturdy and effective against the first two Gyms; its Pokémon fear Ice, which is four times effective against Torterra.
ChimcharNo. 5FireFire, then Fire and Fighting with Monferno (level 14) and Infernape (level 36). Fast and offensive; it struggles against Roark, but Fire-type Pokémon are rare in Sinnoh.
PiplupNo. 5WaterWater, then Water and Steel with Empoleon (level 36). It sweeps the first Gym and has very few weaknesses: an excellent choice to start with.
⚔️The first battle against Barry
Barry only has a single level 5 Pokémon, the one with the type advantage over yours. Do not worry about it: at this level, the starters’ moves are all Normal-type (Tackle, Scratch, Pound). Attack relentlessly, possibly using the stat-lowering move once.
Barry
A simple exchange of blows: both Pokémon have Normal-type moves of equal power. The battle comes down to luck, but your victory is by far the most likely. Even if you lose, the story goes on.
👟Back home
Head back home: your mother gives you the Running Shoes. Hold the B button while moving to run. Then go to Sandgem Town, east of Route 201, where Professor Rowan is waiting for you.
🏞️Lake Verity
Lake Verity is the first of Sinnoh’s three great lakes. A cave stands on an islet in the center: you will not be able to enter it until much later. For now, its tall grass only shelters Starly and Bidoof.
Lake Verity
🗺️Map
🌿Wild Pokémon
🌿Tall grass
🌊Surfing
🎣Old Rod fishing
MagikarpNo. 3-15100 %
🎣Good Rod fishing
🎣Super Rod fishing
🌿Poké Radar
WobbuffetNo. 3-422 %
🌿Swarm
SurskitNo. 2-540 %
🌿Inserting FireRed (GBA)
🌿Inserting LeafGreen (GBA)
🌿Inserting Ruby (GBA)
SolrockNo. 48 %
🌿Inserting Sapphire (GBA)
LunatoneNo. 48 %
🌿Inserting Emerald (GBA)
✨Encounter
MespritNo. 50One only
🎁Given (starter Pokémon)
🎒Items
- 💿TM38In the southwest of the cave, in the tall grass.
🌲Route 201
A short forest route, with no Trainers. A woman gives you a Potion. Starly is an excellent first companion: it will become Staraptor, a very powerful Normal and Flying attacker. Catch it as soon as you have Poké Balls, in the next step.
Route 201
🗺️Map
🌿Wild Pokémon
🎒Items
- 🧪PotionGiven by a woman.
Head to Sandgem Town, to the east, to meet the professor: Step 2: Sandgem Town and Professor Rowan.
