Twinleaf Town is a small seaside town, but it is home to the most important laboratory in Sinnoh. Professor Rowan entrusts you with the Pokédex, and his assistant teaches you how to catch your first Pokémon.
- Objective
- Receive the Pokédex, then reach Jubilife City via Route 202
- Rewards
- Pokédex, Poké Ball ×5, Journal, Parcel
- Recommended level
- 6 to 8
🔬Professor Rowan’s laboratory
When you arrive, the professor’s assistant is waiting for you: Dawn if you play a boy, Lucas if you play a girl. They take you to the laboratory, northwest of town. Professor Rowan, a stern but fair man, sees that your Pokémon has already grown attached to you: he lets you keep it, give it a nickname, and hands you the Pokédex. Your mission: register every Pokémon of Sinnoh in it.
In Platinum, the professor also gives you TM27 Return as you leave the laboratory. Its power increases with your Pokémon’s happiness: ideal for your starter.
Dawn (or Lucas) then shows you around town: the Pokémon Center, where your Pokémon are healed for free, and the Poké Mart, where you buy Potions and Poké Balls. They live in the house south of the Pokémon Center, with their family.
Sandgem Town
🎒Items
- 🎁PokédexGiven by Professor Rowan in his lab.
- 💿TM27PlatinumGiven by Professor Rowan after leaving his lab.
- 🎁National PokédexGiven by Professor Oak after seeing all the Pokémon of the Sinnoh region and beating the Pokémon League.
- 🎁Poké RadarGiven by Professor Rowan after obtaining the National Pokédex.
🏠A detour through Sandgem Town
Before setting off for good, go home and let your mother know: she gives you the Journal, which records the great moments of your adventure. Then stop by Barry’s house: his mother entrusts you with a Parcel to give to him. He has left for Jubilife City without waiting for it.
🌿Route 202 and your first catches
North of Twinleaf Town, Dawn or Lucas stops you at the entrance to the tall grass for a catching demonstration: weaken a Pokémon, then throw a Poké Ball. You receive five Poké Balls.
Now is the time to fill out your team. Two Pokémon deserve a spot for the whole adventure:
StarlyNo. 3NormalFlyingStarly will become Staravia, then Staraptor (levels 14 and 34), a fast and powerful Normal and Flying attacker, useful all the way to the League.
ShinxNo. 4ElectricShinx evolves into Luxio (level 15), then Luxray (level 30). A physical Electric-type that will work wonders against Crasher Wake and the many Water and Flying Pokémon of Sinnoh.
Bidoof, found everywhere in the tall grass, can learn nearly every HM (Cut, Rock Smash, Strength, Surf…): it is the ideal “HM Pokémon”, sparing you from cluttering your main team. Kricketot only comes out in the morning and at night.
Route 202
🗺️Map
🌿Wild Pokémon
⚔️Trainers
3 Trainers · 208 ₽ in total
- Youngster Rachid Vs. Seeker80 ₽
5 - Lass Yolène Vs. Seeker48 ₽
33 - Youngster Chuk Vs. Seeker80 ₽
5
Trainers from Diamond and Pearl. In Platinum, some Trainers and their teams are different.
🎒Items
- ⚪Poké Ball ×5Given by Dawn/Lucas after their demonstration.
- 🧪PotionIn the grass at the top left of the route
📍For later
South of Twinleaf Town, a small beach leads to Route 219 and the waterways of southern Sinnoh. You will need the HM Surf to go farther. Dawn’s (or Lucas’s) sister will also play a role after the League: she will tell you each day which Pokémon appears in a mass outbreak somewhere in the region.
Next step: Jubilife City, the big city of Sinnoh.
