Poké Radar

The Poké Radar is a key item in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl that is used to seek out wild Pokémon hiding in long grass. Like the Vs Seeker, its battery must be charged after use by walking around. It takes fifty steps to fully charge the Poké Radar.

After the first time the player has defeated the Elite Four, and if they have seen every Pokémon in the Sinnoh Dex, they will be able to meet Professor Oak in Professor Rowan's lab in Sandgem Town. After upgrading the Pokédex to the National model, he will also give away the Poké Radar, but will not explain it very thoroughly.

It can only be used in the standard tall grass, while on foot, at which point, a tune will begin to play, and one or more patches of the long grass will begin to move. Patches that shake more violently than others are oftentimes more rare Pokémon, including Pokémon exclusive to the use of the Poké Radar. When a player walks into one of these moving patches, a battle with a wild Pokémon will instantly begin.

If the Pokémon that is found is fainted or captured in a Poké Ball, a chain will begin. These chains consist of multiple members of the same Pokémon species (such as Farfetch'd) encountered one after another. The only catch is this: a player must not encounter any Pokémon just by walking through non-wiggling grass, only by walking into the grass that shakes, therefore, it is recommended that Repel is used in order to ensure this and get a higher chain. One of the many functions of the Pokétch is to display the current chain and the three best chains made so far.

One of the most alluring reasons to use the Poké Radar, however, is the high chance, especially after a long chain, of finding a shiny Pokémon.

Also after the player gets the Poké Radar, Dawn or Lucas, if talked to they may give some tips about this item. One of the lines they say is if the player sees the grass spark a little the player has a chance of seeing a shiny pokémon.

List of Radar-exclusive Pokémon

#	Icon	Name	Area
029	File:029MS.gif	Nidoran♀	Route 201
030	File:030MS.gif	Nidorina	Route 221, Valor Lakefront
032	File:032MS.gif	Nidoran♂	Route 201
033	File:033MS.gif	Nidorino	Route 221, Valor Lakefront
048	File:048MS.gif	Venonat	Route 229
049	File:049MS.gif	Venomoth	Route 229
052	File:052MS.gif	Meowth	Route 214
056	File:056MS.gif	Mankey	Routes 225 and 226
057	File:057MS.gif	Primeape	Routes 225 and 226
079	File:079MS.gif	Slowpoke	Route 205 (Pearl only)
088	File:088MS.gif	Grimer	Route 212
128	File:128MS.gif	Tauros	Routes 209 and 210
132	File:132MS.gif	Ditto	Route 218
161	File:161MS.gif	Sentret	Route 202
175	File:175MS.gif	Togepi	Route 230
179	File:179MS.gif	Mareep	Valley Windoworks
180	File:180MS.gif	Flaaffy	Route 222
187	File:187MS.gif	Hoppip	Route 205
188	File:188MS.gif	Skiploom	Route 205 (North)
191	File:191MS.gif	Sunkern	Route 204 (North)
202	File:202MS.gif	Wobbuffet	Lake Verity, Lake Valor, Lake Acuity
229	File:229MS.gif	Houndoom	Route 214 and Route 215 (Pearl only)
234	File:234MS.gif	Stantler	Route 207 (Pearl only)
235	File:235MS.gif	Smeargle	Route 212
236	File:236MS.gif	Tyrogue	Route 208 and Route 211
241	File:241MS.gif	Miltank	Route 209 and Route 210
246	File:246MS.gif	Larvitar	Route 207 (Diamond only)
277	File:277MS.gif	Swellow	Route 213
262	File:262MS.gif	Mightyena	Route 214 and Route 215 (Pearl only)
280	File:280MS.gif	Ralts	Routes 203 and 204
281	File:281MS.gif	Kirlia	Routes 203 and 204
290	File:290MS.gif	Nincada	Eterna Forest
294	File:294MS.gif	Loudred	Mt. Coronet
304	File:304MS.gif	Aron	Fuego Ironworks (Diamond only)
324	File:324MS.gif	Torkoal	Route 227 and Stark Mountain
328	File:328MS.gif	Trapinch	Route 228
329	File:329MS.gif	Vibrava	Route 228
333	File:333MS.gif	Swablu	Route 211
343	File:343MS.gif	Baltoy	Route 206
352	File:352MS.gif	Kecleon	Route 210 (Diamond only)
355	File:355MS.gif	Duskull	Route 224
356	File:356MS.gif	Dusclops	Route 224
361	File:361MS.gif	Snorunt	Routes 216 and 217, Acuity Lakefront
371	File:371MS.gif	Bagon	Route 210 (Pearl only)

On Bulbagarden forums

• Shiny Pokémon with the Poké Radar