Appendix:Platinum walkthrough/Section 17

Spear Pillar

Spear Pillar

Team Galactic
Trainer Pokémon Galactic Grunt Reward: $6080 Croagunk♂ Lv.39 No item Croagunk♂ Lv.43 No item Galactic Grunt Reward: $6080 Stunky♀ Lv.41 No item Glameow♀ Lv.41 No item

When you first arrive at Spear Pillar, you will have to deal with two Galactic Grunts in a Double Battle. Afterwards and you'll find that both Mars and Jupiter wish to challenge you. Luckily Barry appears, making this into a Multi Battle.

If the player chose Turtwig:	If the player chose Chimchar:	If the player chose Piplup:
PKMN Trainer Barry Spear Pillar Platinum Reward: N/A Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Pickup Held item: None Munchlax♂ Lv.40 Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Stockpile Normal Status   --       Swallow Normal Status   --       Types: Grass Poison Ability: Natural Cure Held item: None Roserade♂ Lv.40 Giga Drain Grass Special   --       Ingrain Grass Status   --       GrassWhistle Grass Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Types: Bug Fighting Ability: Swarm Held item: None Heracross♂ Lv.42 Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Floatzel♂ Lv.40 Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Iron Tail Steel Physical   --       Aqua Jet Water Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Staraptor♂ Lv.42 Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Take Down Normal Physical   --       Types: Fire Fighting Ability: Blaze Held item: None Infernape♂ Lv.44 Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Flame Wheel Fire Physical   --       Punishment Dark Physical   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --	PKMN Trainer Barry Spear Pillar Platinum Reward: N/A Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Pickup Held item: None Munchlax♂ Lv.40 Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Stockpile Normal Status   --       Swallow Normal Status   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Run Away Held item: None Rapidash♂ Lv.40 Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Take Down Normal Physical   --       Stomp Normal Physical   --       Types: Bug Fighting Ability: Swarm Held item: None Heracross♂ Lv.42 Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Types: Grass Poison Ability: Natural Cure Held item: None Roserade♂ Lv.40 Giga Drain Grass Special   --       Ingrain Grass Status   --       GrassWhistle Grass Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Staraptor♂ Lv.42 Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Take Down Normal Physical   --       Types: Water Steel Ability: Torrent Held item: None Empoleon♂ Lv.44 Aqua Jet Water Physical   --       Swagger Normal Status   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --	PKMN Trainer Barry Spear Pillar Platinum Reward: N/A Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Pickup Held item: None Munchlax♂ Lv.40 Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Stockpile Normal Status   --       Swallow Normal Status   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Run Away Held item: None Rapidash♂ Lv.40 Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Take Down Normal Physical   --       Stomp Normal Physical   --       Types: Bug Fighting Ability: Swarm Held item: None Heracross♂ Lv.42 Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Floatzel♂ Lv.40 Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Iron Tail Steel Physical   --       Aqua Jet Water Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Staraptor♂ Lv.42 Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Take Down Normal Physical   --       Types: Grass Ground Ability: Overgrow Held item: None Torterra♂ Lv.44 Leech Seed Grass Status   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Synthesis Grass Status   --       Giga Drain Grass Special   --

Half of his team that will fight alongside you are determined by which starter he picked at the beginning of the game, but naturally all of them excluding Munchlax have evolved all the way to their final forms.

Commander and Commander Mars Jupiter Spear Pillar Platinum Reward: $7360

Types: Steel Psychic Ability: Levitate Held item: None Bronzor Lv.44 Gyro Ball Steel Physical   --       Extrasensory Psychic Special   --       Light Screen Psychic Status   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Golbat♀ Lv.44 Air Cutter Flying Special   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Poison Fang Poison Physical   --       Type: Normal Unknown Ability: Thick Fat Held item: Sitrus Berry Purugly♀ Lv.46 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Hypnosis Psychic Status   --       Types: Steel Psychic Ability: Levitate Held item: None Bronzor Lv.44 Gyro Ball Steel Physical   --       Extrasensory Psychic Special   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Reflect Psychic Status   --       Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Golbat♀ Lv.44 Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Air Cutter Flying Special   --       Giga Drain Grass Special   --       Mean Look Normal Status   --       Types: Poison Dark Ability: Stench Held item: Sitrus Berry Skuntank♀ Lv.46 Poison Jab Poison Physical   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       SmokeScreen Normal Status   --

Cyrus uses the Red Chain

A mysterious Pokémon appears

Both of the Commanders use Bronzor, Golbat, and their signature Pokémon: Purugly in Mars's case, and Skuntank in Jupiter's case. Quickly take down both Bronzor before they can use Reflect or Light Screen to reduce your attacks' damage. A powerful Fighting-type and Ground-type move will take out Purugly and Skuntank respectively, while an Electric- or Rock-type attack will take out their Golbat.

After the battle, Barry heals your Pokémon before leaving. You'll watch as Cyrus uses the Red Chain to summon both Dialga and Palkia in preparation to destroy the world, then recreate it in his image. Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf then appear. While Cyrus says it's pointless since the Lake guardians can't match his power, the ground opens up! Another mysterious Pokémon has appeared. Cyrus finds this amusing and then all of a sudden both he and the Pokémon disappear, leaving a portal behind.

Cynthia then arrives and you'll both watch as the three Lake guardians enter the portal. She then reveals that the mysterious Pokémon is Giratina and according to legends, it lives in a mysterious Distortion World. The portal connects to it, and if it isn't closed, it will spread and consume the whole world. Once you accept Cynthia's offer, both of you will head to the Distortion World. Also, at this point both Dialga and Palkia are counted as seen in your Pokédex.

Distortion World

Distortion World 1F

Distortion World B1F

Distortion World B2F

Distortion World B3F

Distortion World B5F

Distortion World lower B4F

Distortion World upper B4F

Distortion World B6F

Distortion World B7F

You'll quickly discover that in the Distortion World, gravity works a little differently sometimes! Be careful when going through the Distortion World as it is easy to get lost, not to mention there are plenty of confusing puzzles.

Starting from 1F, follow Cynthia to a small hovering square slab where she will mention stepping on the gray markers. This will cause it to descend to B1F; apparently these square slabs serve like elevators here in the Distortion World. At B1F, follow Cynthia across the small floating platforms to find another area with a platform hanging sideways above you. Mesprit will appear before floating away. Stand on the gray marker to manipulate gravity so you can stand on this floating platform. Travel across to the other side and use the gray marker there to jump off this floating platform and then follow the path that will take you to the elevator-platform down to B2F.

On B2F, head to the first platform and stand on the gray marker located at the top to activate this platform and reach the next one. On the next platform, take the obvious marker on the left to reach another special floating platform with sideways gravity, where you will find Cynthia. After talking with her, follow the path that will take you to more moving platforms. Touch each correct marker in this order to progress: right, right, down, left (don't hop to the nearby platform in this area or you'll just find a dead end). Then, hop across the nearby platform in front of you and hit the upper marker, then the right-hand one, and lastly the center to activate the elevator-platform that leads to B3F.

On B3F, head towards the lower gray marker on the elevator to expose some hidden platforms and travel down to meet Cyrus. He reveals that the shadowy Pokémon abandoned him and went further below, and talks about DNA and how one thing cannot exist without the other. He theorizes that if someone were to defeat the shadowy Pokémon, this world should disappear and no longer interfere with his plans. For the puzzle on this floor, you must touch the gray markers on the floor to expose hidden platforms. Only one path will get you to B5F, and platforms here sometimes become visible or invisible.

First, head for the marker on the upper right and it will expose a hidden platform. Next, travel to the marker you see below you by traveling right, then down to find another hidden platform. Next travel right and you will reach the elevator that descends to B5F. On B5F, from the elevator, continue forward until you see Uxie, then use Strength to push a boulder to the platform below you on B6F. Then, head downwards to the elevator that leads to B6F, but do not take it yet. Instead, use the ledge that will take you to a platform to the left and Mesprit will appear. Here, you will have to push another boulder down to B6F. Then, take the elevator that will take you to B4F. Continue navigating forward and carefully go through the path of trees and rocks that can turn visible or invisible to reach a new elevator. That will take you to a new area of B3F. From here, use the nearby gray marker. Then, travel left then down to find an invisible platform, then travel right, then right again to get to an elevator that leads to another area of B4F.

On your way down, you will see Cyrus again, but this time he mysteriously disappears. Surf across the water, then touch the gray markers to jump to a platform with sideways gravity. Then, use another set that leads to another platform with upside-down gravity. Now use Surf again and travel down the waterfall. This should get you back to B5F, where you can find Azelf along with another boulder to push down to B6F. Now, head to the nearby elevator and this time use it to descend to B6F. The secret to B6F's puzzle is to carefully push each of the boulders you pushed down from B5F into the special holes where each of the Lake Guardians are. If you mess up, you'll have to push them down from the various floors again. Now, go back to the elevator and travel south from it to find Cynthia and talk to her. If you've completed the puzzle correctly, a new elevator will appear that you can use to travel down to B7F.

Here, you will both encounter Cyrus again, and Cynthia asks why he is so determined to create a new world. Cyrus refuses to listen. Talk to him, and he will challenge you to a battle.

Galactic Boss Cyrus Distortion World Platinum Reward: $8640

Types: Dark Fire Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Houndoom♂ Lv.45 Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Thunder Fang Electric Physical   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Insomnia Held item: None Honchkrow♂ Lv.47 Drill Peck Flying Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Heat Wave Fire Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Crobat♂ Lv.46 Cross Poison Poison Physical   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Types: Water Flying Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Gyarados♂ Lv.46 Waterfall Water Physical   --       Ice Fang Ice Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Giga Impact Normal Physical   --       Types: Dark Ice Ability: Pressure Held item: Sitrus Berry Weavile♂ Lv.48 Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       X-Scissor Bug Physical   --       Fake Out Normal Physical   --

Cyrus is a lot tougher than in the last battle, since he added two Pokémon and his Sneasel has evolved. A fast Electric-type such as Jolteon is useful in this battle, since half of his team is weak to Electric-type moves. Additionally, his entire team is weak to Rock attacks. His first Pokémon, Houndoom, is quite fast and possesses Thunder Fang to counter Water-types. Will-O-Wisp will inflict a burn if it hits, halving your Pokémon's Attack stat. Take it down as quickly as you can and it won't be a problem. Be careful when Cyrus send out his Gyarados, as it can threaten Electric and Grass Pokémon with its various attacks. Giga Impact will do a lot of damage, but Gyarados must rest for one turn after using it. Crobat's Speed is a problem, especially with its ability to use the status moves Toxic and Confuse Ray. Simply taking it out with super effective attacks and firstly paralyzing it to cut down its Speed are both valid strategies. Against Honchkrow, the same strategy as before will work; just remember it uses Heat Wave to counter Ice-types and Steel-types. His main Pokémon, Weavile, is incredibly fast and can prevent your Pokémon from moving, not just from Fake Out on its first turn, but also with Ice Punch, which has a chance of freezing your Pokémon. A powerful Fighting-type move should easily defeat it, though Rock, Steel, or Fire-type moves can also help.

After the battle, Cyrus will think it is hopeless since if Giratina is defeated, this world will disappear. However, Cynthia points out the problems are due to the Distortion World being forcibly merged with the real one, and by defeating Giratina the connection can be severed. Cynthia will then heal your team. Before going forward to face Giratina, you need to decide if you want to catch it now or later. Save your game before using the platforms to reach it. Once you move forward and see Giratina fly by, move forward again and then some invisible platforms will become visible, allowing you to reach Giratina.

Catching Giratina

Giratina's area of the Distortion World

Types: Ghost Dragon Ability: Levitate Held item: None Giratina Lv.47 Ominous Wind Ghost Special   --       AncientPower Rock Special   --       Dragon Claw Dragon Physical   --       Shadow Force Ghost Physical   --

The Dusk Ball is the best Poké Ball variant to use in this fight, just make sure your game is set anywhere between 8:00 p.m. to 3:59 a.m to make use of its 3.5× catch rate modifier. Ultra Balls and Timer Balls can also be useful. It can take 10, 20, or even 30 Poké Balls to catch Giratina, so prepare for a long battle. Since you saved beforehand, you can turn off your game if something goes wrong and get another chance. Unlike Dialga and Palkia, Giratina's catch rate remained 3 (0.4% when using Poké Ball at full health).

One thing which makes Origin Forme Giratina a difficult opponent is that in this form, it specializes more in offense over defense. If you have a status move that inflicts paralysis or sleep, you can use them to make Giratina easier to catch. Avoid or minimize use of Ice-, Ghost-, Dragon- or Dark-type moves as they carry the risk of knocking it out. After reducing its HP bar to the red zone, a good tactic is to bring out a Steel-type that has good defenses and resistances to all of Giratina's attacks. Be sure to keep an eye on how many turns have passed, though, as Giratina only has 35 PP, and it will start to use struggle after it uses all its PP up.

Unlike in the previous Pokémon games, you do not have to catch Giratina right away, since legendaries that you failed to catch will reappear each time you defeat the Elite Four and Pokémon Champion during your playthrough of this game. If Giratina’s attacks are too much for you to deal with right now, just defeat it. You can face it later in Turnback Cave in its Altered Forme, which is more defense-oriented stat-wise. Also, if you run out of Poké Balls or so many turns of battle elapse that Giratina is forced to Struggle, it would also be okay to either reset (assuming you saved beforehand) or knock it out and try again later on.

After the battle, Cynthia is happy that Giratina understood your intentions and will point out a nearby portal that will take you back to your world. Cyrus then appears and is surprised that Giratina was defeated or captured and that his perfect world will never be complete. After he and Cynthia express their different views about the world, Cyrus leaves, convinced they will never understand each other. Now enter the portal, which will take you to Sendoff Spring, the fourth lake of Sinnoh.

← Part 16 Mt. Coronet (south)

Platinum walkthrough

Sendoff Spring to Sunyshore City Part 18 →

This article is part of Project Walkthroughs, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive step-by-step guides on each Pokémon game.