Monday, November 29, 2021

How to get and use the Poké Radar in Pokémon BDSP

Some Pokémon can only be caught this way, so you'll want it for completing your Pokédex.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl may have a smaller Pokédex at 493 Pokémon, but some of the iconic monsters in these Pokémon games can only be obtained by using the Poké Radar. This device, similar to the PokéNav in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and the generation three remakes, allows players to find special Pokémon only found on specific routes using a navigation device. Here's how to get the Poké Radar in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

How to get the Poké Radar

Though it seems easy at first, acquiring the Poké Radar is actually quite a feat and may not be possible until players are later on in the game. Follow these steps to get the Poké Radar in your hands:

  1. Obtain the National Pokédex — Before you panic, breathe. Unlocking the National Pokédex doesn't require you to catch every Pokémon, but you do have to see every Pokémon. Pokémon count as "seen" whether you obtain them as a gift, hatch them from an egg, encounter them in the wild or battle them in a gym. An old woman in Celestic Town will even show you an image of the flagship legendary of the game opposite to yours, so that's covered as well.
  2. Speak to Professor Rowan — Once you've seen every Pokémon, head to Sandgem Town and speak with Professor Rowan. He'll ask you about your Pokédex, and after showing it to him, Professor Oak will show up, handing you the National Pokédex.
  3. Head to Ramanas Park — Professor Oak will be waiting for you at Ramanas Park, and hand you the Poké Radar. Now you can really get to huntin'!

How to use the Poké Radar

You can access the Poké Radar from your in-game bag in the Key Items pocket. To access it more quickly you can register to a quick button press, similarly to how you can access your Bike. When using it in a patch of grass on a compatible route, random patches of grass will begin to shake. Heading to a shaking patch guarantees a Pokémon encounter, which starts a "chain" if you catch or defeat the same Pokémon in shaking patches over and over. The chain will grow until you run away, encounter a different Pokémon, or get knocked out. The longer the chain, the higher the likelihood of it breaking. Players will need to use their discretion to determine a good risk versus reward balance.

The benefits of chaining are that you'll be able to catch exclusive Pokémon via this manner. Pokémon encountered as part of a chain also have a 1/128 chance of having a Hidden Ability. Whatever Pokémon you're chaining will also have a higher chance of perfect IVs the longer the chain, so IV trainers will find value in this mechanic. But best of all, there's also a higher chance of obtaining shiny Pokémon through shiny shaking patches of grass.

Poké Radar exclusive Pokémon

Some Pokémon can only be caught via the Poké Radar, with some being version exclusive. Here's a list of them:

Name Location
Nidoran♀ Route 201
Nidorina Route 221, Valor Lakefront
Nidoran♂ Route 201
Nidorino Route 221, Valor Lakefront
Venonat Route 229
Venomoth Route 229
Mankey Route 225, Route 226
Primeape Route 225, Route 226
Slowpoke (Shining Pearl only) Route 205
Grimer Route 212
Tauros Route 209, Route 210
Ditto Route 218
Sentret Route 202
Togepi Route 230
Mareep Valley Windworks
Flaaffy Route 222
Hoppip Route 205, Fuego Windworks
Skiploom Route 205, Fuego Windworks
Sunkern Route 204
Wobbuffet Lake Verity, Lake Valor, Lake Acuity
Houndoom (Shining Pearl only) Route 214, Route 215
Stantler (Shining Pearl only) Route 207
Smeargle Route 212
Tyrogue Route 208, Route 211
Miltank Route 209, Route 210
Larvitar (Brilliant Diamond only) Route 207
Mightyena (Brilliant Diamond only) Route 214, Route 215
Swellow Route 213
Ralts Route 203, Route 204
Kirlia Route 203. Route 204
Nincada Eterna Forest
Loudred Mt. Coronet
Aron (Brilliant Diamond only) Fuego Ironworks
Torkoal Route 227, Stark Mountain
Trapinch Route 228
Vibrava Route 228
Swablu Route 211
Baltoy Route 206
Kecleon (Brilliant Diamond only) Route 210
Duskull Route 224
Dusclops Route 224
Snorunt Route 216, Route 217, Acuity Lakefront
Bagon (Shining Pearl only) Route 210

Searching for the perfect monster

For anyone looking for something to occupy their time in the post-game, the Poké Radar can serve as a way to hunt for shinies and rare Pokémon with cool natures and abilities. Completing the Pokédex is the implied goal of all Pokémon games (I mean, the slogan is "Catch 'em all!", after all), so those who enjoy doing so in each game can have a bit of a change of pace in catching methods.

Let's go, Sinnoh!

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

$60 at Amazon (Brilliant Diamond) $60 at Amazon (Shining Pearl) $60 at Best Buy (Brilliant Diamond) $60 at Best Buy (Shining Pearl)

Embark on an epic adventure

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are gorgeous remakes of the popular Nintendo DS titles that were first released in 2006. Explore the world, complete your Pokédex, and battle it out across eight gyms and countless Pokémon trainers, all dressed up in an amazing chibi style.


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