The Ultimate Guide to Berries in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Berries in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP) are versatile items with a wide array of uses. From simple HP restoration during intense battles to influencing a Pokémon’s Friendship or boosting their stats for Pokémon Contests, understanding their function is crucial for any aspiring trainer. They can heal status conditions, restore PP, weaken incoming attacks, and even strengthen your own offensive capabilities. Mastering berry cultivation and utilization is key to gaining a strategic edge in the Sinnoh region.

Berry Basics: Healing, Status, and More

Berries are not just simple healing items; they’re a complex system interwoven into the core mechanics of BDSP. Here’s a breakdown of the primary uses:

• Healing: Several berries, like the Sitrus Berry, restore a portion of a Pokémon’s HP when held and triggered at low health. This can be a lifesaver during challenging trainer battles or against formidable Pokémon in the wild.
• Status Condition Healing: Specific berries cure status ailments. The Cheri Berry cures paralysis, the Chesto Berry wakes a sleeping Pokémon, and the Pecha Berry remedies poisoning, just to name a few. Having a variety of these on hand can prevent a disastrous status effect from ruining your strategy.
• PP Restoration: The Leppa Berry is invaluable for competitive trainers. It restores 10 PP to a single move, allowing you to continue using your strongest attacks for longer, particularly useful in prolonged battles or exploring challenging areas.
• Stat Enhancement (Contests): Berries are essential for creating Poffins, which are used to raise a Pokémon’s condition stats for Pokémon Contests. Different berries have different flavor profiles (Spicy, Dry, Sweet, Bitter, Sour), which influence the stat boosted (Coolness, Beauty, Cuteness, Smartness, Toughness). Crafting the perfect Poffin requires careful berry selection.
• Friendship Boost: Certain rare berries, such as the Grepa Berry, Hondew Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Pomeg Berry, Qualot Berry, and Tamato Berry, increase a Pokémon’s Friendship level. However, they come at a cost, lowering one of the Pokémon’s Base Stats (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed respectively). Weigh the benefits carefully before using them!
• Damage Mitigation/Enhancement: Certain held berries will weaken super-effective attacks. For example, the Occa Berry weakens Fire-type attacks, while the Yache Berry weakens Ice-type attacks. Conversely, some berries like the Liechi Berry will raise Attack when at 25% health or less.

Finding and Growing Berries

Berries are scattered throughout the Sinnoh region, found in berry trees located on various routes. These trees are easily identifiable, and interacting with them will yield several berries. Remember to check back regularly, as berry trees will replenish their bounty daily.

Berry Planting

You can plant berries in soft soil patches found across Sinnoh. Each new plant you water gives you between 2 and 9 berries back in just a day. The quantity depends on the type of berry and how well you care for it. Don’t forget to water your planted berries regularly!

The Berry Master

Visiting the Berry Master on Route 208 is a must. He lives in the house just west of Hearthome City and offers a free berry daily. He also provides tips on berry cultivation.

Amity Square

Walking with Pokémon in Amity Square in Hearthome City also yields berries. After about 250 steps, a Pokémon will give you a random berry. The berries received here do not depend on the Pokemon’s Nature.

Strategic Berry Usage in Battle

Knowing when and which berry to use can turn the tide of a battle.

Held Items

Many berries function best as held items. They are triggered automatically when certain conditions are met, such as a Pokémon reaching low health or being hit by a super-effective attack. Equipping your Pokémon with the appropriate berries can provide a significant advantage.

Strategic Considerations

Consider your team composition and the expected threats you’ll face. Are you battling a Fire-type Gym Leader? Equipping your Pokémon with Occa Berries might be a smart choice. Do you need reliable healing during a long journey? Stock up on Sitrus Berries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Berries in BDSP

1. Do Berries grow back in Pokemon BDSP?

Yes, berries do grow back. Once planted in soft soil patches, watered, and left for approximately 24 hours, berry trees will yield a new crop of berries. The exact time depends on the specific type of berry planted.

2. What is the best Berry for Poffins in BDSP?

The “best” berry for Poffins depends on which Contest stat you’re trying to maximize. Berries with high Dry flavor are ideal for boosting Beauty, while Spicy berries are best for Coolness. Technically, the Berries with the highest Dry flavor are Micle, Pamtre, Ganlon, Apicot, Chinlan, Corn and Charti, but Berries like Wiki, Chesto, Passho and Kebia should also do the trick, if you cook them well enough. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best! Remember, success also hinges on your mixing technique.

3. Can a Pokémon hold a Berry permanently in BDSP?

No, a Pokémon can only use a berry once. Once the effect is triggered, the berry is consumed. You’ll need to equip a new berry each time you want your Pokémon to benefit from its effects.

4. How many Poffins do I need to feed Feebas to evolve it into Milotic in BDSP?

The number of Poffins needed depends on the quality of the Poffins and the Feebas’s initial condition stats. Feebas needs a high Beauty stat to evolve into Milotic, so you will have to feed it many poffins to evolve it. The sheen of a pokemon can be maxed out at 255, and each poffin has a sheen of approximately 18, you will need around 15 poffins.

5. How long do berries take to grow in Pokemon BDSP?

The growth time varies depending on the type of berry. Some berries, like the Aspear Berry, take as little as 12 hours to fully grow. Others, like the Rowap Berry, can take up to 4 days. Regular watering with the Sprayduck watering can will help maximize your harvest.

6. Should I plant berries in Pokemon BDSP?

Absolutely! Planting berries is crucial for building a sustainable supply. It’s particularly important for rare berries, ensuring you don’t lose them forever. Plant them, care for them, and harvest as many as possible.

7. What does Rare Candy do in Brilliant Diamond?

Rare Candies instantly raise a Pokémon to its next level. They’re invaluable for balancing your team and providing a quick boost to your favorites.

8. Why do I get foul Poffins in BDSP?

Foul Poffins result from errors during the Poffin-making process. This happens when you either use the wrong mixture of berries, burn the Poffin during cooking, or spill the mixture. Practice makes perfect when it comes to Poffin creation.

9. What does a foul poffin do?

The Foul Poffin boosts three random conditions by 2! Not ideal for a specific contest, but handy if you need a general boost to multiple conditions.

10. What does a shiny Feebas evolve into?

A Shiny Feebas will evolve into a Shiny Milotic! The Prism Scale is required for this evolution, just as with the normal Feebas.

11. What is the best damage boosting item in Pokemon BDSP?

While the Choice Band/Specs/Scarf offers a significant boost, the Life Orb is often considered the best overall. It increases damage output by 30% but inflicts slight recoil damage with each attacking move. Its versatility makes it a popular choice among competitive players.

12. Which Pokémon Berry gives more candy?

The Pinap Berry doubles the amount of Candy you’ll receive when you catch a Pokémon. Use them strategically on Pokémon you want to evolve! Silver Pinap Berries also provide a candy boost and increase the catch rate!

13. What Berry makes Pokémon not flee?

The Nanab Berry is your go-to for preventing Pokémon from fleeing. It makes the Pokémon easier to catch by slowing down its movements, giving you a better chance to land that Poké Ball.

14. Where are the best Berries in BDSP?

The Berry Master on Route 208, and Amity Square are your reliable sources for obtaining berries regularly. Also, check trees scattered on routes.

15. How to get RARE Berries in ► Pokemon Brilliant Diamond | BDSP?

Rare berries are mostly obtained in the post game and are found on the Battle Zone’s Routes after you receive the National Pokedex, especially Routes 225-230.

By mastering berry cultivation and strategic usage, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer any challenge in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Good luck, trainers, and happy berry hunting!

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