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The Ultimate Pokémon Platinum Starter Guide: Choosing Your Champion

The best Pokémon starter in Platinum, without a shadow of a doubt, is Chimchar. While each of the Sinnoh starters – Chimchar, Piplup, and Turtwig – has its merits, Chimchar’s evolution into Infernape provides a significant advantage throughout the game. Infernape’s Fire/Fighting typing offers excellent offensive coverage, addressing numerous weaknesses within the Platinum storyline, especially against the Elite Four and key gym leaders. Its high Attack and Special Attack stats combined with a diverse movepool makes it a formidable force from early to late game.

Why Chimchar Reigns Supreme in Platinum

The decision isn’t just about personal preference; it’s about strategic game play. Here’s why Chimchar edges out the competition:

Typing Advantage: The Sinnoh region lacks readily available Fire-type Pokémon. Chimchar fills this void, providing crucial coverage against the abundance of Grass, Bug, and Ice-type Pokémon encountered throughout the adventure. Moreover, the Fighting-type adds significant offensive power.
Elite Four Coverage: Infernape shines against the Elite Four, particularly against Aaron (Bug-type) and Bertha (Ground-type). Its diverse movepool allows it to adapt to different situations, making these battles significantly easier.
Gym Leader Battles: Roark (Rock-type) can be challenging early on. While Infernape won’t be fully evolved at this point, Chimchar can learn Dig to deal with Roark’s team. Candice (Ice-type) is another gym where Infernape truly shines.
Offensive Prowess: Infernape boasts impressive offensive stats. This translates to dealing significant damage to opponents, allowing you to sweep through battles efficiently. Its speed is also notable, allowing it to often strike first.
Movepool Versatility: Infernape has access to a vast range of powerful moves, including Flare Blitz, Close Combat, Thunder Punch, Earthquake, and Mach Punch. This versatility ensures that Infernape can handle almost any threat the game throws at it.
Availability: Fire type Pokemon are very rare in the Sinnoh region, and Infernape provides a very strong offensive presence that is difficult to replicate with any other Pokemon.

The Other Starters: A Closer Look

While Chimchar excels, let’s examine why Piplup and Turtwig fall slightly behind:

Piplup: Piplup evolves into Empoleon, a Water/Steel type. While Empoleon has excellent defensive stats and typing, its slower speed and weaknesses to Fighting, Ground, and Electric-type moves make it less versatile than Infernape. Also, there are multiple strong Water-type Pokemon available in the Sinnoh region, diminishing the uniqueness of Piplup.
Turtwig: Turtwig evolves into Torterra, a Grass/Ground type. Torterra is bulky and can learn Earthquake early, but its 4x weakness to Ice and its slow speed are significant drawbacks. The number of strong water and ice type pokemon in the Sinnoh region make Torterra more difficult to use.

Building a Strong Team Around Infernape

Choosing Chimchar doesn’t guarantee victory alone. It’s crucial to build a balanced team to support Infernape’s strengths and cover its weaknesses. Consider adding Pokémon with good synergy, such as:

Gyarados: A powerful Water/Flying type that provides excellent coverage against Fire, Rock, and Ground-type moves, complementing Infernape’s weaknesses.
Luxray: An Electric type that can handle Water and Flying-type threats that can deal significant damage to Infernape and Gyarados.
Roserade: A Grass/Poison type which provides support in battles and can set up status conditions and take care of water types that may present challenges.

Platinum: More Than Just a Starter

Remember that Platinum is a game that rewards strategic team building and smart battling. Regardless of your starter choice, understanding type matchups, utilizing status conditions, and exploiting opponent weaknesses are vital for success. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about how gaming strategies apply to learning and problem-solving. Exploring online resources can enhance your strategic thinking and elevate your Pokémon Platinum experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Platinum Starters

1. Is Chimchar really that much better than Piplup and Turtwig?

Yes, for most players seeking an easier and more efficient playthrough. Infernape’s offensive typing and powerful movepool make it a significant asset throughout the entire game. The scarcity of viable Fire-types in Sinnoh further solidifies its position. However, Piplup and Turtwig can still be successful with proper team composition and strategic play.

2. Can I still beat the game with Piplup or Turtwig?

Absolutely! While Chimchar offers a clear advantage, Piplup and Turtwig are perfectly viable options. You’ll just need to build your team around their strengths and cover their weaknesses more carefully. For example, if you choose Turtwig, ensure you have a strong counter to Ice-type Pokémon.

3. What are the best natures for Chimchar, Piplup, and Turtwig?

Chimchar/Infernape: Adamant (Attack Up, Special Attack Down) or Jolly (Speed Up, Special Attack Down) are good for physical attackers. Hasty (Speed Up, Defense Down) or Naive (Speed Up, Special Defense Down) are good for mixed attackers.
Piplup/Empoleon: Modest (Special Attack Up, Attack Down) or Calm (Special Defense Up, Attack Down) are generally preferred for Empoleon.
Turtwig/Torterra: Adamant (Attack Up, Special Attack Down) or Impish (Defense Up, Special Attack Down) can work well for Torterra.

4. Where can I find other Fire-type Pokémon if I don’t choose Chimchar?

Fire-type Pokémon are rare in Sinnoh. Ponyta can be found on Route 214 and Route 215, while Houndour requires the use of Pal Park (importing from a GBA game). This makes Chimchar even more valuable.

5. Which starter is best for a nuzlocke challenge in Platinum?

Chimchar remains the best choice for a nuzlocke challenge due to its offensive power and ability to quickly dispatch opponents, minimizing risks. However, a more cautious player may prefer Piplup for its bulk.

6. Are there any situations where Turtwig might be a better choice?

Turtwig can excel in the early game against Roark and Gardenia. Its access to Earthquake later on provides strong Ground-type coverage. However, its weaknesses become more problematic as the game progresses.

7. How does the difficulty of Platinum compare to Diamond and Pearl?

Platinum is generally considered more challenging than Diamond and Pearl due to improved AI and enemy Pokémon teams. This makes a strong starter like Chimchar even more valuable.

8. What are some good early-game Pokémon to pair with each starter?

Chimchar: Starly (for Flying-type coverage), Bidoof (for HM utility), and Shinx (for Electric-type coverage).
Piplup: Budew (for Grass/Poison-type coverage), Geodude (for Rock/Ground-type coverage), and Machop (for Fighting-type coverage).
Turtwig: Ponyta (for Fire-type coverage), Zubat (for Flying/Poison-type coverage), and Kricketot (for Bug-type coverage in early gyms).

9. Does the starter choice significantly impact the overall gameplay experience?

Yes, the starter choice can significantly impact the early to mid-game experience. Chimchar provides a smoother playthrough due to its typing advantage and offensive prowess. However, with proper team building and strategic play, all three starters are viable.

10. Can I get all three starters in Platinum without trading?

No. You can only choose one starter at the beginning of the game, and they cannot be found in the wild. Trading with other players is the only way to obtain the other two starters.

11. What are the best movesets for the final evolutions of each starter?

Infernape: Flare Blitz, Close Combat, Thunder Punch, Earthquake.
Empoleon: Surf, Flash Cannon, Ice Beam, Grass Knot.
Torterra: Earthquake, Wood Hammer, Stone Edge, Crunch.

12. How do the Hidden Abilities of the starters affect their viability in Platinum?

Hidden Abilities are not accessible in the main story of Platinum, and generally only obtainable through events or trading from other games.

13. Is there a consensus within the Pokémon community on the best Platinum starter?

Yes, Chimchar is widely considered the best starter for Platinum. This is based on its typing advantage, offensive stats, Elite Four coverage, and the scarcity of Fire-type Pokémon in the Sinnoh region.

14. Are there any unique strategies or challenges associated with each starter?

Chimchar: Focus on maximizing its offensive stats and utilizing its diverse movepool to exploit weaknesses.
Piplup: Build a team that covers its weaknesses to Fighting, Ground, and Electric-type moves. Utilize its bulk and access to support moves.
Turtwig: Address its 4x weakness to Ice by including Pokémon with good coverage against Ice-type attacks.

15. What is the best way to learn more about Pokémon strategy and team building?

Consulting online resources, guides, and community forums can provide valuable insights into Pokémon strategy and team building. Exploring websites such as GamesLearningSociety.org can also offer a broader perspective on how gaming strategies apply to real-world problem-solving. Remember, practice and experimentation are key to mastering Pokémon Platinum.

What is the best Pokémon starter in Platinum?