Decoding the Mystery: Where to Snag the Full Incense in Pokémon Platinum

The hunt for the Full Incense in Pokémon Platinum can feel like a real test of a Trainer’s mettle! This elusive item, crucial for breeding certain Pokémon and achieving specific team compositions, isn’t just lying around for anyone to pick up. Here’s the straight answer: You can find the Full Incense held by a Snorlax on Route 221.

Understanding the Full Incense and its Importance

The Full Incense is more than just another item in your inventory. It’s a key component for specific breeding strategies and can influence how you play the game. Its primary function is to allow you to breed Munchlax by having Snorlax hold it while breeding. Without the Full Incense, Snorlax will only produce another Snorlax. This is particularly important for completing your Pokedex and acquiring this relatively rare baby Pokémon.

Obtaining the Full Incense: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Unlock the National Pokedex: This is a prerequisite for accessing Route 221. You’ll need to see all 150 Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokedex before Professor Rowan upgrades your Pokedex to the National Dex. This involves a good amount of exploration and battling!

2. Head to Route 221: This route is located south of Sandgem Town. You’ll need the HM Surf to reach it.

3. Find the Snorlax: There is only one Snorlax that appears on this route, and it appears rarely. Use the Poké Radar after using Repels to manipulate the encounters.

4. Catch the Snorlax or Use Thief/Covet: You have two main approaches here. You can attempt to catch the Snorlax. If you successfully capture it, check its held item in your Pokémon’s summary screen. If it’s holding the Full Incense, congratulations! Alternatively, you can use a Pokémon with the moves Thief or Covet. These moves steal the opponent’s held item while simultaneously dealing damage. Important Note: If your Pokémon already holds an item, Thief/Covet will fail. Ensure your Pokémon’s inventory slot is free.

5. Repeat if Necessary: Snorlax isn’t guaranteed to be holding a Full Incense, even when encountered on Route 221. If the Snorlax you encounter isn’t holding one, you’ll need to repeat the process until you finally snag that elusive Incense.

Beyond Breeding: Strategic Applications of the Full Incense

While its primary use is for breeding Munchlax, the Full Incense also has a secondary effect in battles. When held by a Pokémon, it lowers the holder’s Speed stat. This might not seem like a positive effect, but in certain strategic scenarios, it can be quite useful. For example:

• Trick Room Teams: Trick Room reverses the turn order, making slower Pokémon move first. A Pokémon holding Full Incense can further reduce its Speed, maximizing its effectiveness under Trick Room.
• Gyro Ball Users: Gyro Ball’s power is based on how much slower the user is compared to the opponent. The lower your Speed, the more damage Gyro Ball will inflict.

Troubleshooting the Hunt: Common Issues and Solutions

• Can’t Find Snorlax: Ensure you have the National Pokedex. If you do, try using Repels and the Poké Radar in the tall grass on Route 221 to increase your chances of encountering it.
• Snorlax Isn’t Holding the Full Incense: This is the most common issue. The Incense isn’t a guaranteed hold item. Keep trying! Persistence is key.
• Thief/Covet Not Working: Make sure the Pokémon using Thief/Covet is not already holding an item. The move will fail if your Pokémon’s item slot is occupied.
• My Poke Radar is broken Make sure that you do not go to a different location than where you last used the Poke Radar, or you will break your chain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Full Incense in Pokémon Platinum

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of obtaining and using the Full Incense in Pokémon Platinum:

1. Is the Full Incense a required item to complete the Pokedex? No, Munchlax is not required to complete the Sinnoh Pokedex, only the National Pokedex.

2. Can I buy the Full Incense in any shop? No, the Full Incense cannot be purchased from any shop in Pokémon Platinum. It can only be obtained as a held item from Snorlax.

3. Does the held item chance increase if my Pokémon has the ability Compound Eyes? No, there are no known ways of increasing your chances of finding a Full Incense.

4. Can I use the move “Frisk” to check if Snorlax is holding the Full Incense before using Thief/Covet? Yes! A Pokémon with the Ability Frisk will announce the foe’s held item upon entering battle. This can save you time and PP on Thief or Covet.

5. What other Incenses are available in Pokémon Platinum, and what do they do? Besides the Full Incense, other Incenses include the Lax Incense (also held by Snorlax), Rose Incense, Luck Incense, Pure Incense, Rock Incense, Sea Incense, Wave Incense, and Odd Incense. Each has specific effects, usually related to breeding or move power.

6. Does the Full Incense affect wild Pokémon encounters besides Snorlax? No, the Full Incense only affects Snorlax.

7. Can I get multiple Full Incenses in a single playthrough? Absolutely! As long as you keep encountering Snorlax on Route 221, you have the chance to find multiple Full Incenses.

8. Is it possible to trade the Full Incense to other Pokémon games? Yes, if the other game is compatible (e.g., Diamond, Pearl, or HeartGold, SoulSilver), you can trade a Pokémon holding the Full Incense.

9. Does the Full Incense have any effect on Pokémon Contests? No, the Full Incense has no effect in Pokémon Contests.

10. Is there any way to manipulate the Snorlax’s held item using a specific Nature or Ability on my lead Pokémon? No, Nature and Ability do not influence the held item rate of wild Pokémon in Pokémon Platinum.

11. What is the exact percentage chance of a Snorlax holding the Full Incense? The exact percentage is unknown, but community research suggests it is around 5%. This means you may need to encounter many Snorlax before finding one holding the item.

12. Can the Full Incense be used in conjunction with the Lucky Egg to boost experience gain? No, the Lucky Egg increases experience points gained in battle. The Full Incense does not have this effect.

13. If I KO the Snorlax holding the Full Incense, do I lose the item forever? Yes, if you defeat the Snorlax before using Thief or Covet, and it’s holding the Full Incense, the item is lost for that encounter. That is why capturing it or using Thief/Covet is the better approach.

14. Does the Full Incense stack with other items that lower Speed, like the Iron Ball? Yes, the speed reduction effects of the Full Incense and other items like the Iron Ball will stack, further reducing the holder’s Speed stat.

15. I’m interested in game-based learning and how Pokémon can be used in education. Where can I learn more? That’s fantastic! Game-based learning is a growing field. Check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ to explore research, resources, and community discussions related to using games like Pokémon for educational purposes. GamesLearningSociety.org is a great place to explore the intersection of games and education.

This concludes our deep dive into the Full Incense in Pokémon Platinum. Happy hunting, Trainers! Remember, persistence and a bit of strategic planning will eventually lead you to that coveted item and unlock the secrets of Munchlax breeding!