POKEMON DIAMOND, PEARL AND PLATINUM POKE RADAR GUIDE
Right as you receive the National Dex, you will receive the Poke Radar, too. The function of this handy Key Item is to point out where in grass you can find Pokemon. These can point out rare Pokemon, and some Pokemon are only available by using this.
The Poke Radar can only be used in normal grass that wild Pokemon appear in. "Normal grass" does not include surfing on water, being in a cave/building, or very tall grass. You also cannot use this while you are on your bike. Furthermore, after you use it, it requires a 50-step recharging period before you can use it again (which can be done on the bike).

When it is used, you will see multiple squares of grass start to rustle for a second. Some might rustle more violently than others, and these indicate a better chance to find a rare Pokemon. Once you enter one of these squares, a battle will begin. However, these are not the only squares you can still find Pokemon in. If you don't use a Repel, you can still find Pokemon in normal encounters.
After a Radar-induced wild Pokemon battle that resulted in a catch or fainting of the wild Pokemon (ie, you cannot run away), the Radar will start up again, and more grass will rustle. At this point, you will have a good chance of seeing the same species of Pokemon if you choose a patch of grass that rustled in a similar way and farther away. So, if it rustled easily the first time, make sure it moves easily the next time. If you do not encounter the same Pokemon, you will not be able to do this again. This is commonly known as chaining. In order to continue chaining, you'll need a Repel; a normal battle breaks the chain.
Shiny Pokemon can also be detected by using the Poke Radar. These will produce a sparkle when the grass rustles, so make sure you keep an eye out for those, too. If you manage to get a good chain going, the chances of seeing a shiny Pokemon increases dramatically. For more information, see our Shiny guide.
Here is a list of Pokemon that must be obtained with the Poke Radar in each area, including version notes:
Aron | Fuego Ironworks |
Diamond and Platinum |
Bagon | Route 210 (Fog) |
Pearl and Platinum |
Baltoy | Route 206 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Ditto | Route 218 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Dusclops | Route 224 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Duskull | Route 224 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Flaaffy | Route 222 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Grimer | Route 212 (Rain) |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Hoppip | Fuego Ironworks |
Pearl |
Hoppip | Route 205 (South) |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Hoppip | Route 205 (North) |
Diamond |
Houndoom | Route 214 |
Pearl |
Houndoom | Route 215 |
Pearl |
Kecleon | Route 210 (Fog) |
Diamond |
Kirlia | Route 203 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Kirlia | Route 204 (South) |
Diamond and Pearl |
Kirlia | Route 209 |
Platinum |
Larvitar | Route 207 |
Diamond |
Loudred | Mt. Coronet (Snowing) |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Mankey | Route 225 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Mankey | Route 226 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Mareep | Valley Windworks |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Mightyena | Route 214 |
Diamond |
Mightyena | Route 215 |
Diamond |
Miltank | Route 209 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Miltank | Route 210 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Nidoran F | Route 201 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Nidoran M | Route 201 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Nidorina | Valor Lakefront |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Nidorina | Route 221 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Nidorino | Valor Lakefront |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Nidorino | Route 221 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Nincada | Eterna Forest |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Piloswine | Route 217 |
Platinum |
Poochyena | Route 214 |
Platinum |
Primeape | Route 225 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Primeape | Route 226 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Ralts | Route 203 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Ralts | Route 204 (South) |
Diamond and Pearl |
Sentret | Route 202 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Skiploom | Fuego Ironworks |
Pearl |
Skiploom | Route 205 (North) |
Diamond |
Slowpoke | Route 205 (North) |
Pearl and Platinum |
Smeargle | Route 208 |
Platinum |
Smeargle | Route 212 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Snorunt | Acuity Lakefront |
Diamond and Pearl |
Snorunt | Route 216 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Snorunt | Route 217 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Stantler | Route 207 |
Pearl and Platinum |
Sunkern | Route 204 (North) |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Swablu | Route 211 (East) |
Diamond and Pearl |
Swellow | Route 213 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Tauros | Route 209 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Tauros | Route 210 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Togepi | Route 230 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Torkoal | Stark Mountain |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Torkoal | Route 227 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Trapinch | Route 228 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Tyrogue | Route 208 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Tyrogue | Route 211 (West) |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Venomoth | Route 229 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Venonat | Route 229 |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Vibrava | Route 228 |
Diamond and Pearl |
Wobbuffet | Lake Verity |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Wobbuffet | Lake Valor |
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Wobbuffet | Lake Acuity |
Diamond and Pearl |
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