How to Use the Poke Radar

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Last Updated: November 26, 2024

Hoping to fill out your Pokedex in Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl, and Pokémon Platinum? A lot of Pokémon in these games are only available if you use the Poke Radar, a very useful device you pick up at the end of the adventure. We've outlined exactly how to use this handy device, so you can catch all of the Pokémon you desire.

1

Complete the Sinnoh Pokedex.

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Once you've done this, go talk to Professor Oak in front of Pal Park and he'll give you the Poke Radar.

2

Go into a grassy field.

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Use a repel, which will make it so you only encounter the Pokémon found in the shaking grass (granted your first party Pokémon is a higher level than the wild Pokémon in the area). Also, make sure you're not on your bike. Once you have the spot you want, use the radar.

3

Walk over to the shaking grass.

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Aim for grass farther away, for more chance at finding the same Pokémon again. Be careful not to go to grass right on the edge however, as this heightens the chance that the radar will not find any more shaking spots. If this happens, just recharge the radar.

4

Recharge the radar if needed.

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This can be helpful if the shaking grass patches are all different to the ones you've seen previous, you're searching for a shiny patch or the radar finds no shaking grass patches ("The grassy patch remained silent..."). Do this by walking 50 steps, being careful not to run into a shaking patch or let your repel run out.

5

Defeat the Pokémon you meet.

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This saves time, meaning you don't have to bother recharging the radar.

6

Persist, persist, persist!

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Don't fret. The Pokémon you can only catch with the Poke Radar are fairly rare. If you meet it once, there's a high likelihood you'll meet the Pokémon more regularly.

7

Head for sparkling grass.

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You don't want to miss that opportunity!

Community Q&A

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Question

Why won't this work on grass?

Community Answer

Is the grass area too small? Maybe you should find a larger patch of grass, and then try again. If the Poke Radar still doesn't work, maybe it is out of battery. Walk around to charge the battery.

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Tips

Don't use it in the middle of a field. Be close to a nice long stretch of ground where you can recharge the radar without interruption. This makes life much easier.

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Use a Max Repel. Repel sprays prevent wild Pokémon jumping at you on the way to the rustling grass, making it that much easier to maintain a long stretch of battles on one use.

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Be very patient; it takes time to get a Shiny or a Poke Radar exclusive.

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