Pokémon Platinum, released for the Nintendo DS, is an enhanced version of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl. Set in the Sinnoh region, it brings exciting new features, including the Battle Frontier and new gameplay mechanics. Whether you’re a competitive player or a casual trainer, building the best team is essential for succeeding in this challenging game. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best Pokémon in Pokémon Platinum that can help you become the ultimate Champion of Sinnoh.

1. Torterra – The Mighty Grass/Ground-Type

Torterra, the final evolution of Turtwig, is one of the best starter Pokémon in Pokémon Platinum. As a Grass/Ground-type Pokémon, it combines powerful offensive and defensive stats, making it a great addition to any team. Torterra’s dual typing makes it resistant to Electric-type moves, while its Ground-type moves like Earthquake are incredibly strong.

• Best Moves:
  • Earthquake (Ground-type, high power)
  • Wood Hammer (Grass-type, strong STAB move)
  • Stone Edge (Rock-type, coverage move)
  • Synthesis (Restores HP in sunny weather)

Torterra’s high Attack and Defense stats allow it to take hits and deal significant damage. It also gains access to powerful moves like Earthquake and Wood Hammer, making it a threat to many different types. Its biggest weakness is Ice-type moves, so pairing Torterra with a Pokémon that resists Ice can help mitigate this disadvantage.

2. Staraptor – The Fierce Normal/Flying-Type

Staraptor, the final evolution of Starly, is an excellent choice for players looking for a fast and powerful physical attacker. As a Normal/Flying-type, Staraptor has access to a wide variety of moves and can learn some of the most powerful physical moves in the game, making it a top-tier team member in Pokémon Platinum.

• Best Moves:
  • Brave Bird (Flying-type, strong STAB move)
  • Close Combat (Fighting-type, high power)
  • U-turn (Bug-type, pivot move)
  • Return (Normal-type, high power when friendship is maxed)

Staraptor’s high Speed and Attack make it a fantastic choice for taking down enemies quickly. Brave Bird offers strong Flying-type coverage, while Close Combat lets Staraptor deal with Steel, Rock, and Ice-types effectively. Its versatility and power make it one of the most reliable Pokémon in Pokémon Platinum.

3. Garchomp – The Dragon/Ground-Type Juggernaut

Garchomp is often regarded as one of the most powerful Pokémon in the Sinnoh region and one of the top-tier Pokémon in Pokémon Platinum. With its Dragon/Ground typing, it boasts impressive stats in every category, particularly Speed and Attack, allowing it to outspeed many foes and deal massive damage.

• Best Moves:
  • Earthquake (Ground-type, high power)
  • Dragon Claw (Dragon-type, reliable STAB move)
  • Stone Edge (Rock-type, coverage move)
  • Swords Dance (Boosts Attack)

Garchomp is a powerhouse in both offensive and defensive roles. It can sweep entire teams with Earthquake and Dragon Claw, and with Swords Dance, it can double its already high Attack stat. Despite being weak to Ice-type moves, Garchomp’s speed allows it to hit hard before the opponent can act. Its ability, Sand Veil, boosts its evasion in sandstorm conditions, adding an extra layer of survivability.

4. Luxray – The Electric Powerhouse

Luxray is an Electric-type Pokémon that evolves from Shinx. It boasts strong Attack and decent Speed, making it an excellent offensive Pokémon. While its movepool is a bit limited compared to other Pokémon, Luxray’s ability to learn powerful Electric-type moves like Thunderbolt and Wild Charge makes it a valuable member of any team.

• Best Moves:
  • Thunderbolt (Electric-type, reliable STAB move)
  • Crunch (Dark-type, coverage move)
  • Wild Charge (Electric-type, high-power physical move)
  • Ice Fang (Ice-type, coverage move)

Luxray’s access to Thunderbolt makes it one of the best Electric-type Pokémon in Pokémon Platinum. It can take on Water- and Flying-types easily while also having coverage moves like Crunch to deal with Psychic and Ghost-types. While it may not have the highest Speed, its raw Attack power can take down most foes quickly.

5. Infernape – The Fire/Fighting-Type Special Attacker

Infernape, the final evolution of Chimchar, is one of the best Fire/Fighting-type Pokémon in the series. With its high Speed and Attack stats, Infernape is a versatile physical and special attacker. It can deal with a wide variety of opponents and is particularly effective against Ice, Bug, Steel, and Grass-types.

• Best Moves:
  • Flamethrower (Fire-type, special STAB move)
  • Close Combat (Fighting-type, physical STAB move)
  • Mach Punch (Fighting-type, priority move)
  • Grass Knot (Grass-type, coverage move)

Infernape’s wide movepool allows it to take on many different roles. It can dish out powerful special and physical attacks with Flamethrower and Close Combat. With its high Speed, Infernape can also outspeed many foes and finish them off with Mach Punch, a priority move that ensures it hits first in battle.

6. Roserade – The Beautiful Poison/Grass-Type

Roserade is a strong special attacker with excellent Speed and Special Attack stats, making it one of the best Pokémon in Pokémon Platinum. As a Poison/Grass-type, Roserade can take advantage of powerful status moves and strong offensive moves, making it a valuable asset for any team.

• Best Moves:
  • Sludge Bomb (Poison-type, strong STAB move)
  • Giga Drain (Grass-type, special STAB move)
  • Toxic Spikes (Sets up hazards)
  • Shadow Ball (Ghost-type, coverage move)

Roserade can set up status effects with Toxic Spikes, which is useful for wearing down opposing teams. Its dual STAB moves, Sludge Bomb and Giga Drain, make it a strong offensive presence, while Shadow Ball provides coverage against Psychic and Ghost-types. Roserade can also support your team with utility moves like Toxic Spikes.

7. Milotic – The Serene Water-Type

Milotic is a beautiful Water-type Pokémon known for its high Special Defense and Special Attack. It excels as a special defensive wall while also dealing considerable damage with its powerful Water-type moves. Milotic is a great option to resist Fire, Ground, and Rock-type moves and can help balance your team’s defenses.

• Best Moves:
  • Surf (Water-type, powerful STAB move)
  • Ice Beam (Ice-type, coverage move)
  • Recover (Restores HP)
  • Toxic (Inflicts status)

Milotic’s ability to heal with Recover and take hits with its high Special Defense makes it a great support Pokémon. It can also deal damage with Surf and Ice Beam, and Toxic can be used to cripple opposing Pokémon. Milotic is a great addition to any team looking for a reliable defensive Pokémon.

8. Giratina – The Legendary Ghost/Dragon-Type

Giratina, the Legendary Pokémon of the Distortion World, is one of the most powerful Pokémon in Pokémon Platinum. With its unique Ghost/Dragon typing and solid stats across the board, Giratina is an excellent addition to your team if you’re looking for a strong special or physical attacker. It also has the ability Pressure, which depletes the opponent’s PP faster, making it more difficult for them to continue battling.

• Best Moves:
  • Shadow Ball (Ghost-type, special STAB move)
  • Dragon Claw (Dragon-type, reliable STAB move)
  • Earth Power (Ground-type, coverage move)
  • Recover (Restores HP)

Giratina is a formidable tank with solid bulk and offensive power. It can deal massive damage with Shadow Ball and Dragon Claw, and it has the ability to recover health with Recover. Its dual typing gives it excellent coverage, and with a wide movepool, it can adapt to many different situations in battle.

Conclusion: The Best Team Composition in Pokémon Platinum

In Pokémon Platinum, having the right combination of Pokémon on your team is key to your success. While every player’s ideal team may vary depending on personal preferences, the Pokémon mentioned above are among the best choices for a balanced and powerful team. With a mix of offensive and defensive options, such as Torterra, Staraptor, Garchomp, and Milotic, you’ll be ready to tackle any challenge the Sinnoh region throws your way.

By carefully considering typing, movesets, and synergies, you can build a team that can take down the Elite Four and the Champion with ease. Whether you prefer to focus on sweeping with powerful attackers like Garchomp or building a supportive, defensive strategy with Milotic, Pokémon Platinum offers a wealth of options for players to create the ultimate team.