Iron Island: Sinnoh's Old Mine, Riley's Riolu Egg and Registeel

A boat ride from Canalave City, an abandoned mine holds the only Riolu in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. On Iron Island, you head down into the tunnels of a closed mine, team up with Riley and his Lucario against Team Galactic, then leave with an Egg that can transform your team.

Contents

• Iron Island, an abandoned mine in western Sinnoh
• Teaming up with Riley and the Riolu Egg
• The Pokémon in Iron Island's tunnels
• Byron, the Metal Coat and the mine's items
• Registeel, the giant sealed beneath Iron Island
• Iron Island on screen and on cards
• Iron Island at a glance
• Frequently Asked Questions

Iron Island, an abandoned mine in western Sinnoh

Iron Island lies out at sea, west of Sinnoh, and only a boat leaving from Canalave City can bring you ashore. You can only visit it in Diamond and Pearl, in Platinum and in the remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Its name tells its story: the island was dug out for its iron ore, until the vein ran dry and mining came to a halt. The tunnels haven't fallen silent for all that: wild Pokémon have moved in, and Trainers come here to toughen up, including Roark, Oreburgh City's Gym Leader, along with his father, Byron.

The site is spread over several levels: a house outside, a ground floor, then three basement levels with an elevator along the way, all the way to the cave exit. Around the island, the sea is also good for Surfing and fishing.

Teaming up with Riley and the Riolu Egg

This is where you meet Riley. This Trainer offers to explore the cave as a pair: he battles alongside the player with his Lucario, level 34 in Diamond, Pearl and the remakes, level 41 in Platinum. In that version, he also hands over HM04, Strength, before you head into the cave.

The partnership has another perk: Riley heals your Pokémon after every battle, which makes exploring far less grueling. Things get tougher as you near the exit: there, the pair takes on two Grunts from Team Galactic.

With that battle over, Riley gives the player an Egg containing a Riolu. In Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, no other method lets you get this Fighting-type Pokémon, and by extension its evolution, Lucario. The little Riolu hatches at level 1, with Quick Attack and Endure among its moves.

🥚 The Riolu Riley entrusts to you will become Lucario: find it in our Lucario collection.

The Pokémon in Iron Island's tunnels

Underground, Graveler clearly dominates: it accounts for nearly seven encounters out of ten on the first basement level. It shares the place with Geodude, Onix, Zubat and Golbat, the latter being present on every floor.

The deeper you go, the more steel creeps in: on the second and third basement levels, you run into Steelix in the wild between levels 32 and 35, a great catch for anyone who doesn't want to trade an Onix holding a Metal Coat. In Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, inserting a Pokémon Ruby or Sapphire cartridge into the console also changes the basement encounters: Ruby brings out Mawile, Sapphire Sableye.

On the water, Surfing turns up Tentacool, Wingull, Pelipper or Tentacruel, while the Old Rod only reels in Magikarp. The Good Rod adds Finneon, and the Super Rod lets you hook much higher-level Pokémon: Gyarados, Lumineon and Qwilfish.

Byron, the Metal Coat and the mine's items

The island's house is worth a second visit: once you have the National Pokédex, you'll find Byron, the Steel-type Gym Leader of Canalave City, who gives you a Metal Coat. The item quickly proves useful, since an Onix holding it evolves into Steelix when traded.

The rest of the loot is hidden in the tunnels. The Iron Plate, tucked away in a pit on the second basement level, boosts Steel-type moves; you can also pick up TM23 Iron Tail, a Magnet, and a Shiny Stone near the elevator on the third basement level. Platinum adds a Protector, Shards and Star Pieces, some of which reappear every day.

Registeel, the giant sealed beneath Iron Island

Platinum holds a surprise for owners of an event Regigigas. With the Regigigas Tenimura, distributed in 2008, the player sees the Iron Ruins open up at the very bottom of the mine, where Registeel is held captive.

The setting suits its occupant: Registeel is the Steel-type member of the trio it forms with Regirock and Regice, three golems that legend says were shaped by Regigigas. An iron island to house a steel colossus: it's hard to imagine a more fitting setting.

Iron Island on screen and on cards

The animated series features it over two consecutive episodes, DP110 and DP111, part of season 12, DP Galactic Battles. The second is episode 577 in the series' overall numbering.

The island also appears on some Trading Card Game cards. In other languages, it's known as Île de Fer in French, Eiseninsel in German or Isola Ferrosa in Italian; in Japan, Kōtetsu Jima means steel island, a name that already hints at Steelix and Registeel.

Iron Island at a glance

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do you get to Iron Island?
  You need to board a boat in Canalave City: the island, west of Sinnoh, can only be reached by sea.
• How do you get Riolu in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl?
  Riley gives it to you as an Egg on Iron Island, after the tag battle against two Team Galactic Grunts. In Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, there's no other way.
• Can you catch Steelix on Iron Island?
  Yes. Wild Steelix, between levels 32 and 35, live in the mine's lowest basement levels.
• What does Byron give you on Iron Island?
  A Metal Coat. Canalave City's Gym Leader waits in the island's house, but only once you've obtained the National Pokédex.
• How do you encounter Registeel on Iron Island?
  Only in Pokémon Platinum, if you own the Regigigas distributed at a 2008 event: the Iron Ruins then open up at the bottom of the mine.

In short

A small mining island, Iron Island still carries real weight in a Sinnoh playthrough: it's where the Riolu that will become Lucario comes from, after teaming up with Riley. Its Steelix-filled tunnels, hidden items and the secret of Registeel make the crossing from Canalave City well worth it.