Stark Mountain: Sinnoh's Postgame Volcano and Heatran's Lair

Stark Mountain only opens up to Trainers who have already beaten the Sinnoh League. Under a constant rain of ash, this volcano in the northeast of the region is home to Fire- and Rock-type Pokémon, a few seasoned Trainers and, deep in its caverns, the Legendary Heatran.

Contents

• A Volcano Reserved for the Postgame
• The Volcano's Rock, Fire and Ground Pokémon
• Heatran, the Legendary of Stark Mountain
• Buck, Charon and Two Galactic Commanders
• Trainers and Items to Find on Stark Mountain
• Stark Mountain in Pokémon Generations and the TCG
• Stark Mountain at a Glance
• Frequently Asked Questions

A Volcano Reserved for the Postgame

Stark Mountain rises in the northeast of Sinnoh, on the island that hosts the Battle Zone, just north of Route 227. You can explore it in Diamond and Pearl, in Platinum and in the remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, but never before the end of the main story.

To set foot there, you first need to have triumphed over the Pokémon League and received the National Pokédex. Exploring it then takes three field moves: Rock Smash to break boulders, Strength to push blocks and Rock Climb to scale rock walls.

The setting says it all: ash falls relentlessly on the outer slopes. The Town Map describes a mountain that looks indestructible, covered in the ash it spews out, whose old lava flows cracked open to form vast caverns.

The Volcano's Rock, Fire and Ground Pokémon

Above all, the volcano is the domain of Rock, Fire and Ground types. In the tall grass outside, Rhydon, Camerupt and, during the day, Fearow are the most common encounters, ahead of Graveler, Weezing or Skarmory (more elusive). Night brings Golbat and, except in Platinum, Banette, while the Poké Radar turns up Torkoal.

Underground, Magcargo is the most common, followed by Graveler; you'll also come across Slugma, Machoke, Onix or Geodude. Platinum reshuffles things a little: Rhydon moves down into the tunnels, Koffing shows up there as well, and levels stay slightly lower than in Diamond and Pearl.

Diamond and Pearl also had a bonus for Game Boy Advance cartridges: when a Pokémon LeafGreen cartridge is in the console's GBA slot, wild Magby start appearing, and you can find some holding a Magmarizer, the item that lets Magmar evolve into Magmortar. Pokémon Emerald plays the same role with Gligar. The remakes use the original encounter lists, without these bonuses.

Heatran, the Legendary of Stark Mountain

The entrance to the cave is at the top of the mountain. Inside are two large chambers and, at the end of a flight of steps, the chamber where you'll find Heatran, the area's only Legendary Pokémon, whose capture is the highlight of the visit.

This Pokémon, a Fire and Steel type, has the Ability Flash Fire and appears at level 70 in Diamond and Pearl as well as in the remakes, but only at level 50 in Platinum. Its moves vary from one version to another: Lava Plume and Scary Face in the Nintendo DS games, Earth Power, Heat Wave, Stone Edge and Metal Sound in the remakes.

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Buck, Charon and Two Galactic Commanders

The player doesn't climb the volcano alone: Buck comes along as a partner Trainer, whatever the version. He fields just one Pokémon, a Claydol at level 58 in Diamond and Pearl as well as in the remakes, raised to level 63 in Platinum.

In Platinum, Team Galactic crashes the expedition. Buck helps the player stop Charon, who has come with Mars and Jupiter, two Commanders of Team Galactic, whom you have to battle as soon as you enter the volcano.

Their teams mirror each other: each one sends out a Golbat and a Bronzong at level 58, then a level 60 Pokémon holding a Sitrus Berry, Purugly for Mars and Skuntank for Jupiter.

Trainers and Items to Find on Stark Mountain

There are 17 Trainers in Diamond and Pearl, 19 in Platinum, the difference being the two Commanders. Ace Trainers dominate, alongside Dragon Tamers, Psychics, Black Belts, a Bird Keeper and a Veteran, with teams between levels 53 and 61. The only one stationed outside, Dragon Tamer Darien sends out a Gyarados at level 60, replaced by a Dragonite in Platinum, where Black Belt Ray also battles with a Toxicroak.

Searching the area pays off. The Flame Plate, which turns Arceus into a Fire type, is hidden in a wall of the second chamber; a Life Orb sits on an outer ledge you can only reach with Rock Climb. TM50, a Rare Candy and a Nugget round out the haul, and Platinum notably adds a Fire Stone buried in a big boulder you have to smash.

Stark Mountain in Pokémon Generations and the TCG

On screen, the volcano is the setting for "The Magma Stone," the twelfth episode of the web series Pokémon Generations. Buck tries to stop Charon from waking Heatran from its slumber, and is soon joined by Looker, who is on the same trail. But the duo arrives too late: the scientist has already seized the Magma Stone, and Heatran awakens.

Things turn around at the last moment: Looker knocks Charon out and Buck puts the Magma Stone back in place, sealing Heatran away once again. Charon still manages to escape, with help from two Team Galactic Grunts.

On the card side, the volcano made its debut in the Pokémon TCG with Legends Awakened, a Diamond & Pearl series expansion released in France on February 10, 2009, and it also appears on other cards.

Stark Mountain at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do you get to Stark Mountain?
  You need to have beaten the Sinnoh League and obtained the National Pokédex, then head to the Battle Zone island: the volcano rises north of Route 227. You'll need Rock Smash, Strength and Rock Climb to explore it.
• What level is Heatran at Stark Mountain?
  Level 70 in Diamond, Pearl and the remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, versus 50 in Platinum. You'll find it at the bottom of the volcano, at the end of a flight of steps.
• Which Pokémon live on Stark Mountain?
  Mostly Rock, Fire and Ground Pokémon: Rhydon, Camerupt, Graveler, Magcargo or Slugma, with Torkoal via the Poké Radar and Banette or Golbat at night.
• What happens at Stark Mountain in Pokémon Platinum?
  Buck accompanies the player to stop Charon, who is escorted by Team Galactic Commanders Mars and Jupiter, whom you battle as soon as you enter the volcano.
• Where do you find the Flame Plate on Stark Mountain?
  In the volcano's second chamber. It's a hidden item, invisible on screen: you have to examine the wall at the top left of the room to pick it up.

In short

Stark Mountain awaits Trainers who carry on their Sinnoh adventure after the League: a demanding volcano, high-level Trainers and Heatran at the end of the road. Platinum adds the hunt for Charon and a battle against two Galactic Commanders, and Pokémon Generations sets its episode "The Magma Stone" there.