The Great Dungeons of Pokémon Shining Diamond and Shining Pearl know how to be hell: read our guide to making it a paradise
Ah, i Great Underground from Pokémon Shining Diamond and Shining Pearl: it is perhaps possible to be able to capture some creature without resorting to one guide? After limping a bit underground we are happy to report that yes, we did. But now we are here to rescue you, who may be in trouble and therefore need some advice. The additions to the mythical Sinnoh tunnels are a useful but also whimsical feature. We will therefore have to learn to woo her to come to terms with her… let’s say, peculiarities. Let us first try to frame the problem in order to arrive at the solution.
A badger that harasses
The Great Dungeons of Pokémon Shining Diamond and Shining Pearl completely replace their old Sinnoh equivalent, and without a guide, it’s easy to get lost. It is no longer a single area, but multiple sections boasting entrances from all over the surface world. The subsoil also presents a fauna that gets richer as you progress through the game, and which in the meantime is strengthened. That’s right: by getting medals you can find extraordinary creatures, completely unavailable in the rest of the game. Sound too good to be true? In fact, there would be a problem.
The catch rate of Pokémon underground is perhaps among the historical lows ever reached by the saga. Even early in the game, players around the world also struggle to get the most common types of Pokémon. Thinking about it is ironic, since underground we have the blessed 3D models in the overworld and in the tall grass of the surface no, but what is simple between meadows becomes much, much more complicated between tunnels. Don’t worry though – we’re here to help you get the right team to raid what, for the moment, could be a goose that lays golden eggs.
Raising the Rate – Guide to the Great Dungeons of Pokémon Shining Diamond and Shining Pearl
The Great Dungeons are a huge tangle of tunnels that, in addition to the Pokémon themselves, in the remakes of Diamond and Pearl also allows you to obtain exclusive tools never seen elsewhere: the first guide you need, if you still do not have them, is on how to get the ‘Explorekit. The old expedition lover will give it to you in a building near the Pokémon Center in Echoes. The six sections of the underworld are accessible from as many parts of the Sinnoh region. Each of them boasts miniature biomes, called Antri, which expand the surface fauna (Houndoom, to give the most obvious example).
Unfortunately, as we have anticipated, the capture is something easier said than done. The horror stories that run on the net are about over thirty (!) regular wasted Poké Balls only to get Pokémon normally obtainable on the third launch, if not earlier. Perhaps the problem is precisely the mediocrity of the instruments? Usually it is the bad craftsman who blames the tools, but in this case it is good to adjust your arsenal. The same gentleman who gives you the Explorokit will also give you rewards based on what you do, and among these stand out Scuro Ball and Velox Ball.
Balls Off – Great Dungeons guide in Pokémon Shining Diamond and Shining Pearl
the Dark Ball they are more effective at night and… in caves. It goes without saying that in the Great Dungeons this is one of the best types of Balls to use. The other type are the ones already mentioned Velox Ball, which work diametrically opposite to Timer Balls: the sooner you use them, the better. A bold first round throw can prove successful. You can find one or the other in specific cities: Pratopoli, Memoride, Nevepoli and the Pokémon League. But also keep an eye on your level, in general: we are not only talking about your team, but also about the medals you have. Both will affect your next catch.
Also, don’t forget to properly demolish the walls of the Great Dungeons. Beyond the shards, the marbles and (when it’s okay) the evolutionary stones, you will also have the opportunity to obtain statue. These must be placed in your Secret Base and, while they are of little use as far as captures are concerned, they increase the likelihood of encountering one of the creatures belonging to the most present type in the Base. The ideal, however, is also to obtain one of two species of Pokémon, both of which are vital from the point of view of the capture itself. It’s about… well, why tell you? However, you must have beaten Camilla in the Pokémon League first.
The pinata that never breaks (thank goodness) – guide to the Great Dungeons of Pokémon Shining Diamond and Shining Pearl
You won? Okay, we can move on. If you’ve seen all of Sinnoh’s Pokémon, Professor Oak will congratulate you in person by providing you with the National Pokédex from colleague Rowan in his Sandfine laboratory. You will need it to be able to attend massive extras of Pokémon. Does this only expand surface fauna? Undoubtedly, but these are temporary peaks: the new additions will appear only during the phenomenon in question. But we as creatures are looking for only one in particular, and depending on the case it will only be Farfetch’d o di Cubone/Marowak.
The affected path is number 221 – jump into it as soon as there is a massive appearance there and you should have a sudden 40% better chance (compared to the split zero before) of finding one of the two Pokémon. Their peculiarity is that, as they grow up, they learn Falsofinale. Seasoned coaches will already be nodding, but if you don’t know this is a move that will always leave the opponent with at least one life point. In other words, therefore, you can have fun making all the creatures that were bothering you almost completely helpless, by expanding your wildlife arsenal.
Ho alternative?
Of course, you can also groped to get these Pokémon through exchange or (which is impossible at the writing of the article) transfer them from previous games using Pokémon HOME. But if capture is the only option you have, you’ll have to go through all the paperwork to get the National Pokédex and enjoy the post-game. But if getting to the Pokémon League in optimal conditions is your priority and you don’t intend to wait, we have already given you the solution before: use the Scuro Balls (above). They are a surprisingly (but not too surprisingly) effective type of sphere.
Now it’s up to you to tell us yours: did you need the guide? Let us know below, and as always don’t forget to stay on TechGameWorld.com for all the most important news for gamers and more. For your purely gaming needs, you can instead find the best discounts in digital format on Instant Gaming.