Earning Ribbons in Pokémon Platinum can be a fun and rewarding way to add prestige and personality to your favorite Pokémon. These accolades, displayed proudly on your Pokémon’s summary screen, commemorate special achievements and participation in various in-game events. Whether you’re a seasoned trainer or just starting your journey in Sinnoh, this guide will walk you through obtaining a variety of Ribbons in Pokémon Platinum, ensuring your Pokémon are decorated with honors.
Sunyshore City Word-of-the-Day Ribbons: A Daily Treat
For trainers who enjoy daily interactions and collecting unique items, Sunyshore City offers a set of seven Ribbons, one for each day of the week. These are awarded by Julia, a resident of Sunyshore City, who lives in the house to the right of the Pokémon Center. Each day, Julia will share a “Word-of-the-Day” and bestow a corresponding Ribbon upon your lead Pokémon.
Here’s the daily schedule for Sunyshore Ribbons:
- Monday: Alert Ribbon
- Tuesday: Shock Ribbon
- Wednesday: Downcast Ribbon
- Thursday: Careless Ribbon
- Friday: Relax Ribbon
- Saturday: Snooze Ribbon
- Sunday: Smile Ribbon
To collect all seven Sunyshore Ribbons without waiting a full week, you can utilize a simple time manipulation trick on your Nintendo DS.
Time Manipulation Method:
- Visit Julia: Go to Julia’s house in Sunyshore City.
- Receive the Daily Ribbon: Speak to Julia to receive the Ribbon for the current day (e.g., the Careless Ribbon if it’s Thursday).
- Save Your Game: Exit Julia’s house and save your game at any location in Sunyshore City or the Pokémon Center.
- System Clock Adjustment: Turn off your Nintendo DS and power it back on. Access the DS settings from the main menu (before loading the game) and advance the date to the next day.
- Reload and Repeat: Start Pokémon Platinum again and return to Julia’s house. You should now be able to receive the Ribbon for the new day.
- Continue Collecting: Repeat steps 3-5 to collect all seven Ribbons, changing the date each time.
- Reset to Real-Time (Optional): Once you’ve obtained all the Ribbons, you can change your DS clock back to the correct date and time.
Important Note: While this method is effective, be aware that manipulating the system clock can affect time-based events within the game, such as berry growth and daily Pokémon encounters. However, for the purpose of ribbon collection, this method is a quick way to acquire all the Sunyshore Ribbons.
Contest Ribbons: Beauty, Cool, Cute, Smart, and Tough
Pokémon Contests in Platinum provide another avenue for Ribbon acquisition. These contests, judged on visual appeal and move performances, are categorized into five types: Beauty, Cool, Cute, Smart, and Tough. Within each category, there are four ranks: Normal, Great, Ultra, and Master Rank. This means there are a total of 20 Contest Ribbons to collect!
Preparation for Contest Domination:
To excel in Pokémon Contests, preparation is key. This involves two main aspects: enhancing your Pokémon’s condition and selecting appropriate moves.
1. Pokémon Condition Enhancement with Poffins:
Poffins are special baked goods that raise your Pokémon’s condition stats: Coolness, Beauty, Cuteness, Smartness, and Toughness. These stats are crucial for the Visual Competition in Contests.
- Poffin Baking: Poffins are made in Hearthome City’s Poffin House. You’ll need Berries to bake Poffins. The types of Berries you use will determine the flavor and thus which condition stat is raised.
- Berry Blending: Blending Berries together in the Poffin House is a mini-game that requires coordination and timing. Successful blending creates higher-level Poffins, which are more effective at raising condition stats.
- Feeding Poffins: Feed your chosen Contest Pokémon Poffins that correspond to the Contest type you are aiming for. For example, for Beauty Contests, focus on Beauty-enhancing Poffins. You can feed your Pokémon Poffins until it will no longer accept them, indicated by a message.
- Attribute Balancing: If one of your Pokémon’s attributes is lagging, focus on feeding Poffins that boost that specific attribute to create a well-rounded Contest contender.
2. Contest Scarves:
Scarves are accessories that further boost a specific condition stat during contests. You can obtain scarves in Pastoria City. Talk to the woman in the house located in the top right corner of Pastoria City. She will give you a scarf based on the highest condition stat of your lead Pokémon.
- Cool Scarf: Boosts Coolness
- Beauty Scarf: Boosts Beauty
- Cute Scarf: Boosts Cuteness
- Smart Scarf: Boosts Smartness
- Tough Scarf: Boosts Toughness
Equip the appropriate scarf to your Pokémon before entering a contest to give yourself an extra edge in the Visual Competition.
3. Move Selection for Contests:
In addition to visual appeal, contests also involve a move performance round. Moves are categorized into the same five Contest types (Cool, Beauty, Cute, Smart, Tough) and have different appeals and interferences that affect your score.
- Move Types: Choose moves that match the Contest type you are participating in. For example, for Cool Contests, select Cool moves.
- Appeal and Interference: Pay attention to the Appeal and Interference values of moves. High Appeal moves earn more points, while Interference can disrupt the flow of the contest.
- Move Combinations: Some moves work well in combination. Experiment with different move sets to find effective strategies for each Contest type.
Recommended Pokémon and Moves:
While any Pokémon can participate in Contests, some are naturally better suited due to their stats and movepools. The original article suggests using Cranidos. Here’s a potential Contest moveset for Cranidos (or its evolutions):
- Focus Energy: (Cool Move) – Can be used to increase appeal in subsequent turns.
- Scary Face: (Tough Move) – Can be used to reduce the Voltage of other contestants.
- Rock Smash: (Tough Move) – A reliable Tough move for appeal.
- Assurance: (Dark Move) – Can be strategically used for appeal.
This moveset provides a balance of Cool and Tough moves, allowing Cranidos to participate effectively in both Cool and Tough Contests. You can adapt the moveset and Poffin strategy based on the specific Contest type you are aiming for.
Conquering the Contest Ranks:
To earn all Contest Ribbons, you’ll need to compete and win in each of the five Contest types at all four ranks (Normal, Great, Ultra, Master). This requires patience, preparation, and strategic move selection. As you progress through the ranks, the judges’ standards become higher, so ensure your Pokémon’s condition is maximized and your move strategy is refined.
Other Notable Ribbons in Platinum
Beyond Sunyshore and Contest Ribbons, Pokémon Platinum offers several other significant Ribbons that are relatively straightforward to obtain:
- Footprint Ribbon: Awarded by Dr. Footprint on Route 213 after your Pokémon reaches maximum friendship and its footprints are analyzed. This Ribbon signifies a strong bond with your Pokémon.
- Effort Ribbon: Awarded by a woman in the Sunyshore Market after your Pokémon has maximum Effort Values (EVs). This Ribbon is a testament to your dedication in training your Pokémon.
- Champion Ribbon: Automatically awarded to all Pokémon in your party upon defeating the Elite Four and becoming the Sinnoh Champion. This prestigious Ribbon marks a significant milestone in your Pokémon journey.
Conclusion: Embark on Your Ribbon Quest!
Collecting Ribbons in Pokémon Platinum adds depth and personalization to your gameplay experience. From daily Ribbons in Sunyshore City to the challenging Contest Ribbons and milestone Ribbons, there are numerous ways to decorate your Pokémon with honors. Use this guide to embark on your Ribbon quest and celebrate your Pokémon’s achievements in the Sinnoh region!
