#pokemon gen iv

Three trainers are honored in your hometown, and well known across the region, not only for their role in defeating Team Galactic, but for the work they continue to do in Sinnoh.

To learn even more, you can check out the Peaks of Sinnoh tag!

Lucas has now largely taken over Professor Rowan’s work. He can often be found in the lab in Sandgem Town, where he primarily studies the history of Pokémon species and their relationships with humans. He’s the one who gives you and your rivals your first Pokémon and a Pokédex. Lucas will also meet you a few times on your journey to check in on your progress or help investigate the actions of Team Dimensional. He will also introduce players who choose the “male” player character to Super Contests, and can appear as a coordinator in the highest-rank contests.

Barry is going strong as the gym leader of Sunyshore City. High-speed life in a port city is a great fit for him, though he still finds it too slow at times. He’s always rushing, and is likely to run into you or other NPCs in his haste. He has little time for Team Dimensional’s ideas and spirituality, but he does sometimes join Dawn or Lucas to investigate the team’s actions.

You first encounter Dawn in Eterna Forest, where Team Dimensional is holding up trainers. Upon discovering that you have received a Pokémon and Pokédex from Lucas, she encourages you to take on Acolyte Spatia. She can handle the grunts. She continues to monitor Team Dimensional’s actions, and you’ll meet her again many times. First she Dawn is also there to introduce the player to Super Contests if they have chosen the “female” player character, and can appear as one of the coordinators in the highest-rank contests. She is seen again when she looks into Team Dimensional’s Veilstone HQ with Barry, when she faces Team Dimensional with you and Lucas at the Verity Lakefront, and she attempts to stop Team Dimensional from summoning the Pokémon that created Sinnoh. 

However,you will also meet Dawn one more time before your journey is over...

City of Energy

Once you’ve made it through the Oreburgh Gate tunnel you arrive in Oreburgh city. This mining town is also the home of the first gym on your journey! Are you ready to take on the gym leader?

If you are interested in following the story of Peaks of Sinnoh, start here!

You run into Matilda just inside of town. She informs you that she’s already defeated the gym, and she recommends that you stock on antidotes before you challenge it yourself. However, you’ll have to go find the gym leader first. After being defeated by Matilda, the leader left the gym. 

Matilda heads back toward Jubilife city, and you are left to explore Oreburgh. You can look around the local homes, the patch of grass on route 207, the Oreburgh mine, or the mining museum. 

In the Orebrugh mine, workers are using both rock and poison type Pokémon to either chip away or burn through the rock. Some workers will say they find using acid on the walls much easier, while others will reminisce about the more traditional ways of mining. In the mining museum you will find a man with distinctive, teal hair talking to someone at the front desk. 

When you get close enough, you can overhear the conversation. The scientist behind the desk is explaining that ancient Pokémon can only be revived using fossils. What this man has are not fossils, the scientist explains, but artifacts more generally. From what the scientist can tell they are artistic representations that predate Sinnoh as we think of it. Where did the man get it? This artifact would be greatly appreciated by any number of museums in the region–

The teal-haired man proclaims that if these well-regarded scientists cannot revive these Pokémon, he has no interest in working with them. He rushes from the building, just barely missing running headlong into a young girl. 

The young girl steps up to the desk, and asks, “Is everything alright? I came as quick as I could.”

The scientist explains that the man didn’t end up being a threat, just strange. There’s no need for her to worry. Before leaving again, she stops to ask you if you noticed anything strange about that man. Whether you reply with yes or no, she thanks you, and says she’ll keep that in mind. She’ll also keep an eye out for him.

Now, if you return to the gym, the same young girl can be found talking to the man by the door. When you walk through the door, she looks your way.

“Oh!” she says, “You’re a gym challenger! Welcome! I’m Carmilla, Oreburgh’s gym leader. I’ll see you on the other side, if you’re able to defeat my friends. Good luck!” Carmilla hurries away to her spot at the back of the gym. If you talk to the man at the front of the gym, he will, of course, refer to you as the Champ to Be, and let you know that Carmilla specializes in poison type Pokémon. He also warns you that you’ll have a tough time if you’re using grass type Pokémon.

The Oreburgh gym has been refitted in sleek purple. The layout is largely similar to how the Oreburgh gym appeared in the past. However, instead of stairs, there are bouncy pads on each of the three levels (ground, first level, and Carmilla’s perch), which launch the player up to the next level, and slides down from each level, including one down the entire (screen) left side of the gym, down from Carmilla’s spot. To reach each of the two bounce pads, you’ll have to pass by two picnickers (one on each level). One picnicker, Susie, has a level 8 Stunky, and the other, Zelda, has two level 9 Zubats.

When you reach Carmilla, she greets you:

“You made it! I’m always excited to face new challengers! It looks like you don’t have any badges yet, so I’ll have to use my lowest-level team. Don’t let that fool you, we’re still strong!”

Carmilla’s team consists of a level 12 Stunky, a level 12 Budew, and a level 14 Zubat. Once you defeat them all, Carmilla is upset to have lost:

“Oh no! That’s my second loss in a row! If only I could have used my stronger Pokémon…” But, she’s also happy for you: “Great job! Being a gym leader is tough, but it means I get to meet cool trainers like you. Good luck with the rest of your gym challenge!”

For your victory, you are presented with the Venom Badge, and three TMs containing Venoshock. You can also now call on wild Pokémon to help you out by using the move Rock Smash. Congratulations! That’s one gym defeated, with seven more to go!

Now, if you’re done exploring, it’s time to move on. Unfortunately, you don’t have a bike, so you can’t get up the slope to reach the rest of Route 207, or Route 206, so it’s back to Jubilife city.

City of Joy!

Welcome to Jubilife City, the communication hub of the Sinnoh region! You have a package to deliver, and a city to explore.

If you are interested in following the story of Peaks of Sinnoh, start here!

When you reach Jubilife City, with its tall buildings and bustling streets, you can find Matilda and Cato outside of the Trainer’s School. Approaching them lets you in on their conversation, where Matilda is insisting that they have to keep looking for you and battle as soon as possible. However, Cato argues that it’s important to be informed going into battle. Knowledge is power, after all.

Matilda: “Power is power!”

It’s at this point that they spot you, and Matilda challenges you to a battle. You can refuse and come back later if you are unprepared, but, either way, Matilda will battle you with her starter, Buddy, and her new Shinx, sparky.

After the battle, you give Cato the package his father sent you with. It contains a handful of berries from his family’s garden, which he then shares with you and Matilda. You receive two oran berries and two pecha berries. From here Matilda thanks Cato and races off. Cato heads into the Trainer’s School.

When you follow Cato into the school you can talk to a variety of NPCs who will tell you a variety of basic information about Pokémon, like weakness and resistance, status conditions, etc. There are also two school kids, who challenge you and Cato to a double battle. When you win, both the students and Cato are impressed by you. When Cato compliments you:

“Wow, [NAME], you did great! You’ve bonded with all your Pokémon, not just [starter].”

You can respond to him either with “Thank you!” or, “You battled well yourself!” However, neither option has an impact on Cato’s dialogue. He tells you he wants to keep studying to better prepare himself, but that you should probably explore the city.

Out on the streets, you can find Matilda talking to a Pokétch salesman. When you join the conversation, Matilda tells you,

“This guy is just giving away Pokétches! I’ve gotta get one!”

She dashes away, and the man explains that, yes, if you retrieve three Pokétch coupons from the three clowns ‘hidden’ around the city, he’ll give you a Pokétch.

The three clowns each have a question about Pokémon. One clown, outside the Pokétch building, asks if Pokémon can have weakness and resistance to different types. One between the fountains out front of the Global Hub (which you cannot yet enter; not until you have at least one gym badge) asks if Pokémon get stronger when they evolve. The third and final clown, standing to one side of the TV Station asks if Pokémon can use items in battle. If you reply correctly, “Yes” to all of them, they will give you coupons and you can return them to the salesman.

Once again, Matilda is already talking to him. She has just received her Pokétch. When you join the conversation you are given one too, along with a brief description of how to use it. Then Cato joins you, also with coupons. Now all three of you have Pokétches, and the salesman informs you of a new feature they’re especially proud of: these Pokétches can make phone calls! 

Cato notes that it could be very useful to have each other’s Pokétch numbers, so that you have someone to call in an emergency. Matilda is quick to make sure you all have each other’s number, and she and Cato also say that they’re adding their family’s numbers (Cato enters his home number, and Matilda adds both her home and her brother). When you check the Pokétch call screen, you have Cato, Matilda, and Mom registered. 

With that all sorted out, Matilda tells you that she’s off to start the gym challenge in Oreburgh City. Without further ado, she’s gone. Cato concludes that he’ll try to get a bit stronger first, but he’ll head to the first gym soon enough.

So now, once you’re satisfied with your exploration of the city–maybe you’ll look around the TV Station, or the condominium–it’s off through the tunnels to Oreburgh City! It’s time to truly begin your gym challenge.

The fresh and free home of heroes!

Welcome to Twinleaf Town, where your Pokémon journey is about to begin!

Twinleaf Town is a quiet, idyllic spot in the southwest of the Sinnoh region. There are six houses in town, including yours, and a pavilion in the center of town. The pavilion, popular for picnics and friendly battles, has a plaque on the southernmost side. This commemorates the trainers from Twinleaf Town that helped protect the Sinnoh region from destruction many years ago. Sometimes curious trainers will visit Twinleaf Town to see where these trainers grew up!

When you wake up to a lovely day outside, your mother tells you that your friends want to meet you at the pavilion! As you leave the house, she reminds you: be careful, stay in town. It’s not safe to go into the tall grass without a Pokémon of your own. Mom’s Luxray is relaxing in the sun outside the house, but Luxray won’t be waking up to help you anytime soon.

Your friends, Matilda and Cato, are waiting for you at the pavilion. 

Matilda is the first to rush up to you, excitedly explaining that rumor has it that the champion is going to be near Twinleaf Town today! You absolutely have to come with them to try and spot the champion! Cato points out that none of you actually know what the champion looks like, but Matilda is unphased. She rushes off to the north side of town and route 201, and you and Cato don’t really have much of a choice but to follow. (If you turn around or wait too long, she will call for you to hurry up!) 

When you and Cato reach route 201, Matilda points you toward the Verity Lakefront. There, you watch someone rush through the trees toward the lake.

“That could be the champion!” she insists, “Come on!” and she leads the way to Lake Verity.

When you reach the lake, you find the man you’d spotted earlier standing at the water’s edge. 

???: “Are you sure about this? … OK, I’m on my way. Let’s go, Floatzel!”

He releases a Pokémon and surfs away, leaving behind a briefcase.

Matilda heads for the briefcase, but Cato stops her. It’s been left in tall grass, and none of you have Pokémon. However, Matilda insists it will be fine, and heads for the briefcase anyway. A few steps into the grass she asks if you’re coming with her, but it doesn’t really matter if you follow her or not. Either way, when she reaches the case she is attacked by a wild Starly. If you followed her, you’re attacked too. If not, you and Cato rush in to help anyway. She swings the briefcase at the wild Pokémon, and it bursts open. Cato is the first to notice the Pokéballs scattered on the ground. Maybe there’s Pokémon inside!

“Quick! Grab one!” Matilda tells you, and so you have a choice to make: will you grab Turtwig, the tiny leaf Pokémon? Chimchar, the chimp Pokémon? Or Piplup, the penguin Pokémon? Whichever one you choose, Matilda chooses the Pokémon that has type advantage over yours, and Cato, who has no other options, takes the Pokémon that has the type disadvantage.

After you defeat the wild Starly, the three of you are left with a conundrum: Do you keep the Pokémon you just battled with, or return them to the briefcase? Matilda wants to keep them. She’s always wanted to be a trainer, and has been hoping and trying to get her own Pokémon since she was very little. Until now she’s just been allowed to borrow Pokémon from other people in her family. Cato insists that the right thing to do is to return the Pokémon. Surely the “Mystery Man” will come back, and he’ll know his Pokémon were stolen. When they turn to you for your opinion, you have three possible answers: “Keep them,” “Put them back,” or, “Is there a way to do both?”

If you choose “Keep them” or “Put them back” whoever you agree with will use that as ammunition in their argument against the other. If you select the third option, wondering about a compromise, the other two will consider it. Matilda will suggest you leave a note explaining the situation. You could even include your names, so the “Mystery Man” will know where to find you! Cato insists that will just make you more likely to get into trouble. Instead, you all should wait until the “Mystery Man” comes back, at which point you can explain yourselves and ask nicely if you can keep the Pokémon. Matilda is worried that he might say no. No matter what conversation Matilda and Cato are having, they are distracted by a Pokémon teleporting into your midst.

The pink and blue emotion Pokémon Mespirit hovers between you for a moment. It stays just long enough for Matilda to ask, “What is-?” before zipping across the lake and into the cavern. Cato suggests it was probably a Pokémon. Maybe even the legendary Pokémon said to live here at Lake Verity. Your attention is drawn back to the cavern as the “Mystery Man” emerges, followed by a woman in pink.

Mystery Man: “How long do you think it’s been since they were here?”

???: “The writing hadn’t faded. Probably not long. We’ll have to keep an eye out for suspicious activity.”

Mystery Man: “I’ll keep a close eye out around here.”

They don’t exchange any more words before the woman calls on a Pokémon and flies away. Similarly, the “Mystery Man” gets back on his Floatzel to surf back.

“Oh no, he’s gonna catch us! We have to hide!” Matilda tells you, looking around.

“I thought you were confident that we wouldn’t get in trouble?” Cato asks.

There’s nothing you can do before the man reaches shore and hops off his Pokémon. Matilda hides behind you and Cato.

Mystery Man: “I guess I should know better than to leave a briefcase here.”

Matilda insists you say something to him. You have two options: “Can we keep your Pokémon?” and “Sorry for using your Pokémon.”

If you choose to apologize, the man will start by saying, “Oh, it’s no problem!” Regardless of your answer, he says, “Do you like them? If they like spending time with you, I’d hate to make you part ways. I’m Assistant Professor Larch. You kids should probably call me that, though most people still just call me Lucas. I work over in Sandgem Town. If I let you keep these Pokémon, will you come visit me at my lab tomorrow?”

You all confirm that you will, of course.

“Great. And make sure you talk with your families before you start traveling the region or challenging any gyms. Talk to you later!” As he picks up the briefcase and walks away he continues to mutter, “I’ll need to get everything ready, make sure I have the equipment, and…”

Once you’ve watched him leave, Matilda turns to you.

“We have our own Pokémon! How cool is that?! Come on, I’ll meet you back in town!” She hurries back toward Twinleaf Town, and Cato also confirms that he will see you back there. You are left to your own devices for a short time, though a trainer blocks your way to Sandgem Town. If you try to pass, he’ll remind you that you don’t have your own Pokémon and shouldn’t be out here. When you explain that you do have a Pokémon, he asks if you’ve told your mother about this yet, and you are still kept from passing him.

When you return to Twinleaf Town, Matilda is waiting for you at the pavilion, ready for a battle. She explains that she and Cato already battled and she just barely beat him, so she wants to challenge you, next! She will heal your Pokémon, and you will have your first trainer battle.

After the battle, your mom congratulates you from the side of the pavilion, whether or not you’ve won. She talks to you about your new Pokémon, and takes you back home to get healed up. When you wake up the next morning, Mom also talks to you about the journey ahead: exploring the region, challenging trainers, and taking on Gym Leaders, including a few comments about how much you’ve grown up and her own nostalgia for the gym challenge. She also hopes you’ll come back one more time after meeting with Professor Larch so that she can be sure you’re ready before you take off! But she admits she’s talked too much, and sends you off to meet Cato and Matilda.

Your friends are waiting for you at the northernmost edge of town. Together, you’re ready to head for Sandgem Town!