Moneybags of Sinnoh: The Ultimate Guide to Making Fortunes in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

Ah, Sinnoh. A region of breathtaking landscapes, thrilling battles, and… a persistent need for cold, hard cash. Whether you’re aiming to buy every TM in sight, stock up on potions for the Elite Four, or just want to live that luxurious Poké-life, money is essential in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Unlike modern entries in the series, making money in these Generation IV classics isn’t always straightforward. But fret not, aspiring tycoons! This guide will illuminate the path to riches, providing detailed strategies, tips, and tricks to help you become the wealthiest trainer in Sinnoh.

Why Is Money So Important in Diamond and Pearl?

Before we dive into the money-making methods, it’s important to understand why amassing wealth is so critical in these games. Unlike later titles where many items are readily available, Diamond and Pearl often require you to purchase key items, especially:

• TMs (Technical Machines): Crucial for teaching your Pokémon powerful moves, TMs are often expensive and some are only available in shops. The cost accumulates quickly as you build your perfect team.
• Potions and Healing Items: The journey through Sinnoh is tough. Stocking up on Super Potions, Hyper Potions, Full Heals, and Revives is necessary for surviving challenging battles and longer journeys.
• Evolutionary Items: Some Pokémon require specific items to evolve, like a Dusk Stone for Misdreavus or a Razor Claw for Sneasel. These can be costly.
• Accessories and Decorations: If you’re into customizing your character or your secret base, these items can burn through your budget.
• Bicycle: While technically free, buying a bicycle is an investment in time saved walking. You may want to switch between models for speed and other purposes.
• Pokéballs: If you prefer great balls, ultra balls or any specialty ball over the standard poke ball, the costs add up quickly while attempting to catch the many Pokémon you’ll encounter.
• Items for Breeding: While not an immediate necessity, you might want to invest in items like Everstone, Destiny Knot, and power items, once you become more interested in breeding.

Ultimately, a healthy bank account makes your adventure significantly easier and more enjoyable. Now, let’s get down to business!

Method 1: Trainer Battles (The Basics)

The most fundamental way to earn money in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl is by battling trainers. Every time you defeat a trainer, you receive a payout based on the level of the trainer’s Pokémon and the use of certain items.

Key Points for Maximizing Trainer Battle Earnings:

1. The Amulet Coin: This is the single most important item for increasing money from trainer battles. When held by a Pokémon that participates in a battle, the Amulet Coin doubles the money you receive. You can find it in one of two places:
   • Floaroma Meadow: Talk to the hiker standing near the flower shop to receive it. This is the recommended location as it is accessible early in the game.
   • Route 230: After obtaining the National Pokedex, visit the fisherman near the water. He’ll give you the amulet coin.
2. Vs. Seeker: The Vs. Seeker is essential for re-battling trainers. After defeating a trainer, they typically don’t offer a rematch, but the Vs. Seeker allows you to challenge them again for more cash. You’ll get this from Dawn or Lucas after defeating Roark in Oreburgh City. The Vs. Seeker has a set of limits; you need to walk certain steps after using it to use it again. It has a limited radius, and some trainers cannot be rebattled. But used optimally it’s a crucial tool for money farming.
3. Optimal Re-battle Routes: Some trainers are more lucrative than others. Here are a few strong locations to abuse the VS Seeker:
   • Route 207: There are several trainers here that will be easily rebattled and are close to a Pokémon Center.
   • Route 212: Specifically the southern portion has several easily rebattled trainers.
   • Route 210: The Northern portion of this route has many easy to battle trainers.
4. Leveling Up your Pokemon: While you may be focused on earning money, you might as well level up your Pokemon at the same time. If you choose an area with Pokémon trainers of a certain level that complements your Pokemon’s level, you will be making money while making your Pokemon stronger.
5. Prioritizing Rematchable Trainers: Focus on re-battling trainers with higher-level Pokémon, as they offer more money. Trainers in later areas and closer to the Elite Four will generally give more money.
6. Planning your trips: Try to make the most of your travel. Don’t simply travel back and forth, for example, between a route and a Pokémon center. After one set of battles, take a trip to a shop in the town or to a trainer in another area to maximize efficiency.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Obtain the Amulet Coin from the hiker in Floaroma Meadow.
2. Equip the Amulet Coin to a strong Pokemon.
3. Go to an area with a large cluster of trainers that can be easily defeated.
4. Battle each of them until you have defeated all the trainers in the area.
5. Use the Vs. Seeker and re-battle trainers.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5, returning to the Pokémon Center when needed.

Method 2: The Pickup Ability (Treasure Hunting with Pokémon)

Certain Pokémon possess the Pickup ability, which allows them to find items, sometimes valuable ones, after battles. This can indirectly lead to making lots of money.

Key Points of the Pickup Ability:

1. Pokémon with Pickup: Several Pokémon can have the Pickup ability, such as:
   • Aipom (and Ambipom)
   • Pachirisu
   • Meowth (and Persian)
   • Teddiursa (and Ursaring)
   • Zigzagoon (and Linoone)
2. How Pickup Works: After each battle, if a Pokémon with Pickup is in your party and not holding an item, there is a chance it will pick up an item. You can check this by entering the Pokemon party screen. This includes common items like potions, but also potentially valuable items.
3. Valuable Pickup Items: Certain items acquired with Pickup can be sold for high prices:
   • Nuggets (Sell for 5000)
   • Rare Candies (Extremely valuable but not sold)
   • Heart Scale (Sell for 100)
   • Star Piece (Sell for 1500)
4. Party Optimization: Have multiple Pokémon with Pickup in your party to increase your chance of finding items. Also, keep them at low levels so that they don’t interfere with your normal battling Pokémon.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Catch several Pokémon with the Pickup ability. Aipom can be obtained early in Eterna Forest, and Zigzagoon is available on route 202.
2. Place these Pokémon in your party.
3. Participate in battles as usual.
4. After each battle, check your party to see if any Pickup Pokémon found an item.
5. Sell the valuable items like Nuggets and Star Pieces at a Poké Mart.

Method 3: The Underground (Digging for Riches)

The Underground is a unique feature in Diamond and Pearl where you can explore, dig for treasures, and set up a secret base. While digging is primarily for finding fossils, plates, and spheres, it also holds a hidden potential for generating income.

Key Points for Underground Riches:

1. Mining for Spheres: While spheres are not directly sold, certain high-value spheres can be traded for items that can be sold at high prices.
2. Trading for Plates: You can also trade spheres for different plates. Plates are used to change the type of Arceus, but they are all also sellable for a good amount of money. They are worth 2000 pokedollars each.
3. Fossil Trading: While not as fast as the other methods, You can trade some fossils for items that can be sold for good money. For example, Skull fossil can be traded for evolution items, which can then be sold for high prices.
4. Optimizing Digs: Use the provided radar to locate a digging site. Once inside, use the pickax and sledge hammer to hit the wall. Once you can visualize the entire wall, the item you are targeting will be visible on screen. The hammer is most effective when you don’t know exactly where the item is, while the pickax is better when you have a general sense of what is located where. If you use a powerful move like earthquake or rockslide on a wall, you can visualize the entire wall in one action. This however is not necessarily more efficient.
5. Daily Digs: Visit the underground frequently since item spawns can change over time. Be sure to take a trip down whenever you have time between trainer battles.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Obtain the Explorer Kit in Eterna City.
2. Enter the Underground using the kit.
3. Locate a dig site on the map using the radar.
4. Start digging. Use the hammer to quickly break rocks and then use the pickax to carefully uncover items.
5. Trade spheres for items or Plates.
6. Sell the traded items for money.

Method 4: The Lottery (A Game of Chance)

In Jubilife City, there’s a lottery corner in the Jubilife TV building. While this method isn’t reliable as it’s based on luck, it can pay out big time.

Key Points for the Lottery:

1. Lottery Tickets: You need to have the ID numbers of some of your Pokemon match the number in the lottery. If your ID number matches at least the last two digits, you win something. If all of your digits match you will receive a Masterball, one of the most valuable items in the game.
2. Matching Numbers: The more numbers that match, the better the prize.
3. Daily Chances: Check the Lottery Corner each day for a chance at winning.
4. Winning items You can win everything from potions to masterballs. These can be sold for money if needed.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Go to the Jubilife TV building in Jubilife City.
2. Talk to the lottery representative on the first floor.
3. Check the lottery numbers to see if you won.
4. Collect your prize if you won.
5. Repeat this daily for more chances.

Method 5: The Super Rod (Fish for Valuable Items)

The Super Rod, once obtained, can be used to fish for Pokémon and potentially items that can be sold at a good price. While not as reliable as the other methods, it still has merit.

Key Points for the Super Rod:

1. Obtaining the Super Rod: You can obtain the Super Rod in the Fight Area after beating the Elite Four.
2. Fishing Locations: Fish in any body of water using the super rod. It can be used to fish up high level Pokemon like Gyarados that are otherwise hard to find.
3. Item Fishing: Certain fishing locations can occasionally yield valuable items like heart scales. These can be sold for 100 pokedollars each.
4. Sellable Items: Heart scales can be sold for money if needed.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Obtain the Super Rod in the Fight Area.
2. Choose a fishing location. Any water source will work, but it helps to test the area out a bit.
3. Use the rod and hook pokemon.
4. Check the items after each round of fishing, and sell anything that is useful.
5. Repeat this as often as desired.

Method 6: Selling Unwanted Items (A Constant Revenue Stream)

As you progress through the game, you’ll accumulate many items that you don’t need. These can be sold for extra cash.

Key Points for Selling Unwanted Items:

1. TMs: Any TM you don’t plan on using can be sold. You may want to keep 1 copy of each for pokedex completion.
2. Berries: Excess berries can be sold.
3. Evolutionary Stones: Extra stones are sellable for money.
4. Old Items: Items that are no longer needed like the old rod can be sold.
5. Monitor your items: Keep an eye on the various items that you are accumulating as you play the game. When they are no longer needed they can be sold for extra cash.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Regularly check your bag for items you don’t need.
2. Visit a Poké Mart.
3. Sell the unwanted items.
4. Repeat this whenever you have extra items.

Advanced Money-Making Tips

• Planning your spending: Before you spend money, consider if you will need the item later in the game. Try to avoid purchasing items like standard potions, if possible, as these may not be that effective later in the game.
• Prioritizing essential items: Focus on purchasing important items like powerful TMs, healing items, and held items, before spending on decorations or other non essential items.
• Combining Methods: You don’t need to stick to just one method of earning money. Combine several methods to make as much money as possible.
• Patience is Key: Building up wealth takes time and dedication. Don’t be discouraged if the money doesn’t pour in immediately. With consistent effort, you’ll be able to reach your goals.
• Use the Storage System: Since your bag space is limited, try to use the storage system at the Pokemon Center to hold unneeded items. That way, you don’t have to sell an item right away, and have more time to plan.

Conclusion

Making money in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl might take some effort, but it’s certainly achievable with the right strategies. By utilizing the Amulet Coin, re-battling trainers with the VS Seeker, using the Pickup ability, digging in the Underground, trying your luck with the Lottery, Fishing with the Super Rod, and selling unneeded items, you’ll have the resources you need to conquer Sinnoh. Remember to stay persistent, plan your spending, and enjoy your journey to becoming a wealthy Pokémon Master!

Now go out there, train hard, and amass that fortune! May your Poké-wallets be ever full!