How to Catch Giratina in Pokémon Platinum: Best Strategies

Pro tips and tricks for adding this Legendary to your Pokédex

Co-authored by Janice Tieperman Reviewed by Ishrak

Last Updated: June 26, 2024 Fact Checked

Are you having trouble catching Giratina in Pokémon Platinum? Don’t use your Master Ball just yet—with a little patience and persistence, you can take on this Legendary Pokémon in the Distortion World with more common types of Pokéballs. Read on to learn the best ways to take on this Legendary without your trusty Master Ball.

Which Pokéball is best for catching Giratina?

Dusk Balls are the best option if you don’t have any Ultra Balls on hand. If the battle goes on for a really long time, switch to Timer Balls. Weaker Pokéballs (like regular Pokéballs, Great Balls, Premier Balls, and Luxury Balls) aren’t good options.

1

Enter the Distortion World.

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After the confrontation with Cyrus, follow Cynthia into the Distortion World. Once you’re inside, navigate the moving platforms. You’ll encounter Cynthia, the Lake Guardians (Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit), and Cyrus on your way down, who you’ll eventually battle. After the fight, chat with Cynthia and let her restore your team. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Cyrus will have a Houndoom, Honchkrow, Crobat, Gyarados, and Weavile on his roster.

2

Save your game.

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Go into your game’s menu and save the game. Otherwise, you’ll have to restart the entire Distortion World portion of the game.

3

Continue walking forward to begin the fight.

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Walk a little further forward on the platforms that pop up. After witnessing Giratina in the air, you’ll be able to reach it at the end of the platforms.
- Giratina is a Ghost/Dragon-type Pokémon, so it’s naturally weak to Dragon-, Ghost-, Ice-, and Dark-type moves. Giratina’s moveset includes Ominous Wind (Ghost-type with 15 PP), Ancient Power (Rock-Type with 5 PP), Dragon Claw (Dragon-type with 15 PP), and Shadow Force (Ghost-Type with 5 PP). ^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- Shadow Force allows Giratina to disappear for 1 turn, and then come back and deal damage on its next turn. ^{[3]
  X
  Research source} This is a great opportunity to switch out your Pokémon or heal up whichever one you have in battle.

4

Use Dusk Balls at first.

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Dusk Balls have an improved catch rate when used at night. ^{[4]
X
Research source} Double-check that your in-game settings are calibrated to nighttime, so you get the 3.5x bonus when catching Giratina. ^{[5]
X
Research source} Note that Dusk Balls work only as well as regular Poké Balls when it isn't nighttime. ^{[6]
X
Research source}

5

Use Timer Balls after a great deal of turns.

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Timer Balls work extremely well if you are in battle with Giratina for an extensive period. After 20 turns, Timer Balls match Ultra Balls; after 30, they match Dusk Balls at night; after 40, they beat Dusk Balls. ^{[7]
X
Research source}

6

Use Pokémon that are a level 70 or higher.

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Have A) a Pokémon that can withstand Dragon and Rock attacks (i.e. Bronzong, Lucario, Steelix) and B) a normal type (i.e. Snorlax, Clefable) to render Giratina's Ghost Type moves—Ominous Wind and Shadow Force—useless.

7

Weaken it and apply a status effect.

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Get Giratina’s health down so the bar is red. Then, use an ability like Sleep Powder to put the Giratina asleep. In a pinch, paralysis works too, but bear in mind that it’s half as effective as sleep and freezing are at facilitating the catch.

8

Start throwing Pokéballs until you catch Giratina.

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It might take dozens of turns before you successfully catch Giratina, so be patient! ^{[8]
X
Research source} If you come prepared with lots of different Pokéballs, you should have no trouble successfully catching Giratina.
- If you end up killing Giratina by mistake, simply reload your save and try again! Worst case scenario, you can always rematch Giratina later in the game after you’ve become the Pokémon Champion (in Turnback Cave).

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How do I get Cressela without action replay Pokemon pearl?

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You need an event item, which you can only get though the most dishonest thing, hacking.

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Giratina can attack only 30 times before it starts using Struggle, which knocks off a quarter of its health each time it is used. Turns of sleep, freeze, flinch, and full paralysis do not count toward this; if you see "GIRATINA used (move)!", then it has attacked.

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Note that, between Ominous Wind and Ancient Power, Giratina has 10 10% chances to boost all of its stats. If it gets a boost, your Pokémon will not last long, especially under Giratina's other two moves. Try to stall out Ominous Wind with a Normal-type; as a more drastic measure, bring a Golbat or Crobat that knows Haze--but don't expect it to last very long.

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Remember to save before you engage Giratina in battle! Giratina can be caught in Diamond and Pearl, but Platinum is best.

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Warnings

Try to have your team balanced; otherwise, Giratina will wipe your entire team out.

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Giratina uses all of their PP, and they will use Struggle.

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How to Catch Giratina in Pokémon Platinum: Best Strategies

Which Pokéball is best for catching Giratina?

Steps

Enter the Distortion World.

Save your game.

Continue walking forward to begin the fight.

Use Dusk Balls at first.

Use Timer Balls after a great deal of turns.

Use Pokémon that are a level 70 or higher.

Weaken it and apply a status effect.

Start throwing Pokéballs until you catch Giratina.

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

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