How To Get DeepSeaScales in Pokémon Platinum

DeepSeaScale Locations
1	Held item (5% chance) found on the following Pokémon: Chinchou (Route 220 (requires the Good Rod)) Relicanth (Route 226 (requires the Super Rod and the National Pokédex))	Yes

DeepSeaScale Locations

Location

Repeatable?

Held item (5% chance) found on the following Pokémon:

Chinchou (Route 220 (requires the Good Rod))
Relicanth (Route 226 (requires the Super Rod and the National Pokédex))

Yes

The DeepSeaScale can only be found as a held item on 2 specific wild Pokémon: Chinchou or Relicanth. To encounter either of these Pokémon you’ll need the Super Rod, which means you can only find them in the post-game.

Of the two species, wild Chinchou are marginally easier to farm. But either one can work for getting DeepSeaScales.

Acquiring DeepSeaScales

The only way to get DeepSeaScales is to take them from wild Chinchou or Relicanth.

Note: Other sources will list Lanturn as a method too, but that is only true for Diamond and Pearl.

Neither Chinchou nor Relicanth is rarer or more difficult than the other. But if you don’t have a stealing move and need to catch the Pokémon to take their items, Chinchou on Route 220 are easier to catch.

In any case, both Pokémon can only be found by using a Super Rod. Which means you won’t find either until after you’ve defeated the Pokémon League (and in Relicanth’s case, after you’ve received the National Pokédex).

If you’re going for wild Chinchou, you will find them in the oceans of Route 220.

Carvanha’s sole habitat, according to the Pokédex.

Wild Chinchou and Relicanth have only a 5% chance of holding a DeepSeaScale upon each encounter, so it might take a while before you get your hands on one.

Because of this, it is recommended that you bring a designated item farming team with you in order to speed up the process.

These special teams use Pokémon with the Abilities Frisk and Compoundeyes to both increase the odds of finding items and identify any items being held.

Farming Wild Chinchou

When you’re ready, Fly to Sandgem Town and head south.

Moving southward from the Sandgem Town Pokémon Center.

Pass southward through the trees and step onto the beach.

Heading onto the beach to the south.

When you reach the coastline, use Surf and resume traveling southward.

Using Surf at the coast.

You’ll soon reach Route 220.

Then just fish anywhere with the Super Rod.

Fishing for Chinchou on Route 220.

Bear in mind that both Chinchou and Relicanth are pretty rare — with only a 15% encounter rate for both — and it may take some time to find a significant number of them.

Hooking a wild Chinchou with the Super Rod.

If you’re using an item-farming team, the Compoundeyes Ability will raise the odds of either Pokémon holding a DeepSeaScale from 5% to 20%.

Frisk will also alert you to any items the foe is holding, saving you from wasting time on guesswork.

Identifying Chinchou’s held item using Frisk.

After discovering a Chinchou with a DeepSeaScale, either use a stealing move (like Thief or Trick) or catch the Pokémon to obtain the item.

Stealing the DeepSeaScale from Chinchou.

Once you have the item, you can end the battle however you wish — you will keep the DeepSeaScale even if you flee.

DeepSeaScale Details and Uses

The in-game description of the DeepSeaScale.

Uses In Battle

The DeepSeaScale is a held item that doubles the Special Defense stat of a Clamperl holding it.

Like the Light Ball, the DeepSeaScale would be a fantastic item if it wasn’t tied to such an otherwise useless Pokémon (Clamperl’s evolutionary forms can’t use it).

The DeepSeaScale will give Clamperl a borderline impregnable base Special Defense of 148, but its other stats are so low that it’s unlikely to make a difference.

Uses Outside of Battle

Clamperl can evolve into one of two evolutions, depending on which item it’s holding when you trade it to another player.

If Clamperl is holding a DeepSeaScale it will evolve into Gorebyss
If Clamperl is holding a DeepSeaTooth it will evolve into Huntail

Clamperl Holding the DeepSeaScale.

Once the Clamperl is traded to another player, it will evolve into Gorebyss. Then you can trade back.

Gorebyss in the Pokedex

Which Clamperl Evolution is Best?

Although they couldn’t look more different from each other, both of Clamperl’s evolutionary forms are nearly identical in battle.

Gorebyss is better suited for special attacks, while Huntail is more of a physical attack user; otherwise, both Pokémon’s base Special Defense, Defense, and Speed stats are exactly the same.

It’s hard to make the case that either form is particularly useful in a high-stakes fight.

Gorebyss and Huntail have good offenses and strong physical Defense stats, but their HP stats are lackluster and their Speed stats are notably low.

However, if you can work either Pokémon into a team that uses Rain Dance to summon rainstorms, their shared Ability Swift Swim will double their Speed – making them much more viable in tougher battles.

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Chris Haygood

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Chris is an American freelance writer and lifelong gamer. RPGs have been his genre of choice ever since he got Pokémon Blue in 1867, but if he finds a good rhythm game, he will prioritize playing it over both eating and breathing.

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