How To Get HM08 Rock Climb in Pokémon Platinum

The Hiker NPC in his house near the Rock Smash HM (Pokémon Platinum)

HM08 Rock Climb is on Route 217, lying on the ground directly above a house on the western side of the map. The HM is visible in the overworld as a Poké Ball item.

Outside of battle, Rock Climb is used to scale rocky sections of walls. But you can’t use it like this until you defeat Snowpoint City’s Gym Leader Candice and get the Icicle Badge.

In battle, Rock Climb is a damage-dealing Normal-type physical move that also has a chance of confusing the target.

HM08 Rock Climb Location (Step-by-Step)

HM08 Rock Climb’s location on the Town Map / Pokémon Platinum
HM08 Rock Climb’s location on the Town Map.

HM08 Rock Climb is found in the snow on a blustery section of Route 217.

The quickest way to reach the HM’s location is to start at the Pokémon Center in Snowpoint City, and head northwest.

Setting out to the northwest from the Snowpoint Pokémon Center / Pokémon Platinum
Setting out to the northwest from the Snowpoint Pokémon Center.

Turn to the south when a path opens up in a cluster of trees, just past the Sailor NPC.

Heading south toward Snowpoint City’s port / Pokémon Platinum
Heading south toward Snowpoint City’s port.

Go down the stairs here and head west, past the ship in the shipyard.

Traveling west toward the entrance to Snowpoint City / Pokémon Platinum
Traveling west toward the entrance to Snowpoint City.

Head up the staircase all the way to the west, and keep moving westward so that you leave Snowpoint City and enter the Acuity Lakefront.

Leaving Snowpoint City via the western entrance / Pokémon Platinum
Leaving Snowpoint City via the western entrance.

Continue moving westward through the tall grasses of the Acuity Lakefront.

Continuing westward / Pokémon Platinum
Continuing westward.

Turn south at the Lake Acuity sign, and pass through the gap in the trees.

Taking a southward turn at the Lake Acuity sign / Pokémon Platinum
Taking a southward turn at the Lake Acuity sign.

Around here, a strong blizzard will start to affect movement and visibility.

Head through this area in a general southwestern trajectory.

Moving southwest through the blizzard / Pokémon Platinum
Moving southwest through the blizzard.

When you get to the western side of the map, move south, going past the Black Belt trainer.

Traveling southward / Pokémon Platinum
Traveling southward.

Continue south here, and then shortly after passing the skier trainer, you will see a house.

If you speak to the Hiker NPC inside, he will tell you that he has lost his copy of HM08 in the blizzard.

As you may already have noticed, his copy of HM08 is right outside his house, sitting in the snow a little bit northeast of his roof.

HM08 Rock Climb, visible in the snow outside the Hiker’s home / Pokémon Platinum
HM08 Rock Climb, visible in the snow outside the Hiker’s home.
Obtaining HM08 Rock Climb / Pokémon Platinum
Obtaining HM08 Rock Climb.

If you speak to the Hiker after picking up his HM, he will give you verbal permission to keep it.

Furthermore, to thank you for your honesty, he will also give you an Icicle Plate, which is a stone tablet that powers Ice-type moves by 20%.

Receiving the Icicle Plate as thanks from the Hiker / Pokémon Platinum
Receiving the Icicle Plate as thanks from the Hiker.

Keep in mind that to use Rock Climb outside of battle you must have defeated Leader Candice at the Snowpoint Gym and received the Icicle Badge from her.

Rock Climb Details and Uses

Using Rock Climb in Battle

In-game description of HM08 Rock Climb / Pokémon Platinum
In-game description of HM08 Rock Climb.

Rock Climb is a damage-dealing Normal-type physical move with a high base power, but reduced accuracy. It also has a 20% chance of confusing the target.

Rock Climb Move Details
Type Normal
Category Physical
Power 90
Accuracy 85
PP 20 (max. 32)

Like most HMs, Rock Climb generally isn’t worth taking up one of your main Pokémon’s move slots.

Its high base power and chance of confusion are offset by its low accuracy and Normal-type lack of type effectiveness.

This move is best taught to a Pokémon dedicated entirely to Hidden Moves (also known as an HM Mule).

Using Rock Climb Outside of Battle

Facing a rocky wall in the overworld / Pokémon Platinum
Facing a rocky wall in the overworld.

Outside of battle, Rock Climb is used to scale rocky walls. This allows you to travel up and down previously inaccessible mountains and hills.

With a Pokémon that knows Rock Climb in your party, just face a rocky wall while standing one tile in front of it, and press A.

Using Rock Climb on a rocky wall / Pokémon Platinum
Using Rock Climb on a rocky wall.

Select “Yes” when prompted, and the Pokémon that knows the move will carry you along the rock wall’s linear path.

After using Rock Climb to scale a mountain / Pokémon Platinum
After using Rock Climb to scale a mountain.

Tip: When used in a Pokémon Contest, Rock Climb earns the user 2 Appeal Points, plus 2 bonus Appeal Points if the user acted last in that turn.

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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