Pokémon Platinum Nest Balls: How They Work + All Locations

A handful of Poké Marts carry Nest Balls, so buying these special balls is definitely the easiest and earliest way to obtain them. Though if you want to save money, you can instead earn Nest Balls by taking Pokémon requests from the Pokémon News Corner reporter in Solaceon Town—however this method is much slower and far less dependable.

There is also a single Nest Ball you can pick up in northeastern Route 210 in a grassy enclosure.

How Do Nest Balls Work?

Nest Balls are special Poké Balls that have a higher catch rate when used on low-level Pokémon.

If used on a level 1 Pokémon, a Nest Ball will have a catch rate of 4x, or double that of an Ultra Ball.

For each level past 1 that a Pokémon has reached, the catching strength of a Nest Ball decreases by one-tenth of a point. Nest Balls will be no stronger than a basic Poké Ball when used on any Pokémon at level 30 or higher.

The following table shows the catch rate of Nest Balls at all the different levels:

Acquiring Nest Balls

Nest Balls are rarer than the regular types of Poké Balls, but they’re still among the easiest special Poké Balls to obtain.

The following sections list all the ways of acquiring Nest Balls in Pokémon Platinum.

Method 1: Poké Marts (Repeatable)

There are five shops in Sinnoh that offer an unlimited stock of Nest Balls, purchasable for 1,000p each. These shops are:

• The Eterna City Poké Mart
• The Pastoria City Poké Mart
• The Canalave City Poké Mart
• The Snowpoint City Poké Mart
• The Poké Mart inside of the Pokémon League

It’s particularly useful to stock up on some Nest Balls when you first get to Eterna City, which is the first time you’re able to obtain them.

Even though Ultra Balls won’t be available until you have 5 Badges, most of the Pokémon you encounter at this early stage of the game will be of lower levels. This makes Nest Balls some of the most effective Poké Balls for a large portion of the game.

Method 2: Pokémon News Press (Repeatable)

A cheaper (if less reliable) way to get Nest Balls is to bring specific types of Pokémon to the Pokémon News Press reporter in Solaceon Town as he requests them.

To take a News Press request, Fly to Solaceon Town and enter the Pokémon News Press building next door to the Pokémon Center.

You’ll find two men inside; the one on the left is who you’ll be speaking to.

Note: Save your game before talking to this guy.

The man will introduce himself as a reporter for the Pokémon News Press. He needs help writing an article, and he will task you with showing him a certain species of Pokémon that he can report on.

The Pokémon he asks for will always be a random species of Pokémon that you have owned at some point (any of the “Obtained” Pokémon in your Pokédex).

The Pokémon that the reporter asks to see isn’t necessarily one that you currently own—for instance, he may ask for a Pokémon you once owned but that has since evolved or been traded. But saving the game before speaking to him allows you to reset and try for an easier request.

When you get a request you can complete, go out and place that Pokémon in your party.

Note: Again, save your game before speaking to the reporter.

Then return to the reporter and speak to him.

When he sees you have fulfilled his request, he will experience what appears to be a moment of sublime inspiration.

As a reward for bringing him the Pokémon, the reporter will hand you a Heart Scale and three Poké Balls of a specific model. The type of Poké Balls he gives you is random, but this is why saving your game beforehand is useful: it allows you to reset and try again until you receive the Poké Balls you want.

Do this until the reporter gives you the Nest Balls.

The Pokémon News Press request can be repeated once per day. While it is a slow method of obtaining Nest Balls, it’s the only repeatable way of getting them in Pokémon Platinum without having to spend a ton of money on them.

Method 3: Route 210 (Step-by-Step)

Aside from the two repeatable ways to get Nest Balls, a single Nest Ball can be found on eastern Route 210. It’s just south of the section that’s blanketed with fog.

To reach this Nest Ball, you’ll first have to clear the group of Psyduck blocking the path beside the Café Cabin by using the SecretPotion. You’ll be able to do this only after defeating Crasher Wake at the Pastoria City Gym.

If the Psyduck are gone, head to Solaceon Town and travel north up the road.

Continue north to leave Solaceon Town for Route 210.

Use your Bicycle in fourth gear to make it up the muddy slopes on the hills for faster traveling.

Keep heading straight northward to exit the thick grass area.

Continue north to pass the Café Cabin and head into the path the Psyduck were blocking for most of the game.

Keep going north to pass through all the thick grass in the next area.

Turn right to enter the gap in the trees that leads to an enclosure of shorter grass. You’ll see this spot right before you reach the foggy area of northern Route 210.

Head for the Poké Ball item in the northeastern corner of this enclosure.

Pick up this Poké Ball to add another Nest Ball to your Bag.

BACK TO THE MAIN GAME Pokémon Platinum Full Strategy Guide

Guide Navigation

• Pokémon Platinum
  • Pokémon Platinum Nest Balls: How They Work + All Locations

Chris Haygood

270 articles

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.

View Writer's Posts →

Related Posts:

Every Arceus Plate in Pokémon Platinum (All Locations) Pokémon Platinum Dusk Balls: How They Work + All Locations Pokémon Platinum Heal Balls: How They Work + All Locations Pokémon Platinum Repeat Balls: How They Work + All Locations Pokémon Platinum Net Balls: How They Work + All Locations Pokémon Platinum Quick Balls: How They Work + All Locations Pokémon Platinum Dive Balls: How They Work + All Locations Pokémon Platinum Pokétch: How To Get It + All App Locations