Pokémon Platinum PP Maxes (All Locations)

PP Max Acquisition Methods
#	Method	Repeatable?
1	Route 224—West of the row of Berry Plots (requires Defog, Rock Climb, Surf, Waterfall) (requires Strength if first time visiting Route 224)	No
2	Route 226—On the grassy plateau to the northwest of Swimmer Lydia (requires Rock Climb) (hidden)	No
3	Route 228—In the southwestern-most patch of tall grass, accessed by riding up a muddy slope (hidden)	No

PP Maxes are some of the rarest consumable items in Pokémon Platinum. There are only three in total, two of which are in the Battle Zone and the other one is on Route 224.

Because of their locations, no PP Maxes will be available until after you’ve entered the Hall of Fame and obtained the National Pokédex.

Acquiring PP Maxes

Method 1: Route 224

After you’ve entered the Hall of Fame and received the National Dex from Professor Oak, a cave will open up inside Victory Road that leads to the post-game Route 224. You’ll find one PP Max inside a Poké Ball on this Route.

This is the most inconvenient Route in the game, as there are no locations close to it that you can Fly to—you’ll have to make a lengthy voyage through Victory Road every time you want to go there.

You should stock up on Max Repels and healing items, just in case. You’ll also need Pokémon with the following Hidden Moves:

Defog (recommended)
Rock Climb
Strength (if this is your first time visiting Route 224)
Surf
Waterfall

When you’re ready to make the exhausting trek, Fly to the Pokémon League. Head outdoors and Surf down the waterfall.

Riding down the waterfall to the south of the Pokémon League.

Then step ashore and enter Victory Road to the southeast.

Entering the mouth of Victory Road.

Once you’re inside, head southward down the wide corridor at the entrance.

Moving south down the corridor.

Cross the bridge to the south and use Rock Climb to descend the rocky wall.

Using Rock Climb at the rocky wall.

Head to the west once you’re down on the ground, then turn north to pass under the bridge.

Passing under the bridge to the northwest.

Make a left turn at the Veteran trainer, head up the stairs behind him, and cross the bridge to the southeast. Then move eastward.

Looping around and climbing the stairs to cross the bridge.

Pass eastward under the next bridge and through the newly-accessible entrance to the next cave chamber.

Entering the new entryway to the east.

Once you’re in the new chamber, climb down the staircase and head northeast.

Heading northeast in the new room.

Descend the staircase and head through the next doorway.

Entering the next chamber.

If this is your first time passing through the new cave, Marley will accompany you at this point and you will be unable to use Surf. In this case you will need to take the longer route to the north (which requires Strength to move the boulders).

Otherwise, use Surf on the water to the east.

Using Surf on the eastern lake.

Surf northward and disembark at the square-shaped patch of land to the east.

Surfing toward the terrain in the northeast.

Then climb down the staircase and head southward.

Heading downstairs and turning south.

Circle around the rectangular lake and head north, passing the two Ace Trainers.

Skirting the rectangular lake.

Wind your way through the stone maze and continue heading east.

Moving through the linear path between the stones.

Eventually you’ll be able to climb down a set of stairs to the north and Surf across the next lake.

Surfing northward across the next lake.

Step ashore, then head north and Surf across yet another small waterway.

Cutting across another lake to the north.

Step back on land, head up the stairs to the north, and take the exit to your right.

Taking the exit to the northeast.

In this new area just head up the long staircase and go through the entryway at the top.

Leaving Victory Road to the east.

Now you’ll be on Route 224.

From here, turn northward and descend the staircase.

Turning north on Route 224.

Continue northward past Ace Trainer Ruben.

Traveling northward down the staircases.

Head north and take a left turn into the forest.

Taking a left turn in the grassy field.

Follow the winding path through the trees around to the northern staircase. Don’t climb the stairs here though; instead, use Surf on the stretch of ocean to your east.

Walking through the maze-like path through the trees and using Surf on the water.

Surf all the way east until you reach the small patch of terrain to the west of the Berry Plots, where you will discover a Poké Ball lying on the ground.

Approaching the Poké Ball item on Route 224.

Pick the Poké Ball up to add the PP Max to your Bag.

Picking up the PP Max on Route 224.

Method 2: Route 226

The second PP Max is hidden on Route 226, which is found to the east of the Battle Zone’s Survival Area.

You’ll need a Pokémon with Rock Climb to scale the mountains in this region.

When you’re prepared, Fly to the Survival Area and head east onto Route 226.

Heading east from the Survival Area’s Pokémon Center.

When you reach the mountains, move southeast to get in front of them.

Moving to the south of the mountains.

Use Rock Climb on the first rocky wall you encounter.

Using Rock Climb to scale the mountain.

After Rock Climbing onto the terrace, climb down the rocky wall to the immediate east.

Climbing down the next rocky wall.

Move to the other side of the new terrace, where there are two more rocky walls.

Use Rock Climb on the one leading higher up the mountain.

Ascending another rock wall.

Head up the short staircase nearby and climb down the next rock wall you come to, just west of Dragon Tamer Stanley and Bird Keeper Geneva.

Descending the rocky wall to the left of the two trainers.

Then turn eastward and move through the grassy strip.

Heading east toward the sea.

When you reach the sandbar to the west of Swimmer Lydia, turn north and climb the rocky wall.

Climbing the rocky wall at the northern end of the sandbar.

On this plateau is a field of tall grass, and on one of the grassy patches is the hidden PP Max.

If you’re standing on the northeastern-most corner tile, you’ll find the item exactly two tiles to your left and one tile to the south. We’ve outlined the exact tile in the screenshot below.

Tip: You can use the Dowsing Machine Pokétch app if you need help pinpointing it.

Searching for the PP Max on the grassy plateau.

Face the specified tile and press A to collect another PP Max.

Obtaining the hidden PP Max on Route 226.

Method 3: Route 228

The third and final PP Max is located on Route 228, which is a short distance to the northwest of the Battle Zone’s Resort Area.

This is probably the simplest PP Max to find; no Hidden Moves are required and it isn’t far from the nearest Pokémon Center.

To start, Fly to the Resort Area and cross the bridge to the north.

Heading northward across the Resort Area’s bridge.

On the other side of the pond, continue northward to leave the Resort Area and enter Route 229.

Leaving the Resort Area and heading onto Route 229.

Where the trail splits at the Resort Area/Route 229 sign, head northward through the tall grass past Ace Trainer Felix and Ace Trainer Dana.

Passing the Ace Trainers on Route 229.

Veer to the northwest and slip through the gap in the trees.

Heading northwest to reach Route 228.

Head north from here. A sandstorm will flare up as Route 229 becomes Route 228.

Heading north across the sand-battered terrain of Route 228.

Mount your Bicycle, switch to fourth gear, and ride northward.

You’ll need to ride your bike up the muddy slope, which requires some deft maneuvering to maintain your momentum around the turn.

Once you make it up the slope, descend the stairs to your left and head south.

Riding the Bicycle up the muddy slope and curving around south.

Head down to the patch of tall grass below the pond.

A hidden PP Max rests on one of the grassy spots here as well; if you’re standing on the southwestern-most tile, you can find the item by moving one tile to your right and two tiles to the north.

Tip: Use the Dowsing Machine Pokétch app if you need assistance.

Approaching the tile containing a hidden PP Max.

Face the tile and press A to acquire the final hidden PP Max.

Picking up the hidden PP Max on Route 228.

PP Max Details and Uses

The in-game description of the PP Max.

PP Maxes are consumable items that permanently raise the PP of Pokémon moves to their highest potential number, allowing them to be used more times in battle. This is the upgraded version of the PP Up.

To use a PP Max, select the item from the Bag and choose a Pokémon to open its list of moves.

Choosing one of Alakazam’s moves to maximize its PP.

The PP number will increase to 8/5 of its base, as demonstrated in the table below:

Base PP	Maximum PP
5	8
10	16
15	24
20	32
25	40
30	48
35	56
40	64

For instance, the powerful move Psychic normally has a PP count of only 10.

Using a PP Max will raise that count to 16, allowing it to be used in battle 60% more times before an Ether or a Pokémon Center visit is required.

Boosting the PP of Psychic from 10 to 16, the maximum.

PP Maxes are far more useful than PP Ups—three PP Ups are required to have the same effect of a single PP Max.

Because there are only three PP Maxes in the game, however, it is highly recommended that you only use a PP Max on a Pokémon’s move after giving it a lot of consideration.

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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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