Where To Get TM30 Shadow Ball in Pokémon Platinum

TM30 Shadow Ball can be found in two locations in Platinum:

One copy is on Route 210, east of Celestic Town. Obtaining this copy requires the Bicycle and a Pokémon that can use Rock Smash.
Unlimited copies can be purchased at the Battle Frontier. Each copy costs 64 BP, which are earned by fighting in the Battle Frontier’s facilities.

As for the move itself: Shadow Ball is a damage-dealing Ghost-type special move. It also has a 20% chance of lowering the target’s Special Defense by one stage.

Getting TM30 Shadow Ball

Location #1: Route 210 (Step-by-Step)

TM30 Shadow Ball’s primary location on the Town Map.

The earliest available copy of TM30 is on Route 210, sitting on a cliff to the east of Celestic Town.

Getting to this location requires the Bicycle and a Pokémon with Rock Smash. You can also bring a Pokémon with Defog if you want to clear the fog on Route 210.

Once you’re ready, Fly to Celestic Town and head through the entrance to the northeast.

Heading east from Celestic Town’s Pokémon Center.

Once you hit Route 210, the field will become choked with fog.

Use Defog to clear it away and improve visibility.

Using Defog to clear the fog from the field.

Once you can see again, head downstairs and cross the bridge.

Crossing the bridge at the bottom of the staircase.

On the other side of the bridge, head for the staircase to the southeast.

Passing the Ace Trainer and heading for the stairs.

Climb up the staircase and cross the bridge to the north.

Crossing the bridge past the Black Belt trainer.

At the end of the bridge, ride your Bicycle across the fallen log to the west.

Riding the Bicycle over the fallen log.

On the other side of that log you’ll want to switch over to the next log and ride it down going south.

Heading south on the next fallen log.

At the end of that log you’ll see a small patch of land.

Use Rock Smash on one of the rock obstacles on the land, then you’ll be able to access the Poké Ball item on the other side.

Using Rock Smash to reach the item.

Pick up the item to receive TM30 Shadow Ball.

Obtaining TM30 Shadow Ball on Route 210.

Location #2: The Battle Frontier

TM30 Shadow Ball’s secondary location on the Town Map.

Unlimited copies of TM30 Shadow Ball can also be purchased at the Battle Frontier.

This is the huge building directly next to the Pokémon Center in the Battle Zone’s Fight Area.

Heading northeast from the Fight Area Pokémon Center to enter the Battle Frontier.

After entering the building, cut through the Entrance Hall and head through the door to the north.

Passing northward through the Battle Frontier’s Entrance Hall.

In the middle of the Main Hall will be several kiosks making up a central marketplace. This is the Exchange Service Corner.

Speak to the clerk at the southeastern kiosk with the red and white striped canopy.

Approaching the southeastern Exchange Service Corner kiosk.

Scroll through her inventory until you find the TM30 Shadow Ball listing.

TM30 Shadow Ball’s listing at the Exchange Service Corner.

TM30 is one of the more expensive TMs available at the Battle Frontier. Each copy costs 64 Battle Points (BP), and you’ll be able to earn BP by fighting in the Battle Frontier’s various battle facilities.

Shadow Ball Details and Uses

In-game description of TM30 Shadow Ball.

Shadow Ball is a damage-dealing Ghost-type special move that also has a 20% chance of lowering the target’s Special Defense stat by one stage.

Shadow Ball Move Details
Type	Ghost
Category	Special
Power	80
Accuracy	100%
PP	15 (max. 24)

Everything about Shadow Ball is merely decent:

It has a good base power
A fair amount of PP
And a secondary effect that probably won’t make or break many battles.

However, it’s still one of the best Ghost-type moves for dealing straightforward damage.

Shadow Ball is best taught to a Ghost-type Pokémon in your party, that way you can take advantage of STAB damage.

But one big upside to Shadow Ball is that it’s available to a wide range of Pokémon.

This includes plenty of non-Ghost types too. Psychic-types with high Special Attack stats, like Alakazam and Gardevoir, can make particularly good use of the move. It expands their type coverage to include Ghost and Psychic.

The problem with Shadow Ball’s secondary effect is that 20% is pretty low to achieve something that probably won’t matter in most battles.

If a Pokémon uses Shadow Ball three times before the target’s Special Defense is lowered, it’s likely that the target is close to being knocked out anyway. Stat changes can also be easily rectified by switching out the afflicted Pokémon.

It’s a nice bonus every now and then, but it probably won’t sway many battles.

Miscellaneous Info about Shadow Ball:

A copy of TM30 Shadow Ball can be sold for 1,500 PokéDollars.
If Shadow Ball is used in a Pokémon Contest, it will earn the user 2 Appeal Points, plus 2 bonus Appeal Points if the user acted first in the turn.

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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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