How To Get TM36 Sludge Bomb in Pokémon Platinum

TM36 Sludge Bomb can be found in two locations in Pokémon Platinum:

One copy is available in the Team Galactic HQ in Veilstone City. This is only available after defeating Snowpoint City’s Gym Leader, Candice, and speaking with Commander Jupiter at Lake Acuity.
Unlimited Copies can be purchased from the TM seller at the Battle Frontier. They cost 80 Battle Points (BP) each, and you can only earn BP from fighting at the various battle facilities.

Sludge Bomb is a damage-dealing, Poison-type special move that also has a 30% chance of inflicting poison on the target.

TM36 Sludge Bomb Locations

Location #1: Team Galactic HQ (Step-by-Step)

TM36 Sludge Bomb’s first location on the Town Map.

The first copy of TM36 is found at Team Galactic Headquarters, in Veilstone City.

After defeating Leader Candice in Snowpoint City, and then running into Commander Jupiter at Lake Acuity, you will be able to speak to a Galactic Grunt outside of the HQ. This will trigger an event that unlocks the backdoor at the Galactic Warehouse across town.

Speaking to the Galactic Grunt that leads to Looker unlocking the Warehouse door.

After the Galactic Grunt leaves in a rush, Looker from the International Police will show up with the Warehouse Key and offer to unlock the door to the Warehouse.

You will have a few Team Galactic battles coming up too. So heal at the Veilstone Pokémon Center if necessary, then from the PokéCenter head west via Veilstone’s main street.

Heading west from the Veilstone City Pokémon Center.

Turn north at the Veilstone Department Store.

Taking the north bend at the Veilstone Department Store.

Then turn to the east to follow along with the road as it curves, and then head north up the staircase to enter the Galactic Warehouse.

Entering the Team Galactic Warehouse.

Looker will meet you inside and unlock the security door for you.

Follow him down the stairs.

Heading downstairs at the newly-opened Galactic Warehouse.

In this next room, move east down the hallway at the bottom of the stairs.

Traveling east through the hallway.

There will be a Galactic Grunt to battle a short distance down the hall. All the Grunts in the HQ are like any of the others you’ve fought (with Golbat, Stunky, Houndour, etc.), so they shouldn’t pose a huge problem.

Fight the Galactic Grunt you come across and keep going.

Passing the first Galactic Grunt.

Keep going forward and go down the stairs.

Then battle the next Galactic Grunt you run into, and head up the staircase at the end of the hall.

Passing the second Galactic Grunt and heading upstairs.

There is a third Grunt in the next room, but he doesn’t have any Pokémon and can’t battle. So just pass him and ascend the next staircase.

Cutting through the next staircase.

At the opposite end of the next room, there are two yellow circles; these are teleportation portals. And stepping on one portal will transport you to a portal in another room.

Fight the next Galactic Grunt here, and then step on the left portal.

Passing the next Galactic Grunt to get to the left teleportation portal.

In the room you get transported to, step on the teleportation portal in the opposite corner.

Moving from one teleportation portal to the next.

Then head upstairs in the next room.

Heading upstairs from the next teleportation portal.

You will emerge at the top of a staircase in the middle of a hallway.

Circle around to the left end and step on the next teleportation portal.

Heading left to reach the next portal.

Then descend the staircase at the end of the next hallway.

Moving down the hall and heading downstairs.

In the next room there is a Galactic Scientist, and you can choose to either battle them or ignore them.

Either way, pass him and go down the stairs at the opposite end of the room.

Passing the Galactic Scientist and going downstairs.

Now in the lower level of the building, walk left down the dimly-lit hallway.

Traveling down the hall.

There is another Galactic Grunt to battle here, and directly southeast of him is TM36 Sludge Bomb, visible on the floor as a Poké Ball item.

Obtaining TM36 Sludge Bomb from the Galactic HQ.

Location #2: Battle Frontier

TM36 Sludge Bomb’s second location on the Town Map.

The second location where you can find TM36 Sludge Bomb is at the Battle Frontier.

This method is only available after defeating the Elite Four and the Champion in the Pokémon League.

After all that, a ship at the Snowpoint City shipyard will be available to take you to the Battle Zone.

Once you take the ship & get to the first section of the Battle Zone (the Fight Area), head northeast from the Pokémon Center to enter the Battle Frontier.

Traveling northeast from the Fight Area’s Pokémon Center and entering the Battle Frontier.

Entering this building will place you in the Battle Frontier Entrance Hall.

Cut through here and enter the next room to the north.

Passing through the Battle Frontier Entrance Hall.

After the Entrance Hall, you will find yourself in the Battle Frontier proper.

In the middle of this area is an assortment of kiosks making up a marketplace, where sellers trade items for BP.

The TM seller is standing at the southeastern kiosk, under the red-and-white striped canopy.

Approaching the TM seller inside the Battle Frontier.

Speak to her and she will sell you copies of TM36 Sludge Bomb for 80BP.

You can buy unlimited copies of TM36 Sludge Bomb using this method, but bear in mind that it is one of the most expensive TMs in the Battle Frontier.

TM36 Sludge Bomb’s listing at the Battle Frontier.

Sludge Bomb Details and Uses

In-game description of TM36 Sludge Bomb.

Sludge Bomb is a damage-dealing Poison-type special move. It has a high base power, and a 30% chance of poisoning the target.

Sludge Bomb Move Details
Type	Poison
Category	Special
Power	90
Accuracy	100%
PP	10 (max. 16)

Sludge Bomb is an excellent move and it’s a TM well worth using.

Poison-type moves tend to run on the weaker side in general. So that makes Sludge Bomb’s 90 base power something of an anomaly.

Plus the 100% accuracy and no drawbacks only solidifies its status as one of the best Poison moves in the game.

The 30% chance of poisoning the target is also a higher chance than most moves that have poisoning as a secondary effect.

You can even teach this move to a high number of non-Poison types, especially Grass types, which can do wonders for their versatility in battle.

Miscellaneous Info about Sludge Bomb:

TM36 Sludge Bomb can be sold for 1,500 PokéDollars.
If Sludge Bomb is used in a Pokémon Contest, it will earn the user 2 Appeal Points, plus 2 bonus Appeal Points if the user was the last to act in that 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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