How To Get TM59 Dragon Pulse in Pokémon Platinum

Finding the Dragon Pulse TM in Victory Road (Pokémon Platinum)

TM59 Dragon Pulse can be found in two locations in Pokémon Platinum:

  1. One copy is located deep inside Victory Road. Reaching it requires the Hidden Moves Rock Climb, Surf, and Waterfall.
  2. Unlimited copies can be purchased from the Battle Frontier. Each copy costs 80 BP, which you can earn by fighting in the Battle Frontier’s various battle facilities.

Getting TM59 Dragon Pulse

Location #1: Victory Road (Step-by-Step)

TM59 Dragon Pulse’s first location on the Town Map / Pokémon Platinum
TM59 Dragon Pulse’s first location on the Town Map.

One copy of TM59 Dragon Pulse is lying on the ground deep within Victory Road.

But before you set out to get this TM, make sure you have Pokémon in your party that can use the following HMs:

  • Rock Climb
  • Surf
  • Waterfall

You might also want to stock up on Max Repels and healing items in order to protect yourself from wild Steelixes and Gravelers.

When you’re ready, Fly to the Pokémon League.

Then use Surf at the pond to the south and ride down the waterfall.

Plunging down the waterfall south of the Pokémon League / Pokémon Platinum
Plunging down the waterfall south of the Pokémon League.

Step onto land at the bottom of the waterfall, then enter Victory Road’s cave entrance.

Entering Victory Road to the south / Pokémon Platinum
Entering Victory Road to the south.

Once you’re inside, head south down the wide corridor.

Moving southward through the cave / Pokémon Platinum
Moving southward through the cave.

Cross the southern bridge and then use Rock Climb to descend the rocky wall to bring you down to the lower area.

Using Rock Climb to descend the hill / Pokémon Platinum
Using Rock Climb to descend the hill.

Once you’re down, head west and turn up to go north and pass under the bridge.

Descending the hill and passing under the bridge / Pokémon Platinum
Descending the hill and passing under the bridge.

Then when you see the old man NPC, turn eastward and carry on down to the right-hand side of the hall.

Turning right at the end of the hallway / Pokémon Platinum
Turning right at the end of the hallway.

Pass under the next bridge and head down the staircase at the eastern end of the hallway.

Going downstairs / Pokémon Platinum
Going downstairs.

On the next floor, use Surf at the body of water to the north.

Using Surf to navigate the underground rivers on the new floor / Pokémon Platinum
Using Surf to navigate the underground rivers on the new floor.

Surf up and turn east with the river, then cross over the small strip of land and use Surf again on the other side.

You’ll then want to take the first turn southward to approach the waterfall.

Crossing the land bridge and heading south toward the waterfall / Pokémon Platinum
Crossing the land bridge and heading south toward the waterfall.

Ride down the waterfall, and head for the terrain to the south.

Surfing down the waterfall / Pokémon Platinum
Surfing down the waterfall.

TM59 Dragon Pulse will be sitting on the ground on this small strip of land.

Obtaining TM59 Dragon Pulse in Victory Road / Pokémon Platinum
Obtaining TM59 Dragon Pulse in Victory Road.

This is the only free copy of TM59 Dragon Pulse in Platinum. While you can get more copies later, they’re also very expensive, so it’s advised that you use this copy with care.

Location #2: Battle Frontier (Repeatable)

TM59 Dragon Pulse’s secondary location on the Town Map / Pokémon Platinum
TM59 Dragon Pulse’s secondary location on the Town Map.

Multiple copies of TM59 Dragon Pulse can also be purchased at the Battle Frontier.

You’ll see this is a huge building to the east of the Pokémon Center in the Battle Zone’s Fight Area.

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

So head inside this building and after entering the building, go through the Entrance Hall and head up through the door to the north.

Passing northward through the Battle Frontier’s Entrance Hall / Pokémon Platinum
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 / Pokémon Platinum
Approaching the southeastern Exchange Service Corner kiosk.

You can look through her inventory and you should eventually find TM59 Dragon Pulse.

TM59 Dragon Pulse’s listing at the Battle Frontier / Pokémon Platinum
TM59 Dragon Pulse’s listing at the Battle Frontier.

Dragon Pulse is one of the most expensive TMs in the game. One copy costs the Battle Frontier’s maximum value of 80 BP.

Dragon Pulse Details and Uses

In-game description of TM59 Dragon Pulse / Pokémon Platinum
In-game description of TM59 Dragon Pulse.

Dragon Pulse is a damage-dealing Dragon-type special move. It has no secondary effects.

Dragon Pulse Move Details
Type Dragon
Category Special
Power 90
Accuracy 100%
PP 10 (max. 16)

Dragon pulse is a simple move.

But it’s also a solid hard-hitting one that can be relied on.

It’s like the special move equivalent of Dragon Claw. The purpose isn’t status changes or trickery, but instead it’s about doing as much type-effective damage as possible while minimizing the risk of failure.

With TM59, Dragon Pulse can be taught to a surprising number of Pokémon, including many non-Dragon-types like Lucario and Ampharos.

This move can definitely improve type coverage in a way that has a good chance of catching your opponent off guard.

And while Dragon Pulse is one of the best Dragon-type moves in the game, it might also be worth considering the move Outrage, which has a much higher base power of 120.

The downside of Outrage is that the user can select no other moves for 2-3 turns, and then at the end the user will become confused. It’s a lot riskier than Dragon Pulse. But in many cases it can be more helpful, depending on your Pokémon party makeup and personal strategies.

Miscellaneous Info about Dragon Pulse:

  • From Generation VI onward, Dragon Pulse’s base power is lowered from 90 to 85.
  • A copy of TM59 Dragon Pulse can be sold for 1,500 PokéDollars.
  • If Dragon Pulse is used in a Pokémon Contest, it will earn the user 2 Appeal Points, plus 2 bonus Appeal Points if the Judge’s Voltage goes up.

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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