Volkner + Sunyshore Gym Puzzle (Pokémon Platinum)

Sunyshore City’s Volkner is the eighth and final Gym Leader in Pokémon Platinum. He uses Electric-type Pokémon that are around level 50, so bringing a couple Ground-types of a similar level is the best way to defeat him.

After you’ve won, Volkner will reward you with the Beacon Badge and TM57 Charge Beam.

Defeating him also finishes your Badge collection, allowing you to enter Victory Road and challenge the Elite Four.

Quick Strategy

You won’t need a ton of strategy for this fight as long as you pay attention to levels and type effectiveness.

But before you set foot in the Gym, make sure you:

• Bring Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon. Volkner only uses single-type Electric Pokémon, which only Ground moves are super-effective against. Rock-type Pokémon neutralize Electric attacks, so they can be helpful as well, especially if they know strong Ground moves like Earthquake or Earth Power.
• Bring Pokémon that are around level 50 or more. Even with such a straightforward team, Volkner’s Pokémon are tough. Match their levels as best as you can to eliminate any unpleasant surprises.
• Stock up on Revives and healing items. Volkner’s team is much more predictable than those of other Gym Leaders, but most of his Pokémon are considerably bulky—you may sustain a lot of damage while trying to bring them down. It’s also a good idea to bring items that heal paralysis, Electricity’s signature status condition.

How To Find Volkner & Get Him Back to the Gym

When you first enter Sunyshore City you will encounter Flint, one of the Pokémon League’s Elite Four.

He explains that Sunyshore’s Gym Leader, Volkner, has been so bored and reserved that he hardly battles anymore.

Flint wants you to give Volkner a battle exciting enough to lift his spirits.

If you head to the Sunyshore Gym, however, you won’t be allowed inside; it turns out Volkner is so bored of being a Gym Leader that he’s not even at the Gym.

To battle him, you’ll first need to find him and convince him to come back and do his job.

But where exactly is Vokner, and how do you get him to come back?

Volkner is off brooding at the top of the lighthouse in the southeastern corner of Sunyshore City.

Here’s how to get there:

From the Pokémon Center, head up the staircase to the west and take the overhead walkway southward.

Then turn eastward at the corner.

Travel all the way east until you come to the lighthouse, then ride the elevator up to the top floor.

Volkner is the blonde-haired man staring wistfully through the binoculars on the top floor.

Speak with him and challenge him to battle.

Apparently this small daring act is enough to reignite his passion for Gym battles, and he leaves the lighthouse to wait for you at the Gym.

Leave the lighthouse by going back down the way you came. Then head back onto the walkway.

Getting To the Sunyshore Gym

Once you’re on the walkway, turn north at your first opportunity.

Head north until you reach the intersection of overhead walkways, then resume heading north.

Keep going north until you reach the northeast corner of the walkway, then turn left.

Travel all the way left until you reach the Gym in the northwestern corner.

Sunyshore Gym Puzzle Guide (Step-by-Step)

The final Gym’s puzzle requires you to step on colored Switches (like the green ones in the image below) to rotate platforms and form a path to Leader Volkner.

For the sake of clarity, each of the Switches will be numbered below in the order that they should be activated.

To start, step on Switch 1 to the right.

After the platforms rotate into a different position, follow the new path to step on Switch 2.

When the platforms come to a stop, head for the doorway to the north.

You will first need to defeat the trainer guarding the door, School Kid Tiera.

In the next room, step on Switch 3, then step off and step on it again two more times. (You’ll be stepping on this switch three total times).

By the third time you press the Switch, a bridge will have formed on the left side of the room.

Hop off the platforms, head up the stairs, and cross the bridge.

On the other side of the bridge, circle around and head for Switch 4.

You will need to battle School Kid Forrest to pass him.

Step once on Switch 4, then cross over and step once on Switch 5.

Head up the eastern staircase and cross the bridge, which is now passable after hitting the Switches.

You will need to defeat Guitarist Jerry in order to pass.

After crossing the bridge, defeat Poké Kid Meghan’s party of Pikachus to pass to the next room.

In the next room, step once onto Switch 6 to the right.

You can also challenge Guitarist Lonnie to get him out of the way.

Then cross the room and step once on Switch 7.

After that, head upstairs on the left to cross over the western bridge.

You will need to defeat Ace Trainer Destiny to continue past this point.

On the other side of the bridge, take the stairs and circle around to step on Switch 8 twice.

On your way, you will need to defeat Guitarist Preston in battle.

After you’ve stepped on the switch two times, you can move from Switch 8 to Switch 9 to the southeast.

Step on Switch 9 just once.

Climb down the eastern staircase and head for the bridge, battling Ace Trainer Zachery as you pass.

Crossing the bridge southward will bring you back to the room’s entrance.

Here, step on Switch 10 (formerly Switch 6) just once.

Backtrack up the staircase to the right and go north across the same bridge you took to get here.

If you’ve hit all the Switches in the right order and the correct number of times, then the northern platforms should now link into a path going straight to Leader Volkner.

Do the usual HP/PP maintenance on your team if needed, then speak with Volkner to initiate the battle.

Battling Gym Leader Volkner

If you’re concerned that the final Gym battle in the game will also be the hardest, don’t worry.

Each of Volkner’s four Pokémon is strictly an Electric type, with not one dual-type among them.

So you already know to bring your strongest Ground-type Pokémon into the battle. Rock types can also be useful here, but be aware that most of Volkner’s Pokémon have at least one move that Rock-type Pokémon are weak against.

Volkner’s Jolteon

Start by sending out a Ground-type Pokémon, since Jolteon’s Iron Tail is likely to crush any Rock Pokémon you send out.

Jolteon’s Speed stat is extraordinarily high, and its Attack and Special Attack stats are also formidable.

Luckily, Jolteon is a glass cannon with low HP and Defense. So hit it with your strongest physical Ground attack and you probably won’t need to use another one.

Volkner’s Raichu

Raichu is quick, but is mostly mediocre in both defensive and offensive capabilities.

Raichu is likely to go down in one hit from a decent Ground-type attack.

Don’t send in a Rock-type Pokémon: Raichu has both a Bug-type and a Fighting-type move, both of which will trounce Rock types.

Volkner’s Luxray

This is a good time to bring out a Rock Pokémon if you have one.

Luxray’s Ice Fang will cut through a Ground type, but it has no moves to counter Rock.

Luxray’s HP and defenses are nothing to worry about, though. So hit it with an Earthquake or another strong Ground move and it should go down pretty swiftly.

Volkner’s Electivire

Electivire is an extremely heavy-hitting Pokémon with generally respectable stats across the board.

Using a Ground-type Pokémon will render two of Electivire’s moves—ThunderPunch and Fire Punch—ineffectual.

Quick Attack hits harder than usual because of Electivire’s high Attack stat, but it’s still the same weak Quick Attack.

The only move you should really watch out for is Giga Impact:

It has an astronomical base power of 150. And as a physical move, it takes full advantage of Electivire’s strength. Luckily it’s also a Normal-type move, so it won’t do any super-effective damage against you.

Giga Impact also forces Electivire to waste the next turn recharging.

Electivire’s Sitrus Berry will heal its HP when it drops below 50%, and Volkner will likely use a Hyper Potion or Full Restore at some point. Just keep slamming Electivire with Ground moves and heal when needed, and he’ll fall before long.

The Aftermath

Defeating Volkner earns you the Beacon Badge, the eighth and final Gym Badge of the Sinnoh region.

He will also give you a copy of TM57 Charge Beam.

With the Beacon Badge, all traded Pokémon will obey you, no matter the level.

You will also be able to use the Waterfall HM outside of battle.

More importantly, this is the last gym leader you need to beat to be allowed into the Pokémon League – which is far to the north of Sunyshore City. So that’s where you’ll be going next.

BACK TO THE MAIN GAME Pokémon Platinum Full Strategy Guide

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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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