Dawn
ヒカリ Hikari
Platinum Dawn.png
Art from Platinum
Gender Female
Hometown Twinleaf Town (as player)
Sandgem Town (as partner)
Region Sinnoh
Relatives Johanna, unnamed father (as player)
Unnamed sister, grandfather, father (as partner)
Trainer class Trainer
Generation IV
Games Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
Anime counterpart Dawn
Counterpart debut Following a Maiden's Voyage!
Manga counterpart(s) Platinum, Mitsumi

Dawn (Japanese: ヒカリ Hikari) is the female player character of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Her male counterpart is Lucas.

Dawn is also a character from the anime who travels with Ash and Brock in Sinnoh. She is modeled after the game character.

Platinum Berlitz from Pokémon Adventures and Mitsumi from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! are based off Dawn's design.

In the games

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Dawn lives in Twinleaf Town with her mother and dreams big, so she and her best friend (and soon-to-be rival) have high hopes of catching the legendary Pokémon of their nearby Lake. After meeting Professor Rowan and his assistant Lucas, they are attacked by wild Pokémon and as a last resort, use the Pokémon in the briefcase the Professor has forgotten. After bringing the Pokémon back Dawn receives the Pokémon she used as well as a Pokédex and goes on to gather the eight Badges of Sinnoh, defeat Team Galactic and conquer the Pokémon League all before taking on the Battle Tower.

She has to stop Team Galactic from trying to use either DialgaD or PalkiaP to destroy the entire universe in order to create a new one.

If the player chooses Lucas, she will become Rowan's assistant for the game. Dawn lives in Sandgem Town with her little sister, grandfather, and father—who works as an assistant of Professor Rowan. She is already the Professor's assistant at the beginning of the game. She also demonstrates to the player how to capture Pokémon by capturing a wild Bidoof.

Pokémon

First battle (capture tutorial)

  If the player chose Turtwig:



  If the player chose Chimchar:



  If the player chose Piplup:



Caught in tutorial
 
Type:
Normal Unknown
Ability:
Unknown
Held item:
None
Bidoof/ Lv.2
Tackle
Normal Physical
  --  
   
  --  
   
  --  
   
Second battle (as partner)

  If the player chose Turtwig:



  If the player chose Chimchar:



  If the player chose Piplup:



Third battle (as partner)

  If the player chose Turtwig:



  If the player chose Chimchar:



  If the player chose Piplup:



Quotes

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Lake Verity
"Professor, there isn't anything out of the ordinary on the other side, either!"
"Professor, how are you enjoying being back in Sinnoh? After being away for four years, it must be exciting again?"
"I beg your pardon... We'll be on our way."
  • After battle
"Oh! There's the briefcase! The professor would have been furious if I'd lost it... Huh? Oh, no! Did you... Did you use the Pokémon in here? You did?! Oh, my gosh! What's the professor going to say...? ... This is so not good... I'll take this briefcase for now."
Route 201
"Um... Yes! Professor, please wait for me! I think you should visit our lab later. OK, see you!"
Sandgem Town
"Oh! There you are! Please, come with me! The professor is waiting! This is it! Our Pokémon Research Lab! Let's go..."
"Wow, what was that? Your friend sure seems to be really impatient. Well, anyway... Let's go inside."
  • In Professor Rowan's lab
"I'm sure glad that you're kind toward Pokémon! If you weren't, I'd have to... Oh, I just can't say it..."
  • After receiving the Pokédex
"I've got one too!"
"The Pokémon that I used for the first time was a Turtwig/Chimchar/Piplup! If you'd have chosen a Turtwig/Chimchar/Piplup at the lake, we'd have the same Pokémon now! Not that it matters, but... Anyways, I'm Dawn. I also help the professor add pages to the Pokédex. So, in a sense, I'm just like you. I just got a little head start on you, that's all. I'll be happy to teach you things. Glad to meet you, <player>!"
  • Before town tutorial
"OK, <player>, I'll act as your mentor. I've got a bit more experience than you as a Trainer and as the professor's assistant. OK, follow me!"
  • After town tutorial
"Oh, that's right! <player>... Don't you need to let your family know that you're going to be helping Prof. Rowan with the Pokédex? You may need to go far away, so I think you should let someone know. Oh, but before you go, heal up your Pokémon at the Poké Center. It will be a lot less scary that way. OK, bye now!"
"Hi, <player>! May I see your Pokédex? ... Oh, my gosh! You've seen every kind of Pokémon in Sinnoh! Hey, let's go show your Pokédex to Prof. Rowan!" (before upgrade to National listing)
"Hey, <player>, have you ever chatted with my kid sister?" (after)
Route 202
"Oh, that's right! <player>, I haven't taught you how to catch a Pokémon. I'll demonstrate how to catch one, so just watch me, OK?"
  • Catching tutorial
"OK! It's HP is down! It's ready for a Poké Ball!"
  • After tutorial
"Giggle... See? Isn't it neat? Actually, it's better to lower your target's HP more than I did. It's important to get the Pokémon's HP as low as possible. This is because a healthy Pokémon is very difficult to catch. Oh, Pokémon also get easier to catch if you make them sleep or something by using a Pokémon's move. OK, <player>, to get you started, I'll give you five Poké Balls."
"If you have lots of Pokémon with you, it will be safer on long trips. Plus, it will be a lot more fun having your Pokémon friends along. OK, I need to get going. Bye, now!"
Jubilife City
"Hi, <player>! Are you catching Pokémon? ...Um... I think you'd feel a lot safer if you were to catch some more. In Jubilife City, there's the Trainers' School, which... Well, you know. <player>, you should visit it. You'll get some tips on Pokémon. Oh yes, Barry went to the Trainers' School earlier. OK, bye now!"

In Pokémon Platinum

In the events of Platinum, Dawn and Barry instead go to visit Professor Rowan at his lab rather than go to the lake in search of a Pokémon of the same rarity as a red Gyarados. They receive their Pokémon on Route 201 when Professor Rowan realizes that they are so dedicated to Pokémon as to attempt to travel from Twinleaf Town to Sandgem Town through the tall grass without any Pokémon of their own.

In addition, Team Galactic attempts to use both Dialga and Palkia, but they are stopped by Giratina. Finally, Dawn has to go to the Distortion World and face Giratina, in order to stop both worlds from destroying each other.

She will again be Rowan's assistant if the player chooses Lucas.

Years later, her exploits are referenced by Cynthia, who remembers a young Trainer who defeated her.

Pokémon

First battle (capture tutorial)

  If the player chose Turtwig:



  If the player chose Chimchar:



  If the player chose Piplup:



Caught in tutorial
 
Type:
Normal Unknown
Ability:
Unknown
Held item:
None
Bidoof/ Lv.2
Tackle
Normal Physical
  --  
   
  --  
   
  --  
   
Second battle (as partner)

  If the player chose Turtwig:



  If the player chose Chimchar:



  If the player chose Piplup:



Third battle (as partner)

  If the player chose Turtwig:



  If the player chose Chimchar:



  If the player chose Piplup:



Quotes

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Sandgem Town
"Hi, <player>! How's your Poké Radar? When you use it, do you sometimes see more than one patch of tall grass rustling? I've heard that patches farther away give you a better chance of seeing the same kind of Pokémon in a row."
"So, <player>. I'm also helping the professor put together the National Pokédex. Catching Pokémon can be really challenging, can't it? But, it's also so much fun!"
"Sometimes a patch of grass sparkles when a Poké Radar is used. People say a different-colored Pokémon is hiding there! Could that be true?"
"Is today maybe... Your birthday, <player>?"
Yes: "Giggle... Congratulations, <player>! And many more happy returns!"
No: "Oh, it isn't? I wonder what made me think that today was your birthday?"
The Villa
"Wow, <player>, this sofa is so sumptuous! You know, I think we have similar tastes, <player>."
"I'm envious of you having your own place. I have to share a bedroom with my little sister!"

Artwork

 
Artwork from
Diamond and Pearl

Sprites

         
Dawn's sprite from
Diamond and Pearl
Dawn's sprite from
Platinum
Dawn's overworld sprite from
Diamond and Pearl
Dawn's overworld sprite from
Platinum
Dawn's overworld Super Contest sprite from
Generation IV
         
Dawn's back sprite from
Diamond and Pearl
Dawn's back sprite from
Platinum
Dawn's intro sprite from
Diamond and Pearl
Dawn's intro sprite from
Platinum
Dawn's VS sprite from
Platinum

Optional names

Game Japanese English French German Italian Spanish Korean
Diamond
Pearl
Platinum
ダイヤ Dia
パール Pearl
キョウコ Kyōko
キヨミ Kiyomi
サトコ Satoko
ジュンコ Junko
セツコ Setsuko
チナミ Chinami
チホ Chiho
ノリコ Noriko
ヒサエ Hisae
マキコ Makiko
マミナ Mamina
ミキコ Mikiko
ミスズ Misuzu
ミチコ Michiko
モモコ Momoko
ユキコ Yukiko
リエ Rie
Diamond
Pearl
Karla
Britney
Kelli
Nina
Heidi
Miriam
Teresa
Aubrey
Kelly
Naomi
Abby
Denise
Tamara
Linda
Faith
Mari
Maggie
Diamant
Perle
Audrey
Carmen
Caro
Claire
Coralie
Edith
Flo
Hélène
Joanna
Linda
Lucie
Marion
Nadia
Noémie
Sayaka
Sophie
Yuki
Diamant
Perl
Andrea
Antje
Birgit
Daniela
Diana
Elena
Eva
Jamie
Linda
Mandy
Pia
Sara
Sigrun
Silke
Sina
Susi
Ute
Diaman
Perl
Amanda
Cinzia
Claudia
Elisa
Gaia
Ilaria
Isotta
Ivana
Letizia
Linda
Lorenza
Luisa
Monia
Paola
Sara
Viviana
Wilma
Diamant
Perla
Aiora
Aria
Cira
Claudia
Izarbe
María
Mariau
Matilde
Mena
Miriam
Mirta
Nayra
Nuria
Rita
Salia
Susa
Teresa
다이아몬드 Diamond
Pearl
꽃님 Kkotnim
나영 Nayeong
나정 Najeong
링링 Ringring
미영 Miyeong
사희 Sahyi
서연 Seoyeon
설아 Seola
아라 Ara
유경 Yugyeong
윤혜 Yunhye
은영 Eun'yeong
인희 Inhyi
주애 Juae
지나 Jina
태희 Taehyi
해나 Haena


Counterparts

 
Dawn's anime counterpart

Like most of the other player characters, Dawn has an anime counterpart who shares her name. She is a former traveling partner of Ash Ketchum and a Pokémon Coordinator.

Dawn also has two manga counterparts: Platinum Berlitz from the Pokémon Adventures manga, and Mitsumi from the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Dawn or her Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Related cards
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Mom's Kindness Su Majestic Dawn   83/100 Torterra/Infernape/Empoleon Half Deck    
      Giratina/Dialga Half Deck   013/014
      Piplup/Pikachu Half Deck   015/015
      Arceus LV.X Deck: Grass & Fire   017/017
      Arceus LV.X Deck: Lightning & Psychic   017/017
 


Trivia

  • In both English and Japanese, Dawn shares her name with an evolutionary stone. However, it is not the same stone: her Japanese name is the same as the name of the Shiny Stone, not the Dawn Stone.
  • Dawn is 4'6" (1.40 m) tall and weighs 75 lbs (34 kg).
  • The majority of her Japanese default names are shared with Leaf and Lyra. She also shares all of Kris's alternate Japanese names.
  • She shares her Chinese name with Wally.

Names

Language Name Reference to
Japanese ヒカリ Hikari From 光/ひかり hikari, light or shine.
English Dawn Probably a reference to Hikari; dawn is the day's first light.
French Aurore From aurore, dawn.
German Lucia From Latin lux, light.
Italian Lucinda From luce, light.
Spanish Maya Maya can be a reference to the Maya civilization, who worshiped the sun.
Korean 빛나 Bit'na From the Japanese name; means "light", "gleam", "glow". Also, is a native Korean word which is a synonym for 光/광
Chinese (Taiwan) 小光 Xiǎo Guāng From the Japanese name, 光/ひかり. Means "young light".


Related articles


Capture tutors
Old manPrimoProfessor OakDudeEthan/LyraWallyLucas/DawnProfessor Juniper
BiancaCalem/SerenaProfessor KukuiLeonProfessor LaventonNemona


Player characters
Core series RedLeafEthanKrisLyraBrendanMayLucasDawn
HilbertHildaNateRosaCalemSerenaElioSelene
ChaseElaineVictorGloriaReiAkariFlorianJuliana
Side series WesMichaelNateCyndy
Spin-off games MarkMintTodd SnapLucy Fleetfoot
LunickSolanaKellynKateBenSummer
HeroHeroineTim GoodmanScottieBettie


Non-player characters in the core series games
Sinnoh Professor RowanProfessor OakJohannaBarryLucasDawnCynthiaLookerStat Trainers (CherylRileyMiraBuckMarley)
BebeTealaFelicityRoxy and OliRoseanneRad RickshawEldritchWilmaJasmineCaitlinJuliaJordanDexterKeiraMr. BacklotMorimoto
Underground ManMr. GoodsMr. FuegoPokétch Co. PresidentDr. FootstepPokémon Fan Club ChairmanHelenaKetch Appy
Team GalacticGym guideGym LeadersElite FourFrontier BrainsName RaterDay-Care CoupleProfessors' aidesStats judge


  This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.