View source for PS342

{{MangaPrevNext/Adventures
|prevcode=PS341
|prevtitle=Putting a Crimp in Kricketot
|nextcode=PS343
|nexttitle=Honey for Combee
|series=Diamond & Pearl
|colorscheme=Sinnoh}}
{{ChapInfobox
|title_en=A Conk on Cranidos's Cranium
|subtitle=Roark and Oreburgh Gym
|title_ja=VS ズガイドス
|title_ro=VS Zugaidos
|image=PS342.png
|scheme=Diamond & Pearl
|pub1=Shogakukan full volume
|pub1-data=Chapter 342 in [[Pokémon Adventures volume 30|Vol. 30]]
|pub2=VIZ Media full volume
|pub2-data=Adventure 5 in [[Pokémon Adventures volume 30|Vol. 1]]
|location=[[Oreburgh City]]<br>[[Oreburgh Mine]]<br>[[Sandgem Town]]<br>[[Oreburgh Gym]]
}}

'''A Conk on Cranidos's Cranium''' (Japanese: '''VS ズガイドス''' ''VS Cranidos''), titled '''VS Cranidos''' in the [[Chuang Yi]] translation, is the 342nd chapter of the [[Pokémon Adventures]] manga, and the fifth chapter of the {{MangaArc|Diamond & Pearl}}. It is subtitled '''Roark and Oreburgh Gym''' (Japanese: '''ヒョウタとクロガネジム''' ''Hyouta and the Kurogane Gym'') in the [[VIZ Media]] translation and '''Roark and the Oreburgh Gym''' in the Chuang Yi translation.

==Plot==
{{spoilers}}
{{adv|Diamond}} and {{adv|Pearl}} are preparing to help {{adv|Platinum}} train {{p|Piplup}} for its upcoming battle with [[Roark]]. In a flashback to the day before, Roark returns to the [[Oreburgh Mine|mines]], and impresses his mining crew with the [[fossil]]s he found. He explains that the reason he was late to work was because he was visiting his [[Byron|father]] in [[Canalave City]], who had told him he had something urgent to tell him. Before Roark can elaborate, he notices Platinum. She asks to challenge him at his [[Gym]], and the two make a plan to battle in two days.

Back in the present, Pearl enthuses over Piplup's strong-willed personality. Inspired by Piplup's passion for battle, Pearl becomes determined to help it become strong enough to win a Gym battle. He calls on [[Chimler]] to practice against Piplup, and after their battle, Platinum tells the others that while she has spent much time reading about battles, nothing compares to actually experiencing one. While wearing a cardboard mask of Roark's face, Diamond starts a practice battle against Platinum. Diamond and Pearl assign Platinum and Piplup a training regimen to help prepare for their upcoming match.

Meanwhile at [[Sandgem Town]], [[Professor Rowan]] and [[Mr. Berlitz]] finish up packing for a conference in Canalave City. When Professor Rowan asks Mr. Berlitz about Platinum, he reveals that he isn't worried about her as she makes her way to [[Mt. Coronet]]. He is happy that his daughter has the opportunity to try new experiences, while also being protected by her bodyguards.

The next day, the group arrives at the [[Oreburgh Gym]]. A {{pkmn|Trainer}} challenges Platinum to a battle, and Pearl attempts to give her advice when he senses that Platinum is going to have Piplup use {{m|Pound}} against her opponent. As soon as he does so, a voice speaks through a statue and tells Diamond and Pearl that they are not permitted to coach Trainers during a Gym challenge. The two are thrown out, and Pearl orders Diamond to stand on his shoulders so that he can watch Platinum battle through a window. By the time Diamond has a view of Platinum, she has already defeated all of the other Trainers and made her way to Roark. 

Roark starts the match using his {{TP|Roark|Cranidos}}'s {{m|Shock Wave}} attack. Piplup takes a great deal of damage from the supereffective attack, and Roark substitutes Cranidos for {{p|Onix}} to deliver the final blow. Before Onix can, Platinum switches Piplup for {{TP|Platinum|Ponyta}}. Onix uses {{m|Double-Edge}} and {{m|Stealth Rock}}, then a {{m|Slam}} attack to knock out Ponyta. Platinum is forced to substitute Piplup back in, who takes even more damage from Stealth Rock. Unleashing a powerful {{m|Water Gun}} attack against Onix, Piplup knocks it out.

Roark sends Cranidos back into the battle and has it use {{m|Double Team}} to prevent Piplup from hitting it. Through the window, Diamond and Pearl see that there doesn't seem to be any hope for Piplup to win the battle. Pearl threatens to fine her out of one million if she loses. They try to give her advice, but the voice through the statue yells at them. To secretly deliver advice for Platinum to utilize {{status|Confusion}} against Cranidos, Diamond and Pearl decide to hide a hint in their comedy routine. Platinum catches on, and when Roark has Cranidos use {{m|Zen Headbutt}}, Piplup uses {{m|Water Pulse}} and confuses Cranidos. Cranidos knocks itself out, making Platinum the winner. Roark gives Platinum the {{badge|Coal}}, and Piplup regains its confidence. 

As the three walk back to the hotel, Platinum asks Pearl how he knew that she was going to have Piplup use a Pound attack at the start of her first battle. Pearl figures that he learned that trick from his [[Palmer|dad]], who left when he was younger. Platinum smiles that her father would choose a bodyguard that came from a legacy of strong Trainers. She reveals to Pearl that she prepared a fine of one million in the event that she lost, but is glad that she doesn't have to use it. The information is so shocking to Pearl that it causes him to collapse. As Pearl staggers away from Diamond and Platinum, the two admire his strong-willed personality.

==Major events==
* {{adv|Platinum}} starts training her {{TP|Platinum|Piplup}}.
* [[Roark]] battles against Platinum.
* Platinum defeats Roark and receives the {{Badge|Coal}}.

{{Adventuresevents}}
{{endspoilers}}

===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====

==Characters==
===Humans===
* {{adv|Diamond}}
* {{adv|Pearl}}
* {{adv|Platinum}}
* [[Professor Rowan]]
* [[Roark]]
* [[Palmer]] (silhouette)
* [[Paka and Uji|Paka]] (fantasy)
* [[Paka and Uji|Uji]] (fantasy)
* {{adv|Sebastian}} (flashback)
* [[Mr. Berlitz]]
* {{tc|Worker}} ([[Chuang Yi]]: Mr. Foreman) (flashback)
* [[Roark]]'s grandfather (flashback)
* {{tc|Youngster}}
* Miners (flashback)

===Pokémon===
* {{p|Munchlax}} ({{adv|Lax}}; {{adv|Diamond}}'s)
* {{p|Turtwig}} ([[Tru]]/{{tt|Wig|Chuang Yi}}; {{adv|Diamond}}'s)
* {{p|Chatot}} ([[Chatler]]/{{tt|Chahiko|Chuang Yi}}; {{adv|Pearl}}'s)
* {{p|Chimchar}} ([[Chimler]]/{{tt|Chimhiko|Chuang Yi}}; {{adv|Pearl}}'s)
* {{p|Ponyta}} ({{OP|Platinum|Ponyta}})
* {{p|Piplup}} ({{OP|Platinum|Piplup}})
* {{p|Cranidos}} ({{OP|Roark|Cranidos}})
* {{p|Onix}} ([[Roark]]'s)
* {{p|Psyduck}} (Yellow/{{tt|Yeller|Chuang Yi}}; {{tc|Worker}}'s) (flashback)
* {{p|Geodude}} ({{tc|Youngster}}'s)

==Trivia==
* A snippet of this chapter was included in [[VIZ Media]]'s {{DL|Pokémon manga samplers|San Diego Comic Con 2011 sampler}}.

===Errors===
* In the [[Chuang Yi]] version, the [[Pomeg Berry]] is incorrectly referred to as the [[Rowap Berry]].

==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color=FFCCCC|bordercolor=9999FF
|zh_cmn={{tt|VS 頭蓋龍|VS Cranidos}} (Taiwan)<br>{{tt|VS 头盖龙|VS Cranidos}} (Mainland China)
|fr=L'Arène de Charbourg
|de=VS. Koknodon
|it=VS Cranidos
|ko={{tt|VS 두개도스|VS Cranidos}}
|pt_br=VS Cranidos
|es_la=VS Cranidos
|es_eu=Contra Cranidos 
|vi=VS Zugaidos - Hyota ở nhà thi đấu Kurogane
}}
{{-}}
{{MangaPrevNext/Adventures
|prevcode=PS341
|prevtitle=Putting a Crimp in Kricketot
|nextcode=PS343
|nexttitle=Honey for Combee
|series=Diamond & Pearl
|colorscheme=Sinnoh}}
{{Project Manga notice}}

[[de:Kapitel 342 (Pocket Monsters SPECIAL)]]
[[es:PMS342]]
[[fr:Chapitre 342 (Pocket Monsters Special)]]
[[it:LGA342]]
[[zh:宝可梦特别篇 第342话]]