A rugged, seemingly indestructible rock mountain that is thickly blanketed by the volcanic ash it spews. Inside the mountain, fissures in spilled and hardened lava form enormous caverns.
Stark Mountain (Japanese: ハードマウンテンHard Mountain) is home to the Legendary PokémonHeatran. The Pokémon is only available on the second visit to the mountain, after talking to Buck's grandfather in the Survival Area. The player is required to have Pokémon with Strength and Rock Smash to proceed through the volcano. After encountering their rival in the entrance, the player will find Buck inside, who will go with them through the mountain to the entrance of Heatran's room.
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Buck will take the Magma Stone from Heatran's room, but later returns it after being advised by his grandfather in the Survival Area to do so.
In Pokémon Platinum, Charon takes control of Team Galactic and travels through Stark Mountain to take the Magma Stone and capture Heatran. Once the player follows Charon to Heatran's room, with the aid of Buck, Looker arrests Charon and takes the Magma Stone. Buck later returns the Magma Stone after he and the player accompany Looker outside the mountain.
Stark Mountain's exterior changes between Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Pokémon Platinum, however, both maintain the heated feel of the mountain. The road ascends in a huge contour up the mountain and, at that point, Route 227 ends and the exterior of Stark Mountain begins. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, a huge clearing opens up that contains a large patch of tall grass. The entrance to the interior of the mountain can be found to the west.
In Pokémon Platinum, the exterior is more complex and the path winds around pools of bubbling lava. It is darker and aesthetic features have been enhanced. The large patch of tall grass is still present, but it is not as big. By going northwest, an item can be found in an indented section of track. By traveling to the northeastern corner, a path will open up. By following it, the road will lead through two pools of smoking, bubbling lava around another bend to the entrance of the interior of the mountain.
Buck
After the player crosses the planks they will encounter Buck, who will ask them to investigate a bunch of goons in space suits who are up to no good at the mountain while he returns to the Pokémon Center to heal. After the player enters the inside of Stark Mountain, Buck will return and accompany the player through the cave. Like the other Stat Trainers, Buck will fully heal all of the player's Pokémon after each battle.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
Main cavern
These Pokémon (excluding swarm, Poké Radar, and Dual-slot Pokémon) will be faced in Double Battles if the player is with Buck.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
Stark Mountain appears in the Platinum arc. Upon learning from Looker about Team Galactic's activity at Stark Mountain, Buck departs the Battleground for the volcano, intending to protect Heatran from the villainous team. Upon reaching the volcano, he is attacked by a group of Galactic Grunts. When he fails to keep the Grunts knocked down, he opts to running, not noticing the Grunts trailing him. Eventually Buck reaches the room with the Magma Stone. Thinking that the Magma Stone is what Team Galactic is after, Buck tries to take it away, only to unseal Heatran, which is then captured by Charon. Looker arrives to help Buck, and manages to interrogate Charon long enough to learn that he's collecting Legendary Pokémon to prepare his attack to the Distortion World, where Giratina lives. Although Charon manages to escape Looker's grasp and defeat him and Buck, the two manage to get away, thanks to the help of Platinum's Pokémon, although not without suffering severe injuries.
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.
While in the interior maze area, the game camera is zoomed out significantly, allowing the player to view more of the surrounding area.
The player cannot collect all of the items in the mountain during the first visit, as walking with Buck prevents the use of Rock Climb.
The Ace Trainers guarding TM50 ask "What is time?" and "What is space?", referencing Dialga and Palkia.
In Pokémon Platinum, if the player does not talk to Buck's grandfather in the Battleground after the Stark Mountain mission, then Heatran will not appear in its chamber should the player return to it.
