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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 time through the mountain, after revisiting Buck's grandfather's house in the Survival Area. Players are required to have Pokémon with Strength and Rock Smash to proceed through the volcano. After encountering their rival, players will find Buck, who will travel with them through the mountain, up to the point where Heatran is encountered.
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 being advised by his grandfather to do so.
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.
Geography
Exterior
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. By traveling to the west, the entrance to the interior of the mountain can be found.
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 entering the inside of Stark Mountain Buck will return and accompany the player through the cave. Like all the Stat Trainers Buck will fully heal all of the player's Pokémon after each battle.
The picture used in this section is unsatisfactory. Please feel free to replace it so it conforms to Bulbapedia conventions. Reason: numbers and guildlines in the picture
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.
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.
Despite another mountain in the same region -- Mt. Coronet, starts its name with "Mt." (which is the abbreviation of Mount), and almost all other mountains in other regions, such as Mt. Moon in Kanto, Mt. Mortar and Mt. Silver in Johto, Mt. Chimney and Mt. Pyre in Hoenn, start their name with "Mt.", Stark Mountain doesn't follow this trend. Instead, "Mountain" is put at last.
The first time the player comes to Stark Mountain, he/she cannot collect all items due to having Buck as partner, thus unable to use HM08 (Rock Climb).