Breeding

Published on November 30th, 2012 | by Adib

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Pokemon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum Roamers: An RNG Guide

If you’re trying to RNG Cresselia, Mesprit, Articuno, Zapdos or Moltres in the 4th generation (Diamond, Pearl and Platinum) of Pokemon games but don’t know how, you’ve come to the right place!

Diamond, Pearl & Platinum Roamer RNG
cresseliamespritarticunozapdosmoltres 

RNGing Cresselia, Mesprit and the legendary birds in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum is actually relatively straightforward due to the lack of wandering NPCs (they tend to advance frames unpredictably). The process is exactly the same for each except for one thing: they each have a different starting frame, but more on that later.

This guide will assume you have already found your calibrated delay and second, as explained here, and are already familiar with some of the basic terms of RNGing.

Requirements:

  • The most recent version of RNG Reporter
  • The most recent version of Eontimer
  • Coin Flip App on Poketch (this will allow you to verify your seed)
  • Marking Map App on Poketch (this will allow you to track your roamer)
  • Journal (this will allow you to advance the frame)
  • Master Ball
  • A Pokemon with Fly in your party
  • A Pokemon with Surf in your party
  • An odd number of Pokemon in your party (more on that later)
  • A level 50 Pokemon leading the party and repels
  • Make sure no other roamers are released. KO any roamers in Platinum. Don’t worry, they’ll respawn after you defeat the Elite Four.
  • A DS Original/DS Lite along with a 3rd generation game cartridge (RSE, FRLG) is preferred, but not required (reason why will be explained later)
Don’t bother with Synchronizers in this type of RNG. They don’t work. Don’t have one in your party!

The Journal

It seems odd explaining how to advance the frame first, but there are some preparations you’ll have to make before going after the roamer. First off, flipping between pages in the Journal allows you to advance the frame by 2 each time you flip to a page that has a message in one of the following formats:

  1. Caught a male ZUBAT
  2. Defeated a male ZUBAT
  3. ZUBAT was caught (NIGHT)
  4. Caught ZUBAT (LATE NIGHT)
 So to make sure we’re able to efficiently advance the frame, we have to make sure that there are two pages back-to-back in one of the above formats.
  • Before going after your roamer, open your Journal
  • Look at the first 3 pages
  • If you do not have two pages back to back that have at least one message in one of the above formats, go catch a random Pokemon and save
  • Turn off your game and change the date to the next day
  • Catch another random Pokemon
  • Now check your Journal. You should have two pages back to back with messages in the above format
  • Save the game again
  • Each time you flip to one of these two pages, you advance the frame by 2.
  • Now, you can advance the RNG frame in increments of 2 very quickly!
  • This will allow you to RNG for higher frames.

Why You Should Have an Odd Number of Pokemon in Your Party

Now you’ll want to make sure that you have an odd number of Pokemon in your party. This is because Journal flipping only advances you through either odd numbered or even numbered frames (i.e. 1 to 3 to 5, 2 to 4 to 6, etc. in increments of 2 with each flip), depending on your starting frame.

So what do you do if, after Journal flipping, you need to advance by only 1 or 3 more frames? Walk exactly 128 steps with either 1 or 3 Pokemon in your party to advance the frame by 1 or 3. For example,  if you walk 128 steps with 3 Pokemon in your party, you will advance the frame from 1 to 4.

Starting Frames

  • Articuno–11
  • Zapdos–6
  • Moltres–1
  • Mesprit–5
  • Cresselia–5

Every single one of these legendaries are generated via Method 1 in RNG Reporter. The legendary birds are released at the same time but in the following order:

Moltres ——-> Zapdos ——-> Articuno

1                            6                            11

If you defeat or capture any birds, re-defeat the Elite Four and speak to Professor Oak as before (after making necessary RNG preparations, that is).  He will re-release the uncaptured legendary birds. Keep in mind that the birds are generated in the order above.

If you’ve already captured Articuno, then your starting frame for the others remain the same:

Moltres ——-> Zapdos

1                            6

If you’ve already captured Zapdos, then these are your new starting frames:

Moltres ——-> Articuno

1                            6

If you’ve already captured Moltres, then these are your new starting frames:

Zapdos ——-> Articuno

1                             6

If you’ve already captured two of the birds, then your starting frame for the last bird will be 1.

It is highly recommend to RNG only one roamer at a time, especially in the case of the legendary birds. The birds are a special case — when you go to RNG one, potentially 1 or 2 other birds will also be released depending on whether you’ve already captured them or not. For example, if you’ve already captured Articuno and want to RNG both Zapdos and Moltres, who were already released, KO both Zapdos and Moltres. Re-defeat the Elite Four and save right in front of Professor Oak. RNG only one of the two remaining birds first, then repeat the process to RNG the last one. This way, you won’t have to look for ridiculously high frames to RNG both birds at the same time.

Note: For every roamer that is already released, the starting frame is advanced by 1. To make things easier, simply KO every released roamer in Platinum before attempting any RNGing. Don’t worry, re-defeating the Elite Four will revive them.

In Diamond and Pearl, there are only two roamers, Cresselia and Mesprit. Since you can’t revive any KO’d roamers via the Elite Four in these games, simply increase your starting frame by 1 from 5 to 6 if you are RNGing Cresselia and Mesprit is currently roaming and vice versa.

After fulfilling the requirements at the beginning of this guide, save right in front of Cresselia, Mesprit or Professor Oak. Make sure that the Coin Flip app is already open on your Poketch! Also, make sure that the Journal is registered with the Y button for easy access.

Finding Your  Desired Seed

  • Open up RNG Reporter
  • Under Time Finder, click 4th Generation Time Finder. A new window should pop up
  • Go to the Capture tab if not already there
  • Input your IV search parameters in the IV field
  • Input the Nature and Ability you want in their respective fields
  • Input Method 1 in the Method field
  • Set your Min/Max Delays. These are up to you, but I personally go for 600–2400
  • Set your Min/Max Frames. Again, these are up to you, depending on how many Journal flips you want to do, but I personally go for 1–200
  • Above is an example of finding a seed for a flawless Calm Cresselia, with minimum Attack, which is found on frame 82
  • Now return to the RNG Reporter Main Window
  • Make sure Method 1 is selected in the Method field
  • Input the roamer’s particular starting frame in the Starting Frame field. Since we’re using Cresselia, I’ve entered a starting frame of 5.
  • Copy and paste your seed from the 4th Generation Time Finder window into the Seed (hex) field
  • Hit Generate
  • Scroll down and select your desired frame (in the Cresselia example above, this would be frame 119)
  • Now, we have to advance the frames from the Starting frame (5 for Cresselia) to the Target frame (82 in the Cresselia example) by Journal flipping and walking 128 steps when needed
  • Before we do, though, we have to consider a few things:
    • Verify that the PID in the Main Window and the Time Finder are identical–if they’re not, ask for help in our forums!
    • We need to find out if we need to walk 128 steps to advance the frame by the number of Pokemon in your party (see below)
  • Above is my RNG Reporter Main Window picture for Cresselia

Even Numbered Frame Advancements — Journal Flips only, no need to walk 128 steps

  • If your target frame and starting frame are both odd or both even, then you will only needs to do Journal Flips to advance your frame. Lucky you!
  • All you need now is a little bit of math review. Here’s how you discover how many journal flips you need:
    • Number of frames you have to advance = Target frame – Roamer’s Starting frame
    • Number of Journal flips needed = Number of frames you have to advance / 2
  • Remember, each page advances the frame by 2
  • For example, had I selected a Cresselia with a target frame of 199:
    • Cresselia’s starting frame is 5, so I would have to advance 119 – 5 =  114 frame advances
    • 114 / 2 = 57, so I would have to do 57 Journal flips
  • You should always try to find frames that require an even number of advances. While it is still possible to advance an odd number of frames, which we’ll cover in just one moment, it’s less consistent and easier to mess up.

Odd Numbered Frame Advancements — Journal Flips and walking 128 steps required

  • Unfortunately if I want my minimum attack Cresselia, I’ll have to advance my frame by an odd number.
  • Again, the math behind the madness:
    • Number of frames you have to advance = Target frame – Roamer’s Starting frame
  • If the resulting required number of advances is odd, then Journal flipping won’t be enough — you will have to walk EXACTLY 128 steps with either 1 or 3 Pokemon in your party to advance the frame by 1 or 3, respectively
  • The Journal only advances the frame in increments of 2 with each flip
  • This is where having an odd number of Pokemon in your party comes in handy for switching from even to odd numbered frames and vice versa
  • Let’s say you have 3 Pokemon in your party
  • What you would do is walk EXACTLY 128 steps (after hitting your seed of course)
  • Make sure your 128th step lands you right in front of your roamer!
  • Now we need to advance the frames with Journal flips
    • Number of frames you have to advance = Target frame – Roamer’s Starting frame
    • Number of frames you have to advance – Number of Pokemon in your party = Number of Journal frames
    • Number of Journal Flips required (after walking 128 steps) = Number of Journal frames / 2
  • Back to the Cresselia example:
    • Since I chose frame 82 (31/5/31/31/31/31 IV spread), I would have to advance 82 – 5 = 77 frames
      • 77 is an odd number — the Journal only advances the frame in increments of 2 with each flip
    • 77 – 3 (number of Pokemon in your party in this example) = 74
    • 74 / 2 = 37 Journal flips required
  • You can advance the frame by walking first and Journal flipping later or vice versa
  • As you can see, having an even number of required frame advancements is much more time-efficient and easier to work with

 Seed to Time

  •  So now that we’ve found a desired seed, verified that the PIDs match in the Main Window and determined whether we need to walk 128 steps or not, now we’ll have to find a time for us to actually RNG the Pokemon
  • On the RNG Reporter Main Window, click on the 4th Gen Tools button
  • Select Seed to Time and a new window should pop up
  • Copy and paste your seed into the Seed (Hex) field
  • Select DPPt and choose the year you want to search in
  • Hit Generate
  • A list of dates, times and delays should come up.
  • Pay attention to the delay that shows up — it should be the same regardless of what time you go for.
  • Open up EonTimer
  • Input your Calibrated Delay, Calibrated Second and Target Delay (2237 in my Cresselia example)
  • Now we want to adjust the timer so that we’re not waiting unnecessarily long to hit our seed
  • Now, input a value in the Target Sec. (from 0 to 59) that will make the first timer (above Minutes Before Target: 1) last for approximately 32 seconds or so
  • The second timer (below Minutes Before Target: 1) is determined by your delay
  • If your second timer is too short (under 20 seconds or so), then find another seed that gives you a longer 2nd timer
  • Below is an example of my Seed to Time window and EonTimer window with the seed corresponding to the Calm Cresselia on frame 119 that I discussed earlier
  • Once you find your Target Sec. (50 in this example), go back to the Seed to Time window
  • Check the box for the Seconds field and input your Target Sec.
  • Hit the same Generate button again
  • A list of times that will work best with your timer will show up
  • Select a time
  • Input 10 in both the – and + Delay fields. Input 0 in both the – and + Seconds fields. Leave the “Odd/Even should match the seed’s delay” box unchecked for now
  • Hit the second Generate button (right next to Search Flips)
  • You should now have a list of about 20 delays, their corresponding seeds and their corresponding flip sequences (more on that later)
  • The date and time should all be the same
  • Find your desired delay in the list (2237 for the Calm Cresselia example) and select it
  • This is the list of frames that you will be searching within to verify your seed

Even and Odd Delays

  • Remember when I told you to leave the “Odd/Even should match the seed’s delay” box unchecked?
  • Do you see in the newest list we generated that there are both odd and even numbered delays?
  • When you load the game, the Pokemon you are trying to RNG will only have spreads on either odd or even numbered delays
  • For example, as you soft reset for the Calm Cresselia, you might find that you are landing in frames 2078, ,2080, 2084, or 2086 repeatedly—this shows that the game is operating on even delays
  • You will never hit an odd delay if your game is acting on even delays and vice versa
  • We won’t know which set of delays, odd or even, the game is operating on until we verify our seed with the Coin Flip app
  • At the beginning of this guide, I stated that a DS Original/Lite with access to a 3rd gen game (RSE, FRLG) is preferable, but not required
  • This is because the 3rd gen game cartridge would allow you to use the slot at the bottom of your DS to switch between odd and even delays if you find that you are trying to hit an odd numbered delay and the game is operating on even delays
  • All you would have to do then is put the 3rd gen game into the slot and continue RNGing
  • If you don’t have either of these older DS models and a 3rd generation game cartridge, you will not be able to switch between odd and even delays if the seed you want is on the other set of delays
  • If this happens, you will have to find a whole new seed with a delay that matches what the game is running on
  • i.e. if your game is only hitting odd numbered delays, then find a new seed with an odd delay

Finding Which Set of Delays You’re On, Odd or Even

  • Now, we’re going to find out if your game is acting on odd or even delays
  • First, change the date and time on your DS to match the time you selected in the Seed to Time window
  • Load the game and when you enter it, the Journal should automatically pop up
  • Save and turn off the game
  • Why did we do this? So that the Journal doesn’t automatically open again when you load the game again to mess up your frame advancement calculations
  • Now go to your DS time settings menu. Change the date to the one in your seed
  • Now go to the time changing section. Use the arrows to prepare to change the time to the one found in RNG Reporter, but DO NOT ACTUALLY PRESS A YET to implement the time change
  • Remember, RNG Reporter and the DS run on military time
  • Now go back to EonTimer
  • Do you see the Minutes Before Target field?
  • If it says 1, use the arrows to prepare to change your DS time to one minute before the time that matches the seed you found in the Seed to Time window, but do not press A yet
  • If it says 0, make sure the time matches the seed you found in the Seed to Time Window
  • In this Cresselia example, the time in the Seed to Time window for my selected seed is 13:56:50
  • This time is the exact moment the game is loaded after being soft reset
  • If the two timers combined last more than a minute, this will be indicated in EonTimer, as mentioned earlier
  • So on my DS, I would use the arrows to prepare to change the time to 13:55 because my Minutes Before Target field on EonTimer had a 1 instead of a 0
  • Now, position one hand over the A button the DS to implement the time change
  • Position your other hand to right click on the Start button on EonTimer
  • Press both the A button on the DS and right click on the Start button on EonTimer at the same time
  • Quickly turn off your DS
  • Power on your game and load your save file
  • When the first timer reaches zero, soft reset the game by pressing L, R, Start and Select
  • Once the first timer reaches zero, the second timer will start automatically
  • Get through the Press Start screen but do NOT load your save file yet. Stay on the “Continue” screen
  • When the second timer reaches zero, press A to load your save file
  • Remember how I said to have your Poketch open to the Coin Flip app?
  • You should have already selected your desired seed in the list you generated at the bottom of the Seed to Time window
  • Now look at the Flip Sequence column—H represents Heads (Magikarp), T represents Tails (Pokeball)
  • In my example delay of 2237, the flip sequence is H, H, T, H, T, H, H, H, T, T, H, H, T, T, H
  • What this means is that if I tap the coin in the Coin Flip app 15 times and get the exact sequence above, I’ve hit my seed!
  • This is how you verify the seed you hit–the Coin Flip app
  • Remember how we generated a list of with 10 delays above and below your desired delay? This is where it’ll come in handy
  • The Coin Flip app will allow you to pinpoint which seed you hit
  • You can update EonTimer by inputting the delays you hit into the Delay Hit field of EonTimer and hitting Update as you continuously repeat this soft reset process until you hit your frame
  • It will also let you know whether you are hitting odd or even delays
  • Back to my Calm Cresselia example, if I hit a seed with a 2235 delay (instead of 2237 like I was after), then I narrowly missed my seed, but since 2235 is an odd number just like 2237, it means that I am on the correct set of delays
  • If I had hit 2236 instead, then I would have to plug in a 3rd gen cartridge to switch over to even delays, or, if I didn’t have access to a 3rd gen cartridge and/or was RNGing on a DSi or a later model, I would have had to go back and  find a different seed that had an even numbered delay (since 2236 is an even delay as well)
  • Now that you are hitting delays  that are in the same set as the target delay (odd or even), go ahead and check the box named Odd/Even should match the seed’s delay and hit Generate
  • These will be the seeds you will actually be hitting
  • If you hit the seed you wanted on your first try, go to the notes underneath the numbered list below
  • If you didn’t, turn off the game, and repeat the process of:
    1. Changing the time according to the Seed to Time window & EonTimer–remember, if EonTimer says Minutes Before Target: 1, you should change the time to one minute before the target time!
    2. Soft resetting after loading the game when the first timer reaches zero
    3. Loading the game again from the Continue screen when the 2nd timer reaches zero
    4. Using the Coin Flip app to verify what seed you hit until you hit your desired seed
  • This may take a little time. 4th gen RNGing is typically not as fast or easy as in 5th gen
  • When you finally hit your desired seed, you’re ready to advance the frames by Journal flipping and walking 128 steps if necessary
  • Once you’ve advanced the necessary number of frames, speak to Cresselia, Mesprit or Professor Oak and release the roamer
  • At this point, the nature and IVs will be set
  • Catch it and verify that it has the desired IVs and nature with a stat calculator — I recommend Serebii’s IV Calculator
  • If it doesn’t have the desired IVs and Nature, find the frame you actually landed on in the RNG Reporter main window
  • Find out how many frames you were off the target frame
  • Reset the game and adjust the number of advancements accordingly
  • If it has the desired IVs and nature, then congratulations! You just RNG’d a roaming legendary Pokemon in DPPt!

Hopefully, if you’ve managed to follow along with this guide you will have had no problems RNGing the roamer of your choice. If not, however, feel free to ask for help on our forms. Happy RNGing!


About the Author

started playing competitive Pokemon in the VGC 2012 season. He finished 2nd place at 2014 US Nationals, 10th place at 2013 US Nationals, 7th place at the Fall 2013 Ft. Wayne regionals, and 7th at APEX 2014.



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