Phase 9 of 11
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Phase 9: Victory Road and Pokemon League Walkthrough
Climb Route 223, master Victory Road's HM maze, defeat Barry, and overcome the Elite Four and Cynthia. 8 detailed sections with Diamond/Pearl encounters, trainers, items, puzzles, boss teams, and checklists.
Climb Route 223, master Victory Road's HM maze, defeat Barry, and overcome the Elite Four and Cynthia. Open every section below for its exact map-level data and route checklist.
Phase Snapshot
Phase 9: Victory Road and Pokemon League
Climb Route 223, master Victory Road's HM maze, defeat Barry, and overcome the Elite Four and Cynthia.
Data rows
Section Pages
Surf north through swimmers, collect offshore items, climb the final Waterfall, and heal beneath Victory Road.
Phase 9 • 02Victory RoadSolve Strength boulders, Bicycle ramps, fog, Surf, Waterfall, and Rock Climb floors while defeating the region's strongest route trainers.
Phase 9 • 03League Lobby and Final Barry BattleFinish the badge check, make the final supply plan, and defeat Barry's six-Pokemon team before entering the Elite Four rooms.
Phase 9 • 04Elite Four AaronDefeat Aaron's Bug team while accounting for Beautifly, Dustox, Vespiquen, Heracross, and Drapion's varied secondary types.
Phase 9 • 05Elite Four BerthaBreak Bertha's Ground team with Grass and Water while respecting Quagsire and Whiscash's Electric immunity and Hippowdon's sand.
Phase 9 • 06Elite Four FlintHandle Diamond/Pearl's mixed Fire specialist roster, including Steelix, Drifblim, and Lopunny alongside Rapidash and Infernape.
Phase 9 • 07Elite Four LucianDefeat Lucian's fast and bulky Psychic team, then fully restore the party for Cynthia.
Phase 9 • 08Champion Cynthia and Hall of FameDefeat Cynthia's balanced six-Pokemon team, register the Hall of Fame, and return home for the postgame.
Major Battles And Partners
Pokémon Trainer BarryPokémon Trainer Barry • source ID 479Full team
StaraptorClose Combat / Aerial Ace / Steel Wing / U Turn
FloatzelAqua Jet / Crunch / Ice Fang / Brick Break
HeracrossClose Combat / Rock Slide / Night Slash / Aerial Ace
RapidashFire Blast / Sunny Day / Bounce / Will O Wisp
SnorlaxBody Slam / Crunch / Earthquake / Rest
TorterraLeaf Storm / Earthquake / Crunch / Synthesis
Danger notes
Barry's starter branch changes with the player's choice; later teams also swap the complementary Roserade/Floatzel/Rapidash slot.
Practical counters
Read the full branch team rather than countering only the starter. Rock or Electric covers the bird, while the remaining slots need broad Water, Grass, Fire, Flying, or Fighting coverage.
Pokémon Trainer BarryPokémon Trainer Barry • source ID 480Full team
- StaraptorClose Combat / Aerial Ace / Steel Wing / U Turn
- FloatzelAqua Jet / Crunch / Ice Fang / Brick Break
- HeracrossClose Combat / Rock Slide / Night Slash / Aerial Ace
RoseradePoison Jab / Giga Drain / Shadow Ball / Grass Whistle- SnorlaxBody Slam / Crunch / Earthquake / Rest
InfernapeFlamethrower / Focus Blast / Shadow Claw / Aerial Ace
Danger notes
Barry's starter branch changes with the player's choice; later teams also swap the complementary Roserade/Floatzel/Rapidash slot.
Practical counters
Read the full branch team rather than countering only the starter. Rock or Electric covers the bird, while the remaining slots need broad Water, Grass, Fire, Flying, or Fighting coverage.
Pokémon Trainer BarryPokémon Trainer Barry • source ID 481Full team
- StaraptorClose Combat / Aerial Ace / Steel Wing / U Turn
- RoseradePoison Jab / Giga Drain / Shadow Ball / Grass Whistle
- HeracrossClose Combat / Rock Slide / Night Slash / Aerial Ace
- RapidashFire Blast / Sunny Day / Bounce / Will O Wisp
- SnorlaxBody Slam / Crunch / Earthquake / Rest
EmpoleonBrine / Aerial Ace / Metal Claw / Shadow Claw
Danger notes
Barry's starter branch changes with the player's choice; later teams also swap the complementary Roserade/Floatzel/Rapidash slot.
Practical counters
Read the full branch team rather than countering only the starter. Rock or Electric covers the bird, while the remaining slots need broad Water, Grass, Fire, Flying, or Fighting coverage.
Elite Four AaronElite Four Aaron • source ID 261Full team
DustoxToxic / Bug Buzz / Double Team / Light Screen
BeautiflyEnergy Ball / Bug Buzz / Psychic / Shadow Ball
VespiquenAttack Order / Defend Order / Heal Order / Power Gem- HeracrossMegahorn / Close Combat / Night Slash / Stone Edge
Drapionholds Sitrus Berry • X Scissor / Cross Poison / Ice Fang / Aerial Ace
Danger notes
Drapion is not weak to Fire, Flying, or Rock like Aaron's Bug members and is his strongest closer.
Practical counters
Use Fire, Flying, or Rock early, then save Ground coverage for Drapion. Heracross also demands a fast Flying answer.
Elite Four BerthaElite Four Bertha • source ID 262Full team
QuagsireDig / Double Team / Protect / Sandstorm
SudowoodoEarthquake / Sucker Punch / Hammer Arm / Sandstorm
GolemEarthquake / Gyro Ball / Brick Break / Sandstorm
WhiscashFissure / Aqua Tail / Zen Headbutt / Rock Slide
Hippowdonholds Sitrus Berry • Earthquake / Stone Edge / Crunch / Curse
Danger notes
Quagsire and Whiscash negate Electric and are four-times weak to Grass; Hippowdon brings sand and bulk.
Practical counters
A reliable Grass move is the cleanest route. Water and Ice help elsewhere, but avoid relying on Water alone into the Water/Ground members.
Elite Four FlintElite Four Flint • source ID 263Full team
- RapidashFlare Blitz / Solar Beam / Bounce / Sunny Day
SteelixFire Fang / Rock Tomb / Screech / Sunny Day
DrifblimWill O Wisp / Ominous Wind / Double Team / Baton Pass
LopunnyFire Punch / Charm / Mirror Coat / Sunny Day- Infernapeholds Sitrus Berry • Flare Blitz / Thunder Punch / Mach Punch / Earthquake
Danger notes
Flint has only two Fire types in Diamond/Pearl; Steelix, Drifblim, and Lopunny punish a pure Water sweep.
Practical counters
Use Water or Ground for Rapidash and Infernape, Fighting or Ground for Steelix/Lopunny, and Electric/Dark/Ghost for Drifblim.
Elite Four LucianElite Four Lucian • source ID 264Full team
Mr MimePsychic / Thunderbolt / Reflect / Light Screen
GirafarigPsychic / Shadow Ball / Double Hit / Crunch
MedichamDrain Punch / Fire Punch / Thunder Punch / Ice Punch
AlakazamPsychic / Energy Ball / Focus Blast / Recover
Bronzongholds Sitrus Berry • Psychic / Gyro Ball / Earthquake / Calm Mind
Danger notes
Mr. Mime can establish screens and Bronzong may erase the Ground or Fire weakness you expected.
Practical counters
Dark, Ghost, and Bug pressure the Psychic core. Remove screens quickly and use battle feedback to identify Bronzong's safer weakness.
Champion CynthiaChampion • source ID 267Full team
SpiritombDark Pulse / Psychic / Silver Wind / Embargo- RoseradeEnergy Ball / Sludge Bomb / Shadow Ball / Extrasensory
GastrodonMuddy Water / Earthquake / Stone Edge / Sludge Bomb
LucarioAura Sphere / Dragon Pulse / Psychic / Earthquake
MiloticSurf / Ice Beam / Mirror Coat / Aqua Ring
Garchompholds Sitrus Berry • Dragon Rush / Earthquake / Brick Break / Giga Impact
Danger notes
Spiritomb has no weakness in Generation IV, Milotic is difficult to wear down, and Lv. 66 Garchomp can sweep weakened teams.
Practical counters
Win Spiritomb through strong neutral damage, save Grass for Gastrodon, Fighting/Ground/Fire for Lucario, Electric/Grass for Milotic, and a healthy Ice user for Garchomp.
Phase Checklist
- Route 223 and the Pokemon League Waterfall — Receive Waterfall from Jasmine; leave Sunyshore north; clear every swimmer and sailor; inspect side channels for items; climb the waterfall; enter the League Pokemon Center; heal, shop, and verify all required HMs before Victory Road.
- Victory Road — Enter 1F and clear side ledges; use Rock Climb to reach 2F; switch Bicycle gears for ramps; push Strength boulders without sealing items; use Defog on B1F; Surf and Waterfall through the lower chamber; climb back to 1F; exit north; reserve the eastern back area for the National Dex visit with Marley.
- League Lobby and Final Barry Battle — Heal at the summit; buy Full Restores, Revives, status cures, and PP restoration; equip held items; save; approach the League attendant; defeat Barry; heal again; save in a separate slot state if possible; enter only when ready for five consecutive bosses.
- Elite Four Aaron — Lead with strong Flying, Fire, or Rock damage; remove setup and status users quickly; preserve a Ground attacker for Drapion; heal and restore PP before taking the north lift.
- Elite Four Bertha — Lead with Grass coverage for Quagsire; use special Water or Grass attacks on Golem and Hippowdon; avoid careless physical contact into bulky targets; cure status and sand damage after the win.
- Elite Four Flint — Use Water or Rock for Rapidash; Ground or Water for Steelix; carry Ghost, Dark, or Electric coverage for Drifblim; avoid assuming every target is Fire-weak; save the best Infernape answer for last.
- Elite Four Lucian — Use Dark, Ghost, or Bug attacks; prevent Mr. Mime from establishing screens; answer Medicham with Flying or Ghost pressure; break Bronzong with the weakness its ability leaves open; heal every member and restore critical PP after victory.
- Champion Cynthia and Hall of Fame — Plan around Spiritomb's lack of weaknesses in Generation IV; preserve Ice or Dragon coverage for Garchomp; carry Grass for Gastrodon, Fighting/Ground/Fire for Lucario, and Electric/Grass pressure for Milotic; manage healing without giving setup turns; finish the Hall of Fame sequence.
Data Coverage
This phase owns 24 Diamond/Pearl source maps and publishes 39 encounter rows, 35 trainer rows, 12 visible/scripted items, and 9 hidden-item rows. Counts include explicit starter/rival branches and curated systems but never substitute Platinum encounters or story maps.
Dex quick links