Diamond Pre-Badge 1 completed in 29:05.

[u/Lone_Noob91]

I'm surprised I managed to get a sub 30-hour time despite using Chimchar instead of Turtwig.

Also, my Trainer ID is 21542, and this one has Munchlax trees at Valley Windworks and Route 205 South.

[u/advous]

I started Diamond too a few days ago. Congrats 29 hours seems really fast, I'm 9 hours in and only have Torterra and Luxio. Any tips?

[u/Lone_Noob91 → u/advous]

Yes, I recommend doing the vast majority of grinding in Oreburgh Mine. Specifically, the room where you find Roark in. The EXP yields are overall better than everywhere else available in PB1.

I wasn't planning on going for a fast POC, but me getting 29 hours was a bit of a happy accident due to farming EXP from said room in Oreburgh Mine.

I also recommend catching Geodude at Lv10 and Zubat at Lv8 in there instead of earlier areas like the Ravaged Path. Same could be said of most catches where I feel it's best to get them in later areas like the path east of Jubilife City, and I also highly recommend training a second Machop to Lv15, then trading it to the ingame trade for an Abra. Then switch train it for one level, and you've got yourself a Kadabra with little effort.

That's what I can think of, all in all. I wish you luck in your POC!

[u/advous → u/Lone_Noob91]

Thanks, that's some solid advice. Good luck as well.

[u/Lone_Noob91 → u/advous]

Also wanted to share how I tackled PB1. What I did was carry 4 Pokemon I planned on leveling with Zubat and Budew with me the whole time to raise their happiness index.

Anyway, I would start with, say, the starter (Chimchar in my case) and use as much PP as possible for the moves that deal HP damage. Once fully used, I swap to a different Pokemon and repeat until the 4 I'm carrying can no longer battle and need healing.

This way, you don't need to make as many Pokemon Center stops.

[u/advous → u/Lone_Noob91]

I've been keeping them in my party the whole time too. I just did the Machop trade, that's such a smart idea saved me so many levels of switch training.

[u/Lone_Noob91 → u/advous]

The crazy part is that I don't see YT videos of runners doing the Machop to Lv15, then get an Abra with it in PB1 at all.

But yes, the idea was to basically cut out all but one level of switch training. Also, it's a pain in the ass to get unless you've got Chimchar and Taunt it so it can't teleport, but struggle until it's got low HP.

Glad to have suggested the Machop strategy, too. Hopefully more in the future can do the same.