Pokémon Pitiful Platinum – Pokémon Platinum Doubles Hack Featuring 151 Underdog Pokémon
Game Information
Original Game (ROM Base): Pokémon Platinum
Hack Status: Complete (v1.0.4)
Language: English
Content Type: Doubles Battle Overhaul, Gameplay Enhancement, Custom Pokédex, Vanilla+, Quality of Life
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Pokémon Pitiful Platinum, often shortened to PitPlat, is a Doubles-focused Pokémon Platinum ROM hack built around an unusual concept: giving 151 carefully selected underpowered Pokémon a chance to shine. Rather than buffing weak Pokémon with stat changes or completely redesigning them, the hack places them into an environment where they can naturally succeed through thoughtful encounter design, balanced battles, and expanded move accessibility.
The game keeps the overall structure of Pokémon Platinum intact while overhauling encounters, trainers, item locations, and progression to support its unique roster. Nearly every battle is designed with Double Battles in mind, encouraging players to experiment with positioning, move combinations, and team synergy instead of relying on traditionally powerful Pokémon.
Although PitPlat is intended to be a Vanilla+ experience, it includes a large collection of modern quality-of-life improvements, smoother pacing, revised HM mechanics, expanded tutor access, and numerous gameplay refinements. The developer emphasizes that this is not a Trashlocke hack—the goal is to make overlooked Pokémon genuinely enjoyable without dramatically altering their base stats, typings, or abilities.
Key Features
- 151 Hand-Picked Underdog Pokémon: Build your team from a carefully selected roster of weaker Pokémon chosen for balanced and enjoyable gameplay.
- Doubles Battle Focus: Nearly the entire adventure is designed around Double Battles, rewarding teamwork, positioning, and strategy.
- Custom Pokédex: Features a curated roster rather than the full Platinum Pokédex.
- No Pokémon Rebalancing: Pokémon retain their original base stats, abilities, and typings, preserving familiarity while allowing weaker species to thrive through game design.
- Expanded Move Accessibility: Pokémon gain access to most of their legal Generation IV movepools, encouraging experimentation without excessive restrictions.
- Early Learnsets: Pokémon learn moves at the earliest available Generation IV levels whenever possible.
- TM & Tutor Expansion: Most TMs and Tutor moves are available, including additional Generation III Tutor moves, with only a few balance-related restrictions.
- Egg Move Tutor: A dedicated tutor teaches Egg Moves, Event Moves, selected late-level attacks, and other special moves.
- Overhauled Encounters: Wild Pokémon locations have been redesigned around the custom roster.
- Trainer Overhaul: Enemy teams have been rebuilt to support the hack's Doubles-focused gameplay.
- Item Location Overhaul: Items have been repositioned to better match the new progression.
- Trade Evolution Improvements: Trade evolutions now use alternative evolution methods.
- HM Improvements: HMs, except Fly, no longer need to be taught for overworld use. Fly also receives a non-move alternative, and HM moves can be forgotten normally.
- Uncapped Framerate: Gameplay runs with a smoother framerate than the original Platinum.
- General Quality of Life Improvements: Numerous interface enhancements, faster pacing, and shorter cutscenes make repeat playthroughs more enjoyable.
- Honey Tree Improvements: Honey Tree encounters now appear after only five minutes instead of several hours.
- Loosened Traded Pokémon Level Caps: Traded Pokémon obey the player at significantly higher levels than in the original game.
- Improved Enemy AI: Opponents correctly utilize abilities, friendship mechanics for Return and Frustration, and interactions such as Dry Skin.
- Sleep Balance Changes: Sleep duration has been reduced to between one and three turns.
- EV Removal: Effort Values have been removed, creating a more consistent battle experience.
- Headbutt Compatibility: Pokémon capable of learning Secret Power in Platinum can now learn Headbutt.
- Challenge-Friendly Design: Gym Leaders, Lucian, and Cynthia retain their original Platinum level caps, allowing players to self-impose challenge rules without altering progression.
- Hardcore Challenge Support: The developer recommends optional challenge runs such as Set Mode, no Trainer Items, no Sleep moves, and Hardcore Nuzlockes for experienced players.
Known Bugs & Issues
The developer lists several known issues for version 1.0.4:
- Keeping only one Pokémon in your party can cause problems during Double Battles. Players should always have at least two non-fainted Pokémon in their party.
- Some sprites and textures may reference Pokémon that are not obtainable in the hack.
- Existing Pokémon Platinum cheat codes are not guaranteed to be compatible.
Version 1.0.4 also fixes several minor errors present in previous releases.
Screenshots
Download Links
v1.0.4: Mediafire
Documentation
Developer Information
Developer / Team: rarebucky
- Lead Developer: RareBucky
- Testers: FloraTyranha, ZenoBunn, Aship, Anonymous
- Referenced Code: Kingdom of DS Hacking community and contributors
- Tools: DSPRE, VSMaker2, Dowsify, Pokémon DS Map Studio, RavenDexEditor, UniversalPokemonShopEditor, Tinke, BTXEditor2, MKDS Course Modifier, Aseprite, Blender, Autodesk 3ds Max 2010
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: https://www.hackdex.app/hack/pokemon-pitiful-platinum
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pokémon Pitiful Platinum for?
This hack is ideal for players who enjoy Double Battles, creative team building, and giving overlooked Pokémon a chance to succeed without dramatically changing their original designs.
Why are only 151 Pokémon available?
The roster has been intentionally curated to feature 151 underused and weaker Pokémon, allowing each one to remain useful and balanced throughout the game.
Is the game mostly Double Battles?
Yes. Double Battles are the core gameplay mechanic, and most encounters have been designed around two-on-two strategy.
What quality-of-life improvements are included?
The hack includes HM improvements, faster cutscenes, an uncapped framerate, revised Trade Evolutions, shorter Honey Tree timers, expanded TM and Tutor access, an Egg Move Tutor, and many other convenience features.
Is Pokémon Pitiful Platinum difficult?
The game offers a Vanilla+ level of difficulty. While it is more challenging than the original Platinum due to its redesigned battles, it avoids the extreme difficulty of many hardcore ROM hacks.
Can I use challenge rules like Hardcore Nuzlocke?
Yes. The developer specifically encourages optional challenge runs such as Set Mode, no Trainer Items, no Sleep-inducing moves, and Hardcore Nuzlocke rules for players seeking an additional challenge.
Are there any important bugs I should know about?
Yes. Always keep at least two healthy Pokémon in your party to avoid issues with Double Battles, and be aware that standard Pokémon Platinum cheat codes may not work correctly with the hack.