The Berry and Poffin Guide:
Intro
Mulches
Growing Strategies
Poffins
Making Poffins
The Berries
Perhaps one of the more interesting things to get into the World of Pokemon were the Berries. Now, with Poffins, a whole new realm of possibilities exist for those who a variety of interest in the game. Berries add very different element into the battle system, some allow for HP gain, others boost statistics while more yet will aid in raising a Pokemon to their pinnacle. However, as with any aspect of the game, it takes time and effort to master these two elements and to really bring them into your arsenal.
In Diamond/Pearl/Platinum, there are 64 berries, many with different effects. While only usable once, they will generally be pivotal in the battle strategy. Keep in mind the limited uses when you’re planning to run a Competitive Pokemon with a berry. Some of these berries will grow quickly while other will take several real-time days. Ideally you’ll water the berries once a few hours (or less depending on factors), to keep the soil damp. By doing so, you will maximize the total number of berries you can harvest from the plant when its time.
One Last thing before beginning into the berries: Mulches. These fertilizers will alter the growth time and a few other things that impact berry growth. Consider these when you’re dealing with trickier plants or your real-life schedule is simply getting in the way too much:
Damp Mulch: Slows the growth of the berry notably (125%) and the soil stays wet longer.
A useful mulch for the busy with life players or having lots to do in-game, as this allows for more to be done between waterings.
Gooey Mulch: Increases the number of times un-harvested berries will take seed.
A mulch for the forgetful player, as the berries will simply recycle themselves. Just try to remember about them sometime.
Growth Mulch: Reduces time of growth cycles (75%). The soil will dry quickly.
The advanced mulch, it cuts the time it takes for the berries to reach maturity, sometimes drastically. The soil will be dry much more often, thus requiring a little more care to maximize results
Stable Mulch: Extends the time berries will remain on the tree.
Growing Strategies:
Mulches aren’t necessary, though they are inexpensive, and can make growing berries a lot easier.
Use your marker map if it’s usually a day or two between plays. This way you don’t need to remember where those pesky berries are planted, especially if you don’t have HM Fly usable outside of battle. There is a berry application as well, but that only tells you if they’re ripe, not in progress.
If only growing some berries, which is what I do, focus on a type of berry that has a similar progression. If they grow at the same pace, it’s a good idea to plant them together.
Use a consistent spot: There are a lot of places to plant berries. This makes it very important, especially when caring for berries, to know where they are so you can easily find and water them. The more they’re watered, the more berries they’ll yield.
Poffins:
These are used for two things: happiness and condition.
Happiness is useful for numerous evolutions, detailed in Evolution 200, as well as the move Return.
As far as each Pokemon’s taste, nature determines what it does and doesn’t like:
Bashful, Docile, Hardy, Quirky are the exception as they have no preference, but gain no benefits from it.
Nature Likes: Dislikes:
Adamant Spicy Dry
Bold Sour Spicy
Brave Spicy Sweet
Calm Bitter Spicy
Careful Bitter Dry
Gentle Bitter Sour
Hasty Sweet Sour
Impish Sour Dry
Jolly Sweet Dry
Lonely Spicy Sour
Mild Dry Sour
Modest Dry Spicy
Naive Sweet Bitter
Naughty Spicy Bitter
Quiet Dry Sweet
Rash Dry Bitter
Relaxed Sour Sweet
Sassy Bitter Sweet
Timid Sweet Spicy
Condition has to do with the Pokemon’s appearance. Within the Contest, there are independent stats which are used to boost your Pokemon’s score. These are Condition, just how Cool, Beautiful, Cute, Smart or Tough your Pokemon is. This is determined by what Poffins are fed to your pokemon. Each of the taste spicy, dry, sweet, bitter, sour, will improve it’s linked condition:
Spicy -> Cool
Dry -> Beauty
Sweet -> Cute
Bitter -> Smart
Sour -> Tough
Each berry will have a distinct taste, displayed on its info page, letting you its dominate flavor. Some will have multiple flavors, which isn’t a bad thing. As long as the Pokemon likes ONE of the flavors, you’re set to maximize that impact of it. If the Pokemon likes a flavor, it gets more of a boost while if it its disliked, it takes a penalty.
For example:
You have a Freebas (whose evolution is based on Beauty), which is unfortunately is Impish, so it likes Sour but dislikes Dry. This is a bad one to evolve, but Freebas is a pain to catch, so you’ll be working with it and not trying to breed more to get a better nature. To work on its beauty you need a lot of Dry to counter its dislike of it. After a lot of searching and some bartering (most likely) you get your hands on some Pamtre Berries, which have a very Dry taste. With enough of them, you manage to trigger the Freebas’s evolution, but sheen was maxed out in the process.
Now, it’d be great if one Pokemon could eat an unlimited supply of these to max everything out, therefore becoming the perfect contender in the contests, but that just isn’t the case. Each Pokemon can only eat so many poffins, the exact number will vary based on one final factor: Feel (which fills the Sheen gauge). Each poffin will have a Feel, which will count against the Pokemon’s max Sheen of 255. Once 255 is hit, (it will always end there, rounding down if needed) Pokemon won’t be able to each any more poffins.
Making Poffins:
When you want to make Poffins, all you need to do is head to Hearthome City, and go to the Poffin house, right next to the Poke-mart. There are a few ways to make these wonderful treats for your Pokemon. The first, and usually, is to make them on your own. No bonuses are conveyed and if you botch, it’s easy to skip on saving and pretend it never happened. The other ways vary based on the number of people you want to involve in the poffin making process. The one thing I’ll say for absolute certain is to coordinate what berries are going into the mix, so there are no repeats. By having multiples of the same berry, you botch the recipe to my knowledge, ruining the poffin. However, for your coordination on berries, you can maximize the potential gain from each berry, allowing for a more potent poffin.
The process of mixing the poffins is somewhat touchy and does take a bit of practice to get right. Over the course of dealing with it, I’ve found numerous suggestions and have been able to compile it down to a simple list
Stage 1)
The batter is very watery, loose, making it easy to stir and spill over. Still, you need to stir it very well and quickly as time is of the essence. As a general guide line, you want the batter to be within PIXELS of the edge of the bowl. The more area it covers, the faster it cooks, the better the poffin
Stage 2) First change of flame/batter color
The batter thickens at this point, making it more difficult to stir. It takes a bit more to reach the edges as mentioned in Stage 1. The paramount concern is to keep the batter moving as burning the batter is a much bigger concern. Again within pixels of the edge allows for the most efficient result.
Stage 3) Second Flame/batter change
This is the final portion of mixing the poffin batter. The batter is a very dark brown while the flames are blue. Here, stir as fast as possible without worry. The batter can no longer spill over, it only risks burning. This is the easiest stage of cooking.
The Berries:
Format:
Number: Name - Flavors
Stage: How long per growth stage Maturity: How long until fully grown from planting Feel: How filling the poffin will be
Min: Minimum number of berries Max: Maximum number of berries
Effects: What the berries will do.
#01: Cheri – Spicy: 10
Stage: 3 hrs Maturity: 12 hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effects: Cures paralysis
# 02: Chesto Berry – Dry: 10
Stage: 3 hrs Maturity: 12 hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Cures Sleep
# 03: Pecha – Sweet 10
Stage: 3 hrs Maturity: 12hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Cures Poison
# 04: Rawst – Bitter 10
Stage: 3 hrs Maturity: 12 hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Cures Burn
# 05: Aspear – Sour 10
Stage: 3 hrs Maturity: 12 hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Cures Frozen
# 06: Leppa – Spicy 10, Sweet 10, Bitter 10, Sour 10
Stage: 4 hrs Maturity: 16 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Restores a move’s PP by 10
# 07: Oran - Spicy 10, Dry 10, Bitter 10, Sour 10
Stage: 4 hrs Maturity: 16 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Heal user’s HP by 10
# 08: Persim – Spicy 10, Dry 10, Sweet 10, Sour 10
Stage: 4 hrs Maturity: 16 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Recover from Confusion
# 09: Lum – Spicy 10, Dry 10, Sweet 10, Bitter 10
Stage: 12 hrs Maturity: 48 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Cures any status problem
# 10: Sitrus – Dry 10, Sweet 10, Bitter 10, Sour 10
Stage: 8 hrs Maturity: 32 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Heals the user’s HP a little
# 11: Figy – Spicy 15
Stage: 5 hrs Maturity: 20 hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Will heal user in a pinch, but may cause confusion based on nature
# 12: Wiki – Dry 15
Stage: 5 hrs Maturity: 20 hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Will heal user in a pinch, but may cause confusion based on nature
# 13: Mago – Sweet 15
Stage: 5 hrs Maturity: 20 hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Will heal user in a pinch, but may cause confusion based on nature
# 14: Aguav – Bitter 15
Stage: 5 hrs Maturity: 20 hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Will heal user in a pinch, but may cause confusion based on nature
# 15: Iapapa – Sour 15
Stage: 5 hrs Maturity: 20 hrs Feel: 25
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Will heal user in a pinch, but may cause confusion based on nature
# 16: Razz – Spicy 10, Dry 10
Stage: 2 hrs Maturity: 8 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 2 Max: 10
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 17: Bluk – Dry 10, Sweet 10
Stage: 2 hrs Maturity: 8 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 2 Max: 10
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 18: Nanab – Sweet 10, Bitter 10
Stage: 2 hrs Maturity: 8 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 2 Max: 10
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 19: Wepear – Bitter 10, Sour 10
Stage: 2 hrs Maturity: 8 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 2 Max: 10
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 20: Pinap - Sour 10, Spicy 10
Stage: 2 hrs Maturity: 8 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 2 hrs Max: 8 hrs
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 21: Pomeg – Spicy 10, Sweet 10, Bitter 10
Stage: 8 hrs Maturity: 32 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Using this berry makes the Pokemon more friendly, but lowers its base HP
# 22: Kelpsy – Dry 10, Bitter 10, Sour 10
Stage: 8 hrs Maturity: 32 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Using this berry makes the Pokemon more friendly, but lowers its base Attack
# 23: Qualot – Spicy 10, Sweet 10, Sour 10
Stage: 8 hrs Maturity: 32 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Using this berry makes the Pokemon more friendly, but lowers its base defense
# 24: Hondew – Spicy 10, Dry 10, Bitter 10
Stage: 8 hrs Maturity: 32 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Using this berry makes the Pokemon more friendly, but lowers its base Sp. Attack
# 25: Grepa – Dry 10, Sour 10, Sweet 10
Stage: 8 hrs Maturity: 32 hrs Feel: 20
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Using this berry makes the Pokemon more friendly, but lowers its base Sp. Defense
# 26: Tamato – Spicy 20, Dry 10
Stage: 8 hrs Maturity: 32 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Using this berry makes the Pokemon more friendly, but lowers its base Speed
# 27: Cornn – Dry 20, Sweet 10
Stage: 6 hrs Maturity: 24 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 2 Max: 10
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 28: Magost – Sweet 20, Bitter 10
Stage: 6 hrs Maturity: 24 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 2 Max: 10
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 29: Rabuta – Bitter 20, Sour 10
Stage: 6 hrs Maturity: 24 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 2 Max: 10
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 30: Nomel – Spicy 20, Sour 10
Stage: 6 hrs Maturity: 24 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 2 Max: 10
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 31: Spelon – Spicy 30, Dry 10
Stage: 15 hrs Maturity: 60 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 3 Max: 15
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 32: Pamtre – Dry 30, Sweet 10
Stage: 15 hrs Maturity: 60 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 3 Max: 15
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 33: Watmel - Sweet 30, Bitter 10
Stage: 15 hrs Maturity: 60 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 3 Max: 15
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 34: Durin – Bitter 30, Sour 10
Stage: 15 hrs Maturity: 60 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 3 Max: 15
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 35: Belue – Spicy 30, Sour 10
Stage: 15 hrs Maturity: 60 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 3 Max: 15
Effect: Poffin ingredient
# 36: Occa – Spicy 15, Sweet 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Fire-Type Attack
# 37: Passho – Dry 15, Bitter 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Water-type attack
# 38: Wacan – Sweet 15, Sour 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Electric-type attack
# 39: Rindo - Bitter 15, Spicy 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Grass-type attack
# 40: Yache – Sour 15, Dry 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Ice-type attack
# 41: Chople – Spicy 15, Bitter 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Fighting-type attack
# 42: Kebia – Dry 15, Sour 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Poison-type attack
# 43: Shuca – Sweet 15, Spicy 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Ground-type attack
# 44: Coba – Bitter 15, Dry 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Flying-type attack
# 45: Payapa – Sour 15, Sweet 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 30
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Psychic-type attack
# 46: Tanga – Spicy 20, Sour 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Bug-type attack
# 47: Charti – Dry 20, Spicy 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Rock-type attack
# 48: Kasib – Sweet 20, Dry 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Ghost-type attack
# 49: Haban – Bitter 20, Sweet 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Dragon-type attack
# 50: Colbur – Sour 20, Bitter 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Dark-type attack
# 51: Babiri – Spicy 25, Dry 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Steel-type attack
# 52: Chilan – Dry 25, Sweet 10
Stage: 18 hrs Maturity: 72 hrs Feel: 35
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Reduces the damage from a Super Effective Normal-type attack
# 53: Liechi – Spicy 30, Sweet 30, Dry 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 40
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Raises holder’s attack in a pinch
# 54: Galon – Dry 30, Bitter 30, Sweet 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 40
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Raises holder’s Defense in a pinch
# 55: Salac – Sweet 30, Sour 30, Bitter 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 40
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Raises holder’s Speed in a pinch
# 56: Petaya – Spicy 30, Bitter 30, Sour 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 40
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Raises holder’s Special Attack in a pinch
# 57: Apicot – Dry 30, Sour 30, Spicy 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 40
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Raises holder’s Special Defense in a pinch
# 58: Lansat – Spicy 30, Sweet 30, Sour 30, Dry 10, Bitter 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 50
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Raises holder’s Critical Hit ratio in a pinch
# 59: Starf – Spicy 30, Sweet 30, Sour 30, Dry 10, Bitter 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 50
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Sharply raises one of the holder’s stats in a pinch
# 60: Enigma – Spicy 40, Dry 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 60
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: Restores HP when hit by a Super Effective attack
# 61: Micle – Dry 40, Sweet 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 60
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: One time boost to accuracy to a move in a pinch
# 62: Custap – Sweet 40, Bitter 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 60
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: One time, in a pinch, user’s move will go first
# 63: Jabco – Bitter 40, Sour 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 60
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: When held, if hit by a Foe’s physical move, they also take damage
# 64: Rowap – Sour 40, Spicy 10
Stage: 24 hrs Maturity: 96 hrs Feel: 60
Min: 1 Max: 5
Effect: When held, if hit by a Foe’s special attack move, they also take damage
