There are a total of 17 Arceus Plates scattered across Hoenn. Most of them are hidden underwater (except for the Iron Plate), so you need to stand at their exact location to pick them up.
To access their locations, you need HM03 Surf and HM07 Dive (along with the Mind Badge).
In the case of the Iron Plate, you need to become the Pokémon League Champion first to obtain it from Steven’s house in Mossdeep City. So that plate is only available in the post-game.
Prerequisites
Due to all of the Plates’ locations being primarily underwater, you will need HM03 Surf and HM07 Dive (along with the Mind Badge) to access their locations.
To obtain the Iron Plate, however, you need to beat the Elite Four and the Champion first. Unlike the other plates, the Iron Plate is not a hidden item you can pick up from the ground. Instead, Steven will give you a Beldum holding the Iron Plate after you become the Pokémon League Champion.
Locations of All Plates
You can obtain the majority of the Plates underwater, primarily on the eastern side of the Hoenn region (Routes 124 to 130). The Flame Plate is the only one you can find on Route 107, while the Iron Plate is obtained in Mossdeep City.
Here’s a rundown of each Plate’s type and location to give you an overview:
Item | Type | Location |
---|---|---|
Draco Plate | Dragon | Route 128 |
Dread Plate | Dark | Route 127 |
Earth Plate | Ground | Route 130 |
Fist Plate | Fighting | Route 130 |
Flame Plate | Fire | Route 107 |
Icicle Plate | Ice | Route 130 |
Insect Plate | Bug | Route 127 |
Iron Plate | Steel | Mossdeep City (Steven’s Beldum) |
Meadow Plate | Grass | Route 130 |
Mind Plate | Psychic | Route 126 |
Pixie Plate | Fairy | Route 128 |
Sky Plate | Flying | Route 124 |
Splash Plate | Water | Route 129 |
Spooky Plate | Ghost | Route 127 |
Stone Plate | Rock | Route 128 |
Toxic Plate | Poison | Route 129 |
Zap Plate | Electric | Route 129 |
In the following sections we’ll cover a step-by-step tutorial on how to reach the precise location of each Plate.
#1: Draco Plate
The Draco Plate is a held item that increases the power of its holder’s Dragon-type moves by 20%. It is found in the underwater area of Route 128. While diving, you can find this hidden item on the western side, near the Seafloor Cavern’s entrance.
To get there:
Step 1: Fly to Route 128.
From the route sign, use Surf and head west.
Step 2: Go north following the dark patch of water around the atoll, then use Dive on the northwest corner here (circled below).
Step 3: While underwater, head straight north and stop at this spot circled below. This is where the Draco Plate is located.
Step 4: Press A to obtain the Draco Plate.
#2: Dread Plate
The Dread Plate boosts the power of Dark-type moves by 20%. You can find it hidden underwater on the southeast side of Route 127. It is one of three Plates you can find on this route.
To reach its location, follow these steps:
Step 1: Fly to Route 127 and use Surf on the water near the route sign. Follow the darker patch of water stretching to the south.
Step 2: Go east from here – you’ll pass by two Ace Trainers surfing around the area.
Step 3: Head north at the corner around the big rock structure and use Dive on the dark patch of water here (circled below).
Step 4: Once you’re underwater, stand on this exact spot circled below and press A to pick up the Dread Plate.
#3: Earth Plate
When held by a Pokémon, the Earth Plate boosts the power of the holder’s Ground-type moves by 20%. It is one of four Plates you can find hidden underwater on Route 130.
You can find this one on the western side of the route.
Here’s how to find it:
Step 1: Start at Route 130’s signpost and use Surf on the water. Head west, following the darker patch of water.
Step 2: Use Dive on the circled spot in the screenshot below (directly below the two grey stones in the water).
Step 3: Once you’re underwater, head north a couple spaces until you reach this area between two rock walls (circled below). You can pick up the hidden Earth Plate on the ocean floor in the middle of the walls.
#4: Fist Plate
The Fist Plate is a held item that boosts the holder’s Fighting-type moves by 20%. Like the Earth Plate, it is found underwater on Route 130, but its location is much closer.
Here’s how to get there:
Step 1: Start at the Route 130 Sign.
Then head south surfing on the water for a few spaces, and use Dive on the darker patch of water here (circled below).
Step 2: Now that you’re underwater, continue moving south past the seaweeds.
Just past a small patch of seaweeds you’ll see a clearing (circled below), and you’ll find the Fist Plate on the ground here.
#5: Flame Plate
The Flame Plate increases the power of the holder’s Fire-type moves by 20%. It is the only Plate you can find on Route 107’s underwater section.
You can find its location by following these steps:
Step 1: Fly to the Route 107 sign. From here, head directly east on the water, sticking close to the rock wall.
Step 2: Turn south once you pass the rocky wall.
You’ll see a Swimmer moving back and forth – pass them and look for a square of dark water (annotated below). Use Dive to go underwater at this spot.
Step 3: Once you’re underwater, go northwest.
Step 4: You’ll find the Flame Plate in the top corner of this area just past the seaweed patch (circled below).
#6: Icicle Plate
The Icicle Plate boosts the power of Ice-type moves by 20%. You can find it underwater on the southwestern side of Route 130.
To get to its precise location, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start at the Route 130 sign and use Surf on the water.
Go west towards the darker patch of water here (circled below) while surfing. Then use Dive to go underwater at a spot directly below the girl NPC with brown hair.
Step 2: While underwater, head southwest past the seaweeds. You’ll find the Icicle Plate precisely on the spot in the small clearing (circled below).
#7: Insect Plate
When held by a Pokémon, the Insect Plate boosts the power of Bug-type moves by 20%. You can obtain it on the southern side of Route 127 underwater.
Follow these steps to find its exact location:
Step 1: Fly to the Route 127 sign.
From there, go south surfing on the water until you reach the darker patch of water where you can Dive (it should be a pretty small patch of dark water).
Step 2: Use Dive on this spot circled below.
Step 3: While underwater, go a few paces over to reach the spot circled below and pick up the Insect Plate.
#8: Iron Plate
The Iron Plate boosts the power of its holder’s Steel-type moves by 20%. It has a unique method to be obtained compared to the other Plates.
After you become the Pokémon League Champion, Steven will leave a Beldum holding the Iron Plate for you as a gift. You can pick it up at his house in Mossdeep City. You’ll find Steven’s house directly northwest of the city’s Pokémon Center.
Here’s how to find Steven’s house:
Step 1: From Mossdeep City’s Pokémon Center, go northwest behind one of the houses.
Step 2: You’ll find Steven’s house on the very northwest corner. Go inside.
Step 3: Once inside, you’ll see a letter and a Pokéball on the table. In the letter, Steven mentions that he’s leaving you a Beldum as a gift.
Obtain the Beldum from the Pokéball and you’ll notice that it’s holding the Iron Plate.
#9: Meadow Plate
When held by a Pokémon, the Meadow Plate boosts the power of the holder’s Grass-type moves by 20%. This item is hidden underwater on the western side of Route 130.
Here’s how to find it:
Step 1: Fly to the Route 130 sign. From there, head west using Surf to go along the darker water (you’ll pass by the swimmer NPC with brown hair).
Step 2: Dive down below the water on the spot circled below in the darker patch of water.
You’ll be looking to dive at the dark spot directly to the right of the two grey stones sticking up from the water.
Step 3: Once underwater, go northeast past the seaweeds toward the top-right corner where there’s no seaweeds growing (we’ve circled the spot below). That’s where you can pick up the hidden Meadow Plate.
#10: Mind Plate
As a held item, the Mind Plate boosts the power of Psychic moves by 20%. It is the only Plate you can find on Route 126.
Its exact location is on the eastern corner of the route’s underwater section.
Here’s how to get there:
Step 1: Start at Route 126 and from the Route signpost, go west using Surf to reach the darker patch of water immediately to your left.
Then you can use dive right away on the dark patch of water (the spot is circled below).
Step 2: While underwater, continue going west until you reach the area with a large L-shaped patch of seaweed.
At that patch of seaweed, go northwest.
Step 3: Keep moving west through a narrow pathway that should lead you past another very small patch of seaweed.
If you keep going west beyond that patch, you’ll end up in a corner where you can find the Mind Plate.
Step 4: Once you reach the corner, go to the area in the middle (circled below) to pick up the Mind Plate.
#11: Pixie Plate
When held by a Pokémon, the Pixie Plate increases the power of Fairy-type moves by 20%. You can find this item on the southwest side of Route 128 underwater.
To get it, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start at the Route 128 sign and go directly west using Surf.
Step 2: Dive on the darker patch of water on this corner here (circled below). You’ll want to see a small island to your right.
Step 3: Once you’re underwater, go south a tad and look for this small section of seafloor circled below – then press A to pick up the hidden Pixie Plate.
#12: Sky Plate
The Sky Plate boosts the power of the holder’s Flying-type moves by 20%. It is the only plate you can obtain on Route 124 underwater.
To get to its location, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start at Route 124 standing next to the Treasure Hunter’s hut, then go north on the water from his house by using Surf.
Step 2: Keep going north until you pass an NPC with brunette hair – you should see a small square patch of dark water in the corner past this NPC.
Use Dive on the dark patch of water in the corner.
Step 3: Once you’re underwater, go north towards the other end of the underwater corridor.
Go towards the lit-up section & resurface once you’re there.
Step 4: Once you’ve resurfaced, you’ll see an island to your left.
Exit the water and go west up some stairs, then keep moving west until you reach the other side of the island. You will need to dive underwater again on the other side of this island.
Step 5: At the other end of the island, use Surf and then use Dive on the nearby Dive spot.
Step 6: Once you’re back underwater, go east past the seaweeds.
Step 7: Once you reach the eastern corner, the camera’s perspective will change.
Continue moving forward until you reach the area circled below. This is where you’ll obtain the Sky Plate.
#13: Splash Plate
If a Pokémon is holding a Splash Plate, the power of its Water-type moves gets increased to 20%. This held item is one of three Plates you can obtain on Route 129 underwater.
Follow these steps to find its precise location:
Step 1: Start from the Route 129 sign and go to the very right side of this small island (past both fisherman NPCs). Then use Surf going south on the water.
Step 2: Using Surf, go towards the southeastern corner of the darker patch of water here (circled below) and use Dive at the very bottom-right corner.
Step 3: Once you’re underwater, go south towards this area (circled below) through the seaweeds. You can obtain the Splash Plate on a patch of seaweed here, right before you reach a small clearing.
#14: Spooky Plate
When held by a Pokémon, the Spooky Plate boosts the power of Ghost-type moves by 20%. You can obtain the Spooky Plate underwater near the route sign on Route 127.
Here’s how to get there:
Step 1: Fly to Route 127. Using Surf from the route sign, go southeast towards the darker patch of water and use Dive on the circle spot below.
Step 2: While underwater, follow this path going south, then northeast around the pitch black trench until you reach this area in the corner (circled below). That’s where you’ll find the Spooky Plate.
#15: Stone Plate
The Stone Plate is a held item that boosts the power of its holder’s Rock-type moves by 20%. You can find it on the northwest side of Route 128 underwater.
To get to its exact location, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start at the Route 128 sign and go northwest on the water using Surf.
Step 2: Once you reach a darker patch of water encircling a small walkable bit of land, follow the water’s path to the northwest.
Step 3: Follow the linear path of dark water until you reach a small split in the path.
Go to the lower corner at the very end of this darker water path (circled below) and use Dive to go underwater.
Step 4: Once you’re underwater just move up a few spaces and turn left towards the spot circled below. That’s where you can pick up the hidden Stone Plate.
#16: Toxic Plate
The Toxic Plate boosts the power of the holder’s Poison-type moves by 20%. You can find this held item on the ground in the underwater section of Route 129.
Follow these steps to get to its location:
Step 1: Fly to Route 129. Then from the route sign, go southwest using Surf.
Step 2: Keep going west past the first dark spot, then use Dive on the darker patch of water here (circled below) to go underwater.
You’ll want to dive in the lower-right corner just above an NPC.
Step 3: Go west once you’re underwater, staying near the seaweed patch.
Step 4: Move down to this clearing between the seaweeds and keep going west through the clearing.
Step 5: At some point you will reach a very small rectangular clearing (circled below) and that’s where you can pick up the Toxic Plate.
#17: Zap Plate
When held by a Pokémon, the Zap Plate boosts the power of Electric-type moves by 20%. Like the Toxic Plate, you can obtain the Zap Plate on Route 129.
Here’s how to reach its precise location:
Step 1: Fly to the Route 129 sign and go southwest using Surf. Head towards the corner of the very first dark patch of water that you see (circled below) and then dive underwater at this end corner section.
Step 2: Once you’re underwater, head west.
Step 3: In the middle of an upcoming seaweed patch to your left, you’ll find a very small square clearing (circled below). This clearing is where you can pick up the Zap Plate.