The fastest way to add Rare Candies in Renegade Platinum

The most direct method is to use a hex editor or a dedicated Pokémon ROM modification tool to directly insert Rare Candies into your save file or the game's item data. However, the practical route most players use is the PokéFinder cheat code method — entering a GameShark or Action Replay code into an emulator that supports cheats, which instantly adds Rare Candies to your bag without editing files manually.

If you're playing on an emulator like DeSmuME or MelonDS, you can paste a cheat code into the emulator's cheat menu, and the candies appear in your inventory within seconds. If you're playing on a physical cartridge, you would need a physical cheat device like an Action Replay cartridge, which is harder to find and less common now.

The third option — modifying the ROM file itself before playing — requires more setup but gives you permanent changes that persist across saves. This involves unpacking the ROM, editing item tables, and repacking it, which takes longer but doesn't require re-entering codes each session.

Key Takeaways

  • Emulator cheat codes (GameShark or Action Replay format) are the quickest method and work in DeSmuME, Melonlds, and other emulators with cheat support.
  • You need the specific cheat code for Renegade Platinum, which differs from standard Pokémon Platinum codes because the ROM is modified.
  • Physical cheat devices like Action Replay cartridges work on original DS hardware but are expensive and difficult to find.
  • Permanent ROM modification requires unpacking and editing the game file before playing, which is more complex but doesn't require re-entering codes.

Using cheat codes in an emulator

Start by opening your emulator's cheat menu. In DeSmuME, this is under Tools > Cheats. In Melonlds, it's under Tools > Cheat List. You'll see a window where you can add new cheat codes.

Paste the Rare Candy cheat code for Renegade Platinum into the code field. The code format depends on your emulator — GameShark codes start with numbers like "12345678 00000001" and are entered as-is, while some emulators convert them automatically. Common Rare Candy codes for Renegade Platinum include codes that add candies to your bag or codes that replace a specific item slot with Rare Candies.

Enable the code by checking the box next to it, then load your save file or start a new game. The Rare Candies should appear in your bag immediately. If they don't show up, verify the code is correct for your specific ROM version — Renegade Platinum has multiple patches, and codes can differ between versions.

Finding the correct cheat code for your ROM version

Renegade Platinum has several versions (1.0, 1.1, 1.2, and later patches), and cheat codes are version-specific. A code that works for version 1.0 may not work for version 1.2. Before entering any code, confirm which version you're playing by checking the ROM filename or looking at the title screen.

Search ROM hacking forums like PokéCommunity or Romhacking.net for Renegade Platinum cheat codes. These sites maintain databases of tested codes sorted by ROM version. You can also ask in the Renegade Platinum thread on PokéCommunity — the community there actively shares working codes and updates them when new patches release.

If you find a code that doesn't work, try disabling it and re-enabling it, or restart your emulator entirely. Sometimes codes need the game to be running before they activate. If it still doesn't work, the code may be for a different ROM version than yours.

Modifying the ROM file directly

If you want Rare Candies to be permanently part of your game without entering codes each time, you can edit the ROM itself. This requires unpacking the game file, locating the item data, and changing values — a process that takes 30 minutes to an hour if you're familiar with it.

Tools like Tinke or CTRMap can unpack Pokémon Renegade Platinum ROMs and let you browse the game's file structure. Once unpacked, you navigate to the item data files (usually in a folder labeled "items" or "data"), open them in a hex editor, and change the Rare Candy count or add new Rare Candies to item tables. After editing, you repack the ROM and play the modified version.

This method is more technical than using cheat codes, but it's permanent — you don't have to re-enter codes, and the changes carry across all your saves. If you make a mistake, you can always unpack and edit again, or restore from your original ROM backup.

Using a physical Action Replay cartridge

If you're playing on original DS hardware rather than an emulator, you need a physical cheat device. An Action Replay cartridge plugs into the DS game slot and lets you enter cheat codes before launching the game. The cartridge has a menu where you select Pokémon Renegade Platinum, then add codes from a built-in database or enter them manually.

Action Replay cartridges are no longer manufactured and are expensive on the secondhand market — typically $40 to $100 depending on condition. They're also less reliable on newer DS models. If you own one, the process is straightforward: insert it, select your game, enable the Rare Candy code, and launch. The candies appear in your bag just like with an emulator cheat.

A cheaper alternative is to play on an emulator instead, which eliminates the need for a physical device entirely. Most players who want to modify Renegade Platinum have already switched to emulation for this reason.

What happens after you add Rare Candies

Once Rare Candies are in your bag, you use them like any other item — open your bag, select Rare Candy, and choose a Pokémon to level up. Each candy raises that Pokémon's level by one, regardless of experience points. This is useful for grinding late-game teams or bringing underleveled Pokémon up to speed before major battles.

Renegade Platinum is a harder ROM hack than standard Pokémon Platinum, so many players use Rare Candies to keep their team competitive. There's no penalty for using them — they don't affect stats, movesets, or anything else. You can use as many as you want without consequences.

If you added candies via cheat code and want to remove them, disable the code in your emulator's cheat menu and restart. If you added them via ROM modification, you'd need to edit the ROM again or restore from a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my emulator after entering a cheat code?

Not always, but it helps. Some emulators apply codes immediately while the game is running, while others need you to disable and re-enable the code. If the candies don't appear after a few seconds, try restarting the emulator entirely. This clears any caching issues that might prevent the code from working.

What if the cheat code crashes my game?

A bad code can cause freezes or corrupted saves. If this happens, disable the code immediately and reload an earlier save. Always keep a backup save before trying new codes. If crashes keep happening, the code is likely for a different ROM version than yours — try searching for codes specific to your version number.

Can I use Rare Candies in competitive play or online battles?

Renegade Platinum is a single-player ROM hack with no official online features, so there's no competitive scene to worry about. You can use Rare Candies freely without any restrictions or bans.

Will adding Rare Candies affect my save file's compatibility?

No. Rare Candies are a normal item in the game, and adding them doesn't corrupt your save or make it incompatible with the ROM. You can trade, battle, and progress normally with candies in your bag.

Is there a limit to how many Rare Candies I can add?

Your bag has a maximum item capacity (usually 999 of a single item), so you can't exceed that. If you try to add more than 999 candies via cheat code, the game caps it at 999. You can use them and add more later if you want.