How to add rare candies using the built-in cheat system

Renegade Platinum includes a cheat menu you can access during gameplay without installing anything extra. Press Select + L + R together on your controller, and a menu appears with toggles for experience multipliers, stat boosts, and item spawning. Rare Candies are in the item spawning section — select how many you want (usually 1 to 99), confirm, and they appear in your bag when ready.

This method works because the mod was designed to let players adjust difficulty on the fly. You do not need to restart the game or edit files. The cheats stay active until you toggle them off, so if you only want Rare Candies once, turn the feature on, grab them, and turn it back off.

The cheat menu also shows you what each option does before you set up it, so you can see exactly what will change. This is safer than guessing what a mod file does.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Select + L + R during gameplay to open Renegade Platinum's built-in cheat menu without installing extra tools.
  • Navigate to the item spawning section and select Rare Candies, then choose how many you want to add to your bag.
  • The cheats are temporary and only active while you have them toggled on — you can turn them off anytime.
  • This method is safer than downloading separate cheat files because the menu is part of the mod itself and shows what each option does.

Using a cheat code file if you prefer external tools

If you want to use a separate cheat file instead of the built-in menu, Renegade Platinum works with Action Replay codes and GameShark codes. You load these into an emulator's cheat system (not into the game itself), and the emulator injects the codes while the game runs.

The most common code for Rare Candies in Pokémon Platinum is a "give item" code that you customize with a hex value. You enter the code into your emulator's cheat database, set it to run once or on repeat, and the item appears in your bag. Different emulators have different interfaces — DeSmuME, MelonDS, and RetroArch all handle cheats slightly differently, so check your emulator's documentation for where the cheat menu is.

This route takes longer than the built-in menu because you have to find the correct code, translate it to your emulator's format, and test it. Most players use the Select + L + R method instead because it is faster and does not require hunting for codes online.

What happens if the cheat menu does not appear

If pressing Select + L + R does nothing, you are probably running an older version of Renegade Platinum or a fan-made patch that removed the cheat system. Check which version you have by looking at the filename or the mod's read page — versions from 2023 onward include the menu by default.

If you have the right version and the menu still will not open, your emulator may not be passing the button combination through correctly. Try remapping your controller buttons in the emulator settings, or use a different emulator entirely. DeSmuME and Melonlds are the most reliable for Renegade Platinum.

If you are playing on a physical cartridge or flashcart, the cheat menu will not work — you will need to use a cheat device like a physical Action Replay cartridge instead, which is rare and expensive. Most players use an emulator specifically to access features like this.

How many Rare Candies you actually need

One Rare Candy raises a Pokémon's level by one, so if you want to jump from level 20 to level 50, you need 30 Candies. Renegade Platinum is harder than the original game, so many players add 5 to 10 Candies early on to avoid grinding. Adding more than that usually makes the game too straightforward, even on the harder difficulty settings.

A practical approach is to add Candies only when you feel stuck — when a gym leader is beating you badly or you are spending hours grinding the same route. This keeps the challenge intact while letting you move forward when you hit a wall. You can always add more later if you need them.

The cheat menu lets you add Candies multiple times, so you do not have to decide on a number upfront. Add a few, play for an hour, and add more if the game still feels too hard.

Why Rare Candies are safer than other level-up cheats

Rare Candies work the same way they do in the normal game — they raise your level and increase your stats normally. Some cheats instead set your level directly to 100 or multiply your experience gain by 10, which can cause problems: your Pokémon might not learn moves at the right levels, their stats might be unbalanced, or they might become too strong for the story.

Rare Candies avoid these issues because they follow the game's normal leveling system. Your Pokémon learns moves when it should, gains stats the way it is supposed to, and stays balanced with the rest of your team. This is why the built-in cheat menu includes Rare Candies as an option — they are the safest way to adjust your team's power.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add Rare Candies to Pokémon that are already in my party?

Yes. The Candies go into your bag, and you can use them on any Pokémon in your party or box. You do not have to catch new Pokémon or do anything special — just open your bag and select the Rare Candy like you would in a normal game.

Will adding Rare Candies break the game or cause glitches?

No. Rare Candies are a normal item in Pokémon games, and Renegade Platinum handles them the same way the original game does. You will not trigger glitches or corrupt your save file by using them.

Can I add Rare Candies on a physical copy of Renegade Platinum?

No. Renegade Platinum is a ROM hack, which means it only runs on emulators or flashcarts. If you are playing on a flashcart, you would need a physical Action Replay device, which is difficult to find. Most players use an emulator instead.

Do I need to restart my game after adding Rare Candies?

No. The Candies appear in your bag when ready, and you can use them right away. The game keeps running normally — there is no restart or loading screen.

What if I add too many Rare Candies and the game becomes too straightforward?

You can turn the cheat menu off and stop using Candies, or you can restart your save file. Renegade Platinum also has a hard mode option in the settings that increases enemy levels, which can balance out an overleveled team.