Learn how to obtain the National Pokédex in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. This guide covers legendary Pokémon, Drifloon, Unown, and other elusive creatures.
To complete your Pokédex in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you'll need to track down Pokémon that aren't readily available through normal gameplay. This includes version-exclusive Legendaries, specific wild encounters, and Pokémon found through trainer battles.
Legendary Pokémon
If you're playing one version (e.g., Brilliant Diamond), you'll need to visit Celestic Town and speak with Cynthia's mother in her house. She will show you the data for the Legendary Pokémon exclusive to the other version (e.g., Palkia for Brilliant Diamond). Additionally, the Lake Trio (Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf) can be encountered after the Spear Pillar incident. Refer to specific guides for catching each of them.
Drifloon
Drifloon is a unique encounter, only appearing on Fridays at the Valley Windworks. If you miss this opportunity, you might encounter trainers using Drifloon in the Hearthome City Gym early in the game, but these trainers become unavailable after defeating the Gym Leader.
Unown
Unown can only be found in the Solaceon Ruins, located east of Solaceon Town. They can be encountered in almost every room within the ruins, except for the entrance.
Other Pokémon
Many other Pokémon might be missed due to avoiding wild encounters with Repels or skipping trainers. Below is a list of Pokémon and their common locations or trainer encounters:
| Number | Pokémon | Catch Location | Trainer Location |
| 008 | Prinplup | Evolve Piplup | Route 212 South - Pokémon Ranger Jeffrey |
| 015 | Kricketot | Spacious Cave etc. | Route 203 - Youngster Dallas |
| 016 | Kricketune | Route 212 North | Eterna Forest - Bug Catch Donald |
| 023 | Magikarp | Route 203 etc. | Route 204 South - Youngster Tyler |
| 032 | Graveler | Route 211 East | Route 208 - Hiker Alexander |
| 040 | Machop | Route 207 etc. | Route 203 - Youngster Sebastian |
| 043 | Psyduck | Route 203 etc. | Route 210 South - Rancher Marco |
| 045 | Burmy | Honey trees | Eterna Forest - Bug Catch Donald |
| 046 | Wormadam | Evolve female Burmy | Route 214 - Beauty Devon |
| 047 | Mothim | Evolve male Burmy | Route 210 North - Ace Trainer Ernest |
| 053 | Combee | Grassland Cave | Route 208 - Aroma Lady Hannah |
| 059 | Cherrim | Evolve Cherubi | Route 221 - Ace Trainer Shannon |
| 063 | Aipom | Spacious Cave | Route 210 South - Rancher Marco |
| 067 | Buneary | Eterna Forest | Route 212 North - Lady Melissa |
| 069 | Gastly | Old Chateau | Route 214 - Psychic Abigail |
| 070 | Haunter | Evolve Gastly | Route 214 - Psychic Mitchell |
| 072 | Misdreavus | Dazzling Cave in Shining Pearl | Route 214 - Psychic Abigail |
| 078 | Goldeen | Route 203 etc. | Route 205 North - Fisher Joseph |
| 080 | Barboach | Route 205 North etc. | Route 208 - Fisher Cody |
| 092 | Bonsly | Route 209 in Shining Pearl | Route 208 - Artist William |
| 094 | Mime Jr. | Route 209 in Brilliant Diamond | Route 208 - Artist William |
| 096 | Happiny | Bothersome | Route 210 South - Pokémon Breeder Kahlil |
| 099 | Cleffa | Mt. Coronet | Route 209 - Pokémon Breeder Jennifer |
| 102 | Chatot | Route 222 | Route 212 North - Gentleman Jeremy |
| 103 | Pichu | Trophy Garden | Route 209 - Pokémon Breeder Albert |
| 104 | Pikachu | Trophy Garden | Route 206 - Cyclist Kayla |
| 115 | Riolu | Hatch Riley’s egg | Oreburgh Gate - Veteran Grant |
| 117 | Wooper | Route 212 South | Not convenient |
| 134 | Finneon | Route 205 South etc. | Route 221 Fisher Cory |
| 135 | Lumineon | Evolve Finneon | Route 223 - Swimmer Miranda |
| 136 | Tentacool | Route 205 South etc. | Route 220 - Swimmer Adrian |
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