Since the very first Pokémon games, Red & Blue (or Red & Green in Japan), every mainline Pokémon game has been released by Nintendo with two versions. These versions have minor differences in terms of the available Pokémon, thus encouraging gamers to play with friends and trade Pokémon between the two versions in order to “catch ’em all”. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are no exceptions to this trend.
Pokémon BDSP Differences
As with all recent mainline Pokémon games, the selling point between the two versions is the exclusive Legendary Pokemon but you will also find that there are some Wild Pokémon exclusive to each version.
However, this is as far as the Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl differences go, as there are no differences in gameplay or story between the two versions, except for the Legendary Pokémon the player can find in the story’s penultimate moments.
Including these legendary pokemon, there are a total of 24 Pokémon exclusive to each version. This includes some Legendaries that can be found in Ramanas Park in the Pokémon BDSP post-game.
In Ramanas Park, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond players will be able to find Johto’s Legendary Dogs, Suicune, Raikou, and Entei, while Pokémon Pearl players will be able to catch Kanto’s Legendary Birds, Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos.
If you are here wondering which game to purchase, we’ve compiled some lists below, containing details of each exclusive Pokémon.
Brilliant Diamond Exclusive Pokémon
Brilliant Diamond Exclusive Legendary Pokémon
Below are the Legendary Pokémon exclusive to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond. This includes those you can find in Ramanas Park.
| Pokémon Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Dialga | Found as part of the story. |
| Entei | Ramanas Park |
| Suicune | Ramanas Park |
| Raikou | Ramanas Park |
| Ho-oh | Ramanas Park |
Brilliant Diamond Exclusive Wild Pokémon
Here, we have listed the Wild Pokémon exclusive to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond. To help give an idea of where to find them, I’ve also listed the locations where they can be found!
Note that some of these Pokémon are still available in Pokémon Shining Pearl via the Grand Underground.
| Pokémon Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Aron | Fuego Ironworks |
| Lairon | Evolve Aron at Level 32 |
| Aggron | Evolve Lairon at Level 42 |
| Cranidos | Dig up a Dome Fossil in the Grand Underground and then restore it in Oreburgh City |
| Rampardos | Evolve Cranidos at Level 30 |
| Kecleon | Route 210 |
| Larvitar | Route 207 |
| Pupitar | Evolve Larvitar at Level 30 |
| Tyranitar | Evolve Pupitar at Level 55 |
| Murkrow | Eterna Forest or Lost Tower |
| Honchkrow | Evolve Murkrow with a Dusk Stone |
| Poochyena | Hatch from an egg by breeding Mightyena at Day Care |
| Mightyena | Route 214, Route 215 |
| Scyther | Route 229 |
| Scizor | Evolve Scyther by trading it while it is holding Metal Coat |
| Seel | Route 226, Route 230 |
| Dewgong | Route 226, Route 230, or Evolve from Seel at Level 34 |
| Stunky | Route 206, Route 214, Route 221 |
| Skuntank | Route 221, Route 225, or Evolve Stunky at Level 34 |
Shining Pearl Exclusive Pokémon
Shining Pearl Exclusive Legendary Pokémon
Below are the Legendary Pokémon exclusive to Pokémon Shining Pearl. This includes those you can find in Ramanas Park.
| Pokémon Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Palkia | Found as part of the story. |
| Articuno | Ramanas Park |
| Moltres | Ramanas Park |
| Zapdos | Ramanas Park |
| Lugia | Ramanas Park |
Shining Pearl Exclusive Wild Pokémon
Here, we have listed the Wild Pokémon exclusive to Pokémon Shining Pearl. We’ve included information about where you might find each Pokémon too!
| Pokémon Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Bagon | Route 210 |
| Shelgon | Evolve from Bagon at Level 30 |
| Salamence | Evolve from Shelgon at Level 50 |
| Glameow | Route 218, Route 222 |
| Purugly | Route 222, Route 229, or evolve Glameow at Level 38 |
| Houndour | Hatch from an egg by breeding Houndoom at Day Care |
| Houndoom | Route 214, Route 215 |
| Misdreavus | Eterna Forest, Lost Tower |
| Mismagius | Evolve from Misdreavous using a Dusk Stone |
| Pinsir | Route 229 |
| Shieldon | Dig up an Armor Fossil in the Grand Underground and then restore it in Oreburgh City |
| Bastiodon | Evolve from Shieldon at level 30 |
| Slowpoke | Route 205 |
| Slowbro | Evolve from Slowpoke at Level 37 |
| Slowking | Evolve from Slowpoke by trading it while it is holding a King’s Rock item |
| Spheal | Route 226, Route 230 |
| Sealeo | Route 226, Route 230, or evolve Spheal at Level 32 |
| Walrein | Evolve Sealeo at Level 44 |
| Stantler | Route 207 |
