All version exclusive Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Make sure to trade with someone who has the other version to complete your Pokédex.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are coming to Nintendo Switch on November 19, 2021. If you only plan on getting one of these games and you’re not sure which version to choose, comparing the Pokémon exclusives might help. Even if you don’t get all of the Pokémon you like in one version, you can always Wonder Trade to complete that Pokédex. Note that trading using Pokémon HOME will not be available until sometime in 2022.

There are a total of 493 Pokémon in the National Pokédex, but you’ll only have access to the Sinnoh Pokédex when you start playing. Regardless of which version you pick, we’re sure both games will be fun to play and will go on to become some of the best Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch.

Gen 4 reimagined

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

$60 at Amazon (Brilliant Diamond)
$60 at Amazon (Shining Pearl)
$60 at Best Buy (Brilliant Diamond)
$60 at Best Buy (Shining Pearl)

Be the very best

Travel around the Sinnoh region in this updated version of the classic Gen 4 DS games. There are gyms to beat, Pokémon to catch, and an evil team to defeat. Plus, several new mechanics and elements have made their way into these remakes.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl exclusives

Brilliant Diamond exclusives
Shining Pearl exclusives
How many Pokémon in the remakes?
BDSP Sinnoh Pokédex
BDSP National Dex
Sinnoh vs National Pokédex
OG Diamond exclusives
OG Pearl exclusives
Platinum exclusives

Confirmed Pokémon Brilliant Diamond exclusives

Here are the Pokémon that can only be found in Brilliant Diamond.

Caterpie
Metapod
Butterfree
Ekans
Arbok
Growlithe
Arcanine
Seel
Dewgong
Scyther
Scizor
Elekid
Electabuzz
Electivire
Murkrow
Honchkrow
Gligar
Gliscor
Larvitar
Pupitar
Seedot
Nuzleaf
Shiftry
Mawile
Zangoose
Solrock
Kecleon
Tyranitar
Cranidos
Rampardos
Stunky
Skuntank
Dialga (Legendary)
Ho-Oh (Legendary)
Raikou (Legendary)
Entei (Legendary)
Suicune (Legendary)

To get an idea for what other Pokémon might be Brilliant Diamond exclusives, check out the list of original Diamond exclusives further in this article.

Confirmed Pokémon Shining Pearl exclusives

Here are the Pokémon that can only be found in Shining Pearl.

Weedle
Kakuna
Beedrill
Sandshrew
Sandslash
Vulpix
Ninetales
Slowpoke
Slowbro
Slowking
Magby
Magmar
Magmortar
Pinsir
Misdreavus
Mismagius
Teddiursa
Ursaring
Stantler
Lotad
Lombre
Ludicolo
Sableye
Seviper
Lunatone
Bagon
Shelgon
Salamence
Glameow
Purugly
Shieldon
Blastiodon
Palkia (Legendary)
Lugia (Legendary)
Articuno (Legendary)
Zapdos (Legendary)
Moltres (Legendary)

How many Pokémon are in the Gen 4 remakes?

Dataminers and leakers like @CentroLEAKS on Twitter have confirmed that there are a total of 493 Pokémon in the National Dex. This does not include Sylveon. The original Diamond and Pearl Sinnoh Pokédex featured 151 Pokémon, while the games’ National Pokédex featured over 490 Pokémon for players to catch.

We can now confirm that there’s only data for the first 493 Pokémon. No Sylveon.

— Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) November 9, 2021

Which Pokémon can I trade into Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl?

We don’t know for sure just yet. However, considering that not all Pokémon made their way into the Sword and Shield Pokédex, my guess is that only select monsters can be traded in. We’ll keep our ears to the ground and will update you when we learn more. We do know that Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will not work with Pokemon HOME until sometime in 2022. So until then, players will need to trade solely from within the Gen IV remakes.

All Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex

Wanna know which 151 Pokémon made up the original Gen 4 Sinnoh Pokédex on DS? I’ve got you covered.

Turtwig
Grotle
Torterra
Chimchar
Monferno
Infernape
Piplup
Prinplup
Empoleon
Starly
Staravia
Staraptor
Bidoof
Bibarel
Kricketot
Kricketune
Shinx
Luxio
Luxray
Abra
Kadabra
Alakazam
Magikarp
Gyarados
Budew
Roselia
Roserade
Zubat
Golbat
Crobat
Geodude
Graveler
Golem
Onix
Steelix
Cranidos (BD)
Rampardos (BD)
Shieldon (SP)
Bastiodon (SP)
Machop
Machoke
Machamp
Psyduck
Golduck
Burmy
Wormadam
Mothim
Wurmple
Silcoon
Beautifly
Cascoon
Dustox
Combee
Vespiquen
Pachirisu
Buizel
Floatzel
Cherubi
Cherrim
Shellos
Gastrodon
Heracross
Aipom
Ambipom
Drifloon
Drifblim
Buneary
Lopunny
Gastly
Haunter
Gengar
Misdreavus (SP)
Mismagius (SP)
Murkrow (BD)
Honchkrow (BD)
Glameow (SP)
Purugly (SP)
Goldeen
Seaking
Barboach
Whiscash
Chingling
Chimecho
Stunky (BD)
Skuntank (BD)
Meditite
Medicham
Bronzor
Bronzong
Ponyta
Rapidash
Bonsly
Sudowoodo
Mime Jr.
Mr. Mime
Happiny
Chansey
Blissey
Cleffa
Clefairy
Clefable
Chatot
Pichu
Pikachu
Raichu
Hoothoot
Noctowl
Spiritomb
Gible
Gabite
Garchomp
Munchlax
Snorlax
Unown
Riolu
Lucario
Wooper
Quagsire
Wingull
Pelipper
Girafarig
Hippopotas
Hippowdon
Azurill
Marill
Azumarill
Skorupi
Drapion
Croagunk
Toxicroak
Carnivine
Remoraid
Octillery
Finneon
Lumineon
Tentacool
Tentacruel
Feebas
Milotic
Mantyke
Mantine
Snover
Abomasnow
Sneasel
Weavile
Uxie
Mesprit
Azelf
Dialga (BD)
Palkia (SP)
Manaphy*

All Pokémon in the Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl National Dex

These are the rest of the Pokémon listed in the National Dex.

Bulbasaur
Ivysaur
Venusaur
Charmander
Charmeleon
Charizard
Squirtle
Wartortle
Blastoise
Caterpie (BD)
Metapod (BD)
Butterfree (BD)
Weedle (SP)
Kakuna (SP)
Beedrill (SP)
Pidgey
Pidgeotto
Pidgeot
Rattata
Raticate
Spearow
Fearow
Ekans (BD)
Arbok (BD)
Sandshrew (SP)
Sandslash (SP)
Nidoran F
Nidorinaa
Nidoqueen
Nidoran M
Nidorino
Nidoking
Vulpix (SP)
Ninetales (SP)
Jigglypuff
Wigglytuff
Oddish
Gloom
Vileplume
Paras
Parasect
Venonat
Venomoth
Diglett
Dugtrio
Meowth
Persian
Mankey
Primeape
Growlithe (BD)
Arcanine (BD)
Poliwag
Poliwhirl
Poliwrath
Bellsprout
Weepinbell
Victreebel
Slowpoke (SP)
Slowbro (SP)
Doduo
Dodrio
Seel (BD)
Dewgong (BD)
Grimer
Muk
Shellder
Cloyster
Drowzee
Hypno
Krabby
Kingler
Voltorb
Electrode
Exeggcute
Exeggutor
Cubone
Marowak
Hitmonlee
Hitmonchan
Koffing
Weezing
Tangela
Kangaskhan
Horsea
Seadra
Staryu
Starmie
Tauros
Lapras
Ditto
Porygon
Omanyte
Omastar
Kabuto
Kabutops
Aerodactyl
Articuno (SP)
Zapdos (SP)
Moltres (SP)
Dratini
Dragonair
Dragonite
Mewtwo
Chikorita
Bayleef
Meganium
Cyndaquil
Quilava
Typhlosion
Totodile
Croconaw
Feraligatr
Sentret
Furret
Ledyba
Ledian
Spinarak
Ariados
Chinchou
Lanturn
Igglybuff
Natu
Xatu
Mareep
Flaaffy
Ampharos
Bellossom
Politoed
Hoppip
Skiploom
Jumpluff
Sunkern
Sunflora
Yanma
Slowking (SP)
Wobbuffet
Pineco
Forretress
Dunsparce
Snubbull
Granbull
Qwilfish
Shuckle
Teddirusa (SP)
Ursaring (SP)
Slugma
Magcargo
Corsola
Delibird
Skarmory
Kingdra
Phanpy
Donphan
Porygon2
Stantler (SP)
Smeargle
Tyrogue
Hitmontop
Smoochum
Miltank
Raikou (BD)
Entei (BD)
Suicune (BD)
Larvitar (BD)
Pupitar (BD)
Tyranitar (BD)
Lugia (SP)
Ho-Oh (BD)
Celebi
Treecko
Grovyle
Sceptile
Torchic
Combuken
Blaziken
Mudkip
Marshtomp
Swampert
Poochyena
Mightyena
Zigzagoon
Linoone
Lotad (SP)
Lombre (SP)
Ludicolo (SP)
Seedot (BD)
Nuzleaf (BD)
Shiftry (BD)
Taillow
Swellow
Surskit
Masquerain
Shroomish
Breloom
Slakoth
Vigoroth
Slaking
Nincada
Ninjask
Gligar (BD)
Gliscor (BD)
Ralts
Kirlia
Gardevoir
Gallade
Lickitung
Lickilicky
Eevee
Vaporeon
Jolteon
Flareon
Espeon
Umbreon
Leafeon
Glaceon
Swablu
Altaria
Togepi
Togetic
Togekiss
Houndour
Houndoom
Magnemite
Magneton
Magnezone
Rhyhorn
Rhydon
Rhyperior
Duskull
Dusknoir
Scyther (BD)
Scizor (BD)
Elekid (BD)
Electabuzz (BD)
Electivire (BD)
Magby (SP)
Magmar (SP)
Magmortar (SP)
Swinub
Piloswine
Mamoswine
Snorunt
Glalie
Froslass
Absol
Pinsir (SP)
Jynx
Mew
Jirachi
Shedinja
Whismur
Loudred
Exploud
Makuhita
Hariyama
Nosepass
Skitty
Delcatty
Sableye (SP)
Mawile (BD)
Aron
Lairon
Aggron
Electrike
Manectric
Plusle
Minun
Volbeat
Illumise
Gulpin
Swalot
Carvanha
Sharpedo
Wailmer
Wailord
Numel
Camerupt
Torkoal
Spoink
Grumpig
Spinda
Trapinch
Vibrava
Flygon
Cacnea
Cacturne
Zangoose (BD)
Seviper (SP)
Lunatone (SP)
Solrock (BD)
Corphish
Crawdaunt
Baltoy
Claydol
Lileep
Cradily
Anorith
Armaldo
Castform
Kecleon (BD)
Shuppet
Banette
Tropius
Wynaut
Spheal
Sealeo
Walrein
Clamperl
Huntail
Gorebyss
Relicanth
Luvdisc
Bagon (SP)
Shelgon (SP)
Salamence (SP)
Beldum
Metang
Metagross
Regirock
Regice
Registeel
Latias
Latios
Kyogre
Groudon
Rayquaza
Deoxys
Tangrowth
Yanmega
Probopass
Rotom
Heatran
Regigas
Giraina Origin Forme
Giratina Altered Forme
Cresselia
Phione
Darkrai
Shaymin Sky
Shaymin Land
Arceus

National Pokédex vs Sinnoh Pokédex Understanding OG exclusives

I’ve listed original Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum exclusives in the following sections, followed by the Sinnoh Pokédex. To understand the original DS games’ exclusives, you have to understand that Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum had a Sinnoh Pokédex and also a National Pokédex that unlocked in the postgame.

The Sinnoh Pokédex was made up of 151 Pokémon including the Gen 4 starters. Once players beat the elite four, saw all of the 151 Pokémon in the Sinnoh Dex, and talked to Professor Rowan, Professor Oak would come into the lab and unlock the National Pokédex made up of 493 Pokémon. This is basically every Pokémon from Gen I through Gen IV. Some Pokémon within the National Pokédex are version exclusives, which means that some version exclusive Pokémon aren’t listed in the Sinnoh Pokédex.

Original Pokémon Diamond exclusives

These Pokémon were only available in the original Diamond game.

Cranidos
Rampardos
Honchkrow
Stunky
Skuntank
Dialga (Legendary)
Seel
Dewgong
Scyther
Murkrow
Scizor
Larvitar
Pupitar
Tyranitar
Poochyena
Mightyena
Aron
Lairon
Aggron
Kecleon

Original Pokémon Pearl exclusives

This list is comprised of Pokémon that were only available in Pearl.

Shieldon
Bastiodon
Mismagius
Glameow
Purugly
Palkia (Legendary)
Slowpoke
Slowbro
Pinsir
Slowking
Misdreavus
Houndour
Houndoom
Stantler
Spheal
Sealeo
Walrein
Bagon
Shelgon
Salamence

All Pokémon Platinum exclusives

Pokémon Platinum was the third Gen 4 game, releasing three years after Diamond and Pearl. It allowed players to experience the same region and story, but with added elements. These are all of the Pokémon exclusive to this version of the game.

Rotom (all 5 forms)
Tangela
Articuno
Zapdos
Moltres
Tropius
Regirock
Regice
Registeel
Tangrowth
Giratina (Origin Forme)
Shaymin (Sky Forme)

Catch me if you can

Having version-exclusive Pokémon has been part of these creature collecting games since the first generation. If you’re really looking forward to a specific version of exclusive Pokémon, then you’ll want to make sure you grab that copy of the game.