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Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

How to Obtain the National Pokédex

By
Vincent Lau

This page explains how to obtain the National Pokédex in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).

(1 of 2) Ask Rowan to evaluate your Pokédex.

Ask Rowan to evaluate your Pokédex. (left), After seeing all 150 or 151 Sinnoh Pokédex, Oak will upgrade your Pokédex. (right)

The Pokédex you received at the start only lists the 151 Pokémon found natively in the Sinnoh region. The National Pokédex is the upgraded model that covers all 493 Pokémon, across all regions (at the time of the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl).

You can receive the National Pokédex from the visiting Professor Oak, when you speak to Professor Rowan in Sandgem Town, having seen all 150 Pokémon in Sinnoh, with the exception of "Manaphy" IconManaphy (since it’s a Mythical).

Although this may seem like a tall order, it’s actually not too hard. Unless you’ve done some crazy shenanigans, if you check the number of Pokémon you’ve seen, it should be above 100 through compulsory battles alone. If you’ve been diligent and fought every trainer, that number should be above 140. (This is because there isn’t much variety in Sinnoh.)

Where to Find the Missing Pokémon

Legendary Pokémon

The Pokémon you’re most likely to miss are the Legendary Pokémon besides the one you caught at the Spear Pillar. Obviously, if you’re playing Brilliant Diamond for example, you may have caught "Dialga" IconDialga, but you’ll struggle to find a "Palkia" IconPalkia just wandering around.

(1 of 2) Return to Celestic Town and visit the house at the back.

Return to Celestic Town and visit the house at the back. (left), The old lady will show you Palkia or Dialga’s data. (right)

What you need to do is return to Celestic Town, then visit Cynthia’s mother–the old lady–in her house near the back. She’ll show you the Legendary not found in your version.

Next, you may be missing the lake trio. So that’s potentially three more for your Pokédex. You can encounter the lake trio after dealing with the Spear Pillar incident. Please refer to the following pages for details:

Drifloon

(1 of 2) Drifloon at the Valley Windworks.

Drifloon at the Valley Windworks. (left), Drifloon at Hearthome City Gym. (right)

You might not realize it at first, but "Drifloon" IconDrifloon is probably the one that trips up players the most. The only way to encounter and catch Drifloon is during Fridays at the Valley Windworks. So during 6 out of 7 days of the week, there’s nothing you can do.

If you’re still early on (unlikely if you’re reading this page), there are trainers in the Hearthome City Gym that send out Drifloon. Trouble is, the design of that gym encourages you to skip all the trainers. Then once you’ve defeated the Gym Leader, the trainers will no longer challenge you.

Unown

(1 of 2) Solaceon Ruins at the east edge of Solaceon Town.

Solaceon Ruins at the east edge of Solaceon Town. (left), Unown can be found in every room sans the entrance. (right)

Not as frustrating as Drifloon, but another Pokémon that’s off the beaten path. "Unown" IconUnown is only encountered in the Solaceon Ruins and no trainer uses one. So if you haven’t been already, remember to take a trip there.

Other Pokémon

All other Pokémon can be encountered in the wild or via trainer battles. That said, it’s understandable if you use Repels to avoid wild Pokémon (or you’re plain unlucky) and/or you skip trainers to rush ahead or to stop your team from becoming over-leveled.

(1 of 2) Riolu in Oreburgh Gate.

Riolu in Oreburgh Gate. (left), Lumineon on Route 223. (right)

Here’s a list of all the Pokémon you can miss and their common locations:

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Pokemon Company International
  • Platforms,
    Switch
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    29 October 2021
  • Last Updated
    23 April 2022
    Version History
  • Guide Author

Share this free guide:

This strategy guide for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl contains all the information Pokémon trainers will need to complete the game and catch every single Pokémon!

In this remake of the classic Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, you’ll journey through the mystical Sinnoh region to become a Pokémon master. Along the way, you’ll confront the scheming Team Galactic and witness the awesome power of the Legendary Dialga or Palkia.

Currently included in our guide:

The following will be available via free updates to our guide:

  • A complete walkthrough of the main story and postgame.
  • A full guide for Super Contest Shows.
    • How to cook the best quality Poffins.
  • Explanation of advanced mechanics, such as IVs and EVs.
  • A detailed Sinnoh region Pokédex.

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