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Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

How to Trade Pokémon

By
Staci Miller

Trading is a game mechanic as old as the Pokémon games themselves. Here’s how to do it in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, as well as where to find trades.

How to Trade

There are three main ways to trade.

Local Trading

After you earn your first Gym badge, you can head to the basement of the Pokémon Center and speak to a nurse to enter the Union Room. After that, you can press ‘Y’ to access it from anywhere.

This will allow you to trade with people on your local network. You can press ‘Y’ inside the room and select ‘Trade’ or ‘Battle’. Then speak to someone with a speech bubble over their head, as this means they want to do the same.

Online Trading

(1 of 2) Speak to the nurse in the middle to enter the Global Room.

Speak to the nurse in the middle to enter the Global Room. (left), You’ll see a speech bubble indicating someone wants to interact! (right)

Online trading works the same way, but you will have to access the Global Room from inside the Union Room. You will need a Nintendo Switch Online Subscription to do this.

NPC Trades

The other way to trade is by meeting NPCs who are willing to trade one of their Pokémon for yours! They will be very specific in their wants and needs, however.

Some NPCs let you trade in-game.

Location Will Trade For Your
Oreburgh City, left of the Poké Mart Abra.png"Abra" IconAbra Machop.png"Machop" IconMachop
Eterna City, in the Condeminium Chatot.png"Chatot" IconChatot Buizel.png"Buizel" IconBuizel
Mindy, in Snowpoint City Haunter.png"Haunter" IconHaunter holding an Everstone Medicham.png"Medicham" IconMedicham
Home in Route 226 Magikarp.pngGerman "Magikarp" IconMagikarp Finneon.png"Finneon" IconFinneon

Trading Evolutions

Some Pokémon only evolve by evolution. For this, you’ll have to find a friend willing to trade to ensure you get the Pokémon you want. These Pokémon are as follows.

Pokémon Evolution Item Required
Haunter.png "Haunter" IconHaunter Gengar.png"Gengar" IconGengar None
Kadabra.png"Kadabra" IconKadabra Alakazam.png"Alakazam" IconAlakazam None
Machoke.png"Machoke" IconMachoke Machamp.png"Machamp" IconMachamp None
Graveller.png"Graveler" IconGraveler Golem.png"Golem" IconGolem None
Poliwhirl.png"Poliwhirl" IconPoliwhirl Politoed.png"Politoed" IconPolitoed King’s Stone
Slowpoke.png"Slowpoke" IconSlowpoke Slowking.png"Slowking" IconSlowking King’s Stone
Onix.png"Onix" IconOnix steelix.png"Steelix" IconSteelix Metal Coat
Scyther.png"Scyther" IconScyther Scizor.png"Scizor" IconScizor Metal Coat
Seadra.png"Seadra" IconSeadra Kingdra.png"Kingdra" IconKingdra Dragon Scale
Porygon.png"Porygon" IconPorygon Porygon2.png"Porygon2" IconPorygon2 Upgrade
Clamperl.png"Clamperl" IconClamperl Huntail.png"Huntail" IconHuntail Deep Sea Tooth
Clamperl.png"Clamperl" IconClamperl Gorebyss.png"Gorebyss" IconGorebyss Deep Sea Scale

If an item is required, the Pokémon being traded should hold it to complete the evolution.

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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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