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| Titles | Pokémon Diamond Version ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド Pokémon Pearl Version ポケットモンスター パール |
| Platform | Nintendo DS |
| Developer | Game Freak |
| Publisher | Nintendo (The Pokémon Company in Japan) |
| Director | Junichi Masuda |
| Producers | Hiroyuki Jinnai, Hitoshi Yamagami, Gakuji Nomoto, Hiroaki Tsuru |
| Composers | Hitomi Sato, Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose, with fanfares by Morikazu Aoki |
| Art director | Ken Sugimori |
| Players | 1–4 (DS Wireless) · online over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection |
| Generation | Generation IV – the first games of the generation |
| New Pokémon | 107 (493 in the National Pokédex; 151 in the Sinnoh Pokédex) |
| New Abilities | 47 |
| New moves | 113 |
| Predecessor | Pokémon Emerald |
| Successors | Pokémon Platinum · HeartGold & SoulSilver |
| Released (Japan) | 28 September 2006 |
| Released (North America) | 22 April 2007 |
| Released (Australia) | 21 June 2007 |
| Released (Europe) | 27 July 2007 |
| Released (South Korea) | 14 February 2008 |
| Rating | CERO A · ESRB E (Everyone) · PEGI 3 · PG (Australia) |
| Cartridge | Nintendo DS Game Card; the DS clock drives day and night, and the Game Boy Advance slot is used for Pal Park |
| Sales | 17.67 million combined – the best-selling Pokémon games on the Nintendo DS |
Overview
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are the core series Pokémon titles that kicked off Generation IV. The games take place in the mountainous setting of the Sinnoh region and, along with 107 new Pokémon, 47 new Abilities and 113 new moves, also introduce a rather major overhaul of the battle system amongst their changes and new features.
The Legendary Pokémon mascots for Diamond and Pearl are Dialga for Diamond and Palkia for Pearl. This was the first time the first letter of a Legendary mascot’s name matched the first letter of its game’s title; X and Y would later do the same.
Diamond and Pearl were released for the Nintendo DS in Japan on September 28th, 2006, in the USA on April 22nd, 2007, then in Australia on June 21st, 2007 and finally in Europe on July 27th, 2007. They would later be followed up by sister title Pokémon Platinum around two years later, although this is not a direct sequel.
Welcome to the next generation of Pokémon! As a rookie Pokémon Trainer, you will need to catch, train and battle Pokémon on your journey to become the Pokémon League Champion. You will face many challenges along the way, as you search for the Pokémon that rules time or space in Pokémon Diamond Version or Pokémon Pearl Version.
- Discover more than 100 new Pokémon in the Sinnoh region!
- Meet goals and earn the ability to import Pokémon from your GBA versions!
- Battle and trade with your friends around the world using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection!
- Watch as day turns to night with the return of the real-time clock feature!
— Official description, North American packaging
Quick Answers
The questions people ask about Diamond & Pearl, answered first and explained further down the page.
What is the difference between Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and which should I buy?
The story, map, Gym Leaders and features are identical; the versions differ only in 20 exclusive species each, including the box legendary. Diamond has Dialga plus the Seel, Scyther, Murkrow, Larvitar, Poochyena, Aron, Kecleon, Cranidos and Stunky lines; Pearl has Palkia plus Slowpoke, Pinsir, Misdreavus, Houndour, Stantler, Spheal, Bagon, Shieldon and Glameow. Pick your favourites and trade for the rest. More →
How do you catch Dialga or Palkia?
It waits at the story’s climax on the Spear Pillar, at the summit of Mt. Coronet. Once Cyrus has used the Red Chain to summon it and you have beaten him, Dialga (Diamond) or Palkia (Pearl) can be battled at Lv. 47. Save first; the Master Ball that Cyrus gives you at the Galactic headquarters guarantees the catch. More →
How do you get Giratina in Diamond and Pearl?
Giratina (Lv. 70) lives in Turnback Cave, on the north side of the Sendoff Spring, which opens once you have entered the Hall of Fame. Inside, you must pass three rooms containing stone pillars within 30 rooms; the room after the third pillar holds Giratina. If you run from it, it returns when you re-enter the area. More →
How do you get the National Pokédex in Diamond and Pearl?
Register the first 150 Pokémon of the Sinnoh Pokédex as seen (you do not have to catch them), then visit Professor Rowan’s lab in Sandgem Town. Professor Oak arrives and upgrades the Pokédex to National Mode, which opens the Battle Zone, Pal Park, the Poké Radar, the Trophy Garden’s daily visitors and, after the Hall of Fame, mass outbreaks. More →
How do you get Darkrai, Shaymin and Arceus in Diamond and Pearl?
Legitimately, only through official event distributions or by trading them in. The Member Card (Darkrai), Oak’s Letter (Shaymin) and Azure Flute (Arceus) exist in the game’s code but were never distributed for Diamond and Pearl, and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection closed on 20 May 2014. The tweaking glitch can reach all three areas, at some risk to the save file. More →
Where are Heatran, Regigigas, Cresselia and the lake trio?
After the Spear Pillar, Uxie and Azelf (Lv. 50) wait in the caverns of Lake Acuity and Lake Valor, while Mesprit flees Lake Verity and roams. Post-game, Cresselia roams after a visit to Fullmoon Island, Heatran (Lv. 70) appears in Stark Mountain once Buck returns the Magma Stone, and Regigigas (Lv. 70) needs all three Regis in your party. More →
How do you evolve the new Generation IV evolutions?
Level Magneton and Nosepass inside Mt. Coronet; level Eevee near the Moss Rock (Eterna Forest) or Ice Rock (Route 217); trade Electabuzz, Magmar, Rhydon, Dusclops and Porygon2 holding the Electirizer, Magmarizer, Protector, Reaper Cloth or Dubious Disc; use Dusk, Shiny and Dawn Stones on Murkrow, Misdreavus, Togetic, Roselia, male Kirlia and female Snorunt. More →
Can you play Pokémon Diamond and Pearl on Nintendo Switch?
Not the original DS games. Nintendo Classics for Switch Online covers NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, Virtual Boy, Mega Drive and GameCube, but no DS library. On Switch you can play the 2021 remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl; the originals still run on DS, DS Lite, DSi and 3DS hardware. More →
How long does it take to beat Pokémon Diamond and Pearl?
The main story covers eight Gyms, the Team Galactic plot, Victory Road and the Elite Four, and the difficulty climbs steadily: Barry brings a Lv. 53 starter to the Pokémon League and Cynthia’s Garchomp is Lv. 66, so plan on a team in the high 50s or 60s. The post-game adds the Battle Zone, legendaries and the National Pokédex. More →
How do you use Pal Park to transfer Pokémon from Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed or LeafGreen?
After the National Pokédex, put a same-language Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed or LeafGreen cartridge in the GBA slot of a DS or DS Lite and choose the migrate option on the title menu. Six Pokémon per save can move every 24 hours, to be recaught with Park Balls at Pal Park on Route 221. Transfers are one-way, and Pokémon knowing HM moves cannot move. More →
Plot / Story
The game starts with the player watching a newscast about the sighting of a red Gyarados in Johto’s Lake of Rage. The player then makes their way to best friend Barry’s house and continues to Lake Verity with him to search for a Legendary Pokémon. As they arrive, they see that Professor Rowan and his assistant (Lucas or Dawn, depending on whether the player is male or female) are there discussing the professor’s work and that he is searching for something in the lake. As soon as the duo notice the player, they rush off, leaving behind a briefcase. Barry approaches the briefcase and is startled when two wild Starly suddenly start to attack. Barry and the player then open the briefcase, which contains three Pokémon; they must quickly decide what to do if they are going to fight off the attacking Pokémon.
The player picks a Pokémon from the briefcase and Barry takes one (he takes one that has a type advantage over whatever you choose, actually, as he is already at this point plotting to become your rival later on in the game!). Together they face down the attacking Starly. As the battle ends, the professor’s assistant will appear for a brief moment and comment that the Pokémon have been used before leaving with the briefcase.
Barry and the player then return to Twinleaf Town before heading on to Sandgem Town. The player meets with Professor Rowan there, and the professor gives the player the Pokémon they chose at the lake and a Pokédex. Back home in Twinleaf, the player’s mother gives him or her a pair of Running Shoes, and the player then leaves, ready to explore Sinnoh and defeat Gym Leaders in order to advance the plot further, as well as challenging the Elite Four and maybe even becoming the Champion of Sinnoh.
Throughout the course of the game there are many encounters with the evil Team Galactic and its leader, Cyrus. When the power of Dialga or Palkia is summoned by Cyrus, you will see that this power begins to overwhelm Sinnoh. Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf appear and negate the power flow, meaning the player is then forced into a battle with the Legendary Pokémon.
When the player eventually defeats the Elite Four, there will be further activities open to the player. These will mainly consist of the capturing of Pokémon that have previously been unavailable. There will be additional features including the Poké Radar, the exploration of places that have not previously been accessible, such as the Fight, Survival and Resort Areas, and a test of your battle skills in the Battle Tower.
The rest of the journey, spoilers and all
Jubilife City supplies the Pokétch, and Roark’s Coal Badge is won in mining town Oreburgh before Team Galactic surface: grunts harass Rowan in Jubilife, Commander Mars seizes the Valley Windworks and Commander Jupiter holds the Galactic building in Eterna, where Gardenia awards the Forest Badge and Cynthia gives HM01 Cut. In Mt. Coronet the player meets a calm, nameless man.
Past Hearthome City, Maylene’s Cobble Badge in Veilstone and Crasher Wake’s Fen Badge in Pastoria follow, in either order. A grunt boasting of a bomb is chased to Valor Lakefront, a SecretPotion from Cynthia clears the Psyduck on Route 210, and in Celestic Town the stranger reveals himself as Cyrus, Galactic’s leader. Cynthia’s grandmother provides Surf, which opens Fantina’s Relic Badge in Hearthome and the sea route to Canalave, where Barry and Byron are beaten for the Mine Badge.
Then a Galactic Bomb shatters Lake Valor. Saturn takes Azelf, Mars takes Mesprit at Lake Verity and, after Candice’s Icicle Badge in Snowpoint, Jupiter crushes Barry and carries Uxie off from Lake Acuity. The player storms the Veilstone headquarters, defeats Saturn and Cyrus, receives a Master Ball and frees the lake trio, but the Red Chain is already made. On the Spear Pillar, Barry and the player beat Mars and Jupiter together, Cyrus summons Dialga or Palkia, and the lake trio appear to restrain it. The player defeats Cyrus and battles the legendary at Lv. 47; Cyrus vanishes, vowing to try again.
Volkner’s Beacon Badge in Sunyshore leads to Victory Road, the Elite Four and Champion Cynthia. Afterwards Professor Oak upgrades the Pokédex, opening Pal Park, the Battle Zone with its Battle Tower and Stark Mountain’s Heatran, Regigigas in Snowpoint Temple, Cresselia at Fullmoon Island and Giratina deep in Turnback Cave.
Screenshots via Bulbapedia.
Your rival, Barry
Barry battles you five times on the way to the League, always with the starter that beats yours, and keeps coming back afterwards:
- Route 203 (first battle): Starly Lv. 7 and his starter Lv. 9 — Chimchar if the player picked Turtwig, Piplup if the player picked Chimchar, Turtwig if the player picked Piplup.
- Hearthome City (second battle): Starly Lv. 19, two of Buizel, Ponyta and Roselia at Lv. 20, and his starter’s middle stage (Monferno, Prinplup or Grotle) at Lv. 21.
- Pastoria City (third battle): his Starly line at Lv. 26, two of Buizel, Ponyta and Roselia at Lv. 26–27, and his starter’s middle stage at Lv. 31.
- Canalave City (fourth battle): Staravia Lv. 32, Heracross Lv. 32, two of Buizel, Ponyta and Roselia at Lv. 33–34, and his starter’s middle stage at Lv. 37.
- Spear Pillar: Barry is the player’s partner, not an opponent, in a Multi Battle against Commanders Mars and Jupiter.
- Pokémon League (fifth battle): Staraptor Lv. 48, Heracross Lv. 50, Snorlax Lv. 51, two of Floatzel, Rapidash and Roserade at Lv. 49, and Infernape, Empoleon or Torterra at Lv. 53 (₱5,300).
- Fight Area, post-game (weekends): the same six Pokémon at Lv. 58–60 with his starter at Lv. 64 (₱6,400).
- Fight Area, after 20 Hall of Fame entries: the same six at Lv. 68–70 with his starter at Lv. 74 (₱7,400).
Team Galactic and the Red Chain
Team Galactic, Ginga-dan in Japanese, talk of building a new world, and their leader Cyrus means it literally: he plans to summon Dialga or Palkia at the Spear Pillar, destroy the existing universe and remake it without spirit or strife. Grunts first appear harassing Professor Rowan in Jubilife City. Commander Mars then occupies the Valley Windworks to steal its power, and Commander Jupiter runs the Galactic building in Eterna City. Cyrus himself is met, unnamed, in Mt. Coronet and reveals his role in Celestic Town after a grunt threatens the town. After a bomb threat near the Great Marsh, the group detonates a Galactic Bomb at Lake Valor, and the three Commanders seize Azelf, Mesprit and Uxie from Sinnoh’s lakes so that Cyrus can create the Red Chain. The player frees the trio at the Veilstone headquarters, but the chain is complete, and at the Spear Pillar Cyrus uses it to call the legendary. Beaten, he disappears, promising to try again, and Saturn is left in charge. The Commanders are named after planets; Charon, named after Pluto’s largest moon, exists only in Platinum.
Cynthia
Cynthia first meets the player in Eterna City, where she talks about Sinnoh’s mythical Pokémon and hands over HM01 Cut. She reappears at Valor Lakefront, researching Azelf, and gives the player a SecretPotion to cure the headache-stricken Psyduck blocking Route 210; once they scatter, she asks the player to deliver an Old Charm to her grandmother in Celestic Town, who rewards the errand with HM03 Surf. After Fantina’s Gym she warns the player about Team Galactic’s dangerous behaviour. At the Pokémon League she is revealed as Sinnoh’s Champion, leading with Spiritomb (Lv. 61) and finishing with Garchomp (Lv. 66), alongside Roserade, West Sea Gastrodon, Lucario and Milotic. She has since returned in Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver, Black and White, Black 2 and White 2, the Alola Battle Tree, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Masters EX.
Lucas and Dawn
The player chooses between Lucas (Kouki in Japanese) and Dawn (Hikari). Whichever is not chosen becomes Professor Rowan’s assistant: they collect the briefcase after the Starly attack, show the player how to catch Pokémon, hand over the Dowsing Machine app on Route 207 and help out against Team Galactic. Their family home is in Sandgem Town, where the assistant’s sister later reports mass outbreaks. Lucas wears a red beret; Dawn wears a white beanie with a pink Poké Ball motif, a pink scarf and pink boots. Dawn’s name and look were also used for the anime’s heroine, Ash’s companion throughout the Diamond and Pearl series.
In the anime and movies
Diamond & Pearl gave the anime its longest single-region run: four seasons with Dawn, Paul and Team Galactic, plus three films built around Sinnoh’s legendary Pokémon.
In the anime
Anime seasons which loosely tie in with Diamond and Pearl (in terms of locations, NPCs such as Gym Leaders and Pokémon):
Season 10: Diamond and Pearl2006–2007The series opens as Dawn sets out from Twinleaf Town with Piplup, Ash arrives in Sinnoh and Brock rejoins him. Ash catches Turtwig, meets his ruthless rival Paul and, once Paul releases his Chimchar, takes it in. The season brings Ash his first badges from Roark and Gardenia and introduces Cynthia in Top-Down Training!, where she defeats Paul in a full battle.
Season 11: DP Battle Dimension2007–2008Battle Dimension takes Ash past Maylene, Crasher Wake and Fantina, and Team Galactic step into the open with their attempt on the Veilstone meteorites in Enter Galactic!. Dawn keeps chasing Contest Ribbons, while Paul’s harsh training methods continue to clash with Ash’s.
Season 12: DP Galactic Battles2008–2009Galactic Battles brings Team Galactic’s story to its climax: Cyrus captures Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf and summons Dialga and Palkia at the Spear Pillar, where Ash and his friends join the fight to stop him. Along the way Ash wins the Mine Badge from Byron and the Icicle Badge from Candice.
Season 13: DP Sinnoh League Victors2010Sinnoh League Victors closes the journey. Ash finally beats Volkner after an interrupted first match, then defeats Paul in a full battle at the Lily of the Valley Conference, before losing in the semi-finals to Tobias, whose team is led by Darkrai. The series ends as the friends go their separate ways.In the movies
Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai2007The tenth film pits Dialga against Palkia in a battle that warps Alamos Town, with the long-feared Darkrai ultimately defending the town.
Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior2008Ash befriends Shaymin and is pulled into Giratina’s Reverse World as the villain Zero tries to steal Giratina’s power.
Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life2009Arceus awakens seeking revenge for an ancient betrayal, and Ash and friends travel back in time, with Dialga, Palkia and Giratina caught up in the crisis.The Sinnoh badge episodes
Dawn’s first day, the badge episodes and the Spear Pillar finale:
- DP001Following a Maiden’s Voyage! – Dawn chooses Piplup and sets out from Twinleaf Town.
- DP018
O’er the Rampardos We Watched! – Ash’s rematch with Roark earns the Coal Badge. - DP037
The Grass Menagerie! – Ash defeats Gardenia for the Forest Badge. - DP040Top-Down Training! – Cynthia’s debut, defeating Paul in a full battle.
- DP068
A Triple Fighting Chance! – Maylene’s Cobble Badge. - DP083
A Crasher Course in Power! – Crasher Wake’s Fen Badge. - DP102
Shield with a Twist! – Ash beats Fantina for the Relic Badge. - DP108
Dealing With Defensive Types! – Gliscor wins the Mine Badge from Byron. - DP127
Sliding Into Seventh! – A four-on-four battle with Candice for the Icicle Badge. - DP152The Battle Finale of Legend! – Cyrus summons Dialga and Palkia at the Spear Pillar and Team Galactic falls.
- DP179
The Eighth Wonder of the Sinnoh World! – Ash finally beats Volkner for the Beacon Badge.
What’s new in Sinnoh
Gameplay and features
Within Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, the game follows a similar gameplay pattern to older games like Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, with the player’s goal being to reach the top and catch all the Pokémon. These games, though, showcase quite a few new features and revive others.
The night and day system: this feature, which was once present in the second generation of Pokémon games, makes its return, with smoother and more accurate shifts that affect the gameplay and the Pokémon spawns heavily.
New battle system: the games also spotlight new battle mechanics, where some moves are completely changed from special to physical. Hyper Beam, which is a Normal-type move (and so, under the old rules, automatically a physical attack), is now shifted into a special move while still being a Normal-type attack. Although this feature is highly controversial, it still added a lot of versatility to Pokémon attacks, making some Pokémon more useful and way stronger than they ever were.
Internet connectivity: as the Nintendo DS has a Wi-Fi system, it allows the games to connect to the internet. This unlocks several options for the player, like chatting with other players online, battling them or even trading Pokémon through the Global Trade Station (GTS), where a player puts a Pokémon online for trade and will receive a trade request if someone finds and wants that Pokémon.
Super Contests: the Pokémon Contests that were once featured in the third-generation games are now called Super Contests, with changed mechanics. The Contests now follow three rounds. The first round is the Dressing Round, where the player has to dress their selected Pokémon according to a certain theme with different apparel and accessories, within a time limit. The second round is the Dance Round, where the Pokémon selected by the player has to mimic the dance moves of the lead dancer, or try to make moves hard to mimic if they are the lead dancer. The third round is the Appeal Round, which is similar to the Contests in the third-generation games, where Pokémon will use their moves to appeal to the judges. This round now features three judges instead of one, and four appeal turns instead of five. If the player’s Pokémon is the only one to appeal to a certain judge, this will earn them extra points.
Breeding system changes: the breeding system changed slightly in Diamond and Pearl, as Pokémon hatching from Eggs now have a level of 1 instead of 5. The games also reuse a few breeding mechanics that were only present in Pokémon Emerald. If the player attaches an Everstone to the female bred Pokémon, it will increase the chance of passing one of the parents’ Natures to the Egg. Moreover, having a Pokémon with the Flame Body Ability or the Magma Armor Ability on the team with an Egg will lower the number of required steps to hatch it.
In depth: every Generation IV system
Sinnoh introduced more new systems than any generation since the third. Here is each one, with the fine print.
Connecting to other games: Wi-Fi, Pal Park and the Wii
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl both offer very versatile connectivity options, as they can be linked to titles from the fourth and the third generations. The games can also connect to the Nintendo Wii console and a few of its games, like My Pokémon Ranch and Pokémon Battle Revolution.
Fourth-generation connectivity: through the Nintendo DS’s internal wireless connection, the games can be linked to each other, Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver. This allows the trade of Pokémon between these versions, along with the items they hold. The Pokémon Ranger series can also send special Pokémon to Diamond and Pearl, such as the Manaphy Egg, though only one way.
Third-generation connectivity: it is one of the features Pokémon players had always waited for, as this allows them to transfer their Pokémon from the older generations of the game into these ones, using Pal Park. It is important to know, though, that the transfer goes only one way, as Pokémon can only be transferred from the third generation to the fourth, and not the opposite.
Locally, players link over DS Wireless to trade and battle, including four-player Multi Battles, and can also explore the Underground together, cook Poffins and enter Super Contests. Online, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection added the Global Trade Station plus battles, trades and voice chat with registered friends through 12-digit Friend Codes, until the service closed on 20 May 2014. After the National Pokédex, Pal Park imports up to six Pokémon every 24 hours from Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed or LeafGreen in the Game Boy Advance slot; the move is one-way, and it cannot be done on a DSi or 3DS, which lack that slot. The games trade freely with Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver, receive special Pokémon such as the Manaphy Egg from the Pokémon Ranger games, link to Pokémon Battle Revolution and My Pokémon Ranch on Wii, and can pass Pokémon on to Black and White through Poké Transfer. Diamond, Pearl and Japanese Platinum connect with nineteen other games, more than any other core series titles.
Can I catch them all?
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl feature a total of 493 Pokémon, with 107 new ones that appear for the first time in Pokémon games. Quite a few of these Pokémon are game exclusive, while there are certain ones that can only be obtained through unique ways, including the Swarm Pokémon and Mansion Pokémon.
Version exclusives
Game-exclusive Pokémon: these Pokémon are either in Pokémon Diamond or in Pokémon Pearl – twenty each, counting the mascot.
Exclusive to Diamond
Seel#086
Dewgong#087
Scyther#123
Murkrow#198
Scizor#212
Larvitar#246
Pupitar#247
Tyranitar#248
Poochyena#261
Mightyena#262
Aron#304
Lairon#305
Aggron#306
Kecleon#352
Cranidos#408
Rampardos#409
Honchkrow#430
Stunky#434
Skuntank#435
Dialga#483
The Seel, Scyther, Murkrow, Larvitar, Poochyena, Aron, Kecleon, Cranidos and Stunky lines – and Dialga, the Steel/Dragon Legendary of time.
Exclusive to Pearl
Slowpoke#079
Slowbro#080
Pinsir#127
Slowking#199
Misdreavus#200
Houndour#228
Houndoom#229
Stantler#234
Spheal#363
Sealeo#364
Walrein#365
Bagon#371
Shelgon#372
Salamence#373
Shieldon#410
Bastiodon#411
Mismagius#429
Glameow#431
Purugly#432
Palkia#484
The Slowpoke, Pinsir, Misdreavus, Houndour, Stantler, Spheal, Bagon, Shieldon and Glameow lines – and Palkia, the Water/Dragon Legendary of space.
The fossils differ too: Diamond digs up the Skull Fossil (Cranidos) in the Underground, Pearl the Armor Fossil (Shieldon).
What Sinnoh leaves out
Fifty-six species never appear in either version. The Kanto, Johto and Hoenn starters, Tangela, the legendary birds and beasts, Lugia, Ho-Oh, the Regis, Latias and Latios, Kyogre, Groudon and Rayquaza all have to come through Pal Park from the Game Boy Advance games (Platinum and HeartGold & SoulSilver later added many of them); Mew, Celebi, Jirachi and Deoxys are event Pokémon; Manaphy arrives as an Egg from Pokémon Ranger, and Phione is bred from it; and Darkrai, Shaymin and Arceus wait behind key items that were never distributed for Diamond and Pearl. Each version also lacks the other’s twenty exclusives, so without trading neither game gets anywhere near 493.
Starter Pokémon
The Sinnoh starters, with how each one fares against the Gyms:
TurtwigGrass · Grotle (18) → Torterra (32)
ChimcharFire · Monferno (14) → Infernape (36)
PiplupWater · Prinplup (16) → Empoleon (36)
- Turtwig: The slow, sturdy option: Torterra gains the Ground type at Lv. 32, beating Roark, Crasher Wake’s Quagsire and Volkner’s Electric types, but its four-times Ice weakness makes Candice a worry.
- Chimchar: Fire types are scarce in the Sinnoh Pokédex, so Chimchar fills a real gap. Monferno turns Fire/Fighting at Lv. 14, flattening Gardenia, Byron and Candice, though Roark and Crasher Wake are awkward.
- Piplup: Piplup handles Roark with ease, and Empoleon’s Water/Steel typing, gained at Lv. 36, brings a long list of resistances, though Gardenia’s Grass types and Volkner’s Electric types need care.
Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
- DialgaSpear Pillar (Diamond)
- PalkiaSpear Pillar (Pearl)
GiratinaTurnback Cave
UxieLake Acuity
MespritRoams Sinnoh
AzelfLake Valor
HeatranStark Mountain
RegigigasSnowpoint Temple
CresseliaRoams Sinnoh
DarkraiEvent only
ShayminEvent only
ArceusEvent only
ManaphyPokémon Ranger
PhioneBred from Manaphy
Dialga – Lv. 47, Spear Pillar, Mt. Coronet (Diamond). Encountered at the story’s climax after Cyrus is beaten; Diamond only. A Master Ball from Cyrus is received just before.
Palkia – Lv. 47, Spear Pillar, Mt. Coronet (Pearl). Encountered at the story’s climax after Cyrus is beaten; Pearl only.
Giratina – Lv. 70, Turnback Cave (both versions). After entering the Hall of Fame, pass three pillar rooms within 30 rooms of Turnback Cave; Giratina is in the room after the third pillar. It reappears if the player runs away. Altered Forme only.
Uxie – Lv. 50, Acuity Cavern, Lake Acuity. Available after the Spear Pillar; reached by Surf.
Mesprit – Lv. 50, Roaming Sinnoh. Meet it in Verity Cavern after the Spear Pillar; it flees and roams, tracked with the Marking Map app.
Azelf – Lv. 50, Valor Cavern, Lake Valor. Available after the Spear Pillar; reached by Surf.
Heatran – Lv. 70, Stark Mountain, Battle Zone. After the National Pokédex, accompany Buck through Stark Mountain, speak to his grandfather in the Survival Area, and Buck returns the Magma Stone; Heatran then appears in the innermost chamber. It reappears if the player runs.
Regigigas – Lv. 70, Snowpoint Temple B5F. The temple opens after the Hall of Fame and National Pokédex; Regirock, Regice and Registeel (all via Pal Park) must be in the party. It does not return if defeated or fled from.
Cresselia – Lv. 50, Fullmoon Island, then roaming. After the Hall of Fame and National Pokédex, help Eldritch’s son in Canalave City by visiting Fullmoon Island; Cresselia flees and roams, leaving the Lunar Wing.
Darkrai – Lv. 40, Newmoon Island. Requires the Member Card, which was never distributed for Diamond and Pearl; legitimately obtained only through events or trading.
Shaymin – Lv. 30, Flower Paradise, via the Seabreak Path off Route 224. Requires Oak’s Letter, which was never distributed for Diamond and Pearl; events or trading only.
Arceus – Lv. 80, Hall of Origin, above the Spear Pillar. Requires the Azure Flute, never distributed for the DS games; Arceus came only through event distributions.
Manaphy – Lv. 1 (hatched), Pokémon Ranger (Egg transfer). Complete the special mission in Pokémon Ranger to send a Manaphy Egg to Diamond or Pearl.
Phione – Lv. 1 (hatched), Day Care, Solaceon Town. Breed Manaphy with Ditto; the Egg hatches into Phione.
Gift Pokémon, in-game trades and trade evolutions
Pokémon you are simply handed:
- Turtwig, Chimchar or Piplup – Route 201, by Lake Verity (Professor Rowan’s briefcase). Chosen at the start; Lv. 5
- Eevee – Hearthome City (Bebe). After the National Pokédex; Lv. 5
- Happiny (Egg) – Hearthome City west gate (a travelling Hiker). Diamond and Pearl only
- Riolu (Egg) – Iron Island (Riley). As thanks for clearing Team Galactic off the island
- Cranidos or Shieldon – Oreburgh Mining Museum. Revive a Skull Fossil (Diamond) or Armor Fossil (Pearl) dug up in the Underground; Lv. 20
- Omanyte, Kabuto, Aerodactyl, Lileep, Anorith – Oreburgh Mining Museum. Revive the Helix, Dome, Old Amber, Root or Claw fossils found in the Underground after the National Pokédex; Lv. 20
- Manaphy (Egg) – Sent from Pokémon Ranger. Special mission in Pokémon Ranger
Pokémon obtained through in-game trades: these Pokémon are obtained in exchange for certain Pokémon. They have unique names and will hold either Berries or an item.
| You give | You get | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Machop | Abra (Kazza, holding an Oran Berry) | Oreburgh City |
| Buizel | Chatot (Charap, holding a Leppa Berry) | Eterna Condominiums, Eterna City |
| Medicham | Haunter (Gaspar, holding an Everstone, so it will not evolve when traded) | Snowpoint City |
| Finneon | Magikarp (Foppa, holding a Lum Berry; original Trainer Meister) | Route 226 |
Sixteen evolutions available in Diamond & Pearl only happen through trading, twelve of them with the Pokémon holding an item: Kadabra into Alakazam, Machoke into Machamp, Graveler into Golem, Haunter into Gengar, Onix into Steelix (Metal Coat), Scyther into Scizor (Metal Coat), Slowpoke into Slowking (King’s Rock), Poliwhirl into Politoed (King’s Rock), Seadra into Kingdra (Dragon Scale), Porygon into Porygon2 (Up-Grade), Clamperl into Huntail or Gorebyss (DeepSeaTooth or DeepSeaScale), Electabuzz into Electivire (Electirizer), Magmar into Magmortar (Magmarizer), Rhydon into Rhyperior (Protector), Dusclops into Dusknoir (Reaper Cloth), Porygon2 into Porygon-Z (Dubious Disc).
Daily Sinnoh: swarms, the Trophy Garden and the clock
Sinnoh is the first region whose wild Pokémon change with the calendar. Once the National Pokédex is in hand, two daily features add species that never otherwise appear in its tall grass.
Swarm Pokémon
If the player visits the Professor’s assistant’s house in Sandgem Town and talks to their sister (or watches the TV news), she will inform them of certain Pokémon swarming a specific area. A different Pokémon appears each day, and within Sinnoh these Pokémon can only be found in the wild through this manner. Swarms begin once you have the National Pokédex and have entered the Hall of Fame.
PidgeyRoute 229
DelibirdRoute 216
MagnemiteFuego Ironworks
PhanpyRoute 207
Farfetch’dRoute 221
SmoochumLake Acuity
DoduoRoute 201
ZigzagoonRoute 202
DrowzeeRoute 215
SurskitLake Verity
KrabbyRoute 226
SlakothEterna Forest
VoltorbRoute 218
MakuhitaRoute 225
CuboneRoute 203
NosepassRoute 206
LickitungLake Valor
SkittyRoute 222
NatuRoute 224
ElectrikeValley Windworks
DunsparceRoute 208
SpoinkRoute 214
SnubbullRoute 209
SpindaRoute 227
SwinubRoute 217
AbsolRoute 213
CorsolaRoute 230
BeldumRoute 228
Mansion Pokémon: the Trophy Garden
There is a special mansion on Route 212 with tall grass in its back garden; there the player can encounter Pichu, Pikachu, Kricketune, Staravia and Roselia. If the player talks to the mansion’s owner, Mr. Backlot, in the right-hand room, he will mention that a special Pokémon has been visiting the garden today. If they search the grass, they will encounter one of the special Mansion Pokémon. These Pokémon have a low encounter rate and change every day. The player can find up to two special Pokémon at a time: the special Pokémon of that day, and the special Pokémon of the day before.
Clefairy#035
Jigglypuff#039
Marill#183
Azurill#298
Meowth#052
Chansey#113
Plusle#311
Minun#312
Eevee#133
Porygon#137
Castform#351
Bonsly#438
Cleffa#173
Igglybuff#174
Mime Jr.#439
Happiny#440
Other things that change with the clock
- Honey trees – slather Honey on one of 21 yellow trees and return at least six hours later; Munchlax only ever shakes a handful of trees chosen by your Trainer ID. See our Honey tree and Munchlax guide.
- The Valley Windworks – a Drifloon floats outside every Friday once Team Galactic have been cleared out.
- The Great Marsh – after the National Pokédex, its daily special visitors change, and the binoculars on the observation deck show you what is about.
- Dual-slot encounters – slot a Game Boy Advance Pokémon game into a DS or DS Lite and extra species appear on set routes: Ruby adds Pokémon such as Seedot and Zangoose, Sapphire Lotad and Seviper, Emerald Pineco and Teddiursa, FireRed Caterpie and Growlithe, LeafGreen Weedle and Vulpix.
- Snowpoint City on 12 January – diamond dust falls instead of snow, in honour of the game director’s birthday.
The Sinnoh region
The games take place in the Sinnoh region, which is located north of Johto, Kanto and Hoenn. It is a mountainous region, with most of its routes being land ones. The Sinnoh region is said to be the first one ever created and is associated with the legend of the creation of the world and its Pokémon. Legends tell that within the deep nothingness that once filled the world, a special Pokémon Egg appeared from the void. From the Egg hatched Arceus, the first of all Pokémon. The powerful Arceus then created Palkia, Dialga and Giratina and gave them the power to control, respectively, space, time and dimensions. Giratina was very violent and was banished for that reason. Then, Arceus created Mesprit, Azelf and Uxie, representing, respectively, emotion, willpower and knowledge.
After that, Arceus created the Sinnoh region and split it into two sections with Mt. Coronet. During this split, Stark Mountain formed and Heatran appeared beneath its volcanic depths. Finally, Arceus created the three legendary orbs (the Griseous, Adamant and Lustrous Orbs) and went into an eternal sleep within the Hall of Origin. Similarly to Arceus, Mew came into being by itself later on, and within its DNA it had the essence of all Pokémon ever to exist.
It is said that the Sinnoh region is also the birthplace of human civilisation, which started flourishing from there and spreading to the other regions that were forming. The region has many famous and important locations, some of which are related to its Legendary Pokémon. The Spear Pillar is linked to the creation trio of Dialga, Palkia and Giratina and is said to be their birthplace; it is also the path to the Hall of Origin, where Arceus slumbers. There are also the three legendary lakes, Lake Acuity, Lake Valor and Lake Verity, supposedly inhabited by three spirit Pokémon, respectively Uxie, Azelf and Mesprit.
Sinnoh is modelled on Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island, which is why it is the coldest region so far: Routes 216 and 217 lie under permanent snow, Snowpoint City is frozen all year and the whole map is split down the middle by the Mt. Coronet range. The region’s Pokémon Professor, as mentioned in the story, is Professor Rowan of Sandgem Town – the first Professor not based in the player’s hometown.
Sinnoh, in the order you reach it
Twinleaf Town and Lake Verity
Twinleaf Town sits in Sinnoh’s south-west corner, a quiet hamlet of just eight residents whose paths, seen from above, trace the kanji for earth; its slogan is ‘Fresh and Free!’. The player and Barry live here, and a TV special about a red Gyarados sends Barry racing to nearby Lake Verity in search of a legendary Pokémon. Verity is the lake of Mesprit, the being of emotion, said to rest in a cavern on the lake’s island. Commander Mars raids the lake during Team Galactic’s assault, and after the Spear Pillar Mesprit is found in its cavern, flees at once and roams Sinnoh. Once the player has left town, their mother will heal the team at home.
Pokémon of note: Starly, Bidoof, Psyduck, Mesprit (roaming after the Spear Pillar), Surskit (Lake Verity outbreak). Items: Running Shoes, Parcel, Odd Keystone (hidden by the pond, needs Surf).
Sandgem Town and Routes 201–202
Sandgem Town, on the south coast where the sea meets the sand, is home to Professor Rowan’s laboratory: the professor’s base is not in the player’s hometown, a series first. Rowan’s assistant, Lucas or Dawn, lives here with their family, and after the Hall of Fame the assistant’s sister passes on news of daily mass outbreaks. Route 201 links Sandgem with Twinleaf and the path to Lake Verity where the briefcase was dropped, while Route 202, heading north to Jubilife City, is where the assistant shows the player how to catch wild Pokémon. Later, Professor Oak arrives at the lab to upgrade the Pokédex, and Rowan hands over the Poké Radar.
Pokémon of note: Starly, Bidoof, Kricketot, Shinx (Route 202), Doduo (Route 201 outbreak), Zigzagoon (Route 202 outbreak). Items: Pokédex (Professor Rowan), Poké Radar (Professor Rowan, after the National Pokédex).
Jubilife City
Jubilife City is Sinnoh’s largest and most modern city, a hub of media and technology where Routes 202, 203, 204 and 218 meet. The Pokétch Company is based here and gives the player its wrist gadget once three Coupons have been collected from clowns in the streets, then adds new apps as Gym Badges are won. Jubilife TV, the Trainers’ School and the Global Terminal, home of the Global Trade Station, stand nearby. On the way back from Oreburgh, the player finds two Team Galactic grunts harassing Professor Rowan here, the first hint of the group’s wider ambitions.
Pokémon of note: Abra (Route 203), Shinx (Route 203), Budew (Route 204), Cubone (Route 203 outbreak). Items: Pokétch (three Coupons from the clowns), Memo Pad app (after the Coal Badge), Marking Map app (after three Badges).
Oreburgh City
Oreburgh City is a coal-mining town that grew up around Oreburgh Mine, where Gym Leader Roark doubles as the safety supervisor and lets Trainers train among the miners. His Rock-type Gym is the first stop on the Sinnoh League challenge. The Oreburgh Mining Museum tells the town’s story and revives fossils dug up in the Underground: the Skull Fossil (Cranidos) in Diamond and the Armor Fossil (Shieldon) in Pearl, plus older fossils once the National Pokédex is in hand. HM06 Rock Smash is found in Oreburgh Gate, and a local Trainer swaps an Abra nicknamed Kazza for a Machop.
Pokémon of note: Geodude, Onix, Zubat, Abra (in-game trade), Cranidos (Diamond fossil), Shieldon (Pearl fossil). Items: HM06 Rock Smash (Oreburgh Gate), TM76 Stealth Rock (Roark), Fossil revival (Oreburgh Mining Museum).
Floaroma Town and the Valley Windworks
Floaroma Town is wrapped in flower beds, and its flower shop provides the Sprayduck watering can for growing Berries. To the north, Floaroma Meadow is where the Honey man sells Honey for slathering on trees, and where Team Galactic grunts bully a local early in the adventure; beating them yields the Works Key. That key opens the Valley Windworks on Route 205, the wind-power plant that Commander Mars has seized to steal its electricity. Once Team Galactic have been chased out, a Drifloon drifts up to the Windworks gate every Friday.
Pokémon of note: Drifloon (Valley Windworks, Fridays), Pachirisu (Route 205), Shellos (Route 205), Combee (Honey trees), Electrike (Valley Windworks outbreak). Items: Works Key, Honey, Sprayduck.
Eterna Forest and the Old Chateau
Eterna Forest is a tangle of old trees between Floaroma and Eterna City, gloomy enough that newcomers are partnered with Cheryl, a Trainer who heals the team between Double Battles. Behind a small tree that needs Cut stands the Old Chateau, a decaying mansion; Gardenia, waiting outside, warns of ghosts and seems more nervous than she admits. Inside, Gastly drift through dusty rooms and an Old Gateau, a very old cake, sits waiting to be found. After the National Pokédex, Rotom appears at night in the room with the old television, and the Moss Rock deep in the forest lets Eevee evolve into Leafeon.
Pokémon of note: Rotom (Old Chateau, at night, after the National Pokédex), Gastly (Old Chateau), Buneary, Budew, Wurmple, Slakoth (Eterna Forest outbreak). Items: Old Gateau (Old Chateau), TM90 Substitute (Old Chateau).
Eterna City
Eterna City is an old town steeped in history, with an ancient statue of a legendary Pokémon standing in its square. Cynthia first meets the player here and hands over HM01 Cut. The Underground Man, who lives in the city, gives out the Explorer Kit that opens the Underground, and the Rad Rickshaw cycle shop supplies a Bicycle once its owner is freed from the Team Galactic building, Commander Jupiter’s base on the city’s edge. Gardenia’s Grass-type Gym, laid out as an indoor garden, requires beating every one of her Trainers before she will battle. In the Eterna Condominiums, a resident swaps a Chatot nicknamed Charap for a Buizel.
Pokémon of note: Chatot (in-game trade for a Buizel), Turtwig (Gardenia’s first partner), Roserade (Gardenia’s ace). Items: HM01 Cut (Cynthia), Explorer Kit (Underground Man), Bicycle (Rad Rickshaw), TM86 Grass Knot (Gardenia).
Mt. Coronet
Mt. Coronet is the mountain range running down Sinnoh’s spine, splitting the region into eastern and western halves; legend holds that it was the first land shaped when the world began. Its tunnels link Routes 207, 208, 211 and 216, and its strange magnetic field makes Magneton evolve into Magnezone and Nosepass into Probopass. Early on, the player meets a calm, nameless man in the southern cave, later revealed as Cyrus. An underground lake hides Feebas on only a handful of fishing tiles, and at the summit, reached with Rock Climb, Strength and Surf, stands the Spear Pillar.
Pokémon of note: Feebas (underground lake, special fishing tiles), Bronzor, Gible (Wayward Cave, hidden entrance), Magnezone and Probopass (evolve here). Items: Red Chain (Cyrus’s key to the Spear Pillar).
Hearthome City
Hearthome City is a warm crossroads where people and Pokémon gather, built around Amity Square, a park where small, friendly Pokémon can stroll beside their Trainers. The Super Contest Hall hosts Visual, Dance and Acting competitions, the Poffin House lets players cook treats together, and the Pokémon Fan Club gives out the Poffin Case. Bebe, who runs Sinnoh’s Pokémon Storage System, lives here and gives an Eevee after the National Pokédex, while a traveller at the west gate hands over an Egg that hatches into Happiny. Fantina’s Ghost-type Gym can only be challenged after Surf is obtained, so in Diamond and Pearl it is the fifth Gym.
Pokémon of note: Eevee (gift from Bebe), Happiny (Egg from a traveller), Gastly (Lost Tower, Route 209), Snubbull (Route 209 outbreak). Items: Poffin Case (Pokémon Fan Club), Happiny Egg (west gate), TM65 Shadow Claw (Fantina).
Solaceon Town and the Solaceon Ruins
Solaceon Town is a peaceful farming village between Routes 209 and 210, home to the Pokémon Day Care and a little newspaper office that asks Trainers to show it particular Pokémon. Two residents add Pokétch apps: the Egg Monitor from the Day Care man and Pokémon History from a local. Just outside, the Solaceon Ruins burrow into the hillside, a maze of stone chambers inhabited by Unown, with different letters gathering in different rooms. North of town on Route 210, a flock of headache-stricken Psyduck blocks the path until Cynthia’s SecretPotion clears it.
Pokémon of note: Unown (Solaceon Ruins), Psyduck (the Route 210 blockade). Items: Egg Monitor app (Day Care), Pokémon History app.
Veilstone City
Veilstone City is hemmed in by rocky cliffs on Sinnoh’s east side, a city built around meteorites said to have fallen from the sky long ago. Its Department Store is the biggest shop in the region, and the Game Corner’s slot machines draw in, among others, Maylene’s unnamed father. Maylene’s Fighting-type Gym awards the Cobble Badge. Team Galactic’s headquarters and warehouse dominate the city’s north; late in the story the player storms the building, beats Saturn and Cyrus, receives a Master Ball from Cyrus and frees Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf from captivity.
Pokémon of note: Lucario (Maylene’s ace), Spoink (Route 214 outbreak), Drowzee (Route 215 outbreak). Items: Master Ball (Cyrus), TM60 Drain Punch (Maylene), Counter app (Department Store).
Pastoria City and the Great Marsh
Pastoria City grew up beside the Great Marsh, a protected wetland that doubles as Sinnoh’s Safari Zone, with an observation deck whose binoculars show what is lurking in the reeds. Gym Leader Crasher Wake is a masked, wrestling-style showman who pays for the city’s upkeep with his battle winnings, and his Water-type Gym raises and lowers its water with switches. After his Fen Badge, a Team Galactic grunt boasting of a bomb flees to Valor Lakefront. The marsh is the only home of Carnivine, alongside Croagunk, Skorupi and the Wooper line, with special visitors after the National Pokédex.
Pokémon of note: Carnivine (Great Marsh only), Croagunk, Skorupi, Wooper and Quagsire. Items: TM55 Brine (Crasher Wake), Safari Balls (30 per visit).
Celestic Town
Celestic Town is a tiny, ancient village tucked into the mountains north of Route 210, where fog often hangs over the path. It guards Sinnoh’s oldest legends: a small shrine on the hill holds ancient images of the region’s legendary Pokémon. The town elder, Cynthia’s grandmother, rewards the delivery of the Old Charm with HM03 Surf. It is also here that the calm stranger from Mt. Coronet reveals himself as Cyrus, the leader of Team Galactic, after the player stops a grunt who plans to damage the town. A resident later gives the Analog Watch app.
Pokémon of note: Psyduck (the Route 210 blockade). Items: HM03 Surf (Cynthia’s grandmother), Analog Watch app.
Canalave City and Iron Island
Canalave City is a working port split in two by a canal and joined by a drawbridge; its slogan is simply ‘Cargo Port’. The Canalave Library, the only library in Sinnoh, holds shelves of books on the region’s myths, and it is here that Rowan, Barry and the assistant are gathered with the player when Team Galactic’s bomb shakes Lake Valor. Byron’s four-storey Steel-type Gym follows a fourth battle with Barry. The sailor Eldritch runs the ferry to Iron Island, a former mine where Riley helps the player drive out Team Galactic and gives a Riolu Egg; after the Hall of Fame, his son’s nightmares lead to Fullmoon Island.
Pokémon of note: Riolu (Egg from Riley), Steelix (wild on Iron Island), Onix, Graveler. Items: TM91 Flash Cannon (Byron), Riolu Egg (Riley), Metal Coat (Byron, on Iron Island after the National Pokédex).
Lake Valor
Lake Valor, on Sinnoh’s eastern side, is the lake of Azelf, the being of willpower. Its shore, Valor Lakefront, is a holiday resort built around the Hotel Grand Lake, where a guest in one of the suites hands over the Coin Toss app. Cynthia is found here mid-game researching Azelf and offers a SecretPotion. After Byron’s badge, Team Galactic set off a Galactic Bomb that drains the lake and leaves its Magikarp flapping on the mud, while Commander Saturn makes off with Azelf. Once the Spear Pillar is over, Azelf waits in its cavern at Lv. 50.
Pokémon of note: Azelf (Lv. 50, after the Spear Pillar), Magikarp, Psyduck, Lickitung (outbreak). Items: Coin Toss app (Hotel Grand Lake), SecretPotion (Cynthia, Valor Lakefront).
Snowpoint City and Snowpoint Temple
Snowpoint City, at the frozen northern tip of Sinnoh, lies under snow all year and is reached through the blizzards of Routes 216 and 217. Candice’s Ice-type Gym makes challengers slide across ice and smash through snowballs. North of town, Lake Acuity is home to Uxie, the being of knowledge, which Commander Jupiter seizes after overpowering Barry. A resident trades a Haunter nicknamed Gaspar, holding an Everstone, for a Medicham, and the harbour’s ship later carries Trainers to the Battle Zone. Snowpoint Temple, open after the Hall of Fame and National Pokédex, hides Regigigas on its sixth and lowest floor.
Pokémon of note: Uxie (Lake Acuity, Lv. 50), Snover, Sneasel, Regigigas (Snowpoint Temple, Lv. 70), Haunter (in-game trade), Smoochum (Lake Acuity outbreak). Items: TM72 Avalanche (Candice), Never-Melt Ice (Snowpoint Temple B4F), Move Tester app (after the Icicle Badge).
Sunyshore City
Sunyshore City is a sun-soaked port on Sinnoh’s eastern tip, criss-crossed by raised walkways lined with solar panels. When the player arrives, Volkner’s endless remodelling of his Electric-type Gym has strained the city’s power supply into rolling brownouts, and his friend Flint of the Elite Four is trying to rekindle his love of battling. The Vista Lighthouse, where Volkner is first found, looks out towards the Pokémon League. Sunyshore’s Pokétch developers hand out the Calendar, Dot Artist and Spinner apps in return for seeing Pokémon with particular Natures.
Pokémon of note: Luxray (Volkner’s ace), Octillery (Volkner’s team), Raichu (Volkner’s team). Items: TM57 Charge Beam (Volkner), HM07 Waterfall, Calendar, Dot Artist and Spinner apps.
Victory Road and the Pokémon League
The Pokémon League stands on an island north of Route 223 and west of Route 224, approached through Victory Road, a cave of boulders and a great waterfall that lies just south of the League building. A guard admits only Trainers holding all eight Sinnoh Badges, and the lobby combines a healing counter with a Poké Mart. Barry waits for a fifth battle before the final challenge. Four themed chambers, Aaron’s, Bertha’s, Flint’s and Lucian’s, each with a floor coloured to match its type, lead to Champion Cynthia’s room.
Pokémon of note: Garchomp (Cynthia’s ace, Lv. 66), Spiritomb (Cynthia’s lead), Drapion (Aaron’s ace), Infernape (Flint’s ace). Items: Sitrus Berry (held by every Elite Four ace and Cynthia’s Garchomp), ₱13,200 prize money from Cynthia.
Spear Pillar
Spear Pillar is a ring of broken columns on the summit of Mt. Coronet, a temple-like ruin bound up with the creation of time and space. Cyrus retreats here after the battle at his headquarters and uses the Red Chain to open a way for Dialga (Diamond) or Palkia (Pearl). Barry joins the player for a Multi Battle against Mars and Jupiter, Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf appear to hold back the legendary’s power, and the player beats Cyrus before facing the legendary at Lv. 47. Legend places the Hall of Origin, where Arceus is said to rest, at the top of a stairway that only the Azure Flute can summon.
Pokémon of note: Dialga (Diamond, Lv. 47), Palkia (Pearl, Lv. 47), Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf (appear in the story), Arceus (Hall of Origin, Lv. 80). Items: Red Chain, Azure Flute (never distributed for Diamond and Pearl).
The Battle Zone (Fight Area, Survival Area, Resort Area and Stark Mountain)
The Battle Zone is a separate island to the north-east of the mainland, reached by ship after the National Pokédex. The Fight Area is home to the Battle Tower, where Palmer reigns as Tower Tycoon and Barry offers weekend rematches; the Survival Area is where Buck’s grandfather lives; and the Resort Area houses the Ribbon Syndicate. Routes 225 to 230 circle the island with tough Trainers and outbreak spots. Stark Mountain, a rugged volcano thick with its own ash, rises at the end of Route 227: Buck takes the Magma Stone from its depths, and once he returns it, Heatran appears in the innermost chamber at Lv. 70.
Pokémon of note: Heatran (Stark Mountain, Lv. 70), Magby (Stark Mountain, Poké Radar), Beldum (Route 228 outbreak), Spinda (Route 227 outbreak), Corsola (Route 230 outbreak). Items: Magma Stone (Buck’s quest), TM50 Overheat (Stark Mountain), Flame Plate (hidden in Stark Mountain), Life Orb (Stark Mountain exterior).
Turnback Cave and the Sendoff Spring
Sendoff Spring is a still, misty spring north of Route 214, whose very name suggests saying farewell to the departed. On its northern side lies Turnback Cave, a shifting maze that only opens after the Hall of Fame. Explorers must find three rooms holding stone pillars within 30 rooms, or be turned back to the entrance, and an inscription speaks of a place where two worlds overlap. Beyond the third pillar, Giratina waits at Lv. 70. If it has gone, its chamber instead yields a Reaper Cloth, Rare Bone or Stardust depending on how many rooms were crossed.
Pokémon of note: Giratina (Lv. 70). Items: Reaper Cloth (three rooms), Rare Bone (4–15 rooms), Stardust (16–30 rooms).
Fullmoon Island and Newmoon Island
These twin islands off Canalave City are reached on the sailor Eldritch’s ferry. After the Hall of Fame and the National Pokédex, Eldritch’s young son is tormented by nightmares, murmuring ‘Dar… Dark…’. Sailing to Fullmoon Island with Eldritch, the player meets Cresselia, which flees and roams Sinnoh at Lv. 50, leaving behind a Lunar Wing that cures the boy. Newmoon Island, its shadowy counterpart, is the lair of Darkrai, the likely source of the nightmares, but the Member Card needed to sail there was never distributed for Diamond and Pearl.
Pokémon of note: Cresselia (roaming, Lv. 50), Darkrai (Newmoon Island, Lv. 40). Items: Lunar Wing, Member Card (never distributed for Diamond and Pearl).
Flower Paradise and the Hall of Origin
Two mythical sites lie beyond Sinnoh’s normal map. Flower Paradise is a hidden meadow at the end of the Seabreak Path off Route 224, where Shaymin waits at Lv. 30; the path opens only with Oak’s Letter. The Hall of Origin lies above the Spear Pillar, reached by a stairway summoned with the Azure Flute, and there Arceus, said to have shaped the universe, can be battled at Lv. 80. Neither key item was distributed for Diamond and Pearl, so Shaymin and Arceus legitimately arrived only through events, although the tweaking glitch can reach both places.
Pokémon of note: Shaymin (Land Forme, Lv. 30), Arceus (Lv. 80). Items: Oak’s Letter (never distributed for Diamond and Pearl), Azure Flute (never distributed for Diamond and Pearl).
Characters & Team Galactic
Sinnoh’s cast: a space-obsessed villain who wants to remake the universe, a rival who fines you for bumping into him, a Champion who doubles as the region’s mythologist, and five Stat Trainers who lend a hand along the way.
Team Galactic
Team Galactic
Team Galactic is the evil criminal organisation that bases itself in the Sinnoh region. It doesn’t simply aim to control the Pokémon world like Team Magma, Team Aqua or Team Rocket: they aim to completely recreate the universe itself according to their own rules. Their mad motives are issued from the Team Galactic leader, Cyrus, whose hunger for power is unmatched. To realise their goal, they seek to awaken and use the Legendary Pokémon that control time and space, Dialga and Palkia. The high executives in Team Galactic are named after objects within the solar system, and they are as follows: Saturn, Mars and Jupiter.
It will become part of the player’s task to keep these guys in check and prevent and mitigate their evildoings as much as possible as they adventure through Sinnoh.
The main cast
Lucas
Lucas (Kouki in Japanese) is the male player character, a new Trainer from Twinleaf Town in a red beret who begins his journey with a Pokémon borrowed from Professor Rowan’s briefcase at Lake Verity. If the player chooses Dawn instead, Lucas becomes Rowan’s assistant: he collects the briefcase after the Starly attack, shows the player how to catch Pokémon on Route 202, hands over the Dowsing Machine app on Route 207 and helps against Team Galactic. His family lives in Sandgem Town, where his sister later reports mass outbreaks. He returns in Platinum and in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Dawn
Dawn (Hikari in Japanese) is the female player character, instantly recognisable in her white beanie with a pink Poké Ball motif, pink scarf and pink boots. When the player picks Lucas, she becomes Professor Rowan’s assistant and fills the same role, from the Lake Verity briefcase to battling Team Galactic. In the anime a separate Dawn, also called Hikari, joins Ash and Brock for the whole Diamond and Pearl series as a rookie Pokémon Coordinator whose first partner is Piplup, following in the footsteps of her mother Johanna, a Top Coordinator.
Barry, your rival
Barry (Jun in Japanese) is the player’s best friend and rival, a hyperactive boy from Twinleaf Town who is always in a rush and threatens to fine anyone he crashes into. His impatience starts the story: after a TV special he drags the player to Lake Verity, and when the briefcase opens he deliberately takes the starter with a type advantage. He battles the player on Route 203, in Hearthome City, Pastoria City and Canalave City and at the Pokémon League, building a team around Staraptor, Heracross and Snorlax. A crushing defeat by Jupiter at Lake Acuity changes him, and he fights beside the player at the Spear Pillar. His father is Palmer, the Tower Tycoon he longs to match; after the League, Barry offers weekend rematches in the Fight Area.
Professor Rowan
Professor Rowan (Nanakamado in Japanese) is Sinnoh’s Pokémon Professor, a stern, white-haired researcher who specialises in Pokémon evolution. Unusually, his lab is in Sandgem Town rather than the player’s hometown. Gruff at first, he lets the player keep the Pokémon used to fight off the Starly, entrusts them with the Pokédex and sends his assistant along to help. After the National Pokédex upgrade, he gives the player the Poké Radar.
Cynthia
Cynthia (Shirona in Japanese) is Sinnoh’s Champion, a blonde Trainer dressed in black who spends the adventure researching Sinnoh’s myths. She gives HM01 Cut in Eterna City, a SecretPotion at Valor Lakefront and an Old Charm to deliver to her grandmother in Celestic Town. Her Champion team, led by Spiritomb and anchored by Garchomp, has made her one of the series’ most celebrated opponents.
Cyrus, leader of Team Galactic
Cyrus (Akagi in Japanese) is the cold, calculating leader of Team Galactic. Convinced that spirit and emotion make the world imperfect, he plans to use Dialga or Palkia to erase the universe and build a new one in which he alone is in control. He first appears as a nameless man in Mt. Coronet, reveals himself in Celestic Town, uses the captured lake trio to create the Red Chain, and hands the player a Master Ball after losing at his Veilstone headquarters. Beaten again at the Spear Pillar, he disappears, vowing to try again; Platinum expands his story into the Distortion World.
Commander Mars
Mars is the red-haired Team Galactic Commander who first clashes with the player at the Valley Windworks, where her grunts are stealing electricity. Fighting alongside her Purugly, she later leads the raid on Lake Verity, and she teams up with Jupiter against the player and Barry at the Spear Pillar.
Commander Jupiter
Jupiter is the purple-haired Commander in charge of the Team Galactic building in Eterna City, where she battles the player for the first time. She later overpowers Barry at Lake Acuity and makes off with Uxie, then partners Mars at the Spear Pillar. Her signature Pokémon is Skuntank.
Commander Saturn
Saturn is the blue-haired Commander who leads the Lake Valor operation, seizing Azelf after the Galactic Bomb drains the lake. He battles the player again inside the Veilstone headquarters with his Toxicroak, and once Cyrus vanishes he is left in charge of what remains of Team Galactic.
Palmer, the Tower Tycoon
Palmer is the Tower Tycoon of the Battle Tower in the Battle Zone and Barry’s father, the man his son is desperate to live up to. Big-hearted and boisterous, he appears as a boss partway through the Battle Tower’s Single Battle challenge. Platinum later makes him one of the Battle Frontier’s five Frontier Brains.
Professor Oak
Kanto’s Professor Oak travels to Sinnoh once the player has seen the first 150 Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex, arriving at Rowan’s lab to upgrade it to the National Pokédex. He then runs Pal Park on Route 221, greeting migrated Pokémon from the Game Boy Advance games and handing over the Chain Counter Pokétch app. (His artwork here is from FireRed & LeafGreen.)
The Stat Trainers
Five young Trainers each join you for a stretch of the adventure in Double Battles, healing your team between fights, and later turn up in the Battle Zone as partners for the Battle Tower’s Multi Battles. Each is named, in Japanese, after a stat.
Cheryl
Cheryl walks with you through Eterna Forest, frightened of its Trainers and ghosts, with a Chansey that heals the party after every battle. She later brings a Blissey to the Battle Tower.
Mira
Mira is lost in Wayward Cave, off Route 206 under the cycling road, and needs escorting out; her Kadabra later becomes an Alakazam for the Battle Tower.
Riley
Riley, an Aura-sensing Trainer with a Lucario, helps clear Team Galactic from Iron Island and rewards you with a Riolu Egg.
Marley
Marley, quiet and dressed in black and white, accompanies you through the deep part of Victory Road to Route 224 with her Arcanine.
Buck
Buck, the red-haired adventurer with a Claydol, explores Stark Mountain with you, takes the Magma Stone and, once he puts it back, Heatran appears.
Gym Leaders
The eight Gym Leaders of the Sinnoh region. Stronger-than-average Trainers who each specialise in certain types of Pokémon, you’ll have to defeat all of them to obtain enough badges to take on the Elite Four in the Pokémon League.
The Sinnoh badge route – the order Diamond and Pearl expect (Maylene and Crasher Wake can be taken either way round, and Fantina must wait for Surf), with each Leader’s ace, a sensible team level and the TM they hand over:
- Coal BadgeRoark · Oreburgh CityRock · ace Cranidos Lv. 14Aim for Lv. 14–16 · TM76 Stealth Rock
- Forest BadgeGardenia · Eterna CityGrass · ace Roserade Lv. 22Aim for Lv. 22–24 · TM86 Grass Knot
- Cobble BadgeMaylene · Veilstone CityFighting · ace Lucario Lv. 30Aim for Lv. 30–32 · TM60 Drain Punch
- Fen BadgeCrasher Wake · Pastoria CityWater · ace Floatzel Lv. 30Aim for Lv. 30–32 · TM55 Brine
- Relic BadgeFantina · Hearthome CityGhost · ace Mismagius Lv. 36Aim for Lv. 36–38 · TM65 Shadow Claw
- Mine BadgeByron · Canalave CitySteel · ace Bastiodon Lv. 39Aim for Lv. 39–41 · TM91 Flash Cannon
- Icicle BadgeCandice · Snowpoint CityIce · ace Abomasnow Lv. 42Aim for Lv. 42–44 · TM72 Avalanche
- Beacon BadgeVolkner · Sunyshore CityElectric · ace Luxray Lv. 49Aim for Lv. 49–51 · TM57 Charge Beam
The eight Sinnoh Gym Leaders
Oreburgh Gym: Roark
A specialist in Rock-type Pokémon, and a name that sounds vaguely like Rock. He likes to be known as Roark the Rock. He is the son of Byron, the Gym Leader from Canalave City, and it’s implied that his grandfather is the Underground Man. His team consists of: Geodude (Level 12), a Rock/Ground type; Onix (Level 12), a Rock/Ground type; and Cranidos (Level 14), a pure Rock type.
Defeat Roark in order to obtain the Coal Badge and TM76 (Stealth Rock); the ability to use Rock Smash outside of battle will also be unlocked at this point.
“Welcome! This is the Oreburgh Pokémon Gym! I’m Roark, the Gym Leader! I’m but one Trainer who decided to walk proudly with Rock-type Pokémon! As the Gym Leader, I need to see your potential as a Trainer. And, I’ll need to see the toughness of the Pokémon that battle with you!” – Roark
Team: Geodude Lv. 12, Onix Lv. 12, Cranidos Lv. 14
Roark is Byron’s son and the safety supervisor of Oreburgh Mine, with a passion for digging up fossils that explains his Cranidos. He is the only Sinnoh Leader whose Gym team has no fully evolved Pokémon. Turtwig and Piplup hit his Rock and Ground types hard, and Chimchar players gain a Fighting type when Monferno evolves at Lv. 14. Anime debut: Shapes of Things to Come! (DP015). Reward: TM76 Stealth Rock. Badge: Rock Smash outside battle; obedience still capped at Lv. 10 until a second badge.
Eterna Gym: Gardenia
Gardenia’s area of strength lies in the training of Grass-type Pokémon. Gardenia loves being outdoors and spends most of her time exploring Eterna Forest when she’s not training or battling at her Gym; locals know her as the “Master of Vivid Plant Pokémon”. Gardenia requires that the player beats all of her students in the Gym before they can challenge her. Her team is made up of: Cherubi (Level 19), a pure Grass type; Turtwig (Level 19), a pure Grass type; and a Roserade (Level 22), a Grass/Poison type.
Defeat her to earn the Forest Badge and TM86 (Grass Knot), and unlock the ability to use Cut outside of battle.
“You kept me waiting! I’m Eterna’s Gym Leader, Gardenia, the Grass-type master! When I first saw you, I was convinced you’d find your way to me. My hunch was right on the money. You have a winning aura about you. So, anyway, this will be fun. Let’s have our battle!” – Gardenia
Team: Cherubi Lv. 19, Turtwig Lv. 19, Roserade Lv. 22
Gardenia loves exploring Eterna Forest yet admits to fearing the Old Chateau’s ghosts. Unusually, she insists that challengers beat all of her Gym Trainers first. Her Turtwig makes her the only Leader whose first partner is available to the player in the same game, and her Roserade holds a Sitrus Berry. Fire and Flying moves work well. Ash wins his Forest Badge in The Grass Menagerie! (DP037). Reward: TM86 Grass Knot. Badge: Cut outside battle; traded Pokémon up to Lv. 30 obey.
Veilstone Gym: Maylene
Maylene is a martial master and Trainer of Fighting-type Pokémon; she is known by locals as “The Barefoot, Fighting Genius!”. Maylene’s father is an unnamed gentleman who likes to frequent the Game Corner. Although visually appearing as a cute little girl, Maylene is well respected amongst the residents of Veilstone City for her prowess in battle. Her team consists of: Meditite (Level 27), a Fighting/Psychic type; Machoke (Level 27), a pure Fighting type; and Lucario (Level 30), a Fighting/Steel type.
If you can defeat Maylene you’ll get a Cobble Badge and TM60 (Drain Punch) for your efforts. You’ll also unlock the ability to use Fly outside of battle.
“Hello. I’m pleased to meet you. I’m Maylene, and I’m the Gym Leader. I don’t really know what it means to be strong, or how I got to be the Gym Leader. But I will do the best I can as the Gym Leader. I take battling very seriously. Whenever you’re ready!” – Maylene
Team: Meditite Lv. 27, Machoke Lv. 27, Lucario Lv. 30
A barefoot martial artist who doubts her own strength, Maylene has a father who gambles at the Veilstone Game Corner. Her levels match Crasher Wake’s because either Gym can come third. Flying moves handle Meditite and Machoke, while Lucario falls to Fire, Ground or Fighting. She is the only Diamond and Pearl Leader never met outside her Gym. Ash wins in A Triple Fighting Chance! (DP068). Reward: TM60 Drain Punch. Badge: Fly outside battle; no change to obedience.
Pastoria Gym: Crasher Wake
Crasher Wake is an avid Trainer of Water-type Pokémon, and is known locally as “The Torrential Masked Master!”. His team consists of: Gyarados (Level 27), a Water/Flying type; Quagsire (Level 27), a Water/Ground type; and Floatzel (Level 30), a pure Water type.
If you can withstand the watery strength of Crasher Wake and his team you will earn yourself a Fen Badge and TM55 (Brine). You’ll also unlock the ability to use Defog outside of battle.
“Welcome! I don’t get challenged very often! The glory you are now beholding is the Pastoria Gym Leader! That’s right, I’m Crasher Wake! My Pokémon were toughened up by stormy white waters! They’ll take everything you can throw at them and then pull you under! Victory will be ours! Come on, let’s get it done!” – Crasher Wake
Team: Gyarados Lv. 27, Quagsire Lv. 27, Floatzel Lv. 30
Crasher Wake is a masked, wrestling-style showman who funds Pastoria’s facilities with his prize money, and his Gym’s water level rises and falls with switches. Electric moves deal with Gyarados and Floatzel, but Quagsire is immune and needs Grass. A townsperson says he uses Defog for the city, yet none of his Pokémon can learn it. Ash earns the Fen Badge in A Crasher Course in Power! (DP083). Reward: TM55 Brine. Badge: Defog outside battle; traded Pokémon up to Lv. 50 obey.
Hearthome Gym: Fantina
In the eerie setting of the Hearthome Gym you will face Fantina and her team of Ghost-type Pokémon. She is known as “The Alluring, Soulful Dancer!” and it’s said she’s from lands very far away; not just a different region from Sinnoh, but another country entirely. When she first arrived in Sinnoh she was a Contest performer, dressing up in fancy outfits and dancing. She considers herself a Contest Expert, in fact. Her team consists of: Drifblim (Level 32), a Ghost/Flying type; Gengar (Level 34), a Ghost/Poison type; and Mismagius (Level 36), a pure Ghost type.
Hold your nerve against Fantina and her Ghost types in order to obtain the Relic Badge and TM65 (Shadow Claw). The ability to use Surf outside of battle will also be unlocked.
“Ohohoho!! Finally, you have arrived! Since I came to this country, always I try to learn new things. They hold Contests in this city? I say to myself, enfin, I will excel. That is why I dress this way. C’est une performance! Also, I study Pokémon very much. I have come to be Gym Leader. And, uh, so it shall be that you challenge me. But I shall win. That is what a Gym Leader does, non?” – Fantina
Team: Drifblim Lv. 32, Gengar Lv. 34, Mismagius Lv. 36
Fantina came to Sinnoh from another country, became a Contest performer and considers herself a Contest Expert; in English she sprinkles her speech with French. In Diamond and Pearl her Gym opens only once the player has Surf, making her the fifth Leader. Dark and Ghost moves work best. She cries ‘Never give up, never surrender!’, a Galaxy Quest line. Ash wins in Shield with a Twist! (DP102). Reward: TM65 Shadow Claw. Badge: Surf outside battle; no change to obedience.
Canalave Gym: Byron
Byron wields the formidable strength of Steel-type Pokémon. Byron is the father of Roark, the Oreburgh Gym Leader, and it’s implied that he is the son of the Underground Man. Some call Byron “The Man with the Steel Body!”, a title owed to his chiselled physique. His team consists of: Bronzor (Level 36), a Steel/Psychic type; Steelix (Level 36), a Steel/Ground type; and Bastiodon (Level 39), a Rock/Steel type.
If you can break the steely resolve of Byron he will reward you with the Mine Badge and TM91 (Flash Cannon). You will also unlock the ability to use Strength outside of battle.
“Ah! That’s Oreburgh’s Gym Badge! I see, I see! You’ve defeated my son. But that’s no surprise. He still has much to learn. In place of my son Roark, I, Byron, will take your challenge!” – Byron
Team: Bronzor Lv. 36, Steelix Lv. 36, Bastiodon Lv. 39
Byron is Roark’s father and a keen fossil digger; a Sunyshore resident says he and the Underground Man are related. His four-floor Gym is a puzzle of lifts and moving platforms. Fighting and Ground moves crush Steelix and the Chesto Berry-holding Bastiodon, while Fire is the safest answer to Bronzor. Post-game he is found on Iron Island. Ash wins in Dealing With Defensive Types! (DP108). Reward: TM91 Flash Cannon. Badge: Strength outside battle; traded Pokémon up to Lv. 70 obey.
Snowpoint Gym: Candice
In the blizzards of Snowpoint City lies the Snowpoint Gym, led by Candice, a strong Trainer of Ice-type Pokémon. Candice prides herself on being extremely focused in whatever she does, be that Pokémon battles, her fashion sense or even romance. Candice breaks the stereotype of the mannerisms one would expect from an Ice-type Gym Leader: she is fairly warm and friendly, where an Ice-type Leader might be expected to be cold and distant. Her team consists of: Snover (Level 38), a Grass/Ice type; Sneasel (Level 38), a Dark/Ice type; Medicham (Level 40), who interestingly isn’t an Ice type but a Fighting/Psychic – bit of a curveball there; and finally Abomasnow (Level 42), a Grass/Ice type.
Beat Candice and she will yield the Icicle Badge and TM72 (Avalanche). After beating her you’ll also be able to use Rock Climb outside of battle.
“You want to challenge Candice? Sure thing! I was waiting for someone tough! But I should tell you, I’m tough because I know how to focus. Pokémon, fashion, romance… It’s all about focus! I’ll show you just what I mean. Get ready to lose!” – Candice
Team: Snover Lv. 38, Sneasel Lv. 38, Medicham Lv. 40, Abomasnow Lv. 42
Candice is a warm, chatty Ice specialist who believes in total focus on Pokémon, fashion and romance alike, and refers to herself by name. Her Gym is a slippery course of ice and snowballs. Medicham is a surprise non-Ice member, and Abomasnow’s Snow Warning brings hail. Fire is devastating, as Snover and Abomasnow take four-times damage from it. Ash beats her in Sliding Into Seventh! (DP127), a four-on-four battle. Reward: TM72 Avalanche. Badge: Rock Climb outside battle; no change to obedience.
Sunyshore Gym: Volkner
Volkner is the leader of the eighth and final Gym of the Diamond and Pearl games. He is the strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh, and well aware of it; however, Volkner’s love for Pokémon battles has faded somewhat by the time the player gets to challenge him – and it sounds as though that’s mostly because he hasn’t had any challengers good enough to make him break a sweat. He is known by some as “The Shining, Shocking Star”. Although he is a specialist in Electric-type Pokémon, his team isn’t quite as stereotypically electric as you might think. Here’s what he’s got: Raichu (Level 46), a pure Electric type; Ambipom (Level 47), a Normal type; Octillery (Level 47), a Water type – presumably included to counter Ground and Rock attackers against his Electric ’mons; and finally Luxray (Level 49), another pure Electric type.
If you can overcome the force of Volkner’s interesting selection of ’mons you’ll gain a Beacon Badge and TM57 (Charge Beam). You’ll also unlock the ability to use Waterfall outside of battle.
“…All right, challenger. It’s not often, but some Trainers manage to come and challenge me. But they’ve all been boring battles. I didn’t break a sweat beating them. …Sigh… I’m Volkner, the Gym Leader. They say I’m the top Gym Leader in Sinnoh, but… Anyway, I guess we’d better get this done. I hope you’re the Trainer who’ll make me remember how fun it is to battle!” – Volkner
Team: Raichu Lv. 46, Ambipom Lv. 47, Octillery Lv. 47, Luxray Lv. 49
Volkner is Sinnoh’s strongest Gym Leader and knows it; a lack of worthy challengers has left him bored, endlessly rebuilding his Gym until Sunyshore suffers brownouts. Only Raichu and Luxray are Electric types, while Octillery carries Charge Beam and Ambipom adds Normal coverage. Ground types handle his Electric Pokémon. Platinum swaps Ambipom and Octillery for Jolteon and Electivire. Ash finally wins in The Eighth Wonder of the Sinnoh World! (DP179). Reward: TM57 Charge Beam. Badge: Waterfall outside battle; all traded Pokémon obey.
The Elite Four & the Champion
Once the player holds all eight Sinnoh badges, Victory Road leads to the Pokémon League, where the Elite Four wait in four themed chambers and the Champion in a fifth. Unusually for the series, several of them stray from their type speciality, so a one-type team won’t cut it.
Aaron, Bertha, Flint and Lucian, then Champion Cynthia
Aaron, Bug-type master
The first member of the Elite Four you will face in Sinnoh is Aaron, the Bug-type master. His team consists of Dustox (Level 53), a Bug/Poison type; Beautifly (Level 53), a Bug/Flying type; Heracross (Level 54), a Bug/Fighting type; Vespiquen (Level 54), a Bug/Flying type; and finally Drapion (Level 57), a Poison/Dark type.
“Hello! Welcome to the Pokémon League! I’m Aaron of the Elite Four. It’s good to meet you. Oh, I should explain, I’m a huge fan of Bug Pokémon. Bug Pokémon are nasty-mean, and yet they’re beautiful, too… Would you like to know why I take on challengers here, in this room? It’s because I want to become perfect, just like my Bug Pokémon! OK! Let me take you on!” – Aaron
Team: Dustox Lv. 53, Beautifly Lv. 53, Vespiquen Lv. 54, Heracross Lv. 54, Drapion Lv. 57
The first member, Aaron, wants to become as perfect as his Bug Pokémon. His ace is the Poison/Dark Drapion, holding a Sitrus Berry, which stayed on his team even in Platinum. Fire and Flying moves clear the Bug types, and Ground handles Drapion. He pays ₱6,840.
Bertha, Ground-type master
Once you’ve burned out the bugs, you will reach Bertha, the second member of Sinnoh’s Elite Four and master of the Ground type. Her line-up is: Quagsire (Level 55), a Water/Ground type; Whiscash (Level 55), a Water/Ground type; Golem (Level 56), a Rock/Ground type; Sudowoodo (Level 56), a pure Rock type that includes absolutely no wood; and Hippowdon (Level 59), a pure Ground type.
“Well, well. You’re quite the adorable Trainer, but you’ve also got a spine. Ahaha! I’m Bertha. I have a preference for Ground-type Pokémon. Well, would you show this old lady how much you’ve learned?” – Bertha
Team: Quagsire Lv. 55, Sudowoodo Lv. 56, Golem Lv. 56, Whiscash Lv. 55, Hippowdon Lv. 59
Bertha, a grandmotherly Ground specialist, is the second member. Quagsire and Whiscash shrug off Electric attacks but take four-times damage from Grass, which also crushes Golem; Hippowdon’s Sand Stream whips up a sandstorm. She pays ₱7,080.
Flint, Fire-type master
Flint awaits in the third chamber, a Fire-type master with more of a mixed team than you’d think. His line-up is: Rapidash (Level 58), a pure Fire type; Steelix (Level 57), a Steel/Ground type; Lopunny (Level 57), a Normal type; Drifblim (Level 58), a Ghost/Flying type; and finally Infernape (Level 61), a Fire/Fighting type. So only two of his ’mons are actually Fire? But that Infernape alone should show why he burns so brightly in the Elite Four.
“Yo, Trainer! You had me counting the days on my fingers waiting for you to come. I heard from Volkner what you did in Sunyshore. You managed to light a fire in that guy’s heart again. How could you not expect me to look forward to seeing you in battle?” – Flint
Team: Rapidash Lv. 58, Steelix Lv. 57, Drifblim Lv. 58, Lopunny Lv. 57, Infernape Lv. 61
Flint, Volkner’s fiery friend, is the third member, yet in Diamond and Pearl only Rapidash and Infernape are Fire types. Water and Ground moves handle them, while Steelix, Drifblim and Lopunny need separate answers. Infernape holds a Sitrus Berry. He pays ₱7,320.
Lucian, Psychic-type master
Lucian is the final member of the Sinnoh Elite Four. He is a master of the Psychic type. His line-up is: Mr. Mime (Level 59), a pure Psychic type (the Fairy type was still two generations away); Girafarig (Level 59), a Normal/Psychic type; Medicham (Level 60), a Fighting/Psychic type; Alakazam (Level 60), a pure Psychic type; and Bronzong (Level 63), a Steel/Psychic type.
“Ah, you timed your arrival well. I’ve just finished reading a book, you see. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lucian. I am a user of the Psychic type. I must say, you’ve already proven yourself to be outstanding by coming this far. They say I am the toughest of the Elite Four. I’m afraid I will have to go all out against you to live up to that reputation.” – Lucian
Team: Mr. Mime Lv. 59, Girafarig Lv. 59, Medicham Lv. 60, Alakazam Lv. 60, Bronzong Lv. 63
Lucian, a calm, bookish Psychic master said to be the toughest of the four, closes the run. In Generation IV Mr. Mime is pure Psychic. Dark moves are the key, though Girafarig is immune to Ghost, and the Levitate Bronzong, holding a Sitrus Berry, needs Fire. He pays ₱7,560.
Cynthia, Champion
If you manage to defeat each consecutive member of the Elite Four, one final challenge lies ahead before you take the crown of League Champion. And the current Champion is a familiar face… Cynthia, a jack of all trades, master of none – or arguably master of quite a few. Her strong, balanced team consists of: Spiritomb (Level 61), a Ghost/Dark type; Gastrodon (Level 60), a Water/Ground type; Roserade (Level 60), a Grass/Poison type; Milotic (Level 63), a pure Water type; Lucario (Level 63), a Fighting/Steel type; and finally Garchomp (Level 66), a Dragon/Ground type.
“Have you been keeping well? Thank you for Mt. Coronet. I’m truly grateful. Together, you and your Pokémon overcame all the challenges you faced, however difficult. It means that you’ve triumphed over any personal weaknesses, too. The power you learned… I can feel it emanating from you. But that’s enough talk. Let’s get on with why you’re here. As the Pokémon League Champion, I accept your challenge!” – Cynthia
Team: Spiritomb Lv. 61, Roserade Lv. 60, Gastrodon (West Sea) Lv. 60, Lucario Lv. 63, Milotic Lv. 63, Garchomp Lv. 66
Cynthia leads with Spiritomb, which has no weaknesses in Generation IV, and finishes with a Sitrus Berry-holding Garchomp that takes four-times damage from Ice. Her balanced team punishes one-note strategies, and victory earns ₱13,200 and a place in the Hall of Fame.
Glitches, exploits and oddities
Diamond & Pearl’s most famous fault is the one that lets players walk off the map altogether. Here are the glitches, exploits and oddities worth knowing.
Tweaking and the void
Tweaking exploits the way Diamond and Pearl load the map in sections of 32 by 32 tiles, only four at a time. Riding the Bicycle in its fast gear in precise step patterns across a section boundary can make the game load a section in the wrong place, producing invisible walls, black areas or misplaced scenery. Pushed further, it lets players slip into the void between maps and walk to areas normally reached only with event items, including Newmoon Island and Flower Paradise, so Darkrai and Shaymin can be caught without the Member Card or Oak’s Letter. A route to the Hall of Origin was found in January 2017, and combined with a Pal Park trick it makes Arceus catchable too. Saving in the void can leave a file that freezes on loading, and Platinum filled the void with invisible walls.
Early Japanese bugs and version 1.6
The first Japanese copies of Diamond and Pearl shipped with faults serious enough to trap players inside walls or wipe their save data. The best known is the Surf glitch, which let players travel through places the designers never intended them to reach and, like the void, could leave a save stranded somewhere with no way back. Nintendo responded by offering corrected cartridges through selected Japanese retailers, and the revised version 1.6 fixed the Surf glitch together with an escalator oversight.
GTS cloning
In Diamond and Pearl, cutting the connection at exactly the right moment while depositing a Pokémon on the Global Trade Station could leave one copy on the GTS and another in the player’s party or box. It was one of several duplication methods of the era, alongside trade cloning, which involves switching off one system at a precise point during a trade and often corrupts the save, and a method that exploits save files whose Pokémon data survives corruption. With the official GTS offline since May 2014, the trick now only matters on unofficial servers.
Egg determination glitch
Diamond and Pearl let curious breeders peek inside an Egg before it hatches. Switching boxes while the PC’s scrolling animation is still under way briefly reveals information the game normally keeps hidden for Eggs, such as the held item, Nature, Ability or type of the Pokémon inside. That made it possible to check a breeding result without walking hundreds of steps to hatch it, which is handy when hunting for a particular Nature. The oversight is specific to Diamond and Pearl and was closed in Platinum.
Friendship underflow
Bitter herbal medicines such as Energy Powder and Energy Root normally lower a Pokémon’s friendship slightly. In Diamond and Pearl, a specific sequence of taking damage, using one of those medicines and then fleeing from battle can push friendship below zero, at which point the value wraps around to near the maximum of 255. The result is an instantly devoted Pokémon, ready for friendship evolutions such as Golbat into Crobat, Chansey into Blissey, Buneary into Lopunny or Riolu into Lucario.
Ribbon check glitch
The Ribbon Syndicate in the Battle Zone’s Resort Area is an exclusive club that only admits Trainers whose Pokémon have collected a good number of Ribbons, and its staff check the party at the door. In Diamond and Pearl the check stops counting at an Egg, so every Pokémon placed in a party slot after an Egg is ignored, however many Ribbons it wears. The workaround is simply to move any Eggs to the end of the party, or out of it, before visiting.
HM05 Defog shown as a Water-type machine
Defog is a Flying-type move, yet in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum the HM05 item appears in the Bag with the colouring of a Water-type machine. The move itself works as intended: in battle it lowers the target’s evasion and clears away barriers and entry hazards, and in the field it blows away the fog that hangs over Route 210 and other areas. The mistake is purely cosmetic and does not affect which Pokémon can learn the move. In Diamond and Pearl, Crasher Wake’s Fen Badge is needed before Defog can be used outside battle.
Pal Park name encoding glitch
When Pokémon from Western copies of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed or LeafGreen migrate through Pal Park, some characters in their nicknames or original Trainer names are converted using the Japanese character encoding, so certain symbols come out changed or garbled once they arrive in Sinnoh. It affects Western versions only, and because migration is one-way, the altered name cannot be corrected by sending the Pokémon back to its original game. Because Pal Park is the only bridge from the Game Boy Advance games to Generation IV, every Pokémon migrated from a Western cartridge is exposed to the problem.
Videos & media
Check out these Pokémon Diamond and Pearl videos, including TV commercials for the games and toys, plus one explaining voice trading and the intro video for Diamond.
All the unused music from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl’s data files. This music never made it to the final release versions of the games, for varying reasons.
A Japanese TV commercial for Pokémon Diamond and Pearl toys.
A UK TV commercial about voice trading in Diamond and Pearl.
A US TV commercial for Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
The intro video for Pokémon Diamond.
Trivia & facts
- Diamond and Pearl produced a number of firsts for the series:
- They are the first titles where your rival’s starter Pokémon isn’t Level 5 when you first battle it.
- The games’ Pokémon Professor is not based in a lab in the same hometown as the player.
- All three of the games’ starter Pokémon gain a second type through evolution.
- Before you are able to save a new game you must first erase all the saved data.
- A Pokémon evolution which could previously only occur via trading – Steelix – can be directly caught in the wild, on Iron Island.
- Sinnoh’s Elite Four sometimes deviate from their specialisations when they battle you, sending out Pokémon of types that they don’t specialise in. Pokémon Platinum would later “fix” all but one instance of this, the remaining occurrence being when Aaron uses a Drapion (Poison/Dark) even though he’s a Bug specialist.
- The international releases of Diamond and Pearl are the first core series titles to properly capitalise nouns rather than just having them all in caps. For the first time GREAT BALL would become Great Ball, and so on. Pokémon names, however, remained in capitals.
- Diamond and Pearl feature the best connectivity and compatibility with other Pokémon titles in the series to date. They can connect to the five Game Boy Advance core games (through Pal Park), every Gen IV game and Black & White (through Poké Transfer), as well as the Pokémon Ranger titles and even Pokémon Battle Revolution and My Pokémon Ranch – nineteen games in all!
- Lopunny is widely thought to be based on Playboy Bunnies, or the “bunny girls” of Japanese adult media.
- When the player is at the Meister’s house on its little island on Route 226, if they trade away their Finneon they could potentially end up stranded there if they have no other Pokémon capable of transporting them. It’d be like the Pokémon version of Cast Away.
- When you fight Barry on Route 203 he’ll say “Don’t get cocky, kid! This isn’t over yet!”. This is a Han Solo quote from Star Wars; he says it to Luke Skywalker (he definitely says “Don’t get cocky, kid”, anyway!).
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Registeel’s original sprite, and the revised one used in non-English European copies. In non-English European releases of Diamond and Pearl, Registeel’s sprite was changed because the way it holds its left arm supposedly looked a bit like a Nazi gesture (I don’t see it myself – see the sprite to the right and judge for yourself). This change was carried over to Platinum and the HeartGold & SoulSilver versions.
- Remember in the original versions of the games, plus Pokémon Yellow, the thirsty guard who you had to bring a drink in order to gain access to Saffron City? Well, there’s another thirsty guard in Diamond and Pearl, this time on Route 218 in one of the little outpost buildings. Don’t go to too much effort to get this guy a drink, as it’ll gain you access to nothing!
- Load up your Diamond and Pearl games on January the 12th of any year and fly to Snowpoint City. Instead of the standard blizzard/snowstorm there will be a rain of glittery diamond snow. This date is the game director’s birthday (Junichi Masuda of Game Freak).
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The S.S. Anne, which never sailed to Sinnoh. There were nine items intended to be accessible in Diamond and Pearl that didn’t quite make it to the final cut. Some were replaced by updated versions, some were simply scrapped and some can be obtained only in certain situations:
- S.S. Ticket: a ticket for the S.S. Anne, left over from the Game Boy Advance games.
- Cherish Ball: it’s basically just a standard Poké Ball. Pokémon you get from official events usually come in these.
- Contest Pass: this would have granted the player entry to Pokémon Contests.
- Magma Stone: this mystical item can maintain the volcanic activity of Stark Mountain.
- Park Ball: this ball gives a guaranteed catch for Pal Park-transferred Pokémon (it is only ever used inside Pal Park).
- Red Chain: this mythical item was forged from the Legendary trio of Sinnoh in order to awaken Dialga and/or Palkia.
- Rule Book: this is a user guide for online trading.
- Seal Bag: a bag that holds a maximum of 10 Seals.
- Loot Sack: a sack used for holding treasures you get in the Underground.
Oak’s Letter and the Azure Flute are in the games’ data too: the Letter was only ever handed out for Platinum, and the Flute was never distributed at all.
Further trivia
- The name Pokémon Diamond had been used years earlier by an unofficial bootleg of the Telefang Power Version, sold alongside a ‘Pokémon Jade’ rather than a Pearl.
Pocket Monsters Diamond: a name a bootlegger had already used. - Diamond and Pearl are the first Pokémon games in which no fake items appear: every Poké Ball lying on the ground is a genuine item.
- They are the only core series games to introduce new Pokémon that are left out of their own regional Pokédex.
- Diamond and Pearl were the last core series games released in Europe to include slot machines; the Korean versions replaced them with simple coin machines.
- The British English versions quietly tidy up the script: a Pastoria grunt’s ‘buggers’ becomes ‘rascals’, a Hearthome Gym Youngster’s ‘screw up’ becomes ‘mess up’, and the ESRB notice disappears from the intro.
- Of the Pokétch’s 25 apps, the Matchup Checker was only ever handed out at Japanese Pokémon Center stores in spring 2007, while the Stopwatch and Alarm Clock were never distributed at all.
- Twinleaf Town has only eight residents, making it the least populated town in Sinnoh, and its paths form the kanji for earth.
- Fantina shouts ‘Never give up, never surrender!’ during her Gym battle, a catchphrase from the film Galaxy Quest, one of several pop-culture nods in an English script by lead translator Nob Ogasawara.
Legacy
The third version and the remakes
- Pokémon Platinum – 13 September 2008. An expanded third version for the DS, released in North America on 22 March 2009, Australia on 14 May 2009 and Europe on 22 May 2009. It enlarges the Sinnoh Pokédex to 210, reworks the story around Giratina and the Distortion World, reorders the Gyms and adds the Battle Frontier; it sold around 7.6 million copies.
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl – 19 November 2021. Faithful Nintendo Switch remakes by ILCA, released worldwide on the same day. They keep the original map and story in a chibi 3D style, replace the Underground with the larger Grand Underground and its Pokémon Hideaways, and sold more than 14 million copies by May 2022.
Where to play Diamond & Pearl today
As of October 2026 the original games are not sold digitally: there was never a Virtual Console release, and Nintendo Classics on Switch Online covers NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, Virtual Boy, Mega Drive and GameCube, with no DS games. Original cartridges still play on DS, DS Lite, DSi and 3DS systems, though Pal Park needs a DS or DS Lite and official online play ended in May 2014. On Switch, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the easiest route back to Sinnoh.
How it was made
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl were announced on 7 October 2004 at Nintendo’s Nintendo DS launch press conference in Japan, alongside Pokémon Dash. They were expected in 2005, but Nintendo later said development was still under way, and a CoroCoro interview in mid-2005 confirmed a 2006 launch, the franchise’s tenth anniversary year. Junichi Masuda directed, and the games were designed around the DS’s strengths: Wi-Fi play, the touch screen and the Game Boy Advance slot for importing Pokémon. In 2005 Nintendo said up to 16 players could communicate wirelessly at once. The graphics stayed mostly 2D with some 3D backgrounds, a choice Tsunekazu Ishihara defended as preserving the series’ feel. Sinnoh is modelled on Hokkaido, and Masuda has said its name, written with characters meaning roughly deity and depth, denotes something mysterious and profound. The games launched in Japan on 28 September 2006, and early Japanese bugs were fixed in a revised cartridge, version 1.6.
Diamond & Pearl in other media
The Japanese and English title screens:
Sales & reviews
Sales figures
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl are the top-selling Pokémon titles for the Nintendo DS, selling a total of 17.67 million units. D&P outsold the popular remakes of Pokémon Gold and Silver by approximately 5 million units overall.
Diamond and Pearl took Japan by storm, claiming the best Japanese first-week sales of any Pokémon title, as well as the best first-week sales of any Nintendo DS title; it took only 46 days following release for 3 million units of the games to be sold across Japan. By the end of 2006 Diamond and Pearl had broken the 5 million sales mark in Japan, in just three months, making them the fastest-selling Pokémon games Japan had seen.
In the United States there were more than half a million pre-orders for Diamond and Pearl (533,000, to be precise); this was nearly twice the pre-orders that FireRed and LeafGreen received. Within five days of the US release more than a million copies had been sold, making them the fastest-selling Pokémon games ever in the US at that point. Diamond and Pearl were the 7th best-selling video games in the United States in 2007, moving over 4.27 million copies in total. The US sales stats were measured again at the beginning of 2009, and at that point over 5.3 million sales had been recorded.
The final sales stats for Diamond and Pearl stand at 17.67 million units, outselling Ruby and Sapphire by around a million copies and outselling LeafGreen and FireRed by around 6 million.
Japan’s launch week came to 1,588,734 copies (820,047 Diamond, 768,687 Pearl), 5 million had shipped there by 27 December 2006, and the Japanese total reached 5.83 million by the end of 2013. Europe took about 1.6 million in the seven weeks after the July 2007 launch, topping the charts in the UK, Germany and Spain, and more than ten million Pokémon were traded over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. For the US launch, Toys R Us planned temporary Pokémon boutiques in all 585 of its stores.
- 17.67mworldwide, both versions
- 1.59mJapan in week one
- 5mshipped in Japan by the end of 2006
- 4.27mUnited States in 2007 alone
Review scores
Diamond and Pearl were received similarly well to FireRed and LeafGreen and Ruby & Sapphire, scoring higher than those predecessor titles by a very slim margin. The best score the titles got was 92% from ONM (Official Nintendo Magazine) UK; here’s what other major review sites and sources scored them:
- Ryan Davis reviewed the titles for GameSpot and scored them a strong 8.5 out of 10, equating to “Great” on the GS scale, stating the games to be “the most well-rounded Pokemon games to date”.
- IGN reviewer Craig Harris meanwhile also scored the games 8.5 out of 10, praising the games for their gameplay and lasting appeal, but wasn’t overly impressed with the progression in sound quality since the GBA versions.
- Both review aggregation sites, GameRankings and Metacritic, scored the games a strong and consistent 85%: Metacritic scoring 85 exactly over 42 critic reviews and GameRankings 85.07% over 54 reviews.
- James Burton reviewed the games for Pokémon Dungeon, scoring them 5/5 stars: “The latest Pokemon RPG for the game, and it rocks”.
Critics broadly agreed that Diamond and Pearl were the most complete Pokémon games yet, even if the formula had barely changed. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was the headline: trading worldwide through the Global Trade Station, online battles and voice chat were singled out as the generation’s real leap, and reviewers praised the depth that the physical/special split and the huge roster brought to battling. Most found the story and structure familiar but still absorbing. The presentation drew the sharpest criticism. The decision to keep largely 2D sprites against some 3D backdrops struck several outlets as timid, with one dismissing the 3D as a mere viewpoint shuffle, and IGN, GameSpot and GameZone all felt the music and cries had moved little beyond the Game Boy Advance era. The Friend Code system for online play was also criticised as clumsy. Official Nintendo Magazine’s 92% was the highest score.
Awards and honours:
Media & artwork
- Official artwork gallery from Pokémon Diamond & Pearl – a gallery featuring many of the Pokémon and characters from the games
- Official artwork gallery from Pokémon Diamond & Pearl – a gallery featuring characters, items and supporting artwork
- Box art from Pokémon Diamond, including numerous regional variations and editions
- Box art from Pokémon Pearl, including numerous regional variations and editions
- Screenshots from Pokémon Diamond & Pearl
Further reading
Our Sinnoh guides, plus the games either side of Diamond & Pearl: