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WhenPokemon Brilliant Diamond&Shining Pearlwere first announced during the 25th anniversary Pokemon Presents presentation back in February of 2021, it didn’t really come as a huge surprise to most series fans. The franchise is, after all, no stranger to remakes, with the first three generations having all been rereleased at various points over the past few decades. With that in mind, it always felt more like a case of when, rather than if, the gen 4 games would finally get their time to shine again.
Fast forward nine months, and the short gestation period is now over, meaning fans are now able to get hands-on withBrilliant Diamond&Shining Pearl. Though not everybody is thrilled with the chibi art style, northe decision not to include some of the content fromPokemon Platinum, the initial reception from players has so far been positive, on the whole. With that in mind, there’s arguably never been a better time for those who missed out on these classic titles 15 years ago to finally explore the wonders of the Sinnoh region. This complete guide and walkthrough will accompany players on that journey.
Pokemon Locations
Ever since the very firstPokemongames were released more than a quarter of a century ago, the number ofPokemonhas grown dramatically. Being remakes of older games, the total number available inBrilliantDiamond&Shining Pearlis actually a little lower than in some of the series' more recent offerings, with 493 Pokemon available. Of course, this is still more than three times as many as in the gen 1 games, meaning that those hoping to catch them all are going to have their work cut out for them.
As is tradition for the franchise, both games feature a number ofversion-specificPokemon, which also include severalLegendaries. These guides will not only explain where to find all of these Pokemon, but also how players can catch some of the more elusive Pokemon that are found throughout the two games. Finally, there’ll be information about how players can get their hands on some of the manygift PokemoninBrilliant Diamond&Shining Pearl, including Mew and Jirachi.
Dialga (BD)
Palkia (SP)
Articuno (SP)
Zapdos (SP)
Moltres (SP)
Raikou (BD)
Entei (BD)
Suicune (BD)
Lugia (SP)
Ho-Oh (BD)
Getting Started in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Those who’ve played aPokemongame before should already have a pretty good idea of what to expect fromBrilliant Diamond&Shining Pearl, as, for the most part, they both follow the series formula to a T. That said, there are one or two mechanics that are unique to the gen 4 games, as well as a few things that were created specifically for the 2021 Switch remakes. With that in mind, even series veterans may need a little help here and there, especially if it’s been a while since they last played aPokemongame.This section of the guide has been designed to cater to just about everybody, meaning that both rookie and veteran trainers should find elements of it useful. There’s a healthy selection ofhow-to guidesthat focus on some of the gen 4 exclusive mechanics, as well as somegeneral tips and tricksfor those looking to improve or better-balance their teams. Finally, there are answers to some of the morefrequently asked questionsthat players might have about the two games.
Story Walkthrough & Gym Guides
Anybody who’s ever played aPokemongame before will already have a pretty good idea of the story inBrilliant Diamond&Shining Pearl. For those who haven’t though, they’ll be taking on the role of a young Pokemon trainer as they travel around the Sinnoh region with a view to becoming a Pokemon Champion. To do that, they’ll need to defeat eight powerfulgym leadersand then four more elite trainers who are fittingly known asThe Elite Four.Once all 12 opponents have been taken care of, players will have earned the right to take on the region’s reigning champion in the hopes of claiming the title for themselves. Along the way, they’ll also need to do battle with a group of evil villains who are hellbent on creating a new universe from the ashes of the current one. There’s a healthy smattering ofpost-game contentfor players to look forward to as well, some of which was created specifically for the remakes.
