Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the same Sinnoh game with different legends, so the Pokemon Brilliant Diamond vs Shining Pearl choice is about which Pokemon you can catch yourself. Each version has 24 wild Pokemon that the other can't catch. Brilliant Diamond has Dialga and Shining Pearl has Palkia, and the rest of the game matches.
Scizor and Tyranitar, or Slowking and Salamence
Brilliant Diamond has Scizor, Tyranitar, Aggron and Kecleon, along with Honchkrow and Skuntank. Shining Pearl has Slowking, Mismagius, Salamence and Walrein, plus Purugly and Stantler. (Tyranitar is a lot of Pokemon.)
Only in Brilliant Diamond
Scyther
Scizor
Murkrow
Honchkrow
Larvitar
Pupitar
Tyranitar
Cranidos
Rampardos
Stunky
Skuntank
Dialga
Seel
Dewgong
Poochyena
Mightyena
Aron
Lairon
Aggron
Kecleon
Raikou
Entei
Suicune
Ho-Oh
Only in Shining Pearl
Slowpoke
Slowbro
Slowking
Misdreavus
Mismagius
Glameow
Purugly
Stantler
Bagon
Shelgon
Salamence
Shieldon
Bastiodon
Palkia
Houndour
Houndoom
Spheal
Sealeo
Walrein
Pinsir
Articuno
Zapdos
Moltres
Lugia
Dialga or Palkia at Spear Pillar
- Type
- SteelDragon
- Category
- Temporal Pokémon
- National Dex
- #0483
- Debut
- Gen IV
- Base stat total
- 680
Brilliant Diamond puts Dialga at Spear Pillar at level 47, and Shining Pearl puts Palkia in the same spot at the same level. The other one is a trade away.
Beasts in one game, birds in the other
Some of the biggest names from other regions got divided as well, which gives each cartridge its own theme. Brilliant Diamond has the dogs Raikou, Entei and Suicune, and it keeps Ho-Oh. Shining Pearl has the birds Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres, and it keeps Lugia.
The Gyms and the trainers don't change
Roark opens the Gym route in Oreburgh City with Geodude and Onix at level 12 and Cranidos at 14. Gardenia follows in Eterna City with Cherubi and Turtwig at 19 and Roserade at 22. Every trainer team matches between the games, so neither version is the harder one.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Brilliant Diamond for Dialga, Tyranitar and the dogs, and Shining Pearl for Palkia, Salamence and the birds. Nothing else separates them. (Birds are easier to love than dogs.)
Brilliant Diamond vs Shining Pearl FAQ
Can you get Palkia in Brilliant Diamond?
Yes, by trading. In the wild Palkia is a Shining Pearl exclusive.
Are the Gym Leaders different?
No. Both games have the same Gym Leaders in the same order.
