Dialga is on the Diamond box and Palkia is on the Pearl box, and that's only the start of the Pokemon Diamond Pearl exclusives. Each game has 20 Pokemon the other one lacks, from Tyranitar on one side to Salamence on the other, so it's worth knowing which ones you're giving up before you buy.
The Sinnoh story, the Gyms and the Elite Four are the same in Diamond and Pearl. Only the Pokemon change, and anything you miss takes a trade.
Which Pokemon only one version has
Diamond has Scyther and Scizor, Larvitar all the way to Tyranitar, Aron all the way to Aggron, and Murkrow with Honchkrow. Pearl has Bagon through Salamence, Spheal through Walrein, the Slowpoke line with Slowking, and Misdreavus with Mismagius. The two ancient Pokemon split as well, with Cranidos and Rampardos in Diamond and Shieldon and Bastiodon in Pearl.
Only in Diamond
Scyther
Scizor
Murkrow
Honchkrow
Larvitar
Pupitar
Tyranitar
Cranidos
Rampardos
Stunky
Skuntank
Dialga
Seel
Dewgong
Poochyena
Mightyena
Aron
Lairon
Aggron
Kecleon
Only in Pearl
Slowpoke
Slowbro
Slowking
Misdreavus
Mismagius
Glameow
Purugly
Stantler
Bagon
Shelgon
Salamence
Shieldon
Bastiodon
Palkia
Houndour
Houndoom
Spheal
Sealeo
Walrein
Pinsir
Both sides also get one oddball. Diamond has Kecleon and Pearl has Pinsir.
Dialga or Palkia at the Spear Pillar
- Type
- SteelDragon
- Category
- Temporal Pokémon
- National Dex
- #0483
- Debut
- Gen IV
- Base stat total
- 680
Your version's legendary waits at the top of Mt. Coronet, on the Spear Pillar. Dialga is there in Diamond at level 47 and Palkia takes its place in Pearl at the same level. That's the only gift or fixed Pokemon that differs between the two games.
Roark, Gardenia and Maylene are the same
Roark opens the Gym route in Oreburgh City with Geodude and Onix at level 12 and a Cranidos at level 14. Pearl players get that Cranidos in a Gym fight even though only Diamond lists it for catching. Gardenia is next in Eterna City with Cherubi and Turtwig at level 19 and Roserade at level 22, and Maylene follows in Veilstone City with Meditite and Machoke at level 27 and Lucario at level 30.
No trainer team, shop or item list differs, and the road to the Spear Pillar plays the same in both.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Diamond for Tyranitar, Scizor and Dialga. Choose Pearl for Salamence, Slowking and Palkia. (Pearl, because Salamence looks like it enjoys itself.)
Diamond vs Pearl FAQ
Can you play Diamond without Pearl?
Yes. Both games have the full story, and you can trade for the Pokemon you're missing.
Do the Gym Leaders change between Diamond and Pearl?
No. Both versions have the same Gym Leaders in the same order.
