Diamond & Pearl Legendary Pokémon, Gifts & Trades
Where to find every legendary Pokémon in the original games, plus the one-off Pokémon (Rotom, Spiritomb, the Fridays-only Drifloon), gift Eggs, fossils and in-game trades.
- Legendaries
- 9 catchable
- Event only
- 4
- Gifts & trades
- 17
Legendary and mythical Pokémon
Dialga Steel Dragon
- Where
- Spear Pillar
- Level
- 47
- Version
- Diamond
Climax of the story at Spear Pillar; Diamond only.
Palkia Water Dragon
- Where
- Spear Pillar
- Level
- 47
- Version
- Pearl
Climax of the story at Spear Pillar; Pearl only.
Uxie Psychic
- Where
- Lake Acuity
- Level
- 50
- Version
- Both
Waits in the cavern at Lake Acuity after the Spear Pillar battle.
Azelf Psychic
- Where
- Lake Valor
- Level
- 50
- Version
- Both
Waits in the cavern at Lake Valor after the Spear Pillar battle.
Mesprit Psychic
- Where
- Lake Verity
- Level
- 50
- Version
- Both
Starts roaming Sinnoh after you meet it at Lake Verity. Check the Marking Map app to track it.
Cresselia Psychic
- Where
- Fullmoon Island
- Level
- 50
- Version
- Both
After the Hall of Fame and National Pokédex, Sailor Eldritch’s son in Canalave can’t wake up. Take the ferry to Fullmoon Island: Cresselia flies off to roam, leaving the Lunar Wing that cures him.
Heatran Fire Steel
- Where
- Stark Mountain
- Level
- 70
- Version
- Both
In the deepest chamber of Stark Mountain in the Battle Zone, after the National Pokédex.
Regigigas Normal
- Where
- Snowpoint Temple
- Level
- 70
- Version
- Both
At the bottom of Snowpoint Temple. It only wakes if Regirock, Regice and Registeel (brought over from Pal Park) are in your party.
Giratina Ghost Dragon
- Where
- Turnback Cave
- Level
- 70
- Version
- Both
At the end of Turnback Cave, reached through the Spring Path and Sendoff Spring after you enter the Hall of Fame.
Darkrai Dark
- Where
- Newmoon Island
- Level
- 40
- Version
- Event
Event only: in Diamond and Pearl Darkrai was given out directly at events; the Member Card that opens Newmoon Island was only distributed for Platinum.
Shaymin Grass
- Where
- Flower Paradise
- Level
- 30
- Version
- Event
Event only. Flower Paradise needs Oak’s Letter, which was never distributed for Diamond and Pearl.
Arceus Normal
- Where
- Event
- Level
- 80
- Version
- Event
Event only: the Azure Flute that opens the Hall of Origin was never officially distributed.
Manaphy Water
- Where
- Event
- Level
- –
- Version
- Event
Comes as an Egg transferred from Pokémon Ranger; breed it to get Phione.
Save before every legendary battle. Mesprit and Cresselia roam: use the Marking Map app and a Pokémon with Mean Look, or the Master Ball.
Special encounters
Rotom Electric Ghost
- Where
- Old Chateau
- Level
- 15
- Version
- Both
Check the TV in the Old Chateau at night after getting the National Pokédex.
Spiritomb Ghost Dark
- Where
- Route 209
- Level
- 25
- Version
- Both
Put the Odd Keystone in the Hallowed Tower on Route 209, then talk to 32 people in the Underground.
Drifloon Ghost
- Where
- Valley Windworks
- Level
- 22
- Version
- Both
Appears outside Valley Windworks on Fridays once Team Galactic is gone.
Riolu Fighting
- Where
- Iron Island
- Level
- 1
- Version
- Both
Riley gives you its Egg after you clear Team Galactic out of Iron Island.
Eevee Normal
- Where
- Hearthome City
- Level
- 5
- Version
- Both
Bebe gives you one in Hearthome City after you get the National Pokédex.
Gifts, fossils and trades
| Pokémon | Lv. | How | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
 Turtwig | 5 | Gift | Lake Verity |
 Chimchar | 5 | Gift | Lake Verity |
 Piplup | 5 | Gift | Lake Verity |
| Eevee | 5 | Gift | Hearthome City |
| Happiny | 1 | Egg gift | Hearthome City |
| Riolu | 1 | Egg gift | Iron Island |
 Omanyte | 20 | Revive the Helix Fossil | Oreburgh City |
 Kabuto | 20 | Revive the Dome Fossil | Oreburgh City |
 Aerodactyl | 20 | Revive the Old Amber | Oreburgh City |
 Lileep | 20 | Revive the Root Fossil | Oreburgh City |
 Anorith | 20 | Revive the Claw Fossil | Oreburgh City |
 Cranidos | 20 | Revive the Skull Fossil | Oreburgh City |
 Shieldon | 20 | Revive the Armor Fossil | Oreburgh City |
 Abra | 1–100 | Trade a Machop | Oreburgh City |
 Chatot | 1–100 | Trade a Buizel | Eterna City |
 Haunter | 37–100 | Trade a Medicham | Snowpoint City |
 Magikarp | 1–100 | Trade a Finneon | Sea Route 226 |
Fossils are dug up in the Underground and revived at the Oreburgh Mining Museum. Diamond finds the Skull Fossil (Cranidos) and Pearl the Armor Fossil (Shieldon); the Kanto and Hoenn fossils need the National Pokédex.
FAQ
Where is Giratina in Diamond and Pearl?
At the end of Turnback Cave, through Sendoff Spring, at level 70.
How do you catch Regigigas?
Bring Regirock, Regice and Registeel (migrated through Pal Park) in your party to the bottom of Snowpoint Temple. It is level 70.
How do you catch Mesprit?
It starts roaming after you meet it at Lake Verity. Track it with the Marking Map and trap it with Mean Look or a Master Ball.
Can you get Arceus, Darkrai or Shaymin in Diamond and Pearl?
Only through official events. Darkrai and Shaymin needed distributed key items or gifts, and the Azure Flute for Arceus was never released.
Sources & picture credits
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Bulbapedia and the game data. Wild Pokémon tables come from the Diamond/Pearl encounter data in PokeAPI; Gym and League teams from the pret/pokediamond decompilation. Maps and screenshots © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, archived from the Bulbagarden Archives (listed on the image gallery).