Diamond & Pearl Version Exclusives & the National Pokédex
Which wild Pokémon appear in only one of the two games, the other differences between Diamond and Pearl, and how to unlock the National Pokédex.
Diamond 13 wild Pokémon
AronFuego Ironworks
DewgongRoute 226, Route 230
KecleonRoute 210
LarvitarRoute 207
MightyenaRoute 214, Route 215
Mime Jr.Route 209, Route 210, Trophy Garden
Mr. MimeRoute 218, Route 222
MurkrowEterna Forest, Lost Tower
ScytherRoute 229
SeelRoute 226, Route 230
SilcoonFloaroma Town, Route 205, Route 206, Route 207
SkuntankRoute 221, Route 225
StunkyRoute 206, Route 214, Route 221
Pearl 14 wild Pokémon
BagonRoute 210
BonslyRoute 209, Route 210, Trophy Garden
CascoonFloaroma Town, Route 205, Route 206, Route 207
DustoxRoute 230, Eterna Forest
GlameowRoute 218, Route 222
HoundoomRoute 214, Route 215
MisdreavusEterna Forest, Lost Tower
PinsirRoute 229
PuruglyRoute 222, Route 229
SealeoRoute 226, Route 230
SlowpokeRoute 205
SphealRoute 226, Route 230
StantlerRoute 207
SudowoodoRoute 214, Route 221
Worked out from the wild encounter tables of every location (grass, water, fishing, honey trees, Poké Radar and swarms; dual-slot and daily Pokémon are left out). Their evolutions are exclusive too, for example Murkrow → Honchkrow and Bagon → Salamence. Bulbapedia’s full list.
Other differences
- Version legendary: Dialga in Diamond, Palkia in Pearl, both at Spear Pillar.
- Underground fossil: Skull Fossil (Cranidos) in Diamond, Armor Fossil (Shieldon) in Pearl.
- Roark’s team and the rest of the Gym and League teams are the same in both versions.
- The Eterna City statue, the Adamant Orb (Diamond) or Lustrous Orb (Pearl) and the Celestic Town picture match the version legendary.
- Most Pokédex entries are written differently in each game; the story is identical.
Unlocking the National Pokédex
- Beat the Elite Four and Champion Cynthia.
- See the first 150 Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex (catching them is not needed, and Manaphy is not required).
- Visit Rowan’s lab in Sandgem Town: Professor Oak upgrades it to the National Pokédex and Rowan gives you the Poké Radar.
- Now Pal Park, swarms, dual-slot Pokémon and the Battle Zone’s Stark Mountain open up.
FAQ
Is Diamond or Pearl better?
The games are the same apart from the version exclusives and the version legendary (Dialga or Palkia). Pick the Pokémon you like; trade for the rest.
What are the Diamond exclusives?
Aron, Dewgong, Kecleon, Larvitar, Mightyena, Mime Jr., Mr. Mime, Murkrow, Scyther, Seel, Silcoon, Skuntank, Stunky, plus Dialga and Cranidos/Rampardos.
What are the Pearl exclusives?
Bagon, Bonsly, Cascoon, Dustox, Glameow, Houndoom, Misdreavus, Pinsir, Purugly, Sealeo, Slowpoke, Spheal, Stantler, Sudowoodo, plus Palkia and Shieldon/Bastiodon.
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).