How to Trade Locally and Online

This is a guide on how to trade Pokemon locally and online in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP). Read on to learn how to access the Union Room in order to trade with other players using local and global communication!

How to Trade Locally

Access Local Room

In order to trade Pokemon locally, players will have to access the Local Room within the Union Room. In the Local Room, you will encounter Trainers on your local network communication.

Access the Union Room via the Pokemon Center

You can first access the Union Room by going upstairs in a Pokemon Center and interacting with the nurse in the middle. After getting the 1st badge in Oreburgh City, you can start visiting the basement of the Pokemon Center. After first visiting the basement, you unlock the ability to access the Union Room from anywhere in the Sinnoh region (except inside buildings and caves) by pressing Y.

Interact with Players

In the Local Room, players that are willing to trade will have a speech bubble with 2 Pokeballs above their head. To initiate trade, interact with a player with this speech bubble above their head. Only 1 person between the 2 needs to select Trade, otherwise both players will just be standing around with speech bubbles above their head.

How to Trade Online

Access Global Room

In order to trade Pokemon online, players will have to access the Global Room within the Union Room. The Global Room requires a Nintendo Switch Online Subscription. Here, you will meet players from around the world using online communication.

After getting the 1st badge in Oreburgh City, you can start visiting the basement of the Pokemon Center. After first visiting the basement, you unlock the ability to access the Global (and Local) Union Room from anywhere in the Sinnoh region (except inside buildings and caves) by pressing Y.

Online Multiplayer Features

Interact with Players

In the Global Room, players that are willing to trade will have a speech bubble with 2 Pokeballs above their head. To initiate trade, interact with a player with this speech bubble above their head. Only 1 person between the 2 needs to select Trade, otherwise both players will just be standing around with speech bubbles above their head.

Show Other Players Your Trainer Card

As of Ver 1.2.0, Trainers can now view your Trainer Card in the Union Room. You and other Trainers can view each other's Battle Tower Records as well.

How to Trade Items

You can trade items by letting your Pokemon hold that item for you and sending that Pokemon over to the person you are trading with. You can keep the items your traded Pokemon comes with along with the actual Pokemon!

Just remember not to make your Haunter hold an Everstone then send it to your friend when they're trying to evolve it!

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Beginner's Tips and Tricks

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Tips and Tricks