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Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP)

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Differences and Best Version to Buy

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Pokemon BDSP Diamond or Pearl

Find out the better version and box art legendary before you buy the Diamond and Pearl Remakes. Read on to learn what the difference is between Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, exclusive Pokemon differences, and the best version to buy.

List of Contents

Version Differences

Version Exclusive Pokemon

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will have version exclusive Pokemon that you can only capture in 1 version. Note that this doesn't affect the Pokemon teams of the various trainer battles you'll encounter, so this won't prohibit you from encountering all Sinnoh Pokemon to complete your Pokedex.

Sinnoh Dex
Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl
Pokemon BDSP DialgaDialga Pokemon BDSP PalkiaPalkia
Pokemon BDSP CranidosCranidos Pokemon BDSP RampardosRampardos Pokemon BDSP ShieldonShieldon Pokemon BDSP BastiodonBastiodon
Pokemon BDSP StunkyStunky Pokemon BDSP SkuntankSkuntank Pokemon BDSP GlameowGlameow Pokemon BDSP PuruglyPurugly
National Dex
Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl
Pokemon BDSP CaterpieCaterpie Pokemon BDSP MetapodMetapod Pokemon BDSP WeedleWeedle Pokemon BDSP KakunaKakuna
Pokemon BDSP ButterfreeButterfree Pokemon BDSP EkansEkans Pokemon BDSP BeedrillBeedrill Pokemon BDSP SandshrewSandshrew
Pokemon BDSP ArbokArbok Pokemon BDSP GrowlitheGrowlithe Pokemon BDSP SandslashSandslash Pokemon BDSP VulpixVulpix
Pokemon BDSP ArcanineArcanine Pokemon BDSP ElekidElekid Pokemon BDSP NinetalesNinetales Pokemon BDSP MagbyMagby
Pokemon BDSP ElectabuzzElectabuzz Pokemon BDSP ElectivireElectivire Pokemon BDSP MagmarMagmar Pokemon BDSP MagmortarMagmortar
Pokemon BDSP ScytherScyther Pokemon BDSP ScizorScizor Pokemon BDSP SlowkingSlowking Pokemon BDSP PinsirPinsir
Pokemon BDSP GligarGligar Pokemon BDSP GliscorGliscor Pokemon BDSP TeddiursaTeddiursa Pokemon BDSP UrsaringUrsaring
Pokemon BDSP LarvitarLarvitar Pokemon BDSP PupitarPupitar Pokemon BDSP BagonBagon Pokemon BDSP ShelgonShelgon
Pokemon BDSP TyranitarTyranitar Pokemon BDSP SeedotSeedot Pokemon BDSP SalamenceSalamence Pokemon BDSP LotadLotad
Pokemon BDSP MawileMawile Pokemon BDSP ZangooseZangoose Pokemon BDSP SableyeSableye Pokemon BDSP SeviperSeviper
Pokemon BDSP SolrockSolrock Pokemon BDSP KecleonKecleon Pokemon BDSP LunatoneLunatone Pokemon BDSP StantlerStantler
Ramanas Park
Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl
Pokemon BDSP RaikouRaikou Pokemon BDSP EnteiEntei Pokemon BDSP ArticunoArticuno Pokemon BDSP ZapdosZapdos
Pokemon BDSP SuicuneSuicune Pokemon BDSP Ho-OhHo-Oh Pokemon BDSP MoltresMoltres Pokemon BDSP LugiaLugia

Version Exclusive Pokemon

Story Differences

Pokemon BDSP Spear Pillar

There are only minor story differences in relation to Dialga and Palkia, but nothing that affects the overall story being told. In Brilliant Diamond, the evil Team Galactic will be after Dialga, while in Shining Pearl, they will be after Palkia.

This leads you to encountering Dialga (Brilliant Diamond) or Palkia (Shining Pearl) on Spear Pillar. You can get the Pokedex Info of the Legendary Pokemon you don't encounter by talking to Cynthia's grandmother in Celestic Town.

How to Get the National Dex

Best Version: Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl

Which Version to Buy: Considerations

Brilliant Diamond Has the Better Box Art Legendary

Pokemon BDSP Box Art Legendary

In terms of better box art legendary, Brilliant Diamond is the preferred option, due to Dialga's unique Steel/Dragon typing. Palkia is good too, but doesn't offer a unique edge that makes it worth the investment. You can just wait to be able to trade Palkia and the other version exclusives with someone who has a copy of Shining Pearl.

Brilliant Diamond Has the Better Legendary Trio

Pokemon BDSP Legendary Beasts

Brilliant Diamond also has the better legendary trio in the Legendary Beasts, namely Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. The Legendary Birds are powerful too, but their secondary Flying-typing adds more of a drawback to each of them, than it does an advantage.

Within Ramanas Park in the post game, you can catch the Legendary Beasts in Brilliant Diamond and the Legendary Birds in Shining Pearl.

Best Legendary: Dialga vs Palkia

Dialga, The More Strategic Choice

Pokemon BDSP Dialga

Being a Steel/Dragon Type, Dialga doesn't have the typical Dragon Type weaknesses to Dragon, Ice, and Fairy Type moves, which makes it the more strategic choice, as you can pit it against other Dragon-type Pokemon and it would have the type advantage. It would additionally have the type advantage over those Ice and Fairy Types as well, due to the Steel typing.

Dialga is weak to Fighting- and Ground-type moves, but its 120 base Defense stat prepares it to take those hits, since moves from those types are mostly Physical attacks.

Palkia is Good But Not Special

Pokemon BDSP Palkia

On the other hand, Palkia is a strong and faster attacker, but less bulky, which means it will go down faster than Dialga in a Dragon vs. Dragon matchup. A multi-turn move like Outrage is less reliable on Palkia, because it won't last as long in battle compred to Dialga, especially against other Dragon Types.

Palkia's Water/Dragon Typing relieves it of its weakness to Ice Types, but it won't possess a type advantage over Ice Type Pokemon like Dialga does.

Pokemon BDSP News

Pokemon BDSP Latest News

News and Game Info

Pokemon HOME News

All Latest News

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Game Features
Everything We Know New Features & Differences
Version Exclusive Pokemon Multiplayer and Online Features
National Dex Mega Evolutions
Platinum Content Fairy Type
Removed Features Pal Park
Battle Frontier Dynamax and Gigantamax
Sword and Shield Compatibility Sinnoh Regional Variants
Available Editions

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