Pokemon by Route: Best Pokemon to Catch

This is a list of all Pokemon appearing on each Route with recommendations of best Pokemon to catch in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP). Read on to learn the best Pokemon to catch on every Route for each part of the story.

Pokemon Locations
All Maps and Locations	Underground Pokemon	Pokemon by Route

Pokemon Appearing up to Oreburgh City (1st Gym)

Starter Pokemon

Turtwig

Chimchar

Piplup

You Can't Reselect Your Starter

You can't change your decision once you select your Starter Pokemon. Make sure to consider what role they'll play in your team as you progress through the story!

Best Starter Pokemon

Route 201

Starly

Bidoof

Route 201 Pokemon List and Map

Starly Gets Stronger Until the Late Game

Starly is a fairly common Pokemon that appears in the tall grass in the early stages and evolves into a powerful Pokemon with a great base Attack stat. It's guaranteed to remain a staple member of your story team until the late game!

Verity Lakefront

Starly

Bidoof

Verity Lakefront Pokemon List and Map

Route 202

Starly	Bidoof	Shinx
Kricketot	-	-

Route 202 Pokemon List and Map

Shinx is a Strong Physical Electric-type

Although Shinx has a fairly shallow movepool, it's also one of the few physical Electric-type Pokemon and boasts a high Attack power when it evolves. It's a great Pokemon to consider if you're in need of a physical attacker to round off your team's coverage!

Route 203

Starly	Bidoof	Shinx
Kricketot	Abra	Zubat

Route 203 Pokemon List and Map

Abra is Available for Trade in Oreburgh City

Abra evolves into one of the best Special Attackers in the game, but it's notoriously difficult to catch since it has a habit of using Teleport to run away!

Thankfully, you can trade your Machop for an Abra in Oreburgh City!

Route 218

Magikarp	Floatzel	Shellos
Gastrodon	Mr. Mime	Glameow
Wingull

Route 218 Pokemon List and Map

Get the Old Rod and Start Fishing!

At the gate leading to Route 218 is a Fisherman who will give an Old Rod. Although you can only catch Magikarp for now, it's a good Pokemon to add to your team since it evolves into a strong Physical Attacker fairly early!

Oreburgh Gate

Zubat

Geodude

Psyduck

Oreburgh Gate Pokemon List and Map

Catch a Zubat to Get a Heal Ball

A man in the house to the left of the Pokemart will give you a Heal Ball if you show him a Zubat. Make sure to catch one to get this free Pokeball!

Route 207

Geodude	Machop	Zubat
Kricketot

Route 207 Pokemon List and Map

Machop Makes the First Gym Easy

Machop is a Fighting-type that can make quick work of the Oreburgh City Gym with its fairly powerful moves. Even if you have a way to deal against the Rock-type Gym Leader, you may still want to catch it so you can trade it for an Abra once you reach the city!

Oreburgh Mine

Geodude

Onix

Zubat

Oreburgh Mine Pokemon List and Map

Oreburgh City Guides
Getting the 1st Badge	How to Beat Roark

Pokemon Appearing up to Eterna City (2nd Gym)

Route 204

Starly	Bidoof	Shinx
Kricketot	Budew	Zubat

Route 204 Pokemon List and Map

Ravaged Path

Zubat

Geodude

Psyduck

Ravaged Path Pokemon List and Map

Valley Windworks

Bidoof	Pachirisu	Shellos (West Sea)
Buizel	Drifloon (Friday Only)	-

Valley Windworks Pokemon List and Map

Drifloon Only Appears on a Friday

Drifloon will appear as an overworld encounter every Friday, but only after beating Team Galactic and forcing them out of the Valley Windworks.

Route 205

Bidoof	Pachirisu	Shellos (West Sea)
Buizel	-	-

Route 205 Pokemon List and Map

Eterna Forest

Wurmple	Silcoon (Brilliant Diamond)	Cascoon (Shining Pearl)
Budew	Buneary	Beautifly
Dustox	Murkrow	Misdreavus

Eterna Forest Pokemon List and Map

Eterna City Guides
Getting the 2nd Badge	How to Beat Gardenia

Pokemon Appearing up to Veilstone City (3rd Gym)

Route 206

Bronzor	Ponyta	Kricketune
Zubat	Geodude	Stunky (Brilliant Diamond)

Route 206 Pokemon List and Map

Ponyta is One of the Few Fire-types

Ponyta is the only Fire-type Pokemon that appears in the wild, not counting the Fire-types that you can find in the Pokemon Hideaways in the Grand Underground.

If you didn't choose Chimchar as your starter, it's a good idea to catch a Ponyta to round off your team's coverage!

Wayward Cave

Bronzor

Geodude

Zubat

Wayward Cave Map, Secret Entrance Location, and Pokemon List

Gible is Available After Getting the 6th Gym Badge

Gible

The basement area of the Wayward Cave is the only place you can catch Gible. This area is accessible after you have unlocked the move Strength after beating Byron and getting the 6th Gym Badge.

Mt. Coronet (Between Oreburgh and Hearthome)

Meditite	Geodude	Zubat
Machop	Chingling	Cleffa

Mt. Coronet Pokemon List and Map

Route 208

Psyduck	Meditite	Zubat
Machop	Bidoof	Bibarel

Route 208 Pokemon List and Map

Route 209

Bibarel	Starly	Staravia
Chansey	Mime Jr. (Brilliant Diamond)	Bonsly (Shining Pearl)
Gastly	Zubat	Magikarp
Goldeen

Route 209 Pokemon List and Map

Lost Tower

Gastly	Misdreavus (Shining Pearl)	Zubat
Golbat	Murkrow (Brilliant Diamond)

Lost Tower Pokemon List and Map

Route 210

Ponyta	Kricketune	Geodude
Chansey	Mime Jr. (Brilliant Diamond)	Bonsly (Shining Pearl)
Psyduck	Bibarel	Meditite
Machop	Machoke	Hoothoot
Noctowl	Magikarp	Barboach

Route 210 Pokemon List and Map

Route 215

Ponyta	Geodude	Abra
Kricketune	Kadabra	-

Route 215 Pokemon List and Map

Veilstone CIty Guides
Getting the 3rd Badge	How to Beat Maylene

Pokemon Appearing up to Pastoria City (4th Gym)

Route 212

Starly	Staravia	Kricketune
Budew	Roselia	Goldeen
Magikarp

Route 212 Pokemon List and Map

Trophy Garden

Pichu	Pikachu	Staravia
Roselia	Kricketune

Trophy Garden (Pokemon Mansion) Daily Pokemon List and Guide

Listen to Mr. Backlot's Story

Mr. Backlot is very proud of the Pokemon that live in his garden, which are found nowhere else in the Sinnoh Region! Listen to his story and the number of rare Pokemon appearing in his garden will increase!

Route 213

Buizel	Floatzel	Shellos (West Sea)
Wingull	Magikarp	Remoraid

Route 213 Pokemon List and Map

Route 214

Ponyta	Geodude	Graveler
Sudowoodo (Shining Pearl)	Girafarig	Kricketune
Stunky (Brilliant Diamond)

Route 214 Pokemon List and Map

Valor Lakefront

Girafarig	Geodude	Staravia
Graveler	Bibarel	Kricketune

Valor Lakefront Pokemon List and Map

Great Marsh

Wooper	Quagsire	Bibarel
Budew	Roselia	Carnivine
Skorupi	Drapion	Croagunk
Toxicroak	Azurill	Marill
Starly	Psyduck	Bidoof
Hoothoot	Noctowl	Magikarp
Gyarados	Barboach	Golduck
Staravia

Great Marsh Daily Pokemon and Guide

Available Pokemon Change Daily

The availability of certain Pokemon in the Great Marsh changes daily, and you can check which are available for that day by using the Binoculars.

You can change which Pokemon appear by mixing records with other players!

Pastoria City Guides
Getting the 4th Badge	How to Beat Crasher Wake

Pokemon Appearing up to Hearthome City (5th Gym)

Route 210 (Fog Area)

Psyduck	Bibarel	Meditite
Machop	Machoke	Hoothoot
Machop	Noctowl	Magikarp
Barboach	Ponyta	Geodude
Mime Jr.	Bonsly	Kricketune
Chansey

Route 210 Pokemon List and Map

Route 211

Meditite	Bidoof	Geodude
Ponyta	Chingling	Graveler
Machoke	Zubat	Noctowl
Hoothoot

Route 211 Pokemon List and Map

Hearthome City Guides
Getting the 5th Badge	How to Beat Fantina

Pokemon Appearing up to Canalave City (6th Gym)

Use Surf to Catch Water-type Pokemon

Once you deafet the Hearthome City Gym, you can use Surf to travel across the water's surface and catch Water-type Pokemon!

Pokemon You Can Catch on Water

Tentacool

Wingull

Fuego Ironworks

Floatzel	Shellos (West Sea)	Shinx
Wingull	Luxio	Pachirisu
Gastrodon (West Sea)	Tentacool	Tentacruel
Pelipper

Fuego Ironworks Puzzle Solution, Pokemon List, and Map

Route 222

Floatzel	Shellos (West Sea)	Gastrodon (West Sea)
Tentacool	Wingull	Sudowoodo
Tentacruel	Pelipper	Glameow
Chatot	Mr. Mime	Purugly
Magikarp	Remoraid

Route 222 Pokemon List and Map

Route 218

Floatzel	Shellos (West Sea)	Gastrodon (West Sea)
Glameow (Shining Pearl)	Wingull	Mr. Mime
Magikarp	Finneon	Tentacool
Tentacruel	Pelipper

Route 218 Pokemon List and Map

Iron Island

Geodude	Graveler	Zubat
Onix	Magikarp	Finneon
Tentacool	Tentacruel	Wingull
Pelipper	Golbat	Steelix

Iron Island Pokemon List and Map

Level Up your Pokemon with Riley

Iron Island is a good place to train your Pokemon mid-game as almost all wild Pokemon are weak to Water-type Moves. Riley also accompanies you in this area, and he'll restore your Pokemon's health and PP at the end of every battle.

Canalave City Guides
Getting the 6th Badge	How to Beat Byron

Pokemon Appearing up to Snowpoint City (7th Gym)

Route 216

Snover	Sneasel	Meditite
Zubat	Graveler	Machoke
Noctowl	-	-

Route 216 Pokemon List and Map

Catch an Ice-type to Deal with the Champion

This route is a good place to catch an Ice-type Pokemon to deal with Champion Cynthia' Garchomp once you take on the Elite Four!

Route 217

Snover	Sneasel	Meditite
Medicham	Zubat	Noctowl
Machoke

Route 217 Pokemon List and Map

Acuity Lakefront

Snover	Sneasel	Meditite
Medicham	Zubat	Noctowl
Machoke

Acuity Lakefront Pokemon List and Map

Snowpoint City Guides
Getting the 7th Badge	How to Beat Candice

Pokemon Appearing up to Sunyshore City (8th Gym)

Mt. Coronet (Peak)

Bronzong	Abomasnow	Machoke
Clefairy	Medicham	Golbat
Chingling	Noctowl	Snover

Mt. Coronet Pokemon List and Map

Route 222

Floatzel	Glameow (Shining Pearl)	Chatot
Purugly (Shining Pearl)	Wingull	Gastrodon
Mr. Mime	Magikarp	Remoraid
Tentacool	Tentacruel	Pelipper

Route 222 Pokemon List and Map

Sunyshore City Guides
Getting the 8th Badge	How to Beat Volkner

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Beginner's Tips and Tricks

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Tips and Tricks

Post Game Guides
Post Game Content and 100 Percent Guide	How to Use the Poke Radar
How to Unlock the National Dex	Ramanas Park Guide
List of Swarm Pokemon	How to Get to the Battle Zone
How to Get Mysterious Shards	Ribbon Syndicate Guide
How to Get Trainer Card Stars	When Do Legendaries Respawn?
How to Complete the National Dex	-
Beginner's Guides
Best Team	Best Starter Pokemon
How to Trade Locally and Online	Pokemon by Route: Best Pokemon to Catch
How to Have Pokemon Follow You and Walk With Pokemon	How to Get Money Fast
Groups Guide: How to Join and Create	Character Creation and Customization
Pokemon Allowed in Amity Square Guide and Map	Daily and Weekly Events Guide
How to Battle Online	How to Evolve Pokemon
Type Chart	Language Settings
How to Add Friends	How to Catch Pokemon: Best Pokemon for Catching
List of Settings and Best Settings	What Happens When You Lose?
Should You Use TMs?	-
Collectibles and Locations
Move Reminder: How to Relearn Moves	All Poketch App Locations
Move Tutor Locations and Move List	All Honey Tree Locations and Pokemon
List of Clothes and Styles	Missables and One-Time Events
All HM Locations (Hidden Moves)	Pokemon Nursery Location
How to Change Clothes and Metronome Shop Location	List of Ribbons
Useful Characters and Their Locations	Poketch Clowns Locations
Move Deleter Location	List of Stickers
All In-Game Trades	Pokemon News Press Guide and All Poke Ball Rewards
Poke Mart Items List and Unlock Conditions	-
Game Mechanics
Poffin Guide: How to Cook the Best Poffins	Super Contest Show Guide
How to Use Stickers (Pokeball Seals)	Fishing and How to Get Each Rod
How to Make Traded Pokemon Obey You	How to Grow Berries
How to Use Ball Capsules	How to Use Vs. Seeker
How to Use Itemfinder and Find Hidden Items	Nature Chart and How to Check Natures
How to Change the Date and Time	How to Change Nicknames
Jubilife TV Lottery Prizes and How to Win	Massage Girl: How to Get Massages
How to Delete Save Data	How to Get More PC Boxes
How to Access Pokemon Boxes on the Road	How to Transfer Save Data
How to Use the PC and Boxes	Can You Nickname Traded Pokemon?
How to Stop Evolution	Characteristics Guide and Meaning
How to Save Your Game	How to Release Pokemon
Is Fashion Case in the Game?	How to Adjust Screen Size
How to Hide the Poketch	Are There Accessories?
How to Farm Held Items	Town Map
Advanced Tips and Tricks
How to Get All Starter Pokemon	How to Do a Nuzlocke Challenge
How to Tell if a Pokemon is Shiny	-
Pokemon Battles
How to Use STAB Effectively	Double Battles Guide
All Status Conditions	How to Escape and Run Away From Battle
How to Avoid Random Battles	-