Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: Complete Guide
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Pokédex →Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are remakes of Diamond and Pearl for the Nintendo Switch, released in November 2021. They retell the original Sinnoh journey with a faithful structure and a rounded, toy-like art style.
The remakes stay close to the original in story, map and battles, and they update the experience with a larger underground area, a new look for contests and modern conveniences such as faster menus and an automatic experience share.
They suit newcomers who want to start in the classic Sinnoh region and returning players who loved the Nintendo DS games.
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl quick facts
| Release date | November 19, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Platform | Nintendo Switch |
| Region | Sinnoh |
| Generation | Generation VIII |
| Versions | Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl |
| New Pokémon | None (no new species) |
| Starters | Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup |
| Legendary and Mythical | Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Heatran, Regigigas and Cresselia |
Story and structure
This section avoids spoilers and sticks to the structure.
You live in Twinleaf Town and set out on a trip to Professor Rowan's lab. A rival and a friend travel with you for a time, and the road leads past lakes, mountains and a snowy summit.
Team Galactic wants to harness the power of three legendary Pokémon connected to the lakes. Their leader's calm, logical attitude hides a more dangerous goal.
Gyms and the Pokémon League
Eight Gym Leaders guard badges across Sinnoh, and the Elite Four and Champion wait at the end. The Champion is among the strongest of the series.
The legendary duo
Dialga on Brilliant Diamond and Palkia on Shining Pearl are the central legendary Pokémon. Both are tied to time and space.
Afterwards, the world opens up to new areas and optional side stories.
New mechanics explained
The Grand Underground
An expanded version of the original Underground, with large caverns where you can catch Pokémon from several regions and dig for treasure.
Tip: Explore the caverns often. Rare Pokémon and items appear in different areas.
Super Contests
Pokémon compete in a performance contest where they are judged on style, with the addition of dance performances.
Tip: Contests give you a break from battling and reward you with ribbons and items.
Modern conveniences
The remakes include an automatic experience share, a faster menu and a simpler way to manage Hidden Machine moves.
Tip: Because the experience share is always on, you do not need to switch Pokémon in and out to keep your team balanced.
Starter Pokémon
Professor Rowan's assistant offers three starters, each evolving twice and gaining a second type.
| Starter | Final form | Final typing | Evolves at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtwig | Torterra | GrassGround | Levels 18 and 32 |
| Chimchar | Infernape | FireFighting | Levels 14 and 36 |
| Piplup | Empoleon | WaterSteel | Levels 16 and 36 |
Turtwig line
Chimchar line
Piplup line
Our recommendation
For a first playthrough, we recommend Chimchar for its speed and coverage. Piplup is a good choice for defensive teams, and Turtwig is a patient pick.
Version differences
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl share the same story and map, with differences in cover legendary and a few wild Pokémon.
- Brilliant Diamond features Dialga and Shining Pearl features Palkia.
- Some wild Pokémon appear in only one of the two.
Both versions share the Grand Underground and the modern conveniences.
Keep exploring
Tips for new players
- Spend time in the Grand Underground. It is a source of rare Pokémon and items.
- Make use of the automatic experience share to keep your whole team close in level.
- Try the Super Contests when you want a break from battling.
- Pick up the Hidden Machine moves early. Some are required to reach new routes.
- Build a balanced team, because the Gym lineup is varied.
- Save before the Elite Four.
- Visit the lakes, which hold items and legendary Pokémon.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl?
They share the same story and map. Brilliant Diamond features Dialga and Shining Pearl features Palkia, with a few exclusive Pokémon.
Are these games remakes?
Yes. They remake Diamond and Pearl for the Nintendo Switch.
Do they include Platinum's content?
No. They are based on Diamond and Pearl, not on Platinum.
What is the Grand Underground?
A large underground area with caverns where you can catch Pokémon and find items.