You’re standing in the aisle—or more likely, staring at the Nintendo eShop—and the choice feels weirdly high-stakes. It's the classic Pokemon dilemma that started back in 1996. Do you go with the giant blue metal dragon that controls time, or the space-bending pink bipedal creature? Honestly, picking between Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl exclusives isn't just about the box art, though Dialga definitely looks cooler on a shelf. It’s about the grind. It's about which legendary birds you want to spend hours hunting and which childhood favorites you’re okay with trading for later.
The Sinnoh remakes are faithful. Maybe too faithful for some. But they keep that core "version split" intact, meaning if you want a Scizor or a Tyranitar, your choice is already made for you.
The Version Exclusive Problem
Most people think the only difference is the legendary on the cover. Wrong. It goes deeper into the "Grand Underground" and the post-game Ramanas Park. If you pick Brilliant Diamond, you’re signing up for a more aggressive, heavy-hitting roster. Shining Pearl feels a bit more "classic" with its inclusion of the Kanto birds and some tankier options.
Think about the long game. You can’t get a Bagon in Diamond. If Salamence is your go-to competitive dragon, you're either buying Pearl or begging a friend for a trade. It’s annoying. It’s also exactly how The Pokemon Company keeps people talking.
Why Brilliant Diamond usually wins the popularity contest
There is a measurable tilt toward Diamond. It’s been that way since 2006. Dialga is a Steel/Dragon type, which is objectively one of the best defensive typings in the entire franchise. It resists almost everything. Palkia, the mascot for Shining Pearl, is Water/Dragon. It’s good, sure, but it doesn't have that same "I can tank a hit from God" energy.
In the Brilliant Diamond exclusives list, you get the Arcanine line, the Scizor line (via Scyther), and the Electivire line. These are fan favorites. They are fast. They hit hard. If you’re a "swipe first, ask questions later" kind of player, Diamond is your lane. Cranidos is another one—Rampardos has an Attack stat that is frankly ridiculous for a mid-game fossil Pokemon.
The case for the underdog: Shining Pearl
Shining Pearl is for the collectors. You get the Magmortar line, which is the counterpart to Electivire. You get the Pinsir and Misdreavus lines. But the real heavy hitters are in the late game. Bagon (Salamence) and Larvitar (Tyranitar) are split. Wait, actually—Larvitar is Diamond, and Bagon is Pearl. If you want that classic pseudo-legendary dragon, Pearl is the only place to find it naturally.
✨ Don't miss: Appropriate for All Gamers NYT: The Real Story Behind the Most Famous Crossword Clue
Pearl also gives you access to the Kanto Legendaries: Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Diamond gets the Johto Beasts: Entei, Raikou, and Suicune. Most competitive players I know value the Johto trio higher, but for nostalgia? The birds win every time.
Breaking down the Grand Underground
The Underground changed everything in the remakes. It’s not just for digging up spheres anymore. This is where you actually find the Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl exclusives during the main story.
In the original DS games, you were stuck with a very limited Pokedex until you beat the Elite Four. It was rough. Fire-type trainers basically had Ponyta and... that was it. The remakes fixed this with the "Hideaways." But even here, the version lock is tight.
In Diamond, you'll see:
- Murkrow lurking in the spacious caves.
- Stunky (the bane of many players' existence) in the grassier areas.
- Silly little Gligar flying around.
In Pearl, you’ll find:
- Misdreavus, which is essential if you want a Mismagius for a Ghost-type run.
- Glameow, looking far more stylish than it has any right to be.
- Slowpoke, because everyone needs a slow friend.
The Ramanas Park Divide
Once you’ve conquered the Elite Four and seen every Pokemon in the Sinnoh Dex, you unlock Ramanas Park. This replaced the old Pal Park. It's a series of caves where you use "Slates" to summon legendaries from previous generations. This is where the version exclusives get really serious.
🔗 Read more: Stuck on the Connections hint June 13? Here is how to solve it without losing your mind
If you’re playing Brilliant Diamond, you get Ho-Oh. If you’re playing Shining Pearl, you get Lugia. This usually settles the debate for most people. Lugia is a defensive wall; Ho-Oh is a physical powerhouse with Sacred Fire.
Beyond the mascots, Diamond players get the three "Regis" (wait, everyone gets the Regis) but specifically the Legendary Dogs (Raikou, Entei, Suicune). Pearl players get the Legendary Birds (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres). According to data from Pikalytics, Zapdos remains one of the most used Pokemon in various battle formats, making Pearl a sneaky good choice for those looking to build a serious team without trading.
Realities of the "Third Version"
We didn't get a "Shining Platinum." That hurts. In the old days, Platinum combined the best of both worlds and fixed the pacing. Without it, we are stuck with the version-specific frustrations. For example, if you want a Weavile, you need a Razor Claw. While the item isn't exclusive, the availability of certain counters to it is.
I’ve spent a lot of time on forums like Serebii and Smogon, and the consensus is always the same: pick based on the non-legendaries. You can always find someone to trade you a Palkia for a Dialga. It’s much harder to find someone willing to breed you a perfect-IV Shieldon when everyone is playing Diamond to get a Cranidos.
How to bypass the exclusives without buying two games
Don't buy both. It's a trap. Unless you're a hardcore collector or want to run two different save files simultaneously, it’s not worth the $60 extra.
The most efficient way to handle Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl exclusives is through Pokemon HOME. If you have older games on the Switch, like Sword or Shield, or even if you’ve been playing Pokemon GO, you can transfer a lot of these exclusives in.
💡 You might also like: GTA Vice City Cheat Switch: How to Make the Definitive Edition Actually Fun
Another "pro tip" is using specific Trade Codes. The community established a set of link codes back at launch that people still use. For example, if you want to trade your Diamond-exclusive Cranidos for a Pearl-exclusive Shieldon, you'd use the code 0408-0410. It’s a bit of a gamble—sometimes you get a Japanese player who wants something else—but it usually works.
The Full List of Major Differences
Let's get specific. Here is the breakdown of what you are actually missing out on if you pick one over the other.
Brilliant Diamond Exclusives:
- Seel and Dewgong (Ice/Water types that are surprisingly tanky).
- Scyther and Scizor (Scizor is a top-tier competitive threat).
- Murkrow and Honchkrow.
- Larvitar, Pupitar, and Tyranitar (The legendary "Godzilla" of Pokemon).
- Aron, Lairon, and Aggron.
- Kecleon (The invisible annoyance).
- Dialga (The master of time).
- Raikou, Entei, and Suicune.
- Ho-Oh.
Shining Pearl Exclusives:
- Slowpoke, Slowbro, and Slowking.
- Pinsir (The Bug-type king).
- Misdreavus and Mismagius.
- Bagon, Shelgon, and Salamence (High speed, high damage).
- Lotad, Lombre, and Ludicolo (The ultimate rain team staple).
- Glameow and Purugly.
- Palkia (The master of space).
- Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.
- Lugia.
Which one should you actually pick?
If you are looking for raw power and a slightly easier time during the main story, Brilliant Diamond is the winner. Tyranitar and Scizor are simply better than their Pearl counterparts in most scenarios. Dialga’s typing also makes the final fight against Cynthia slightly less of a nightmare, though her Garchomp will still probably wipe your team at least once.
If you prefer a defensive playstyle or you really, really love the original 151 Pokemon, Shining Pearl is your better bet. Having access to the Kanto birds and Lugia feels very nostalgic. Plus, Ludicolo is one of the most fun Pokemon to use in a casual playthrough because of its unique Water/Grass typing.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
- Check your Pokemon HOME: Before you stress about exclusives, see what you already have. If you have a Tyranitar in Sword and Shield, you can just move it over once you get the National Dex in Sinnoh.
- Look for the "Trade Rooms": Use the global room in the Pokemon Center. Don't just look for random trades; use the community-standard codes (like 0408-0410 for fossils or 0125-0239 for Electabuzz/Magmar).
- Plan for the Evolution Items: Remember that many exclusives like Electabuzz or Magmar require a trade while holding a specific item. You can find these items in the Grand Underground by thieving them from wild Pokemon or finding them on the ground.
- Target the Grand Underground early: Don't wait until the post-game. You can get many version exclusives as soon as you get the second badge. This makes your team feel unique much earlier in the journey.
At the end of the day, it's about what you think looks cool. Whether you're riding with the time-lord or the space-bender, the Sinnoh region is still one of the most challenging and rewarding maps to explore. Just make sure you bring a lot of Revives for the Elite Four. You’re going to need them.