The official release of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will reintroduce a new version of the 15-year-old Sinnoh region, a setting that is now nostalgic to older fans. These games will be a milestone in a few ways. For one, they are the first Pokemon remakes for a home Nintendo consoles. They are also the first remakes in the series to deviate from their generation’s established aesthetics, instead going with a polarizing chibi look.
Despite these differences, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remain consistent within the paradigm of Pokemon remakes. Just like their predecessors, the games will have their own version exclusives, including ones from the original Diamond and Pearl and additional Legendary Pokemon that were unavailable in the originals. Brilliant Diamond’s exclusives arguably shine in comparison to Shining Pearl's, as the exclusive Legendary Pokemon offer a fresher experience in the Sinnoh region.
The Main Exclusive Legendary
The main Legendary Pokemon that is exclusive to Brilliant Diamond is its very own mascot, Dialga. The first Dragon/Steel-type, this Pokemon has dinosaur-like traits and is a blue quadruped with a diamond in the middle of its chest plate - fitting for the mascot of the original Diamond version and Brilliant Diamond. Dialga is a member of the Creation Trio, alongside Palkia and Giratina, and represents time as indicated by its signature move, Roar of Time.
All of its stats are strong, but surprisingly for a Pokemon that is part Steel-type, Dialga’s stat distribution does not focus much on its defenses. Instead, its best stat is its Special Attack at a base 150. In Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, Dialga can be caught at Spear Pillar, just like its counterpart Legendary Palkia in Shining Pearl.
Johto Legendary Pokemon
The Legendary Beasts, as well as their trio master Ho-Oh, cannot be legally obtained in the original Sinnoh games without trading, importing, or cheating. This is unlike their Shining Pearl counterparts, Lugia notwithstanding. The Legendary Birds were available in Pokemon Platinum as “romaing Legendaries” once players got to the post-game. Generation 8 makes Raikou, Entei, and Suicune available in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond now, too.
These Pokemon are always caught the same way in Johto-based games, excluding Pokemon Crystal in which Suicune is the box Legendary. Ho-Oh gets a proper static battle, meanwhile Raikou, Entei, and Suicune were the first “roaming Legendaries.” There are several approaches that Brilliant Diamond could take as the Legendary Birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres roam Sinnoh in Platinum version; and Legendary Pokemon like Mesprit and Cresselia are also roaming. However, given the trio was advertised alongside the reveal of Ramanas Park, they may also appear only at this facility.
The State of Other Legendaries
Other Legendary Pokemon, such as Mew and Jirachi, have been confirmed to appear in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl under specific circumstances. However, the two main members of the Creation Trio, the Legendary Beasts, the Legendary Birds, as well as Lugia and Ho-Oh, are the only Legendary Pokemon to be confirmed to be version exclusives thus far.
Prior remakes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire had Dialga and Palkia; Unova Legendaries such as Zekrom, Reshiram, Tornadus, and Thundurus; and more. So far, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have focused their marketing on Legendaries that appeared in Generation 4 and before, whether they are exclusives or not. Whether Legendary Pokemon from after Generation 4 will be available to all owners of the remakes or become exclusives as well remains to be seen.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl launch on November 19, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.