With the exception of Celebi, Deoxys, Darkrai, and Arceus, every single Mythical and Legendary Pokemon introduced in the first four generations of Pokemon games can currently be caught in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Given that the original games featured just 14, this is a huge increase and one that will no doubt delight long-time fans of the series.
At the time of writing, there are 31 Mythical and Legendary Pokemon available in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, though one can currently only be caught by exploiting a glitch and another is a limited-time-only gift. There are also ten version exclusive Legendaries across the Gen 4 remakes, meaning that those hoping to catch them all are going to have to use the games' trading system to get the job done.
Updated March 17, 2022, by Tom Bowen: Event Pokemon have been a staple of the Pokemon franchise for decades now, and these time-limited offerings once again play an important role in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Since the games' release, three new Mythical and Legendary Pokemon have been announced; two of which are available at the time of writing. This guide has been updated to reflect these additions, as well as to serve as a reminder for those hoping to pad out their Pokedex with these powerful Pokemon that these events will be ending soon, effectively making it impossible to catch one or two of them without the use of glitches or exploits.
Quick Links
Manaphy
Where to Find Manaphy in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can get a Manaphy Egg through the games' Mystery Gift function by selecting the "Get via Internet" option. The gift will expire on February 21, 2022, however, so those who want Manaphy will need to claim it before then.
Phione
Where to Find Phione in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can get themselves a Phione by placing a Manaphy and a Ditto together in the Daycare Center in Solaceon Town. After a while, the pair will breed and players will be able to hatch a Phione from the resulting egg.
Mew
Where to Find Mew in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can get Mew by speaking to the elderly woman in the southwest corner of Floarama Town, but only if they have save data from one of the Pokemon: Let's Go! games on their Switch.
Jirachi
Where to Find Jirachi in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can get Jirachi by speaking to the elderly man in the southwest corner of Floarama Town, but only if they have save data from Pokemon Sword or Pokemon Shield on their Switch.
Dialga
Where to Find Dialga in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Dialga is exclusive to Brilliant Diamond. Players will find Dialga at the Spear Pillar as part of the game's main story.
Palkia
Where to Find Palkia in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Palkia is exclusive to Shining Pearl. Players will find Palkia at the Spear Pillar as part of the game's main story.
Uxie
Where to Find Uxie in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Uxie after beating Cynthia. To do so, they'll need to surf to the island in the center of Lake Acuity and interact with it inside the cave.
Mesprit
Where to Find Mesprit in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Mesprit after beating Cynthia. To do so, they'll need to surf to the island in the center of Lake Verity and interact with it inside the cave, after which, it will begin to roam around Sinnoh.
Azelf
Where to Find Azelf in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Azelf after beating Cynthia. To do so, they'll need to surf to the island in the center of Lake Valor and interact with it inside the cave.
Cresselia
Where to Find Cresselia in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Cresslia after they've unlocked the National Dex. After doing so, they'll need to visit Sailor Eldritch's house in Canalave City and interact with the sick child. Speaking to Sailor Eldritch after this will allow them to visit Fullmoon Island, where they'll find Cresselia waiting in a clearing. After interacting with her, she'll start to roam around Sinnoh.
Giratina
Where to Find Giratina in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Giratina after they've unlocked the National Dex. After doing so, they'll be able to find Giratina (Altered Forme) in the Turnback Cave, which is to the east of Route 214. To obtain the Griseous Orb needed to transform Giratina into its Origin Forme, players will need to defeat a level 100 Origin Forme Giratina in the Distortion Room at Ramanas Park.
Heatran
Where to Find Heatran in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Heatran after they've unlocked the National Dex. After doing so, they'll need to head to Stark Mountain and accompany Buck to the cave at the end of the path. Next, they should speak to the old man in the house to the left of the Poke Mart in the Survival Area and then return to the cave in Stark Mountain to find Heatran.
Regirock
Where to Find Regirock in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Regirock after they've unlocked the National Dex. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Discovery Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Regirock will then appear in the Discovery Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Regice
Where to Find Regice in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Regice after they've unlocked the National Dex. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Discovery Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Regice will then appear in the Discovery Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Registeel
Where to Find Registeel in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Registeel after they've unlocked the National Dex. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Discovery Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Registeel will then appear in the Discovery Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Regigigas
Where to Find Regigigas in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Regigigas after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans at Ramanas Park. After doing so, they'll need to head to the lowest level of the temple in Snowpoint City with all three titans in their party and then interact with Regigigas to wake it from its slumber.
Latias
Where to Find Latias in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Latias after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans at Ramanas Park. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Soul Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Latias will then appear in the Soul Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Latios
Where to Find Latios in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Latios after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans at Ramanas Park. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Soul Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Latios will then appear in the Soul Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Articuno
Where to Find Articuno in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Articuno is exclusive to Shining Pearl. Players can only find Articuno after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans at Ramanas Park. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Kanto Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Articuno will then appear in the Kanto Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Zapdos
Where to Find Zapdos in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Zapdos is exclusive to Shining Pearl. Players can only find Zapdos after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans at Ramanas Park. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Kanto Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Zapdos will then appear in the Kanto Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Moltres
Where to Find Moltres in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Moltres is exclusive to Shining Pearl. Players can only find Moltres after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans at Ramanas Park. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Kanto Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Moltres will then appear in the Kanto Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Raikou
Where to Find Raikou in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Raikou is exclusive to Brilliant Diamond. Players can only find Raikou after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans at Ramanas Park. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Johto Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Raikou will then appear in the Johto Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Entei
Where to Find Entei in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Entei is exclusive to Brilliant Diamond. Players can only find Entei after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans at Ramanas Park. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Johto Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Entei will then appear in the Johto Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Suicune
Where to Find Suicune in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Suicune is exclusive to Brilliant Diamond. Players can only find Suicune after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans at Ramanas Park. After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Johto Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Suicune will then appear in the Johto Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Mewtwo
Where to Find Mewtwo in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Mewtwo after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans, Latias, Latios, and either the three Legendary Birds (Shining Pearl) or the three Legendary Beasts (Brilliant Diamond). After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Genome Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Mewtwo will then appear in the Genome Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Lugia
Where to Find Lugia in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Lugia is exclusive to Shining Pearl. Players can only find Lugia after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans, Latias, Latios, and either the three Legendary Birds (Shining Pearl) or the three Legendary Beasts (Brilliant Diamond). After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Squall Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Lugia will then appear in the Squall Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Ho-Oh
Where to Find Ho-Oh in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Ho-Oh is exclusive to Brilliant Diamond. Players can only find Ho-Oh after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans, Latias, Latios, and either the three Legendary Birds (Shining Pearl) or the three Legendary Beasts (Brilliant Diamond). After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Rainbow Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Ho-Oh will then appear in the Rainbow Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Kyogre
Where to Find Kyogre in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Kyogre after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans, Latias, Latios, and either the three Legendary Birds (Shining Pearl) or the three Legendary Beasts (Brilliant Diamond). After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get an Oceanic Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Kyogre will then appear in the Oceanic Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Groudon
Where to Find Groudon in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Groudon after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans, Latias, Latios, and either the three Legendary Birds (Shining Pearl) or the three Legendary Beasts (Brilliant Diamond). After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Tectonic Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Groudon will then appear in the Tectonic Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Rayquaza
Where to Find Rayquaza in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Players can only find Rayquaza after they've unlocked the National Dex and caught the three Legendary Titans, Latias, Latios, and either the three Legendary Birds (Shining Pearl) or the three Legendary Beasts (Brilliant Diamond). After doing so, they'll need to head to Ramanas Park and get a Stratospheric Slate from the counter to the left of the entrance. Rayquaza will then appear in the Stratospheric Room if the slate is placed in the pedestal.
Shaymin
Where to Find Shaymin in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Having originally only been obtainable via the use of a glitch, Shaymin was officially added into Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl in early 2022 as part of a special time-limited event. Players who open up the game between the 27th of February and the 27th of March 2022 will be able to claim Oak's letter through the games' Mystery Gift function. With this special item in hand, they'll then need to head to Route 224, which can be accessed via Victory Road. Once there, they should find and speak with Professor Oak, who is standing near a giant rock to the north of the area. After answering his question (any answer is okay), Shaymin will briefly appear before running away down the Seabreak Path. Players can then follow it to the Flower Paradise, where they'll be able to battle and capture the little Level 30 Mythical. To obtain the Gracidea flowers needed to transform Shaymin into its Sky Form, players will need to speak to the woman near the Pokemon Center in Floarama Town while Shaymin is in their party.
Darkrai
Where to Find Darkrai in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Like Shaymin, players can only catch Darkrai as part of a special time-limited event, which will be taking place throughout April of 2022. Accessing the Mystery Gift function during this time will reward players with the Member Card key item, which can be used to gain access to the Harbor Inn: a special building behind the Canalave City Pokemon Center. Assuming that players have already caught Cresselia and woken the harbor master's son, sleeping in the bed here will result in them being transported to Newmoon Island, where they'll be able to encounter and capture Darkrai.
Arceus
Where to Find Arceus in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Unlike some of the other post-release event Pokemon in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, there is no set window in which players need to catch Arceus. There are, however, some pretty strict unlock requirements, with players first needing to have unlocked the National Dex and caught Arceus in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. After doing so, they'll need to head back to their bedroom in Twinleaf Town and look for the Azure Flute. Taking this item to the Spear Pillar (the place where Palkia / Dialga is encountered) will result in a magical staircase appearing, at the top of which awaits Arceus.