Every paired game release in Pokémon history has had version-exclusive Pokémon. Version-exclusive Pokémon cannot be found in every game in a 'set' of games, requiring the player to trade with players with other games in the set to complete their Pokédex. This page lists the version-exclusive Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and makes note of some other version-specific Pokémon attributes.
Several species of Pokémon are altogether unavailable without trading with other games. This list shows which Pokémon are only available in some (but not all) of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. This does not include Pokémon that evolve via trade, even though they are technically "unavailable without trading".
With the initial paired versions of a set of Pokémon games, it is usually the case that there are 'paired Pokémon' that are available in the same areas between the two games, but one Pokémon in the pair is exclusive to one game and the other is exclusive to the other game. The table below shows the paired Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
| Brilliant Diamond | Shining Pearl | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Cranidos |
|
Shieldon |
|
|
Rampardos |
|
Bastiodon |
|
|
Murkrow |
|
Misdreavus |
|
|
Honchkrow |
|
Mismagius |
|
|
Stunky |
|
Glameow |
|
|
Skuntank |
|
Purugly |
|
|
Dialga |
|
Palkia |
|
|
Caterpie |
|
Weedle |
|
|
Metapod |
|
Kakuna |
|
|
Butterfree |
|
Beedrill |
|
|
Ekans |
|
Sandshrew |
|
|
Arbok |
|
Sandslash |
|
|
Growlithe |
|
Vulpix |
|
|
Arcanine |
|
Ninetales |
|
|
Seel |
|
Slowpoke |
|
|
Dewgong |
|
Slowbro |
|
|
Scyther |
|
Pinsir |
|
|
Elekid |
|
Magby |
|
|
Electabuzz |
|
Magmar |
|
|
Raikou |
|
Articuno |
|
|
Entei |
|
Zapdos |
|
|
Suicune |
|
Moltres |
|
|
Gligar |
|
Teddiursa |
|
|
Gliscor |
|
Ursaring |
|
|
Kecleon |
|
Stantler |
|
|
Larvitar |
|
Bagon |
|
|
Pupitar |
|
Shelgon |
|
|
Tyranitar |
|
Salamence |
|
|
Ho-Oh |
|
Lugia |
|
|
Seedot |
|
Lotad |
|
|
Nuzleaf |
|
Lombre |
|
|
Shiftry |
|
Ludicolo |
|
|
Mawile |
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Sableye |
|
|
Zangoose |
|
Seviper |
|
|
Solrock |
|
Lunatone |
Several Pokémon may be available in both games, but have different encounter methods depending on the game. The full list is shown below.
| Pokémon | Games | Encounter Methods | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Mr. Mime | BD | SP | Walking, Grand Underground |
| BD | SP | Grand Underground | ||
 |
Houndoom | BD | SP | Grand Underground |
| BD | SP | Walking, Grand Underground | ||
 |
Mightyena | BD | SP | Walking, Grand Underground |
| BD | SP | Grand Underground | ||
 |
Aron | BD | SP | Walking, Grand Underground |
| BD | SP | Grand Underground | ||
Some Pokémon may be available in both games, but have different encounter rates or locations that cause them to become more common in one game than another. Those Pokémon are listed here, though only with the wild locations that are subject to this preferential treatment.
| Pokémon | Games | Encounter Methods | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Nidoran♀ | BD | SP | Walking: Route 201 (20%) |
| BD | SP | Walking: Route 201 (2%) | ||
 |
Nidoran♂ | BD | SP | Walking: Route 201 (2%) |
| BD | SP | Walking: Route 201 (20%) | ||
 |
Nidorina | BD | SP | Walking: Route 221 (20%), Valor Lakefront (20%) |
| BD | SP | Walking: Route 221 (2%), Valor Lakefront (2%) | ||
 |
Nidorino | BD | SP | Walking: Route 221 (2%), Valor Lakefront (2%) |
| BD | SP | Walking: Route 221 (20%), Valor Lakefront (20%) | ||
 |
Tauros | BD | SP | Walking: Routes 209 (20%) and 210 (southern half) (20%) |
| BD | SP | Walking: Routes 209 (2%) and 210 (southern half) (2%) | ||
 |
Miltank | BD | SP | Walking: Routes 209 (2%) and 210 (southern half) (20%) |
| BD | SP | Walking: Routes 209 (2%) and 210 (southern half) (20%) | ||
 |
Mime Jr. | BD | SP | Walking: Routes 209 and 210 (southern half), Trophy Garden |
| BD | SP | Walking: Trophy Garden | ||
 |
Bonsly | BD | SP | Walking: Trophy Garden |
| BD | SP | Walking: Routes 209 and 210 (southern half), Trophy Garden | ||
|
|
Mr. Mime | BD | SP |
Walking: Routes 218 and 222 Grand Underground: Dazzling Cave, Whiteout Cave, Icy Cave, Stargleam Cavern, Glacial Cavern |
| BD | SP | Grand Underground: Dazzling Cave, Whiteout Cave, Icy Cave, Stargleam Cavern, Glacial Cavern | ||
 |
Sudowoodo | BD | SP | Walking: Routes 214 and 221 |
|
|
Mightyena | BD | SP |
Walking: Routes 214 and 215 Grand Underground: Spacious Cave, Dazzling Cave, Icy Cave, Stargleam Cavern, Glacial Cavern |
| BD | SP | Grand Underground: Spacious Cave, Dazzling Cave, Icy Cave, Stargleam Cavern, Glacial Cavern | ||
|
|
Houndoom | BD | SP | Grand Underground: Spacious Cave, Volcanic Cave, Dazzling Cave, Sandsear Cave, Stargleam Cavern, Typhlo Cavern |
| BD | SP |
Walking: Routes 214 and 215 Grand Underground: Spacious Cave, Volcanic Cave, Dazzling Cave, Sandsear Cave, Stargleam Cavern, Typhlo Cavern |
||
|
|
Aron | BD | SP |
Walking: Fuego Ironworks Grand Underground: Rocky Cave, Whiteout Cave, Icy Cave, Big Bluff Cavern, Glacial Cavern |
| BD | SP | Grand Underground: Rocky Cave, Whiteout Cave, Icy Cave, Big Bluff Cavern, Glacial Cavern | ||
 |
Spheal | BD | SP |
Surfing: Routes 226, 230 Grand Underground: Whiteout Cave, Icy Cave, Glacial Cavern |
 |
Sealeo | BD | SP |
Surfing: Routes 226, 230 Grand Underground: Whiteout Cave, Icy Cave, Glacial Cavern |
 |
Beautifly | BD | SP | Walking: Routes 224 and 230, Eterna Forest |
| BD | SP | Walking: Route 224 | ||
 |
Dustox | BD | SP | Walking: Route 230, Eterna Forest |
 |
Illumise | BD | SP | Walking: Route 229 (10%) |
| BD | SP | Walking: Route 229 (5%) | ||
 |
Volbeat | BD | SP | Walking: Route 229 (5%) |
| BD | SP | Walking: Route 229 (10%) | ||
Some evolutions, or pre-evolutions, of Pokémon can only be obtained in the wild in one of Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl. This list shows which Pokémon are limited. The player can of course always evolve their pre-evolved form or breed their evolved form, so these Pokémon are not completely inaccessible.
| Pokémon | Games | Encounter Methods | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Sudowoodo | BD | SP | Walking: Routes 214 and 221 |
 |
Silcoon | BD | SP |
Walking: Eterna Forest Honey Tree: Routes 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 218, 221, and 222, Valley Windworks, Floaroma Meadow, Fuego Ironworks, Eterna Forest Grand Underground: Grassland Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern, Sunlit Cavern |
 |
Cascoon | BD | SP |
Walking: Eterna Forest Honey Tree: Routes 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 218, 221, and 222, Valley Windworks, Floaroma Meadow, Fuego Ironworks, Eterna Forest Grand Underground: Grassland Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern, Sunlit Cavern |
|
|
Dustox | BD | SP | Walking: Route 230, Eterna Forest |
|
|
Spheal | BD | SP |
Surfing: Routes 226, 230 Grand Underground: Whiteout Cave, Icy Cave, Glacial Cavern |
|
|
Sealeo | BD | SP |
Surfing: Routes 226, 230 Grand Underground: Whiteout Cave, Icy Cave, Glacial Cavern |