Completing (Most of) the Pokédex With Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum (Pokémon Pearl)
Pearl has two separate Pokédexes to complete: the Sinnoh Pokédex and the National Pokédex. The Sinnoh Pokédex contains 150 Pokémon (151 counting Manaphy), which includes many Pokémon introduced in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.
The National Pokédex consists of the Sinnoh Pokédex plus all remaining Pokémon between numbers 1 and 493. All Pokémon from the Sinnoh Pokédex, except for the event-exclusive Manaphy, are available between Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.
Most of the remaining Pokémon are also available, but there are a few exceptions, making it impossible to complete the National Pokédex with access to only those three games. This page will show the maximum number of Pokémon that can be obtained.
The maximum number of Pokémon you can get this way is 412, or 443 if dual-slot encounters are obtainable.
In order to complete the Sinnoh Pokédex, you will need access to at mininum a copy of Pokémon Diamond. To obtain the full complement of Pokémon obtainable between the three titles, you will obviously need access to Platinum as well.
Version Exclusives
The following version-exclusive Pokémon have to be traded from Diamond or Platinum:
- Seel, Dewgong (Diamond, Platinum)
- Tangela, Tangrowth (Platinum)
- Scyther (Diamond, Platinum)
- Elekid, Electabuzz (Platinum)
- Magby, Magmar (Platinum)
- Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres (Platinum)
- Murkrow, Honchkrow (Diamond)
- Gligar, Gliscor (Platinum)
- Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar (Diamond, Platinum)
- Poochyena, Mightyena (Diamond, Platinum)
- Aron, Lairon, Aggron (Diamond, Platinum)
- Kecleon (Diamond, Platinum)
- Tropius (Platinum)
- Cranidos, Rampardos (Diamond, Platinum)
- Stunky, Skuntank (Diamond)
- Dialga (Diamond, Platinum)
Mutually Exclusive Pokémon
Several Pokémon are mutually exclusive, meaning that if you get one species, you cannot get at least one other species. The list of mutually exclusive species is below.
- Turtwig/Grotle/Torterra, Chimchar/Monferno/Infernape, Piplup/Prinplup/Empoleon
You will need at minimum three separate save files to get all three starters. Each save file will pick a different starter, and they can be bred and traded as needed.
Trade Evolutions
17 Pokémon evolve by trading: Golem, Machamp, Alakazam, Gengar, Politoed, Slowking, Steelix, Scizor, Kingdra, Porygon2, Huntail, Gorebyss, Rhyperior, Electivire, Magmortar, Porygon-Z, and Dusknoir. The easiest way to get data for them is to trade them to another game and immediately trade the newly-evolved Pokémon back.
You will need two King's Rocks, two Metal Coats, one Dragon Scale, one Up-Grade, one DeepSeaTooth, one DeepSeaScale, one Protector, one Electirizer, one Magmarizer, one Dubious Disc, and one Reaper Cloth to evolve Politoed, Slowking, Steelix, Scizor, Kingdra, Porygon2, Huntail, Gorebyss, Rhyperior, Electivire, Magmortar, Porygon-Z, and Dusknoir.
Dual-Slot Pokémon
If you have access to copies of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen, and a DS that allows for use of dual-slot technology, you can obtain the following Pokémon:
- Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree (FireRed)
- Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill (LeafGreen)
- Ekans, Arbok (FireRed)
- Sandshrew, Sandslash (LeafGreen)
- Vulpix, Ninetales (LeafGreen)
- Growlithe, Arcanine (FireRed)
- Elekid, Electabuzz (FireRed, also available in Platinum)
- Magby, Magmar (LeafGreen, also available in Platinum)
- Pineco, Forretress (Emerald)
- Gligar, Gliscor (Emerald, also available in Platinum)
- Shuckle (Emerald)
- Teddiursa, Ursaring (Emerald)
- Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo (Sapphire)
- Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry (Ruby)
- Sableye (Sapphire)
- Mawile (Ruby)
- Zangoose (Ruby)
- Seviper (Sapphire)
- Lunatone (Sapphire)
- Solrock (Ruby)
All of these can also be traded from HeartGold or SoulSilver.
Missing Pokémon
The remaining Pokémon are obtainable only in HeartGold, SoulSilver, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, LeafGreen, or defunct events.
- Kanto Starters (9) - 9 total
- Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise all need to be selected from Professor Oak in HeartGold or SoulSilver or selected as a starter in FireRed or LeafGreen.
- Kanto Legendaries (1) - 10 total
- Mewtwo must be traded from HeartGold or SoulSilver or transferred from FireRed or LeafGreen.
- Johto Starters (9) - 19 total
- Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Cyndaquil, Quilava, Typhlosion, Totodile, Croconaw, and Feraligatr all need to be selected as a starter in HeartGold or SoulSilver or selected from Professor Birch from Emerald (or transferred from any GBA game via Colosseum or XD).
- Johto Legendaries (5) - 24 total
- Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Lugia, and Ho-Oh must be traded from HeartGold or SoulSilver, transferred from FireRed or LeafGreen, or transferred from any GBA game via Colosseum or XD.
- Hoenn Starters (9) - 33 total
- Treecko, Grovyle, Sceptile, Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken, Mudkip, Marshtomp, and Swampert all need to be selected from Steven in HeartGold or SoulSilver, or selected as a starter in Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald.
- Hoenn Legendaries (8) - 41 total
- Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Latias, Latios, Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza must be traded from HeartGold or SoulSilver, or transferred from Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald. Technically, Regirock, Regice, and Registeel can be obtained in Platinum, but it requires a (defunct) event Regigigas.
- Mythical/Event (9) - 50 total
- The following Pokémon must be obtained via event: Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin and Arceus.
If the player does not have access to dual-slot encounters, this total is instead 81.