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Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum Version Exclusives

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 Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, and makes note of some other version-specific Pokémon attributes.

Species

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 Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. This does not include Pokémon that evolve via trade, even though they are technically "unavailable without trading".

Paired version exclusives

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 Diamond and Pearl, and indicates also if they are available in Platinum.

Paired Species (Diamond) Paired Species (Pearl) Platinum
Cranidos
Cranidos
Shieldon
Shieldon Cranidos or Shieldon
Rampardos
Rampardos
Bastiodon
Bastiodon Rampardos or Bastiodon
Murkrow
Murkrow
Misdreavus
Misdreavus N/A
Honchkrow
Honchkrow
Mismagius
Mismagius N/A
Stunky
Stunky
Glameow
Glameow N/A
Skuntank
Skuntank
Purugly
Purugly N/A
Dialga
Dialga
Palkia
Palkia Dialga, Palkia
Seel
Seel
Slowpoke
Slowpoke Seel, Slowpoke
Dewgong
Dewgong
Slowbro
Slowbro Dewgong, Slowbro
Scyther
Scyther
Pinsir
Pinsir Scyther, Pinsir
Poochyena
Poochyena
Houndour
Houndour Poochyena, Houndour
Mightyena
Mightyena
Houndoom
Houndoom Mightyena, Houndoom
Kecleon
Kecleon
Stantler
Stantler Kecleon, Stantler
Larvitar
Larvitar
Bagon
Bagon Larvitar, Bagon
Pupitar
Pupitar
Shelgon
Shelgon Pupitar, Shelgon
Tyranitar
Tyranitar
Salamence
Salamence Tyranitar, Salamence
Aron
Aron
Spheal
Spheal Aron, Spheal
Lairon
Lairon
Sealeo
Sealeo Lairon, Sealeo
Aggron
Aggron
Walrein
Walrein Aggron, Walrein

Missing Pokémon in Platinum

In addition to the above-listed version exclusives, several Pokémon are missing from Platinum altogether without trading. These Pokémon are:

Additional Sinnoh Pokédex Pokémon in Platinum

Platinum uses a larger version of the Sinnoh Pokédex that contains more Pokémon. Although most of these Pokémon could be obtained in Diamond and Pearl after obtaining the National Pokédex, in Platinum, they are available before obtaining the National Pokédex. Those Pokémon are:

Tangela, Tangrowth, and Tropius are altogether exclusive to Platinum. In Diamond and Pearl, Gligar and Gliscor can only be obtained with access to the dual-slot functionality, described below.

National Pokédex Pokémon in Platinum

The following National Pokédex Pokémon can be obtained in Platinum but not in Diamond or Pearl.

With access to the event-exclusive Oak's Letter and Member Card items, Platinum players can also access Shaymin and Darkrai, which cannot be caught in the wild in Diamond and Pearl.

With access to a Regigigas distributed via an event, Platinum players can also catch wild Regirock, Regice, and Registeel, which cannot be caught in the wild in Diamond and Pearl.

Giratina, Shaymin, and Rotom

These three Pokémon can only be in their alternate Formes in Platinum.

Dual-slot mode Pokémon

Several Pokémon are available only if the player has an original model DS and a cartridge copy of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, or LeafGreen, and are only accessible if that game is placed in the Game Boy Advance slot of the DS. Different Pokémon are unlocked with different games, meaning the games themselves contain 'version-exclusive Pokémon' when interacting with Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum. The tables below indicate which Pokémon are accessible and in which games.

Ruby Sapphire Emerald Notes
Seedot
Seedot
Lotad
Lotad
Teddiursa
Teddiursa
Nuzleaf
Nuzleaf
Lombre
Lombre
Ursaring
Ursaring
Mawile
Mawile
Sableye
Sableye
Pineco
Pineco
Zangoose
Zangoose
Seviper
Seviper
Gligar
Gligar Gligar is not available via dual-slot in Platinum.
Instead, it is a normal encounter that does not require any GBA game.
Solrock
Solrock
Lunatone
Lunatone
Shuckle
Shuckle
FireRed LeafGreen Notes
Caterpie
Caterpie
Weedle
Weedle
Metapod
Metapod
Kakuna
Kakuna
Ekans
Ekans
Sandshrew
Sandshrew
Arbok
Arbok
Sandslash
Sandslash
Growlithe
Growlithe
Vulpix
Vulpix
Elekid
Elekid
Magby
Magby Elekid and Magby are not available via dual-slot in Platinum.
Instead, Electabuzz and Magmar are available as normal encounters that do not require any GBA game.

Encounter Methods

Pokémon Games Encounter Methods
Poliwag
Poliwag D P Pt Surfing, Fishing
D P Pt Surfing
Poliwhirl
Poliwhirl D P Pt Surfing, Fishing
D P Pt Surfing
dewgong
Dewgong D P Pt Surfing
D P Pt Walking, Surfing
Porygon
Porygon D P Pt Walking
D P Pt Gift
Togepi
Togepi D P Pt Walking
D P Pt Walking, Gift (Egg)
Marill
Marill D P Pt Walking, Surfing
D P Pt Walking
Silcoon
Silcoon D P Pt Walking, Honey Tree
D P Pt Walking
Cascoon
Cascoon D P Pt Walking, Honey Tree
D P Pt Walking
Pelipper
Pelipper D P Pt Surfing
D P Pt Walking, Surfing
Surskit
Surskit D P Pt Walking
D P Pt Surfing
Shellos
Shellos (both forms) D P Pt Walking
D P Pt Walking, Surfing
Gastrodon
Gastrodon (both forms) D P Pt Walking
D P Pt Walking, Surfing
Happiny
Happiny D P Pt Walking, Gift (Egg)
D P Pt Walking

Version-Preferred Species

Several Pokémon may be available in multiple 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. Their locations in Platinum are not included because Platinum overhauls most encounter tables entirely.

Pokémon Games Encounter Methods
Beautifly
Beautifly D P Walking: Routes 224 (5%) and 230 (10%), Eterna Forest (2%)
D P Walking: Route 224 (5%)
Dustox
Dustox D P Walking: Route 230 (10%), Eterna Forest (2%)
Mime Jr.
Mime Jr. D P Walking: Routes 209 and 210 (southern half), Trophy Garden
D P Walking: Trophy Garden
Bonsly
Bonsly D P Walking: Trophy Garden
D P Walking: Routes 209 and 210 (southern half), Trophy Garden
Omanyte
Omanyte D P Gift: Oreburgh Museum
(Revive from Helix Fossil: 1.20% in the Underground in Diamond and 0.40% in Pearl)
Kabuto
Kabuto D P Gift: Oreburgh Museum
(Revive from Dome Fossil: 0.40% in the Underground in Diamond and 1.20% in Pearl)
Anorith
Anorith D P Gift: Oreburgh Museum
(Revive from Claw Fossil: 1.20% in the Underground in Diamond and 0.40% in Pearl)
Lileep
Lileep D P Gift: Oreburgh Museum
(Revive from Root Fossil: 0.40% in the Underground in Diamond and 1.20% in Pearl)
Nidoran♀
Nidoran♀ D P Walking: Route 201 (20%)
D P Walking: Route 201 (2%)
Nidoran♂
Nidoran♂ D P Walking: Route 201 (2%)
D P Walking: Route 201 (20%)
Nidorina
Nidorina D P Walking: Route 221 (20%), Valor Lakefront (20%)
D P Walking: Route 221 (2%), Valor Lakefront (2%)
Nidorino
Nidorino D P Walking: Route 221 (2%), Valor Lakefront (2%)
D P Walking: Route 221 (20%), Valor Lakefront (20%)
Tauros
Tauros D P Walking: Routes 209 (20%) and 210 (southern half) (20%)
D P Walking: Routes 209 (2%) and 210 (southern half) (2%)
Miltank
Miltank D P Walking: Routes 209 (2%) and 210 (southern half) (2%)
D P Walking: Routes 209 (20%) and 210 (southern half) (20%)
Illumise
Illumise D P Walking: Route 229 (10%)
D P Walking: Route 229 (5%)
Volbeat
Volbeat D P Walking: Route 229 (5%)
D P Walking: Route 229 (10%)

Evolutions

Some evolutions, or pre-evolutions, of Pokémon can only be obtained in the wild in some of Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum. 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
Magneton
Magneton D P Pt Walking: Route 222, Victory Road 2F
Seel
Seel D P Pt Surfing: Routes 226 and 230
Koffing
Koffing D P Pt Walking: Stark Mountain main cavern
Mr. Mime
Mr. Mime D P Pt Walking: Routes 218 and 222
D P Pt Walking: Route 218
Jynx
Jynx D P Pt Walking: Snowpoint Temple B1F, B2F, B3F, B4F, and B5F
Electabuzz
Electabuzz D P Pt Walking: Route 222
Magmar
Magmar D P Pt Walking: Fuego Ironworks
Lanturn
Lanturn D P Pt Fishing (Super Rod): Route 220
Azumarill
Azumarill D P Pt Walking: Victory Road B1F and 1F Back 2
Sudowoodo
Sudowoodo D P Pt Walking: Routes 214 and 221
D P Pt Walking: Route 221
Skiploom
Skiploom D P Pt Walking: Route 205 (eastern half)
D P Pt Walking: Fuego Ironworks
Piloswine
Piloswine D P Pt Walking: Route 217
Houndour
Houndour D P Pt Walking: Route 214, Valor Lakefront
Houndoom
Houndoom D P Pt Walking: Routes 214 and 215
Elekid
Elekid D P Pt Walking: Route 205 (southern half), Valley Windworks
Magby
Magby D P Pt Walking: Route 227, Stark Mountain
Poochyena
Poochyena D P Pt Walking: Route 214
Mightyena
Mightyena D P Pt Walking: Routes 214 and 215
Silcoon
Silcoon D P Pt 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
D P Pt Walking: Route 205 (eastern half), Eterna Forest
Cascoon
Cascoon D P Pt 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
D P Pt Walking: Route 205 (eastern half), Eterna Forest
Dustox
Dustox D P Pt Walking: Route 230, Eterna Forest
D P Pt Walking: Routes 205 (eastern half), 224, and 229, Eterna Forest
Masquerain
Masquerain D P Pt Surfing: Route 229
Sharpedo
Sharpedo D P Pt Fishing (Super Rod): Routes 213 and 222
Spheal
Spheal D P Pt Surfing: Routes 226 and 230
Gabite
Gabite D P Pt Walking: Victory Road