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Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl exclusives: Differences between them

Meg Bethany Koepp
pokemon brilliant diamond shining pearlThe Pokemon Company / ILCA
Pokemon players can re-experience the Sinnoh region once again on November 19, 2021.

With Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl both on Nintendo Switch, players may be wondering which one to choose. Here is everything you need to know about the version differences so you will be ready when the Sinnoh remakes drop on November 19, 2021.

After 15 years, the Pokemon franchise is finally revisiting Gen IV with the Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl remakes headed for the Switch on November 19, 2021. For many, this will be their first time exploring the Sinnoh region.

Game Freak has promised the HD reimaginings will be a “faithful” port. Here are all of the major differences between each version to help you decide which one to pick.

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Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl exclusive differenceGame Freak / The Pokemon Company
Each version will have its own set of exclusive Pokemon.

Exclusive Pokemon in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl explained

Although every generation has always featured version exclusives, Diamond & Pearl has perhaps the most drastic differences between each title. From Tyranitar to Salamence, players will need to choose wisely to get the Pokemon they want the most in their game.

For many, the choice may even come down simply to which Legendary you prefer: Palkia or Dialga. However, there are other monsters to consider such as Cranidos and Rampardos vs Shieldon and Bastiodon.

Here are the version exclusives for Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond exclusive Pokemon

Cranidos Rock Screenshot of Cranidos in Pokemon Diamond.
Rampardos Rock Screenshot of Rampardos in Pokemon Diamond.
Stunky Poison / Dark Screenshot of Stunky in Pokemon Diamond.
Skuntank Poison / Dark Screenshot of Skuntank in Pokemon Diamond.
Murkrow Dark / Flying murkrow sprite
Honchkrow Dark / Flying honchkrow sprite
Scyther Bug / Flying scyther
Scizor Bug / Steel scizor sprite
Caterpie Bug caterpie sprite
Metapod Bug metapod sprite
Butterfree Bug / Flying butterfree sprite
Ekans Poison ekans sprite
Arbok Poison arbok sprite
Growlithe Fire growlithe sprite
Arcanine Fire arcanine sprite
Seedot Grass seedot sprite
Nuzleaf Grass / Dark nuzleaf sprite
Shiftry Grass / Dark shiftry sprite
Mawile Steel / Fairy mawile sprite
Zangoose Normal zangoose sprite
Solrock Rock / Psychic solrock sprite
Seel Water seel sprite
Dewgong Water / Ice dewgong sprite
Kecleon Normal kecleon sprite
Larvitar Rock / Ground larvitar sprite
Pupitar Rock / Ground Screenshot of Pupitar in Pokemon Pearl.
Tyranitar Rock / Dark Screenshot of Larvitar in Pokemon Diamond.
Mime Jr. Psychic / Fairy mime jr sprite
Mr. Mime Psychic / Fairy mr mime sprite
Elekid Electric elekid sprite
Electabuzz Electric electabuzz sprite
Electivire Electric electivire sprite
Gligar Ground / Flying gligar sprite
Gliscor Ground / Flying gliscor sprite
Dialga Steel / Dragon Screenshot of Dialga in Pokemon Diamond.
Raikou Electric raikou sprite
Entei Fire entei sprite
Suicune Water suicune sprite
Ho-Oh Fire / Flying ho-oh sprite

Pokemon Shining Pearl exclusive Pokemon

Shieldon Rock / Steel Screenshot of Shieldon in Pokemon Pearl.
Bastiodon Rock / Steel Screenshot of Bastidon in Pokemon Pearl.
Glameow Normal Screenshot of Glameow in Pokemon Pearl.
Purugly Normal Screenshot of Purugly in Pokemon Pearl.
Weedle Bug / Poison weedle sprite
Kakuna Bug / Poison kakuna sprite
Beedrill Bug / Poison beedrill sprite
Slowpoke Water / Psychic Screenshot of Slowpoke in Pokemon Pearl.
Slowbro Water / Psychic Screenshot of Slowbro in Pokemon Pearl.
Slowking Water / Psychic Screenshot of Slowking in Pokemon Pearl.
Stantler Normal Screenshot of Stantler in Pokemon Pearl.
Bagon Dragon Screenshot of Bagon in Pokemon Pearl.
Shelgon Dragon Screenshot of Shelgon in Pokemon Pearl.
Salamence Dragon / Flying Screenshot of Salamence in Pokemon Pearl.
Sandshrew Ground sandshrew sprite
Sandslash Ground sandslash sprite
Vulpix Fire vulpix sprite
Ninetales Fire ninetails sprite
Pinsir Bug pinsir sprite
Lotad Water / Grass lotad sprite
Lombre Water / Grass lombre sprite
Ludicolo Water / Grass ludicolo sprite
Sableye Dark / Ghost sableye sprite
Seviper Poison seviper sprite
Lunatone Rock / Psychic lunatone sprite
Misdreavus Ghost misdreavus sprite
Mismagius Ghost mismagius sprite
Magby Fire magby sprite
Magmar Fire magmar sprite
Magmortar Fire magmortar sprite
Teddiursa Normal teddiursa sprite
Ursaring Normal ursaring sprite
Palkia Water /  Dragon Screenshot of Palkia in Pokemon Pearl.
Articuno Ice / Flying articuno sprite
Zapdos Electric / Flying zapdos sprite
Moltres Fire / Flying moltres sprite
Lugia Psychic / Flying lugia sprite

Does Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl have Platinum’s Pokedex?

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl does not feature Pokemon Platinum’s Pokedex. It does have the National Pokedex up to Gen IV, though.

After the trailer made its debut back in February, eagle-eyed fans spotted NPCs and overworld changes that were not in the original 2006 release, so they thought it would be possible. Unfortunately, that didn’t end up coming to fruition.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Legendary statueGame Freak / The Pokemon Company
Will the Sinnoh remakes also feature Platinum’s expanded Pokedex?

The titles are fairly balanced in terms of the exclusives offered in each one. They both have popular ‘mon so it just comes down to personal preference as to which version you choose.

Players should focus on which game has their favorite Pokemon. The choice is definitely a tough one, but the list above will prepare you for when Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl releases on November 19, 2021.

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