Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (Nintendo Switch) — Complete Campaign Walkthrough

1. Leave Twinleaf Town and reach Lake Verity

After the opening television report, go downstairs and speak with your mother. Leave your house and enter Barry’s house, which is next door. Go upstairs, speak with Barry, and follow him north onto Route 201. You cannot enter the tall grass on this first visit, so follow the western path to Verity Lakefront and continue into Lake Verity.

At the lake, Professor Rowan and his assistant leave a briefcase behind. When you and Barry enter the grass, a wild Starly attacks. Open the briefcase and choose one of the three Poké Balls. This choice determines your first partner, and the rival immediately chooses the Pokémon with a type advantage over yours. Defeat the rival’s level 2 Starly, then watch the scene that returns you to Twinleaf Town.

• Speak with your mother and visit Barry’s house.
• Travel through Route 201 and Verity Lakefront to Lake Verity.
• Choose Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup.
• Defeat the first level 2 Starly battle.

2. Choose a starter and plan the first few team additions

Turtwig is the sturdy physical option. It is a Grass type throughout its early stages and eventually becomes the Grass/Ground-type Torterra. It performs well against many Water- and Ground-type opponents, but its low Speed and eventual four-times weakness to Ice make a Fire, Flying, or Fighting partner useful later. An Electric Pokémon can add another way to pressure opposing Water types.

Chimchar is the quickest offensive choice and is especially valuable because Fire Pokémon are limited in the early Sinnoh routes. It evolves into the Fire/Fighting-type Monferno, giving it useful answers to Steel, Ice, Bug, and Dark Pokémon. Pair it with a Water type and add Ground, Flying, or Psychic coverage so the team does not depend on Fire attacks alone.

Piplup is a dependable Water starter with good Special Attack and Special Defense. Its final evolution, Empoleon, becomes Water/Steel and gains many useful resistances, while remaining weak to Electric, Fighting, and Ground attacks. Add a Grass or Electric Pokémon for opposing Water types and a Ground, Fire, or Fighting answer for Steel matchups. There is no universally best choice; each starter changes which partners will cover the team most efficiently.

• Choose Turtwig for durability and Grass/Ground development.
• Choose Chimchar for early Fire access and strong offensive coverage.
• Choose Piplup for reliable Water attacks and later Water/Steel typing.
• Plan at least one partner around the starter’s major weaknesses.

3. Return to Twinleaf and collect the first supplies

After the lake battle, the game returns you to your house. Speak with your mother to receive the Running Shoes and the instruction to visit Professor Rowan in Sandgem Town. Before leaving, you can inspect the raised flower area near the Verity Lakefront route connection for a hidden Potion. This is optional, but it gives you another early recovery item without spending money.

Go north onto Route 201 and then east through the tall grass toward Sandgem Town. Wild Bidoof and Starly appear here, but you still cannot catch them because you do not yet have Poké Balls. A Poké Mart employee on Route 201 gives you ten Potions. Take these before entering Sandgem, and keep them for route battles rather than spending them after every minor encounter.

• Receive the Running Shoes from your mother.
• Collect the ten Potions from the Poké Mart employee on Route 201.
• Optionally collect the hidden Potion near Verity Lakefront.
• Do not try to catch Route 201 Pokémon yet.

4. Receive the Pokédex in Sandgem Town

Enter Sandgem Town from Route 201. Rowan’s assistant directs you to the Pokémon Research Lab, the large building near the Pokémon Center. Professor Rowan examines the starter you selected at Lake Verity and formally gives it to you. You may nickname it at this point. Rowan then gives you the Pokédex and explains that you are expected to record the Pokémon found throughout Sinnoh.

When you leave the laboratory, Rowan’s assistant shows you the Pokémon Center and Poké Mart. Follow the instruction to return to Twinleaf Town and tell your mother that you are leaving on your journey. This is a required story trigger; Route 202 remains blocked until you complete it.

Return home through Route 201 and speak with your mother. She gives you the Guidebook. Barry’s mother then provides Barry’s Parcel, which you must deliver to Barry in Jubilife City. Keep the Parcel in your Key Items pocket and do not discard or attempt to use it.

• Enter Rowan’s laboratory in Sandgem Town.
• Receive and, if desired, nickname your starter.
• Obtain the Pokédex.
• Return to Twinleaf and receive the Guidebook.
• Take Barry’s Parcel from Barry’s mother.

5. Unlock wild captures on Route 202

Travel back through Sandgem Town and head north to Route 202. Rowan’s assistant stops you for the catching demonstration. Watch the tutorial, then accept the Poké Balls provided afterward. From this point onward, you can catch wild Pokémon normally.

Catch at least one non-starter before moving through the route’s trainer battles. Starly is a useful early Flying option that develops into a fast physical attacker. Bidoof is a simple early Normal type and can fill a temporary combat role, but do not choose it solely because you expect to need it for field moves; Brilliant Diamond handles hidden moves through the Pokétch once those functions become available. Shinx is also an excellent early target in the Route 202 area, particularly if you chose Turtwig or Chimchar and want Electric coverage.

Route 202 contains the first ordinary trainer battles, so heal at Sandgem’s Pokémon Center before leaving. Deliver Barry’s Parcel later in Jubilife City; it is not necessary to delay the Route 202 battles while trying to save the item.

• Complete the catching tutorial on Route 202.
• Receive the tutorial Poké Balls.
• Catch at least one non-starter.
• Consider Starly, Shinx, or another Pokémon that complements your starter.
• Heal in Sandgem before taking on the Route 202 trainers.

6. Use the automatic Exp. Share without losing party control

In Brilliant Diamond, every conscious Pokémon in your current party receives experience whenever an opposing Pokémon is defeated. A Pokémon that participates receives a larger share, while lower-level party members can catch up from the back of the party. The system is automatic, so you do not need to equip an Exp. Share item or manually activate it.

For a practical early roster, keep approximately four to six Pokémon that you genuinely intend to use. A four-member core gives each new capture more focused attention, while a six-member party provides broader type coverage and lets you rotate injured members. Avoid carrying a full party of temporary captures if you want your intended team to evolve at a predictable pace. Box duplicates and Pokémon you are only holding for Pokédex registration.

Do not overreact to a newly caught Pokémon being several levels behind. Place it in the party and let it receive background experience while your stronger members handle a few battles. If a new Pokémon needs immediate training, let it participate against weaker wild Pokémon rather than repeatedly grinding the entire team. Keep the party healed, because fainted Pokémon do not receive the normal party experience share for that battle.

• Keep four to six intended team members in the active party.
• Box duplicates and temporary captures.
• Use lower-level new captures in the party so they can receive background experience.
• Let new team members participate against safe opponents when they need faster development.
• Remember that fainted party members do not receive the normal experience share.

7. Establish the first Pokémon Center and Poké Mart routine

Use Sandgem Town’s Pokémon Center as the first dependable place to heal, deposit unwanted captures, and withdraw Pokémon for the developing team. The PC is available from the start of the adventure, so you do not need to wait for a later city to organize your boxes. Keep the starter and your chosen early partners together, but deposit anything you do not plan to train.

After the catching tutorial, visit Sandgem’s Poké Mart and buy a modest reserve of Poké Balls and Potions. The ten free Potions from Route 201 should remain available for emergencies, while purchased Potions cover routine damage from Route 202’s trainers. There is no need to spend heavily before Jubilife City; buy enough supplies to catch a few targets and survive the next route.

Before leaving Sandgem for Route 202, confirm that the starter and new captures are healthy, that you have Poké Balls available, and that Barry’s Parcel is still in the Key Items pocket. Continue north after Route 202 to begin the Jubilife City sequence.

• Heal at Sandgem Town’s Pokémon Center.
• Use the PC to deposit duplicates and withdraw your intended team.
• Buy additional Poké Balls and a small Potion reserve.
• Confirm that Barry’s Parcel is still in your Key Items pocket.
• Reach Route 202 with a healthy, organized party.

Cross Oreburgh Gate and register Rock Smash

Leave Jubilife City through the eastern exit and follow Route 203 to Oreburgh Gate. When you enter the cave, speak with the Hiker near the entrance. Because you have the Pokétch, he gives you three copies of TM98 Rock Smash and registers the Hidden Moves app. In Brilliant Diamond, this app lets you use field moves without permanently teaching them to a Pokémon.

Rock Smash cannot yet be used outside battle. The Coal Badge is required before the Pokétch will allow you to break cracked rocks. For now, take the eastern path through the cave. Battle Camper Curtis and Picnicker Diana if you want the experience, or walk around them. Exit on the eastern side to enter Oreburgh City.

• Receive three TM98 Rock Smash copies from the Hiker.
• Confirm that the Hidden Moves app has been added to the Pokétch.
• Do not expect Rock Smash to work on overworld rocks before earning the Coal Badge.

Prepare the city and handle optional rewards

A youngster near the city entrance directs you toward the Gym, but your rival is blocking the entrance. He explains that Roark has gone to Oreburgh Mine. Before following Roark, heal at the Pokémon Center and consider collecting Oreburgh’s optional rewards.

In the northwestern-most building, speak with the Lass on the second floor to receive a Dusk Ball. In the house immediately left of the Poké Mart, show a Zubat to the man upstairs to receive a Heal Ball. The building southeast of the Mining Museum has a Youngster upstairs who gives you a Great Ball. You can also speak with the Worker in the lower-right mining area, near the Mine entrance, to receive a Super Potion.

The house left of the Poké Mart also contains the early NPC trade. A girl on the first floor will trade her Abra, nicknamed Kazza and holding an Oran Berry, for a Machop. Machop can be caught on Route 207, north of Oreburgh City. This trade is optional. The Abra receives boosted experience because it is a traded Pokémon, but do not delay the Gym if you do not already have a Machop.

• Heal before entering Oreburgh Mine.
• Collect the Super Potion near the Mine entrance if desired.
• Decide whether the optional Machop-for-Abra trade fits your team.
• Keep several Potions and Poké Balls available.

Find Roark in Oreburgh Mine

Enter Oreburgh Mine from the southern part of Oreburgh City. The Mine contains wild Geodude and Zubat, along with Worker Trainers who provide useful early experience. Follow the main route into the lower section. Pick up the X Defense and Potion along the way if you want the supplies, and take the side path for the Escape Rope before leaving.

Continue until you find Roark beside the mining equipment. Speak with him. He demonstrates Rock Smash on a cracked rock and then returns to the Gym. You do not need to clear every Mine passage or defeat every Worker to trigger this event. After Roark leaves, exit the Mine and heal at the Pokémon Center before entering the Gym.

• Speak with Roark in the lower part of Oreburgh Mine.
• Collect the X Defense, Potion and Escape Rope if useful.
• Heal after leaving the Mine.

Build a practical answer to Roark

Roark’s Brilliant Diamond team is Geodude at level 12, Onix at level 12 and Cranidos at level 14. Geodude and Onix are Rock/Ground types; Cranidos is pure Rock. Water- and Grass-type attacks are the most direct answers to all three Pokémon. Piplup can use Water Gun, while Turtwig can use its Grass attacks. A Fighting-type attack is also effective, making Machop a useful optional catch on Route 207.

Chimchar has the least favorable matchup while it remains a Fire type. If Chimchar is your starter, train it to level 14 so it evolves into Monferno and gains Fighting-type access, or use a partner such as Machop, Budew or Geodude. Do not rely only on Ember against Roark’s Rock Pokémon.

Cranidos is the main danger. It has strong Attack for this stage of the game and carries Headbutt, Bulldoze and Leer. Bulldoze is especially important because it can punish Fire-, Rock- and Electric-type Pokémon. Keep your healthiest effective attacker available for Cranidos, and use Potions rather than allowing a weakened counter to stay in solely to avoid switching.

• Bring a Water-, Grass- or Fighting-type attack.
• Aim for a balanced party rather than relying on a single starter.
• Keep a healthy Pokémon ready for level 14 Cranidos.
• Carry Potions for the Gym battle.

Complete the Oreburgh Gym

Enter the Gym after Roark has returned from the Mine. The Gym has two Youngster Trainers and raised walkways. You can use the side routes to bypass them, but battling them is worthwhile if your team needs experience. Avoided Gym Trainers cannot be challenged later after you defeat Roark, so fight them now if you want the additional money and experience.

Speak with Roark at the back of the Gym to begin the battle. Use Water, Grass or Fighting attacks to remove Geodude and Onix efficiently. Geodude may use Defense Curl before building damage with Rollout, while Onix can use Bind and Stealth Rock. When Cranidos enters, use your strongest reliable attack and heal if necessary rather than giving it several free turns.

After the victory, Roark awards the Coal Badge and TM76 Stealth Rock. The badge unlocks Rock Smash for field use through the Pokétch Hidden Moves app. It also permits the story to continue. Return to the Pokémon Center, then head back through Oreburgh Gate toward Jubilife City when you are ready.

• Defeat Geodude, Onix and Cranidos.
• Receive the Coal Badge.
• Receive TM76 Stealth Rock directly from Roark.
• Use the Pokétch Hidden Moves app to break cracked rocks after the battle.

Use Oreburgh Mining Museum for later fossil revival

The Oreburgh Mining Museum is on the eastern side of town. Its scientist can revive fossils obtained from the Grand Underground. You cannot excavate fossils during this chapter because the Explorer Kit is obtained later in Eterna City. Do not search Oreburgh Mine for Grand Underground fossils; the two systems are separate.

When you later have a fossil, speak with the scientist at the Museum counter and hand it over. Leave the building, then return and speak with him again to receive the revived Pokémon. Fossil revival is optional for story progression, but it is useful for Pokédex completion and team building.

In Brilliant Diamond, Skull Fossils are more common than in Shining Pearl and revive into Cranidos. Old Amber revives into Aerodactyl. Helix, Dome, Root and Claw Fossils can also be revived at the Museum when obtained. The revived Pokémon is received at level 1, so it must be trained before it can contribute effectively in battle.

• Remember the Mining Museum as the fossil-revival location.
• Wait until you have the Explorer Kit before looking for fossils underground.
• Return to the Museum after leaving once the scientist has accepted a fossil.
• For Brilliant Diamond, a Skull Fossil produces Cranidos; Old Amber produces Aerodactyl.

Return to Jubilife City and take the northern route

After defeating Roark, leave Oreburgh through the eastern gate and follow Route 203 back to Jubilife City. Heal at the Pokémon Center, organize your party, and make sure you have enough Poké Balls, Potions, and status-healing items for the next route section.

From Jubilife City, take the northern exit onto Route 204. Continue through the route and enter Ravaged Path. Follow the cave passage to the northern section of Route 204, then continue north to Floaroma Town.

Do not take the eastern Oreburgh branch through Route 207, Mt. Coronet, and Route 208 if Eterna City is your immediate destination. That branch eventually leads toward Hearthome City. The required Eterna route uses Route 204, Ravaged Path, Floaroma Town, and Route 205.

• Return to Jubilife City after earning the Coal Badge.
• Heal and restock before entering Route 204.
• Use Route 204 and Ravaged Path to reach Floaroma Town.
• Do not confuse the Route 207 and Route 208 branch with the direct Eterna route.

Build early team coverage around your starter

Starly is available on the early routes and evolves into Staravia at level 14. It supplies useful Flying-type attacks and gives the team a fast physical attacker for many Grass-, Bug-, and Fighting-type opponents. Shinx is available on early sections of Route 202 and Route 204 and evolves into Luxio at level 15, giving the team an Electric option against Water- and Flying-type targets.

Turtwig already provides Grass coverage and later gains Ground typing, so Starly and Shinx make practical partners while Buizel or Shellos can fill a Water role. Chimchar benefits from a Grass-type partner such as Budew, while Starly, Shinx, and a Water Pokémon provide useful additional coverage. Piplup already covers Water and later becomes Water and Steel, so Starly, Shinx, Budew, or Geodude can cover different weaknesses rather than adding another Water type.

Budew can be found on Route 204 and is useful when the team needs Grass attacks or status support. Buizel and Shellos become available on Route 205, making them good additions once you reach the Floaroma and Valley Windworks section. Geodude can be found in areas including Route 207 and Mt. Coronet, but it is optional if your starter or another team member already handles Ground attacks.

The Grand Underground is optional at this point. You can explore it after receiving the Explorer Kit, but it is not required for the overland route, the Valley Windworks events, or access to Eterna Forest.

• Consider Starly for Flying coverage and Shinx for Electric coverage.
• Use Budew when the team needs Grass attacks or status support.
• Add Buizel or Shellos on Route 205 if a Water type is missing.
• Avoid filling the party with several Pokémon that perform the same role.
• Treat Grand Underground exploration as optional rather than part of the required route.

Complete the first Valley Windworks encounter

From Floaroma Town, take the eastern exit onto Route 205 and follow the path toward Valley Windworks. The route contains trainers, wild Pokémon, and a large patch of grass, so heal in Floaroma first if the trip from Jubilife left the party weakened.

At the Valley Windworks entrance, a Team Galactic Grunt is guarding the building. Speak to him to begin the battle and defeat him. He retreats after the fight, but the building remains locked, so you cannot finish the event immediately.

Pick up the Potion near the wind turbine if you want the item, then return west along Route 205 to Floaroma Town. Enter the northwest flower field to reach Floaroma Meadow. The two Galactic Grunts there are blocking an older man, so defeat both of them in sequence.

After the battle, the Meadow man gives you the Works Key and Honey. The Works Key is the required item for opening the Valley Windworks building. Honey is optional for the story and can later be used on Honey Trees to attract Pokémon.

• Follow Route 205 east from Floaroma Town.
• Defeat the Grunt guarding the Valley Windworks entrance.
• Return to Floaroma Meadow through the northwest part of Floaroma Town.
• Defeat both Grunts in the meadow.
• Receive the Works Key and Honey.

Return to Valley Windworks and defeat Commander Mars

With the Works Key in your Key Items, travel east from Floaroma Town along Route 205 and return to Valley Windworks. Interact with the locked door to use the Works Key and enter the building.

Inside, defeat the Galactic Grunts blocking the path. Heal before entering if necessary, because the building battles lead directly to the commander encounter. Commander Mars is waiting farther inside and challenges you after the interior Grunts are defeated.

Mars uses a level 14 Zubat and a level 16 Purugly in Brilliant Diamond. Electric-, Rock-, or Psychic-type attacks are useful against Zubat, while a strong Fighting-type attack is effective against Purugly. Purugly is a Normal type, so Ghost attacks do not damage it. If you do not have a Fighting move, use your strongest reliable neutral attack, keep the Pokémon facing Purugly healthy, and use Potions when necessary rather than risking a knockout.

After Mars is defeated, Team Galactic leaves the building. The previously blocked continuation of Route 205 is now available. Exit Valley Windworks and return to the route rather than trying to advance through another town or optional area.

• Use the Works Key at the Valley Windworks door.
• Defeat the interior Galactic Grunts.
• Prepare a Fighting or strong neutral answer for Purugly.
• Defeat Commander Mars.
• Exit the cleared building and return to Route 205.

Continue north through Route 205 and enter Eterna Forest

From the Valley Windworks area, follow Route 205 north. Cross the newly accessible section and battle or bypass the route trainers according to your team’s condition. Route 205 provides additional experience and wild encounters, including useful options such as Buizel and Shellos in the appropriate areas.

Enter Eterna Forest at the northern end of the route. Cheryl is waiting near the entrance and asks you to accompany her through the forest. Accept her request to continue through the required path.

While Cheryl is with you, trainer battles are conducted as double battles when both sides have available Pokémon, and wild encounters are also double battles. To catch one of two wild Pokémon, defeat the other first. Cheryl’s Chansey restores the party after every battle, making this a safe place to train weaker team members and recover without returning to a Pokémon Center.

Use the forest’s healing support to rotate intended party members into battle. The forest contains Pokémon such as Budew, Buneary, Wurmple-family Pokémon, and, in Brilliant Diamond, Murkrow during the appropriate time period. These are optional additions; do not replace a functioning team merely to collect every available encounter.

• Follow Route 205 north after clearing Valley Windworks.
• Accept Cheryl’s request at the Eterna Forest entrance.
• Remember that wild encounters are double battles while Cheryl is present.
• Defeat one wild Pokémon before attempting to catch the other.
• Use Cheryl’s healing support to train weaker intended team members.

Exit Eterna Forest and reach Eterna City

Follow the forest path while keeping Cheryl as your partner. Battle the required and optional trainers as needed, and collect items if you want additional Potions, Poké Balls, or status recovery. The Old Chateau is visible near the forest’s eastern exit, but its main exploration requires Cut and is optional for this chapter; continue toward Eterna City instead.

After Cheryl leaves at the eastern end of the forest, Route 205 returns to normal single battles. Cross the bridge, pass the fishermen, and continue east through the route. Pick berries and collect the Potion near the approach to the city if you want the supplies.

Enter Eterna City and heal at the Pokémon Center. You have completed the overland route for this chapter when Eterna City is available as your current destination. The next chapter handles Eterna’s Gym, the Team Galactic building, and the Bicycle sequence.

• Complete the required Eterna Forest crossing with Cheryl.
• Leave through the eastern side of the forest.
• Continue east on Route 205 after Cheryl departs.
• Reach and heal in Eterna City.
• Leave Old Chateau and other Cut-based detours for later unless pursuing optional exploration.

Manage automatic Exp. Share and prevent level gaps

In Brilliant Diamond, every conscious Pokémon in the current party receives experience whenever an opposing Pokémon faints. A Pokémon that participates receives a larger portion, while Pokémon in the back still receive a share. The system is automatic and cannot be turned off, so carrying four to six intended team members is practical.

Rotate the lead position when the matchup is safe. Allow a lower-level Pokémon to handle suitable wild or route battles, then switch to a stronger partner if the matchup becomes dangerous. Newly caught Pokémon can remain in the party and gain experience from battles they do not directly enter, but a fainted Pokémon receives no experience from later victories until it is revived.

Use Pokémon Centers between route sections and Potions during long trainer stretches. The objective is not to keep all six Pokémon at exactly the same level; it is to prevent one starter or one early capture from becoming the only dependable battler. If a new team member is several levels behind, use safer wild encounters and optional route trainers to close the gap.

• Keep intended team members conscious during battles.
• Rotate lead positions instead of relying on the starter for every fight.
• Revive fainted Pokémon before continuing through trainer-heavy areas.
• Use optional trainers and wild Pokémon to bring new captures closer to the team average.
• Keep four to six usable members rather than one overleveled lead.

Plan evolutions, friendship, and field-move access

Starly evolves at level 14, Shinx at level 15, Bidoof at level 15, and Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup at level 18. Budew evolves when it levels up with high friendship during the daytime. Keep Budew in the party, avoid letting it faint, and use the Pokétch Friendship Checker to monitor its progress. Walking, leveling, and regular party use all support friendship growth.

Before accepting a new level-up move, review the four moves already known. Evolution can change later move timing, so do not evolve with a stone or friendship trigger without checking whether the current form’s move options suit your plan. If you later forget an eligible level-up move, the Move Reminder in Pastoria City can restore it for a Heart Scale, but that service is not yet available during this route segment.

Brilliant Diamond does not require a dedicated HM carrier. Rock Smash is obtained as a Hidden Move and is activated through the Pokétch Hidden Moves app after the relevant badge requirement. Later field moves work through the same system after their own story and badge conditions are met. Bidoof can still be a useful early battler, but keeping it solely as an HM carrier is unnecessary.

• Check move replacements carefully during level-ups.
• Raise Budew’s friendship and level it during the daytime if Roselia is part of your plan.
• Do not use a stone evolution without checking the form’s move options.
• Use the Pokétch Hidden Moves app rather than treating an HM carrier as mandatory.
• Remember that the Pastoria Move Reminder is a later service.

Arrive in Eterna with a flexible story team

Before beginning Eterna City’s major events, visit the Pokémon Center and review the party’s types, moves, held items, and current health. A practical early core can include the starter, Starly or another Flying type, Shinx or another Electric type, and Budew, Buizel, Shellos, or Geodude according to the gaps in your lineup.

Use the PC for duplicate roles, temporary captures, and Pokémon that are substantially behind the team. Keep a Pokémon in the party when you want it to receive shared experience, gain friendship through walking and battles, or evolve soon. There is no need to finalize the endgame team now; several stronger choices become available later.

You are ready to continue into the Eterna City chapter when you have reached the city through Route 205 and Eterna Forest, completed the Valley Windworks story, and have at least four reliable battlers or a clear replacement plan. Confirm that your starter is not carrying every important matchup and that your party has appropriate Flying, Electric or Grass, and Water or Ground coverage where needed.

• Reach Eterna City through Route 205 and Eterna Forest.
• Complete the Valley Windworks and Floaroma Meadow events.
• Keep four to six selected team members or clearly chosen replacements.
• Maintain appropriate Flying, Electric or Grass, and Water or Ground coverage.
• Review Budew’s friendship plan and planned evolution if applicable.
• Move duplicate or temporary captures to the PC.

Arrive in Eterna City and prepare for Gardenia

You should already be in Eterna City after exiting Eterna Forest through its northern route connection. Do not return to Floaroma Town or repeat the forest crossing as part of the main route. Heal at the Pokémon Center, organize a balanced party, and buy Super Potions, Antidotes, and Paralyze Heals before entering the Gym. Gardenia’s team can inflict paralysis and poison, and the Team Galactic battle that follows has no healing station inside the building.

The Eterna City Gym is in the southeastern part of town. Speak with Gardenia at the entrance to trigger the Gym’s indoor-forest puzzle. She will move into the back area, where four Gym Trainers must be found and defeated before she accepts your challenge. Their required order is Lass Caroline in the northwest, Aroma Lady Jenna in the southwest, Aroma Lady Angela near the center and southeast entrance, then Beauty Lindsay in the northeast. Each defeated trainer reveals the next location.

Use the trainer battles to spread experience across your active team rather than relying on one Pokémon. Fire, Flying, Ice, Bug, Poison, and Psychic attacks are all useful against Grass Pokémon. Chimchar or Monferno has the easiest matchup, while Staravia is a practical alternative. A Ponyta from Route 211 can also provide Fire coverage if you need it.

• Start in Eterna City after the completed Eterna Forest crossing.
• Heal and stock Super Potions, Antidotes, and Paralyze Heals.
• Enter the Gym and speak with Gardenia.
• Defeat Caroline, Jenna, Angela, and Lindsay in that order.

Defeat Gardenia for the Forest Badge

Gardenia uses Cherubi at level 19, Turtwig at level 19, and Roserade at level 22. Cherubi may use Growth and Safeguard, so hit it quickly with a Fire-, Flying-, or Ice-type move. Dazzling Gleam can damage Pokémon that resist Grass, so do not assume every Flying or Fire counter is completely safe.

Turtwig holds a Miracle Seed and can use Grass Knot, Razor Leaf, Reflect, and Work Up. Reflect reduces physical damage, so a special Fire- or Ice-type attack is preferable if Turtwig sets it up. Its Shell Armor ability prevents critical hits, making repeated reliable attacks better than depending on a critical strike.

Roserade is the main danger. It holds a Sitrus Berry and knows Grass Knot, Petal Blizzard, Poison Sting, and Stun Spore. Its Grass and Poison typing makes Psychic and Ground attacks super effective, while Fire, Flying, Ice, and Bug attacks are also useful through its Grass weakness. Try to outspeed it and deal heavy damage before it spreads paralysis. If your main attacker is vulnerable to status, keep a Paralyze Heal ready.

After winning, Gardenia awards the Forest Badge and TM86 Grass Knot. The badge allows Cut to be used outside battle through the Pokétch Hidden Moves function, and traded Pokémon up to level 30 will obey you. Cut is the required access tool for the next Team Galactic event.

• Bring at least one strong Fire, Flying, Ice, Bug, Poison, Psychic, or Ground attack.
• Defeat Cherubi, Turtwig, and Roserade.
• Use special attacks if Turtwig raises Reflect.
• Prepare for Roserade’s Sitrus Berry and Stun Spore.
• Receive the Forest Badge and TM86 Grass Knot.

Receive Cut and enter the Team Galactic Eterna Building

Leave the Gym and walk north toward the Team Galactic building near the Pokémon Center. Cynthia appears outside and provides TM93 Cut. You do not need to teach Cut to a party Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond; after unlocking the Hidden Move, face a suitable cuttable tree and select Cut through the Pokétch.

Use Cut on the trees blocking the building entrance. Before entering, walk to the east side of the building and cut the separate tree there to collect TM46 Thief. Thief is optional, but it can remove held items from wild Pokémon and may be useful later. Heal at the Pokémon Center before starting the building because there is no internal healing point.

This is the required order for the story: Forest Badge, Cut access, Team Galactic Eterna Building, Commander Jupiter, then the Bicycle. The Cycle Shop owner remains unavailable until Jupiter is defeated.

• Speak with Cynthia outside the Galactic building.
• Unlock Cut through the Pokétch.
• Collect TM46 Thief if desired.
• Heal before entering the four-floor building.
• Enter the Team Galactic Eterna Building.

Clear the Galactic Eterna Building

The building contains Team Galactic battles across four floors. In the lobby, defeat the two Grunts near the northeast side, either separately or together if you approach between them. Go upstairs and defeat the two Grunts on the second floor. On the third floor, defeat the Grunt blocking the right-hand route and Scientist Travon, who uses a level 15 Kadabra, before taking the final staircase.

Commander Jupiter waits on the fourth floor beside the Cycle Shop owner. She uses a level 18 Zubat and a level 20 Skuntank. Zubat can use Mean Look to prevent switching, so defeat it promptly with a Rock-, Electric-, or Psychic-type attack. Do not use Psychic attacks against Skuntank: its Dark typing makes it immune to Psychic moves.

Skuntank is Poison/Dark and is only weak to Ground-type attacks. It holds a Sitrus Berry and knows Flamethrower, Poison Gas, Acid Spray, and Snarl. Flamethrower is dangerous for Grass- and Bug-type counters, while Acid Spray can lower Special Defense. Skuntank has Aftermath, so a contact move that knocks it out can damage your active Pokémon. Use a strong Ground move such as Dig or Magnitude if available, and prefer noncontact attacks when practical.

Defeating Jupiter causes Team Galactic to retreat and frees the Cycle Shop owner. If the battle goes badly, return to the Pokémon Center, restore your party, and try again with a Ground-type attacker in the lead.

• Defeat the required Grunts on the first three floors.
• Defeat Scientist Travon on the third floor.
• Reach the fourth floor.
• Defeat Jupiter’s level 18 Zubat and level 20 Skuntank.
• Confirm that the Cycle Shop owner has been rescued.

Optional backtracking: Eterna Forest, the shortcut, and Old Chateau

This section is optional and should be treated as backtracking, not unfinished main-story progress. After Cut is available, return west from Eterna City through the northern entrance to Eterna Forest. Near the northern exit, cut the tree blocking the exterior path. This creates a shortcut between portions of Route 205 and opens the path to the Old Chateau.

The Old Chateau is optional. It contains Gastly encounters and several items, including the Old Gateau, TM90 Substitute, and the Dread Plate. None of these rewards is needed to obtain the Bicycle, reach Cycling Road, or continue the Gym storyline.

Rotom is a later optional encounter. After obtaining the National Pokédex, speak with Gardenia outside the Old Chateau, enter the mansion at night, go to the second floor, and interact with the television. Rotom is level 15. Do not treat the Old Chateau, Rotom, or this backtracking trip as prerequisites for the next chapter.

• Return to Eterna Forest only if you want optional Cut-accessible areas.
• Open the shortcut or explore Old Chateau if desired.
• Leave Rotom until after the National Pokédex and the required Gardenia interaction.
• Return to Eterna City before continuing south.

Claim the Bicycle and leave through Route 206

After defeating Jupiter, go to the Cycle Shop in southeastern Eterna City and speak with the owner. He gives you the Bicycle as thanks. You can preview the available colors before selecting one; the choice is cosmetic. Register the Bicycle if you want quick access from the + or - button, or activate it from the Key Items pocket.

Press B while riding to switch between the slow gear, which is easier to control in tight spaces, and the fast gear, which is needed for certain slopes and bike obstacles later in Sinnoh. Practice switching before entering Cycling Road so you can control your speed around turns and obstacles.

Leave Eterna City through the south exit to enter Route 206, also called Cycling Road. The road contains cyclist trainers, money, and experience. You may postpone optional trainer battles if your team is already prepared, but the Bicycle itself is required to traverse the route normally. Route 206 leads onward toward Route 207 and the next Sinnoh objectives. Do not confuse the optional Wayward Cave branch below the Cycling Road with the required route.

The normal handoff from this chapter is therefore south from Eterna City onto Route 206. The earlier Route 205 and Eterna Forest sequence is complete.

• Receive the Bicycle from the Cycle Shop owner.
• Choose a cosmetic color.
• Register the Bicycle or access it from Key Items.
• Test both gears with B.
• Enter Route 206 Cycling Road from southern Eterna City.
• Continue toward Route 207 and the next chapter’s objectives.

Complete the first Hearthome City visit

Enter Hearthome City from Route 208. A Buneary runs into you near the western entrance, and its Trainer, Keira, asks you to visit the Contest Hall. Follow the northern road to the round Contest Hall and enter it. Keira gives you a Contest-related sticker, and Johanna gives you a Tuxedo or Dress for Super Contest Shows. Super Contests are optional and are not required for Gym or story progress.

Fantina is standing outside the Contest Hall during this first visit. Speak with her, but do not expect to challenge her. In Brilliant Diamond, she is unavailable until you complete the later Team Galactic and Celestic Town sequence after receiving Cynthia’s Secret Medicine. Do not treat the locked Gym as a bug and do not spend time trying to force entry.

Before leaving, visit the Pokémon Fan Club and speak with its chairman to receive the Poffin Case. In the building east of the Fan Club, ride the elevator to the second floor and speak with the woman there to receive a Shell Bell. At the southeastern Route 209 gate, speak with the hiker to receive a Pokémon Egg if you have room in your party; it eventually hatches into Happiny. These rewards are optional, but the Poffin Case is useful if you intend to make Poffins.

You may also enter Amity Square from the northern part of town if you have an eligible Pokémon. This is optional, but it provides items such as the Amulet Coin and allows Pokémon-following features after the visit. The Poffin House and the Contest Hall’s Mild Poffin reward are also optional. No special conversation is required to unlock the Department Store’s normal floors, and the Good Rod was obtained earlier from the fisherman on Route 209; do not wait for a new fishing-rod event here.

• Enter Hearthome City from Route 208.
• Follow Keira’s Buneary to the Contest Hall.
• Speak with Johanna and receive the Tuxedo or Dress.
• Speak with the Fan Club chairman for the Poffin Case.
• Collect the optional Shell Bell and Happiny Egg if desired.
• Remember that Fantina is unavailable until after the Celestic Town sequence.

Travel from Hearthome to Veilstone

After visiting the Contest Hall, return toward the southeastern side of Hearthome. Your rival challenges you before the Route 209 gate fully opens. Heal first if necessary, then defeat the rival and leave through Route 209.

Route 209 contains regular trainers, wild Pokémon, the Lost Tower, and the entrance to Solaceon Town. The Lost Tower is optional at this stage; it is useful for experience and items, but it is not required to reach Veilstone. Continue through Solaceon Town and enter Route 210 from the town’s northern exit. Take the southern branch of Route 210 toward Route 215, then travel east across Route 215 to Veilstone City.

Battle route trainers instead of repeatedly grinding low-level wild Pokémon. The automatic Exp. Share distributes experience to the party, so rotate developing Pokémon into safe matchups and keep four to six useful team members trained. Fighting-type opponents on Route 215 make Flying- and Psychic-type attacks valuable before Maylene, while a Ground- or Fire-type move should be saved for her Lucario.

• Defeat the rival after the Contest Hall event.
• Cross Route 209 and reach Solaceon Town.
• Take the southern Route 210 branch toward Route 215.
• Cross Route 215 and enter Veilstone City.
• Use route trainers for experience and rotate the party under automatic Exp. Share.

Prepare for Veilstone Gym and Maylene

Heal at the Veilstone Pokémon Center and use the Department Store to restock Super Potions or stronger healing items, Revives, status cures, and Poké Balls. The store’s ordinary floors do not require a separate plot dialogue. Optional NPCs provide useful items, including the Counter Pokétch app and a Sticky Barb, but neither is required for the Gym.

Maylene specializes in Fighting types. Flying- and Psychic-type attacks are effective against her Meditite and Machoke. Her Lucario is both Fighting and Steel, so Flying and Psychic are not universal answers: use Ground- or Fire-type attacks against it instead. Avoid relying only on physical attackers whose damage is reduced by Intimidate or who cannot break through Lucario quickly. A sturdy Pokémon with reliable healing or resistance is useful because Lucario can recover with Drain Punch.

• Restock before entering the Gym.
• Bring Flying- or Psychic-type attacks for Meditite and Machoke.
• Bring Ground- or Fire-type coverage for Lucario.
• Keep healing items available for the Gym puzzle trainers.

Clear Veilstone Gym and recover the Pokédex

The Veilstone Gym uses movable walls and panels. Push the walls from the correct side to open the central passage, then circle through the side rooms when a wall blocks the next staircase. Fight the Black Belt trainers as you proceed; they provide useful experience and make the intended route easier to read. At the northern side, use the final wall opening to reach Maylene.

Maylene uses Meditite at level 27, Machoke at level 27, and Lucario at level 30. Use Flying or Psychic attacks on the first two Pokémon. Switch to Ground or Fire attacks for Lucario, and finish it quickly if it survives at low health so Drain Punch cannot restore a large amount of HP.

Winning earns the Cobble Badge, TM60 Drain Punch, and the ability to use Fly outside battle. After leaving the Gym, Dawn or Lucas asks for help recovering the Pokédex. Go to the Galactic Warehouse in the northwest of Veilstone City and speak with Dawn or Lucas outside. Join the required double battle against the two Team Galactic Grunts. Enter the Warehouse afterward and collect TM94 Fly near the blue crates. This event is required; do not leave Veilstone without completing it.

• Solve the movable-wall Gym puzzle.
• Defeat Meditite, Machoke, and Lucario.
• Receive the Cobble Badge and TM60.
• Complete the double battle at the Galactic Warehouse.
• Collect TM94 Fly inside the Warehouse.

Reach Pastoria and obtain Defog

From Veilstone, travel south through Route 214, across Valor Lakefront, and west along Route 213 to Pastoria City. Pastoria can also be approached from Hearthome through Route 212 and Route 213, which is why the two Gym challenges are flexible in order. If you defeat Wake first, return to Veilstone afterward to complete the Warehouse event and collect Fly.

Enter the Great Marsh on the northern side of Pastoria and pay to begin the Safari Game. Speak with the Ace Trainer near the entrance on the right side to receive TM97 Defog. You do not need to catch every Great Marsh Pokémon. Defog is registered in the Pokétch Hidden Moves app, but the Fen Badge is required before using it outside battle.

The reliable experience sources here are the trainers on Route 214, Route 213, and inside Pastoria Gym. Clear these trainers before the Gym if several team members are behind the expected level, then heal at the Pokémon Center before beginning the Galactic chase.

• Travel through Route 214, Valor Lakefront, and Route 213.
• Enter the Great Marsh and start the Safari Game.
• Speak with the Ace Trainer near the entrance.
• Obtain TM97 Defog and confirm it appears in the Pokétch Hidden Moves app.
• Use route and Gym trainers for experience rather than excessive wild grinding.

Clear Pastoria Gym and defeat Crasher Wake

Pastoria Gym uses colored buttons to raise and lower the water. Begin by moving to the southwest yellow button, then descend and use the green and blue buttons to open the connected walkways. Continue circling through the trainer rooms and press the matching buttons from the accessible side whenever a stairway or bridge is blocked. If you reach a dead end, look for the nearby button that changes the water level rather than trying to force the same route backward.

Crasher Wake uses Gyarados at level 27, Quagsire at level 27, and Floatzel at level 30. Electric attacks are effective against Gyarados and Floatzel, but they do not affect Quagsire because Quagsire is also Ground type. Use Grass attacks against Quagsire. Gyarados’s Intimidate lowers the Attack of Pokémon that enter against it, while Floatzel can finish a weakened Pokémon with Aqua Jet, so heal or switch before leaving a low-HP Pokémon in front of it.

Defeating Wake earns the Fen Badge and TM55 Brine. The badge permits Defog to be used outside battle through the Pokétch Hidden Moves app. Heal before pursuing the Team Galactic Grunt outside the Great Marsh.

• Use the colored water-level buttons to reach Wake.
• Defeat Gyarados, Quagsire, and Floatzel.
• Receive the Fen Badge and TM55 Brine.
• Confirm that Defog can now be used outside battle.

Finish the Pastoria and Valor Lakefront story sequence

After defeating Wake, find the Team Galactic Grunt near the Great Marsh entrance. Speak with him and follow him east toward Route 213. Speak with him again when he stops. Your rival then appears and battles you, so heal before starting the pursuit if the Gym left your party damaged.

After the rival battle, continue along Route 213 and follow the Grunt toward the Valor Lakefront area. Speak with him there and battle him. When the chase is complete, Cynthia appears and gives you the Secret Medicine. This item is required to clear the Psyduck blocking the northern Route 210 path.

If you challenged Pastoria before Veilstone, return to Veilstone and complete the Warehouse double battle before moving on. If you followed the recommended Veilstone-first order, the Warehouse and Fly event should already be complete. Fantina still cannot be challenged at this point. Take the Secret Medicine to the Psyduck on Route 210 when ready, then continue toward Celestic Town; the events there are what unlock Fantina’s Gym in chapter 6.

• Follow the Galactic Grunt from Pastoria toward Route 213.
• Defeat the rival during the pursuit.
• Follow the Grunt to Valor Lakefront.
• Defeat the Grunt there.
• Speak with Cynthia and receive the Secret Medicine.
• Use the medicine on the Route 210 Psyduck when continuing to Celestic Town.
• Leave Fantina for the later chapter after the Celestic Town events.

Continuity check: the first Hearthome visit is already complete

By this point, you should already have entered Hearthome City from Route 208, followed Keira and her Buneary to the Super Contest Hall, spoken with Fantina outside, and completed the opening conversation with Johanna and Keira. Those events explain why the Gym was closed earlier; they do not need to be repeated now.

You should also have had the opportunity to visit the Pokémon Fan Club for the Poffin Case, the Pokémon Hotel’s upper floor for the Shell Bell, and the Route 209 gate for the optional Happiny Egg. If you skipped any of these, you may collect them during a later visit, but none is required to open Fantina’s Gym.

Chapter 5 has already covered the Veilstone and Pastoria objectives, including the Veilstone Galactic Warehouse event, the Great Marsh Defog pickup, the rival battle, the Great Marsh and Pastoria progression, the Galactic Grunt chase, and Cynthia’s delivery of the Secret Medicine. Do not return to those Gyms or replay that chase as part of this chapter.

• Confirm that the Veilstone Gym and Pastoria Gym are complete.
• Confirm that the Galactic Warehouse event is complete.
• Confirm that Defog was collected from the Great Marsh.
• Confirm that Cynthia gave you the Secret Medicine after the Pastoria events.
• Treat the first Hearthome visit as completed continuity, not a new objective.

Clear Route 210’s Psyduck blockade

Travel to Route 210 and head north from Solaceon Town. A group of Psyduck blocks the route near the southern edge of the foggy section. Use the Secret Medicine from your Bag on the Psyduck. They leave the path, allowing you to continue north toward Celestic Town.

The northern section of Route 210 is covered by fog. Use the Pokétch Hidden Moves app to activate Defog if you want clearer visibility. Defog is not the same progression trigger as the Secret Medicine: the medicine removes the Psyduck, while Defog makes the route easier to navigate and was obtained earlier in Chapter 5.

Continue through the tall grass and trainer battles until you reach the eastern exit into Celestic Town. Keep healing items available because the route contains several battles and the fog can make it easier to miss side paths or walk into an encounter while searching for the exit.

• Use Secret Medicine on the Psyduck on Route 210.
• Activate Defog through the Pokétch if needed.
• Travel north through Route 210 and enter Celestic Town.

Complete the Celestic Town Team Galactic event

When you enter Celestic Town, find the Team Galactic Grunt near the entrance to the ruins. Speak to him and defeat him in battle. This is the required battle that clears the way into the Celestic Ruins.

After the Grunt is defeated, enter the ruins and speak with Cynthia’s grandmother. Give her the Old Charm. Continue the conversation and examine the mural when prompted. This completes the Celestic Town story sequence and causes Cynthia’s grandmother to give you Surf.

Surf is recorded in the Pokétch Hidden Moves app rather than being assigned as a conventional field HM move in the Nintendo DS interface. You still need the correct Pokémon in your party when using Surf, and you must activate the move through the Pokétch when interacting with water.

Do not leave Celestic Town before confirming that Surf has been received. If the Old Charm conversation was interrupted, return to the ruins and speak with Cynthia’s grandmother again.

• Defeat the Team Galactic Grunt outside the Celestic Ruins.
• Enter the ruins and deliver the Old Charm to Cynthia’s grandmother.
• Complete the mural conversation.
• Receive Surf and confirm it appears in the Pokétch Hidden Moves app.

Return to Hearthome and prepare for Fantina

Once Surf is obtained, use Fly to return to Hearthome City if you have already registered the city as a destination. Otherwise, travel back through the available routes. Fantina should now be inside the Hearthome Gym and available for the fifth Gym battle.

Heal at the Hearthome Pokémon Center before entering. Buy Potions or Super Potions, status cures, and a few extra Poké Balls if your supplies are low. The Hearthome Poké Mart handles ordinary supplies; the Veilstone Department Store remains the better place to restock a broader selection of healing items and battle-useful TMs if you need to make another shopping trip.

Prepare at least two Pokémon that can damage Ghost types reliably. Dark- and Ghost-type attacks are super effective. A strong neutral attacker can serve as a backup, but do not plan to win with Normal- or Fighting-type attacks because those move types cannot hit Ghost Pokémon. A Normal-type Pokémon can switch into Ghost-type attacks defensively, but it still needs an appropriate attacking move to make progress.

Keep a remedy for confusion and burns available. Fantina’s team uses disruptive moves, and a single fragile attacker can be worn down if it becomes confused or burned early in the fight.

• Return to Hearthome only after obtaining Surf.
• Heal and restock before entering the Gym.
• Bring at least two dependable attackers or a primary attacker and a backup.
• Carry remedies for confusion and burn.

Solve the Hearthome Gym math puzzle

The Hearthome Gym contains several floors with a question sign and three doors. Each door displays a possible answer. Select the correct answer to move directly to the next floor. Choosing a wrong door starts a battle with a Gym Trainer, but it does not permanently block the route or reset the story.

To reach Fantina while avoiding the optional trainer battles, use this door sequence: right, middle, left, right. The questions are 3 + 5 + 7, 12 + 28, 3 × 13, and a final question that asks for the answer from the first room. The corresponding answers are 15, 40, 39, and 15.

The Gym’s trainers provide useful experience if your team is underprepared, so choosing a wrong door is not harmful beyond spending HP and PP. If you use the direct route, heal before entering and conserve enough PP for Fantina’s three-Pokémon battle.

• Read each question before choosing a door.
• Use right, middle, left, right for the direct route.
• Fight the optional Gym Trainers if you need experience or avoid them if your team is ready.

Defeat Fantina and earn the Relic Badge

Fantina uses Drifblim at level 32, Gengar at level 34, and Mismagius at level 36. Her team is Ghost-focused, but the members require different responses. Drifblim is also Flying-type, so Ground moves cannot hit it. Mismagius has Levitate, which also makes it immune to Ground moves. Gengar can be hit by Ground attacks, but Ground alone is not a complete plan for the entire team.

Lead with a Dark- or Ghost-type attacker if it has reliable damage and is not vulnerable to Fantina’s likely coverage. Drifblim can use Strength Sap, Hex, Fly, and Will-O-Wisp. Burn reduces the power of physical attackers, while Strength Sap restores Drifblim’s HP and lowers the attacker’s Attack. Use a special attacker, a special move, or a status cure if your physical attacker is weakened.

Gengar carries Shadow Claw, Confuse Ray, Sludge Bomb, and Dazzling Gleam. Confusion can waste turns, and Sludge Bomb or Dazzling Gleam can punish an overly narrow counter. Mismagius carries Confuse Ray, Phantom Force, Magical Leaf, and Dazzling Gleam. Protect your team from a long stall by switching when necessary and healing between knockouts rather than allowing one weakened Pokémon to remain in battle.

Fantina’s Gengar has Cursed Body, which can disable a move after it is struck. If your main attack is disabled, switch to another move or another Pokémon instead of repeatedly selecting the unavailable move. Defeat all three Pokémon to receive the Relic Badge and TM65, Shadow Claw. The badge allows Surf to be used outside battle through the Pokétch Hidden Moves app.

• Defeat Drifblim, Gengar, and Mismagius.
• Use Dark- or Ghost-type attacks where practical.
• Do not rely on Ground attacks against Drifblim or Mismagius.
• Cure burn and confusion when they threaten to decide the battle.
• Collect the Relic Badge and TM65, Shadow Claw.
• Confirm that Surf works outside battle through the Pokétch.

Optional Hearthome activities and experience

Super Contest Shows are optional and do not unlock Fantina’s Gym. They take place in the Contest Hall and use category selection, Poffin-fed Contest conditions, move selection, and a rhythm-based Dance Evaluation. You may enter them for Stickers, rank progression, and Ribbons, but winning a Show is not required for any badge or story objective in this chapter.

If you want to participate, use the Poffin Case and cook Poffins at the Poffin House. Feed a Pokémon Poffins suited to the category you plan to enter, then select moves that support the chosen performance. The costume received during the introductory Hearthome event is cosmetic and has no effect on ordinary battles.

For nearby experience, clear any remaining Gym Trainer battles, then use the Vs. Seeker on routes connected to Hearthome after it recharges. Route 209 and Route 212 are practical areas for additional trainer battles. Keep several Pokémon in usable condition rather than allowing one Pokémon to handle every fight; Brilliant Diamond’s Exp. Share is always active and distributes experience across the party.

Stock ordinary healing and status items in Hearthome. If you need a larger selection of battle supplies or TMs, travel to the Veilstone Department Store before the Gym or after earning the badge. Heal at a Pokémon Center before retrying after a loss, and restore PP before making another attempt.

• Treat Super Contest Shows as optional.
• Use Poffins only if you want to improve Contest performance.
• Use Gym Trainers and the Vs. Seeker for additional experience.
• Keep multiple party members battle-ready under the automatic Exp. Share system.
• Restock at Hearthome or Veilstone before a rematch attempt.

Enter Canalave City and defeat Barry

Travel west across Route 218 and enter Canalave City. Barry is waiting on the drawbridge and challenges you as soon as you approach. Heal at the Pokémon Center before crossing the bridge, and make sure the Pokémon you intend to use are not missing important PP.

Barry’s team always includes Staravia and Heracross, while the remaining members depend on your starter choice. Heracross is level 32 and knows Aerial Ace, Brick Break, and Thief, so use a Flying-type move or another reliable super-effective attack rather than a fragile Dark-type Pokémon. Staravia can use Double Team and Endeavor, making a strong opening attack preferable. Barry’s starter evolution is level 37, so keep a dedicated answer for its type and do not assume the battle ends after Heracross falls.

After winning, heal again and stock ordinary healing items. Canalave’s Gym is available immediately, but Iron Island is a useful optional detour for experience, held items, and Riley’s Riolu Egg.

• Heal before crossing Canalave’s drawbridge.
• Prepare a Flying-type or other reliable answer for Heracross.
• Keep a counter for Barry’s level 37 starter evolution.
• Stock Potions, Super Potions, and status cures before entering Iron Island or the Gym.

Use the Canalave facilities and optional city pickups

The Move Deleter is in a house on the east side of Canalave City. He removes ordinary moves and Hidden Moves without charging a fee, which is useful if a Pokémon is carrying an inconvenient field move. Do not delete a move until you are certain you no longer need it for current exploration.

The first house on the east side after entering from Route 218 gives three copies of TM48 Skill Swap. TM89 U-turn is on the southern end of the canal and requires Surf to reach. Both are optional. Surf is available by this point because Fantina’s Relic Badge is required before the Canalave section of the story.

Canalave also contains the Canalave Library, but do not go there until after Byron if you are following the normal progression. The rival and Professor Rowan’s lake investigation continue there after the Gym.

• Visit the Move Deleter only when you need to remove a move.
• Collect the three copies of TM48 Skill Swap if you want them.
• Use Surf to reach TM89 U-turn at the south end of the canal if desired.

Sail to Iron Island and partner with Riley

Go to the southern dock and speak to the sailor beside the boat. Choose Iron Island. The island is optional for badge progression, and you can return to Canalave by speaking to the sailor at the island’s pier.

Explore the first cave area until Riley joins you. While Riley is with you, battles can become Double Battles or Multi Battles. He restores the party after battles, so use this period to defeat the island’s trainers and gain experience without spending your entire supply of healing items. The cave contains Geodude, Graveler, Onix, Steelix, Golbat, and other encounters around the low-30s, making it a good place to strengthen Pokémon before Byron.

Follow the cave route downward. When paths divide, continue toward the lower floors and the Team Galactic activity. On B2F, take the left-side route to reach the pair of Team Galactic Grunts with Riley. Defeat them and the event concludes. Riley then gives you a Riolu Egg.

If your party has six Pokémon when Riley gives you the Egg, it is sent directly to a PC Box. To hatch it, keep it in the party while walking or cycling. Riolu evolves into Lucario when its friendship is high enough and it gains a level during the daytime. The Egg is optional for the story, but Lucario is a strong Fighting- and Steel-type option for later battles.

• Speak to the sailor at Canalave’s southern dock.
• Do not leave Iron Island before defeating the Team Galactic Grunts if you want the Egg.
• Leave an open party slot if you want the Riolu Egg added immediately.
• Use the sailor at Iron Island’s pier to return to Canalave.

Collect Iron Island’s useful optional rewards

Search the side rooms before returning to the pier. The most useful fixed rewards include a Shiny Stone, TM23 Iron Tail, Iron Ball, Magnet, Iron Plate, healing items, and an Ultra Ball. The Shiny Stone can evolve Roselia into Roserade or be saved for another Pokémon with a Shiny Stone evolution. Do not use it automatically; check the evolution method of the Pokémon you intend to evolve.

TM23 Iron Tail is a powerful physical Steel move but has imperfect accuracy. The Iron Ball lowers the holder’s Speed and is mainly useful for specialized strategies, while the Magnet boosts Electric-type moves. None of these items is required to finish the Sinnoh storyline.

Iron Island’s trainer battles also let you register Pokémon such as Steelix in the Pokédex even if you do not catch one. Once Riley’s event is finished and you have taken the items you want, return to Canalave rather than repeatedly clearing the cave.

• Pick up the Shiny Stone if you have a planned evolution.
• Take TM23 Iron Tail only if its accuracy and move slot suit your Pokémon.
• Collect the Magnet or Iron Plate if you use Electric- or Steel-type attacks.
• Return to Canalave after receiving the Riolu Egg.

Navigate Canalave Gym’s lifts and moving platforms

Heal after returning from Iron Island, then enter Canalave Gym. Byron specializes in Steel-type Pokémon. Fire, Fighting, Ground, and Water attacks are useful against most of the Gym, although Ground attacks do not affect Byron’s Bronzor because Bronzor has Levitate.

The Gym is a multilevel route of metal platforms, beams, and small lifts. From the entrance, battle the Black Belt and use the eastern lift. Follow the next section toward the lower lift, then return to the first-floor route and use the western lift to reach the higher platforms. Continue across the upper moving platforms and use the remaining lifts to climb toward Byron.

The exact trainer order can vary depending on which platform you take, but the useful landmark is consistent: keep moving upward through the lifts rather than searching for an exit on the lower floors. Battle the Workers, Black Belts, and Ace Trainers on the way if you want the experience; the Gym trainers are optional to the final objective but are useful preparation for Pokémon around levels 36 to 39.

Before taking the final lift, restore HP and PP. A Ground, Fighting, Fire, or Water attacker should lead, but keep a second attacker available because Steelix and Bastiodon can survive a single hit and punish an unprepared switch.

• Take the eastern lift from the entrance area.
• Use the lower route and return toward the western lift to reach the upper platforms.
• Continue climbing through the moving platforms and lifts.
• Heal before taking the final lift to Byron.

Defeat Byron and claim the Mine Badge

Byron’s Brilliant Diamond team is Bronzor level 36, Steelix level 36, and Bastiodon level 39. Bronzor knows Confuse Ray, Sandstorm, Trick Room, and Flash Cannon. Because it has Levitate, Ground attacks fail against it. Defeat it promptly with a strong Fire, Fighting, Water, or neutral special attack rather than wasting turns on a Ground move.

Steelix holds Soft Sand and knows Earthquake, Sandstorm, Gyro Ball, and Thunder Fang. Its Earthquake is dangerous to Fire-, Rock-, and Steel-type Pokémon, so a Flying-type Pokémon or another Pokémon immune to Ground moves can give you a safe switch. Water, Fire, Fighting, or special attacks are effective ways to finish it.

Bastiodon holds a Sitrus Berry and knows Iron Defense, Thunderbolt, Stone Edge, and Flash Cannon. Its physical Defense is high, and Iron Defense makes physical attackers even less reliable. Use a strong special attack when possible, or prevent it from gaining several turns to boost. Keep your active Pokémon above knockout range because Stone Edge and Flash Cannon can end the battle quickly if you enter with low HP.

Winning gives you the Mine Badge and five copies of TM91 Flash Cannon. The badge allows you to use Strength outside battle, provided you have taught the Hidden Move to a compatible Pokémon and registered it with the Pokétch. Strength is needed for several later routes and caves, although the Strength Hidden Move itself can be obtained before this Gym.

After leaving the Gym, Barry waits outside and tells you to go to the Canalave Library. Meet Professor Rowan there to begin the lake investigation. The next story event sends you toward Lake Valor and the Team Galactic operation.

• Defeat Bronzor level 36, Steelix level 36, and Bastiodon level 39.
• Do not use Ground attacks against Bronzor while Levitate is active.
• Use a Flying-type or Ground-immune Pokémon to reduce the danger from Steelix’s Earthquake.
• Break through Bastiodon with special attacks or strong super-effective damage before Iron Defense becomes a problem.
• Collect the Mine Badge and five copies of TM91 Flash Cannon.
• Visit Canalave Library after the Gym to continue the main storyline.

Begin at Canalave Library after defeating Byron

After defeating Byron in the Canalave Gym, leave the Gym and speak with Barry outside. He directs you to Canalave Library. Enter the Library in northern Canalave City and go upstairs to meet Professor Rowan, Barry, and Dawn or Lucas.

Rowan assigns the group to investigate Sinnoh’s three lakes. The meeting is interrupted by a report that Team Galactic has attacked Lake Valor. Complete the lake events in this order: Lake Valor, Lake Verity, then Lake Acuity after Candice is defeated.

Heal and restock before leaving Canalave. You will face several Galactic battles during the lake investigations and the later Veilstone operation. Carry reliable healing items and status recovery, but do not spend time trying to enter Lake Acuity yet; its approach remains blocked until the Snowpoint Gym sequence is complete.

• Defeat Byron and receive the Mine Badge.
• Speak with Barry outside the Canalave Gym.
• Meet Professor Rowan on the upper floor of Canalave Library.
• Complete the three-lake assignment scene.
• Prepare healing items before traveling to Lake Valor.

Investigate Lake Valor and defeat Commander Saturn

Travel to Valor Lakefront by going south from Veilstone City through Route 214. Enter Lake Valor and follow the accessible path across the drained lakebed. Team Galactic has emptied the lake, so you cannot cross it by Surf during this event.

Continue through the Galactic Grunts to Valor Cavern at the center of the lake. Commander Saturn is waiting inside. In Brilliant Diamond, Saturn uses Kadabra at level 35, Bronzor at level 35, and Toxicroak at level 37.

Use Dark- or Bug-type attacks against Kadabra when possible. Bronzor has Levitate, so ordinary Ground moves will not affect it; Fire, Dark, Ghost, or strong neutral attacks are safer choices. Toxicroak has Dry Skin, making Water attacks ineffective and potentially restorative. Psychic- and Flying-type attacks are particularly useful, while Ground attacks work if you are not relying on a Water move.

After Saturn is defeated, leave the cavern and fly to Twinleaf Town. Optional items around Lake Valor can be collected later; the required progress is the Galactic confrontation and Saturn battle.

• Enter Lake Valor through Valor Lakefront.
• Cross the drained lakebed.
• Reach Valor Cavern.
• Defeat Commander Saturn.
• Avoid Water attacks against Saturn’s Toxicroak.
• Fly to Twinleaf Town after the battle.

Resolve the Lake Verity attack

From Twinleaf Town, travel north and then west to Lake Verity. Professor Rowan and Dawn or Lucas are at the lake. Defeat the Galactic Grunts on the approach and enter the cavern to confront Commander Mars.

Mars uses Golbat at level 37, Bronzor at level 37, and Purugly at level 39. Electric-, Rock-, and Ice-type attacks are useful against Golbat. Bronzor has Levitate, so use Fire, Dark, Ghost, or another suitable attack instead of assuming Ground will work. Fighting-type attacks are effective against Purugly, although a sturdy physical attacker or a status move can help if Purugly survives the first hit.

After Mars is defeated, the Lake Verity scene ends. Lake Acuity is still inaccessible, so do not attempt to force the northern route yet. Prepare for the trek through Route 211 and Mount Coronet.

Strength is useful for optional exploration and later routes. If you have not obtained TM96 Strength from Lost Tower, collect it before relying on Strength-based side paths. In Brilliant Diamond, field moves are selected through the Pokétch Hidden Moves app rather than requiring permanent placement on a core team member.

• Reach Lake Verity from Twinleaf Town.
• Defeat the Galactic Grunts outside the cavern.
• Defeat Commander Mars.
• Finish the Lake Verity story scene.
• Confirm Strength is available if you plan to explore optional boulder paths.

Cross Route 211 and Mount Coronet toward Route 216

Fly to Celestic Town and heal. Leave through the western side of town to reach Route 211. Battle the route trainers if your party needs experience, but conserve resources because Mount Coronet and the snowy routes follow.

Enter the southern side of Mount Coronet from Route 211 and follow the available passage north. Continue through the mountain until you emerge on Route 216. You do not need to search every side chamber for this story route.

Route 216 introduces deep snow and hail. Follow the main path west and use the Snowbound Lodge near the western end to restore the party before continuing into Route 217. Keep Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel, or other strong answers ready for Candice, but do not rely on one Fire-type alone. Medicham carries Rock Slide and Ice Punch, so a backup attacker is valuable.

• Fly to Celestic Town after Lake Verity.
• Take Route 211 west into Mount Coronet.
• Cross Mount Coronet and emerge on Route 216.
• Use the Snowbound Lodge or another full recovery point.
• Maintain broad coverage for the Snowpoint Gym.

Cross Route 217 and collect TM100 Rock Climb

Follow Route 216 north into Route 217. Deep snow slows movement and can obscure the direct path, so use the fences, houses, and visible structures as landmarks. Continue north through the blizzard until you find the Hiker’s house.

TM100 Rock Climb is on the ground northeast of the Hiker’s house. Pick it up, then speak with the Hiker inside the house to receive the Icicle Plate. Rock Climb cannot be used as a field move until you have earned Snowpoint’s Icicle Badge.

Continue north to Acuity Lakefront and then east to Snowpoint City. Route 217 contains optional items, including TM07 Hail, but none of those detours are needed for the main route. If the party is damaged, prioritize Snowpoint’s Pokémon Center.

• Reach Route 217 through Route 216.
• Pick up TM100 Rock Climb northeast of the Hiker’s house.
• Speak with the Hiker after collecting the TM.
• Receive the Icicle Plate.
• Continue to Snowpoint City.

Prepare for and defeat Candice

Heal at Snowpoint City’s Pokémon Center before entering the Gym. Candice’s Brilliant Diamond team is Snover at level 38, Sneasel at level 38, Medicham at level 40, and Abomasnow at level 42.

Fire-, Fighting-, Rock-, and Steel-type attacks are effective against the Ice-oriented members. Snover and Abomasnow have Snow Warning, so hail begins when they enter battle. Snover holds an Icy Rock, Sneasel holds a Chople Berry, Medicham holds an Expert Belt, and Abomasnow holds a Sitrus Berry.

Medicham is Fighting/Psychic, not Ice-type. It carries Brick Break, Bulk Up, Ice Punch, and Rock Slide. Use a Flying-type or another strong super-effective attacker, but avoid sending in a Pokémon that is vulnerable to its Fighting- or Rock-type coverage.

Abomasnow is Grass/Ice and carries Aurora Veil, Earthquake, Blizzard, and Giga Drain. Aurora Veil can reduce incoming damage while hail is active, so attack it promptly with a reliable Fire move if possible. Keep a second answer available in case hail, the Sitrus Berry, or Aurora Veil extends the battle.

The Gym puzzle is an ice rink. Once you step onto an ice panel, you slide until a wall, trainer, snowball, or snow patch stops you. Snow patches allow you to change direction. Clear snowballs by sliding into them from a suitable lane. If you lose alignment, return toward the entrance and use the outer lanes to reset rather than making uncontrolled slides through the center.

Defeating Candice awards the Icicle Badge and TM14 Blizzard. The badge permits Rock Climb outside battle. Use the Pokétch Hidden Moves app at a climbable rock face; teaching Rock Climb to a permanent team member is not required.

• Restore HP and PP before entering the Gym.
• Bring Fire, Fighting, Rock, or Steel attacks.
• Bring a separate answer to Medicham.
• Use snow patches to stop and realign in the puzzle.
• Defeat Candice’s four Pokémon.
• Receive the Icicle Badge and TM14 Blizzard.
• Confirm that Rock Climb can be used outside battle.

Return to Lake Acuity and confront Commander Jupiter

After defeating Candice, leave Snowpoint City and travel south to Acuity Lakefront. The Galactic Grunts who blocked the route have moved aside. Continue north into Lake Acuity and enter the central cavern.

Commander Jupiter has already defeated Barry and captured Uxie. There is no required battle against Uxie during this scene. Watch the confrontation, then leave the lake. This event unlocks the Veilstone Headquarters operation.

Fly to Veilstone City and heal at the Pokémon Center. The next step is not the Warehouse first: you must obtain the Storage Key from the Galactic Grunt outside the main Galactic Veilstone Building.

• Return to Acuity Lakefront after earning the Icicle Badge.
• Enter Lake Acuity and view Jupiter’s scene.
• Confirm that Uxie has been taken by Team Galactic.
• Fly to Veilstone City.
• Heal before beginning the Headquarters operation.

Obtain the Storage Key outside the main Headquarters building

In Veilstone City, go to the large Galactic Veilstone Building in the northeast of town. Do not enter the building yet. Speak with the Galactic Grunt standing outside near the building’s satellite dish.

The Grunt runs away and drops the Storage Key. Pick up the key before going anywhere else. This is the required trigger for opening the locked passage in the Galactic Warehouse.

If the Grunt is not present, return to Lake Acuity and confirm that the scene with Commander Jupiter and Barry has occurred. The Storage Key does not come from the earlier Veilstone Gym or Pokédex recovery events.

• Reach the main Galactic Veilstone Building.
• Speak with the Grunt outside near the satellite dish.
• Pick up the Storage Key he drops.
• Confirm that Storage Key is listed as a Key Item before visiting the Warehouse.

Use the Storage Key in the Galactic Warehouse and obtain the Galactic Key

From the main Headquarters building, travel to the Galactic Warehouse on the northwestern side of Veilstone City. Enter the small Warehouse building and examine the large locked door inside. Use the Storage Key to open it.

The Storage Key opens the Warehouse passage; it does not open the main Headquarters doors. Continue through the underpass, battle or avoid the Galactic Grunts as the route requires, and follow the warp panels and stairs through the passage.

Collect the Galactic Key near the western side of the underpass. TM36 Sludge Bomb is nearby as an optional pickup, and the Dusk Stone in the Warehouse entrance area is also optional. Once the Galactic Key is in your Bag, use the shortcut door if desired and return to the main Galactic Veilstone Building.

• Travel to the Galactic Warehouse after obtaining the Storage Key.
• Use the Storage Key on the locked Warehouse passage.
• Follow the underpass route.
• Collect the Galactic Key.
• Return to the main Galactic Veilstone Building.
• Optional: collect TM36 Sludge Bomb and the Dusk Stone.

Clear Team Galactic Headquarters and defeat Cyrus

Use the Galactic Key on the locked door of the main Headquarters building. Follow the stairs and warp panels through the building while battling the Galactic Grunts. Optional items include Scald, Dazzling Gleam, Full Restores, a Max Revive, and other supplies.

A healing bed is available inside the Headquarters. Use it before approaching Cyrus if the party has taken damage or lost important PP. Continue through the upper floors until you reach Cyrus’s office.

Cyrus uses Murkrow at level 40, Golbat at level 40, and Sneasel at level 43. Electric- or Ice-type attacks are useful against the Flying Pokémon. Fighting-, Fire-, Rock-, Bug-, or Steel-type attacks can handle Sneasel. Sneasel carries Metal Claw, Icy Wind, Hone Claws, and Beat Up, so a fast Fighting move is useful, but keep a backup answer in case the first attacker is weakened.

Defeating Cyrus awards the Master Ball. Do not leave the building immediately. Continue through the Headquarters to the laboratory containing the three captured lake guardians.

• Use the Galactic Key to enter the locked Headquarters areas.
• Heal at the Headquarters bed if necessary.
• Defeat Cyrus’s Murkrow, Golbat, and Sneasel.
• Receive the Master Ball.
• Continue to the guardian laboratory.

Defeat Saturn and release the lake guardians

In the laboratory, speak with Commander Saturn. Saturn uses Kadabra at level 38, Bronzor at level 38, and Toxicroak at level 40.

Use Dark- or Bug-type attacks against Kadabra. Bronzor has Levitate, so ordinary Ground attacks fail; use Fire, Dark, Ghost, or strong neutral attacks. Toxicroak has Dry Skin, so Water attacks are ineffective and can restore its HP. Psychic- and Flying-type moves are especially useful against it.

After Saturn is defeated, interact with the yellow control button beside the machine and choose the confirmation option to release Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf. All three guardians are freed during this single Headquarters event. You do not need to visit their individual lake caves before proceeding to Spear Pillar.

The later captures of Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf are optional legendary encounters. Leave the Headquarters through the green warp panel and prepare for the next chapter’s Mount Coronet route.

• Defeat Commander Saturn in the guardian laboratory.
• Use the control button beside the machine.
• Release Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf.
• Confirm that all three guardians are no longer imprisoned.
• Leave the Headquarters through the green warp panel.

Prepare the Chapter 10 handoff

Before leaving this chapter, confirm that the Icicle Badge is recorded, TM100 Rock Climb is in the Bag, the Lake Acuity scene has occurred, the Storage Key was obtained from the Grunt outside the main Headquarters, the Galactic Warehouse passage was opened, the Galactic Key was collected, Cyrus was defeated, Saturn was defeated, and all three lake guardians were released.

Restore HP and PP before traveling toward Mount Coronet. The next major objective is the Team Galactic climax at Spear Pillar. Keep Electric, Water, Ground, Fighting, Dark, and strong neutral attacks available for the Grunts, Commanders, and Cyrus battles ahead.

Snowpoint Temple is not part of this story route. It is a separate postgame area and should not replace the Headquarters or Spear Pillar objectives.

• The Canalave Library assignment was completed.
• Lake Valor and Lake Verity events are complete.
• Route 211 and Mount Coronet were crossed to reach the snowy routes.
• TM100 Rock Climb and the Icicle Plate were obtained.
• Candice was defeated and the Icicle Badge plus TM14 Blizzard were received.
• Rock Climb can be used outside battle.
• The Lake Acuity confrontation with Jupiter is complete.
• The Galactic Grunt outside the main Headquarters dropped the Storage Key.
• The Storage Key opened the locked passage in the Galactic Warehouse.
• The Galactic Key was collected from the Warehouse underpass.
• Cyrus was defeated in Headquarters and the Master Ball was received.
• Commander Saturn was defeated in the guardian laboratory.
• Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf were released from the machine.
• The party is healed and ready for Mount Coronet and Spear Pillar.
• Snowpoint Temple remains reserved for postgame content.

Confirm the prerequisites and prepare at the mountain entrance

You can begin this sequence after completing the Team Galactic Headquarters events in Veilstone City, freeing Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, and defeating Candice in Snowpoint City. The story then directs you toward the summit of Mount Coronet, where Cyrus has taken the completed Red Chain.

Before entering the mountain route, heal your party and refill your most-used moves if necessary. Bring Super Potions or Hyper Potions, Revives, status-healing items, and enough Poké Balls for Dialga. Ultra Balls are the practical general-purpose choice; Dusk Balls are useful if the encounter is taking place at night in your game.

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl do not require you to keep a Pokémon with a field move in the party. Use the Pokétch Hidden Moves app when the route calls for Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, or Rock Climb. Bibarel is the Pokétch helper for those field moves, while Bidoof handles Rock Smash and Staraptor handles Fly and Defog. Make sure each relevant move has been unlocked through the appropriate Gym Badge before beginning the ascent.

• Complete Team Galactic Headquarters and free the lake guardians.
• Defeat Candice and obtain the Icicle Badge.
• Heal the party and stock healing items, status cures, Revives, and capture Balls.
• Check that the Pokétch Hidden Moves app can provide the field moves needed for Mount Coronet.

Cross Mount Coronet and reach Spear Pillar

Enter Mount Coronet from the southern route and follow the passages north. The climb uses stairs, ladders, water crossings, movable boulders, breakable rocks, and Rock Climb walls. Use the Hidden Moves app whenever a field obstacle blocks the route. Team Galactic Grunts occupy the approach, so keep an eye on accumulated damage and move PP instead of assuming the summit is immediately ahead.

Continue through the upper mountain and snowy exterior sections until you reach the Spear Pillar entrance. Two Galactic Grunts challenge you in a Double Battle. One side uses Dustox and Croagunk at level 38, while the other uses Stunky and Glameow at level 38. Fire, Flying, Psychic, and Ground coverage can handle these teams, although remember that Aftermath can damage a Pokémon that makes contact with Stunky when Stunky is knocked out.

After the Grunts are defeated, do not rush forward if you still need supplies. The next section begins the final Team Galactic event and leads into several consecutive battles. Walk farther north only after checking your party and capture inventory.

• Use the Pokétch Hidden Moves app for mountain obstacles.
• Defeat both level 38 Galactic Grunt teams at the summit entrance.
• Check HP, PP, held items, and capture supplies before triggering the main summit event.
• Save before proceeding toward the commanders if you want a safe reset point.

Battle Mars and Jupiter with Barry

At the summit, Cyrus uses the Red Chain to summon and control Dialga. The lake guardians then appear and destroy the Red Chain, stopping Cyrus’s immediate attempt to create a new universe. Commander Mars and Commander Jupiter challenge you together, and Barry fights at your side in the Double Battle.

Mars uses Bronzor at level 41, Golbat at level 42, and Purugly at level 45. Jupiter uses Bronzor at level 41, Golbat at level 41, and Skuntank at level 46. Mars’s Bronzor carries Reflect, while Jupiter’s carries Light Screen, so remove one Bronzor quickly or use attacks that are not hindered by the screen currently active. Both Bronzor have Levitate, so ordinary Ground moves do not work against them.

Fire attacks are effective against Bronzor, while Electric, Ice, or Rock coverage helps against the Golbat pair. Purugly is vulnerable to Fighting attacks. Skuntank is weak to Ground attacks, but be careful when knocking it out because its Aftermath ability can damage a Pokémon that used a contact move. Skuntank also carries Flamethrower, so do not rely on a Steel-type as your only answer.

Barry does not simply heal the party after this Double Battle. Once Mars and Jupiter are defeated, he restores your party before you face Cyrus. You therefore do not need to spend a large number of healing items between these two battles, but you should still review your move PP and lead choice before the Cyrus fight.

• Focus damage on one opposing Pokémon at a time.
• Use Fire, Ghost, or Dark attacks against the Bronzor; Ground moves fail because of Levitate.
• Use Electric, Ice, or Rock coverage against Golbat.
• Use Fighting attacks against Purugly and Ground attacks against Skuntank.
• Let Barry restore the party before battling Cyrus.

Defeat Cyrus at Spear Pillar

Cyrus’s Spear Pillar team consists of Honchkrow at level 45, Crobat at level 46, Gyarados at level 45, and Weavile at level 48. He leads with Honchkrow. The team is fast and uses mixed coverage, so avoid building the entire battle plan around one attacker.

Electric attacks threaten Honchkrow, Crobat, and Gyarados, but Cyrus’s Gyarados holds a Wacan Berry, reducing the damage from the first super-effective Electric attack. Gyarados also knows Earthquake, so protect fragile Electric-types from a direct hit. Rock attacks are useful against the Flying Pokémon, although Crobat’s speed and Gyarados’s Waterfall and Ice Fang can punish an unsafe switch.

Weavile is weak to Fighting, Fire, Steel, Bug, and Fairy attacks. A strong Fighting move is usually the cleanest answer, but Weavile holds a Chople Berry that reduces the damage from one super-effective Fighting attack. Do not rely on a single low-power hit to finish it. Cyrus’s Pokémon can also use disruptive coverage, so heal when a Pokémon is in danger rather than trying to preserve every item.

When Cyrus is defeated, Team Galactic retreats from Spear Pillar. The Red Chain has been destroyed, and the game leaves Dialga as the remaining legendary encounter in Brilliant Diamond.

• Use Electric or Rock coverage for Honchkrow and Crobat.
• Account for Gyarados’s Wacan Berry and Earthquake.
• Keep a reliable Fighting, Fire, Steel, Bug, or Fairy answer for Weavile.
• Defeat Cyrus before approaching Dialga.

Save and encounter Dialga

After Cyrus leaves, walk toward Dialga at the northern end of Spear Pillar. In Brilliant Diamond, Dialga is a level 47 one-time story encounter. Save immediately before interacting with it. The encounter cannot be safely repeated by walking back after a failed attempt, so reload the save if Dialga is knocked out or if you want to retry the capture.

Lower Dialga’s HP carefully and use sleep or paralysis if you have a dependable status move. False Swipe is useful when available, but do not use a move that risks a critical hit or a random knockout. Ultra Balls are reliable general-use Balls, and Dusk Balls can help at night. The Master Ball is also available from the earlier Team Galactic Headquarters sequence, but using it here is optional.

Catching Dialga is recommended, but the story can continue if you defeat it. If you catch it, confirm that it entered your party or Box before leaving. After the battle, walk to the far northern edge of the ruins and collect the Adamant Orb, an optional held item that strengthens Dialga’s signature Steel- and Dragon-type attacks.

• Save immediately before interacting with Dialga.
• Use controlled damage and a reliable status condition where possible.
• Confirm whether Dialga was caught or defeated before leaving the area.
• Collect the Adamant Orb at the far end of the Spear Pillar ruins.

Finish the Spear Pillar chapter and continue toward Sunyshore

There is no Distortion World transition after the Dialga encounter in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond. The Cyrus-and-Giratina sequence belongs to Pokémon Platinum and should not be inserted into this original Switch remake walkthrough. Giratina is not required for the Spear Pillar resolution or for reaching the Pokémon League.

Once you have finished at Spear Pillar, leave Mount Coronet and travel toward Sunyshore City. The next major objective is the eighth Gym Badge from Volkner. Heal at a Pokémon Center, restore depleted moves, and reorganize your party before taking on the final Gym and the later Victory Road and Pokémon League battles.

Keep the save made before Dialga until you are satisfied with the encounter result. After confirming your preferred outcome, make a fresh save in normal Sinnoh progression. This completes the Team Galactic summit chapter for Brilliant Diamond.

• Defeat the summit Grunts, Mars, Jupiter, and Cyrus.
• Resolve the Dialga encounter.
• Collect the Adamant Orb if desired.
• Leave Spear Pillar and begin the route toward Sunyshore City.
• Do not search for a required Distortion World or Giratina event in Brilliant Diamond.

Enter Sunyshore City and activate the Gym challenge

After resolving the Team Galactic events at Lake Acuity, Veilstone Galactic Headquarters, and Spear Pillar, travel through Route 222 to Sunyshore City. The city itself is available, but Flint blocks the Gym entrance. Do not waste time trying to force your way through the Gym doors.

Go to Vista Lighthouse on the southeast side of Sunyshore City and speak with Volkner inside. After this conversation, return to the Gym entrance. Flint will no longer block it, allowing you to challenge the final Gym. Heal at the Pokémon Center before entering, and make sure your party has a reliable Ground move, a Fighting move, and a Grass- or Electric-type answer for Volkner’s unusual team.

The Sunyshore Poké Mart has the supplies needed for this stage. After the eighth Badge, its inventory includes Ultra Balls, Hyper Potions, Max Potions, Full Restores, Revives, and status cures. Full Restores are especially useful for the Elite Four, but do not expect the shop to provide Ethers, Max Ethers, or Elixirs; check your Bag for those items instead.

• Reach Sunyshore City through Route 222.
• Speak with Volkner at Vista Lighthouse.
• Return to the Gym after Flint moves aside.
• Heal and organize your party before entering.

Solve the Sunyshore Gym gear puzzle

The Gym has three connected rooms filled with colored switches, rotating gears, stairs, and bridges. Green switches rotate their connected gear counterclockwise, blue switches rotate it clockwise, and red switches rotate it 180 degrees. If a bridge points away from the route, return to the matching switch rather than trying to bypass it.

In the first room, step on the green switch on the east side, then cross to the west side and step on the other green switch. This creates the route into the next section. Battle the nearby Gym Trainer or bypass battles where possible, but battling is useful if your team is below the level range of Volkner’s party.

In the second room, press the blue switch three times. The left gear will form a staircase, allowing you to cross to the opposite side. Near the trainer, press the blue switch once and then the green switch. Follow the newly aligned platforms and stairs into the final room.

In the final room, press the red switch on the right once, then reach and press the red switch on the left once. Take the left staircase and cross the upper bridges. Press the green switch twice, then press the blue switch once. Descend by the right-side stairs, cross the lower route, and press the red switch on the right once more. Return upward using the right-side stairs and cross the final bridges to reach Volkner. If you need to reset your position, retrace the route to the switch that controls the obstructing gear; there is no battle requirement that prevents you from walking back through the rooms.

• East green switch, then west green switch.
• Blue switch three times in the second room.
• Second-room blue switch, then green switch.
• Final-room right red, left red, green twice, blue once, then lower right red.
• Heal at the Pokémon Center before speaking to Volkner.

Defeat Volkner’s mixed team

In Brilliant Diamond, Volkner uses Raichu at level 46, Ambipom at level 47, Octillery at level 47, and Luxray at level 49. Only Raichu and Luxray are Electric types, so a single Ground attacker is not a complete plan. His team is built to punish an overly narrow response.

Raichu knows Nuzzle, Volt Switch, Surf, and Charge Beam and holds a Shuca Berry. Ground attacks are still effective, but the Shuca Berry reduces the damage of the first super-effective Ground hit. Raichu can also use Surf against a Ground Pokémon, so avoid sending in a weakened or frail Ground type expecting a free knockout. If Raichu uses Volt Switch, be ready for Volkner to bring in another member of the team.

Ambipom is Normal type and carries Fake Out, Thunderbolt, Double Hit, and Last Resort while holding a Chople Berry. A strong Fighting move is the cleanest answer, but the Chople Berry reduces the first super-effective Fighting hit. A physically durable Pokémon can also handle it if your Fighting coverage is limited.

Octillery is Water type and uses Octazooka, Focus Energy, Aurora Beam, and Charge Beam. Use a Grass- or Electric-type attack, while remembering that Aurora Beam threatens Grass Pokémon. Luxray is Volkner’s level 49 ace and carries Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Crunch, and Iron Tail with a Sitrus Berry. Ground types are effective, but Ice Fang makes Gliscor and other vulnerable Ground or Flying combinations risky if they are not at full health. A sturdy Ground Pokémon with a strong Ground move remains one of the safest answers, provided you account for its coverage and Intimidate.

Use the party-wide experience system to keep several Pokémon near the same level rather than carrying one overleveled sweeper. A practical team has a Ground attacker, a Fighting answer, a Grass or Electric attacker for Octillery, and at least one Pokémon that can switch safely into Luxray’s physical moves.

• Ground move for Raichu and Luxray.
• Fighting move or durable physical attacker for Ambipom.
• Grass or Electric move for Octillery.
• Plan around Raichu’s Surf, Shuca Berry, and Luxray’s Ice Fang.
• Keep multiple trained party members instead of relying on one lead.

Claim the Beacon Badge and collect Waterfall

After defeating Volkner, receive the Beacon Badge and TM57, Charge Beam. The Badge enables the use of Waterfall outside battle and completes the eight-Badge requirement for the Pokémon League. In Brilliant Diamond, Waterfall is not HM07: the move is TM99 and is handled as a Pokétch Hidden Move rather than a move that must occupy one Pokémon’s moveset.

Leave the Gym and heal. Then go to the northern beach of Sunyshore City and speak with Jasmine. After Volkner’s defeat, she gives you TM99 Waterfall, with multiple copies provided. You do not need to teach it permanently to a party member to use it in the field. Approach a waterfall while surfing and activate Waterfall through the Pokétch Hidden Moves function, or interact with the waterfall when prompted.

Before leaving, confirm that Surf is available through the Hidden Moves system as well. Route 223 begins at the northern edge of Sunyshore City and is a long water route, so you need a way to surf across it before Waterfall is useful at the far end.

• Receive the Beacon Badge.
• Receive TM57 Charge Beam from Volkner.
• Speak with Jasmine on the north beach.
• Obtain TM99 Waterfall.
• Confirm Surf and Waterfall are available through Pokétch Hidden Moves.

Restock and cross Route 223

Buy Hyper Potions, Max Potions, Full Restores, Revives, Full Heals, and several status-specific cures before departing. Full Restores become available in the Sunyshore Poké Mart with all eight Badges. Ultra Balls are useful for optional captures, but the major story legendary encounter at Spear Pillar occurs before this chapter, so do not delay the League route solely to purchase capture supplies.

PP-restoring items are more important than a large supply of ordinary Potions once you approach the Elite Four. Ethers, Max Ethers, and Elixirs are not normal bulk purchases at the Sunyshore Poké Mart. Check your Bag and reserve them for attacks that are difficult to replace, such as your best Ground, Fighting, Ice, Water, Grass, Dark, or Ghost coverage.

From the north beach, use Surf and follow Route 223 north. The route is mostly water with small islands, rocks, swimmers, and a sailor. You can battle the trainers for experience or move around them where the terrain permits. Pick up the Big Pearl, Pearl, and TM18 Rain Dance if you want the route’s optional items. At the northern end, approach the waterfall and use Waterfall to reach the southern Pokémon League area. Heal at the Pokémon Center there before entering Victory Road.

• Buy Full Restores, Max Potions, Revives, and status cures.
• Check your supply of Ethers, Max Ethers, and Elixirs.
• Use Surf to travel north across Route 223.
• Use Waterfall at the route’s northern waterfall.
• Heal at the Pokémon League-area Pokémon Center.

Confirm readiness for Victory Road and the Elite Four

Before entering Victory Road, inspect every party member’s HP, PP, held item, and role. The upcoming route is not a short corridor: it contains wild Pokémon, trainers, field obstacles, and branching paths. Keep the moves needed for the route available, and do not replace a required field move until you are certain the next area no longer needs it.

For the League, retain broad coverage rather than building the entire party around Volkner. A Ground answer helps against Electric threats, Water or Ground coverage handles many Fire and Rock matchups, Fighting or Bug coverage helps against Dark Pokémon, and a Dark, Ghost, or strong neutral attacker is valuable against Psychic Pokémon. Ice, Dragon, Fairy, or other reliable answers are also useful for Champion Cynthia’s mixed team, but no single type covers the entire League.

Save after healing at the Pokémon Center and before entering Victory Road. The chapter is complete when the Beacon Badge is recorded as your eighth Badge, TM57 has been received, Jasmine has provided TM99 Waterfall, Route 223 can be crossed, and your party and inventory are ready for a long sequence without depending on one overleveled Pokémon.

• Eight Badges are displayed in the Trainer Card.
• TM57 Charge Beam is in the Bag.
• TM99 Waterfall is available from Jasmine and Pokétch Hidden Moves.
• Route 223 and the Pokémon League entrance are accessible.
• The party has balanced coverage and adequate HP, PP, held items, and recovery supplies.
• Save before entering Victory Road.

Prepare in Sunyshore City and reach Victory Road

After defeating Volkner and receiving the Beacon Badge, travel to the northern beach of Sunyshore City and speak with Jasmine. She gives you TM99 Waterfall. In Brilliant Diamond, Waterfall is used through the Pokétch Hidden Moves app rather than as an old-style HM. The move must still be available for field use after the appropriate Badge requirement is met.

Leave Sunyshore City through the northern exit and Surf north across Route 223. Continue past the Swimmers and trainers until you reach the waterfall at the route’s northern end. Select Waterfall in the Pokétch Hidden Moves app, climb the waterfall, and enter the building at the top. This is the southern entrance to Victory Road.

Before entering, make sure the Pokétch can access Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, Rock Climb, and Waterfall. Victory Road’s main route uses all five field moves. Defog is not required for the first trip through this cave. You can use the Hidden Moves app without permanently assigning every field move to your final battle team.

Heal at the Pokémon Center before Route 223. Buy Full Restores or other strong healing items, Revives or Max Revives, and status cures. Victory Road trainers and Barry can wear down a team before the League, and the Elite Four sequence does not automatically restore HP, PP, or status between opponents. Aim for a balanced party with reliable physical and special attacks rather than six Pokémon that all fill the same role.

• The Beacon Badge is recorded.
• TM99 Waterfall has been received from Jasmine.
• Waterfall is available through the Pokétch Hidden Moves app.
• Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, and Rock Climb are available.
• The party and bag are prepared for a long cave and five consecutive League battles.

Follow the first Victory Road floor

Enter Victory Road and cross the entrance bridge straight ahead. The first major landmark is the bridge spanning the opening chamber. Continue east rather than taking the optional northwest Rock Climb route. The northwest descent leads to TM41 Torment and is not needed to reach the League.

After moving east, go down the stairs and cross north over the bridge. Continue north across the next bridge, then climb the stairs. At the upper section, use Rock Climb on the cliff face to descend to the lower path. From the bottom of the descent, travel west, then turn north and take the stairs leading upward. This brings you to the second-floor obstacle room.

If you want the optional Full Heal in the early chamber, take the northern bridge before continuing upward. It is not required for the route. Do not spend time clearing every side path if your team is already low on PP; the goal is to reach the League with principal attacks still available.

• The entrance bridge has been crossed.
• The optional TM41 detour has been skipped or collected.
• The first Rock Climb descent is complete.
• The stairs to the second-floor obstacle room are visible.

Solve the central Strength and Rock Smash room

On the second floor, move south from the entrance and use Rock Smash on the cracked rocks blocking the lower passage. Continue east until you reach the room with several Strength boulders and a narrow route through the center. The arrangement can be reset by leaving and re-entering the room if a boulder is pushed into an unusable position.

At the first three-boulder group, begin with the boulder on the right. Push it to the right so it no longer blocks the central lane. Next push the adjacent boulder to the left. Then push the center boulder south. This opens the approach to the next section without trapping the boulders against one another.

Follow the opened path to the left boulder farther ahead. Push that boulder forward toward the cracked rock beneath it. Use Rock Smash on the rock below the boulder, then push the same boulder back in the opposite direction so you can pass around it. The purpose of this sequence is to clear the rock while returning the boulder to a position that leaves the corridor open.

Continue through the cleared passage and break the next cracked rock blocking the eastern route. At the following boulder arrangement, push the top-middle boulder east. This clears the path north. Follow the newly opened northern lane and take the entrance on the right.

If the boulders no longer match these landmarks, do not keep forcing them. Walk out of the room and re-enter to reset their positions, then repeat the order: right boulder aside, next boulder left, center boulder south, left boulder forward, smash the rock beneath it, push that boulder back, smash the eastern rock, and push the top-middle boulder east.

• The southern cracked rocks have been removed.
• The right boulder in the first group has been moved aside.
• The next boulder has been pushed left and the center boulder south.
• The left boulder has been moved, its lower rock smashed, and the boulder returned.
• The final top-middle boulder has been pushed east.
• The right-hand exit from the obstacle room is open.

Cross the upper bridge and descend into the western and lower rooms

After taking the right-hand entrance from the boulder room, cross the bridge in the next chamber. At the far side, use Rock Climb to descend the wall. Once at the lower level, travel northeast and leave through the exit on the right. This is the transition from the central obstacle section into the lower western rooms.

In the next area, go down the stairs and follow the path to the water. Surf across to the trainer on the opposite side if you want the experience, then continue Surfing through the water toward the far end of the chamber. The route bends around the lower portion of Victory Road; stay on the water rather than returning to the earlier stairs.

Continue until you reach the large waterfall at the end of the water section. Face the waterfall and use Waterfall to climb to the upper ledge. This is the required Waterfall section, not the optional waterfall detour associated with an item.

• The upper bridge has been crossed.
• The Rock Climb descent after the boulder room is complete.
• The right-hand exit into the lower western rooms has been used.
• The Surf section has been crossed.
• The required waterfall has been reached.

Complete the final Victory Road route

After climbing the waterfall, Surf west across the upper pool. Continue Surfing again to reach the opposite side, then enter the cave opening on the left. In this chamber, go west and then south past the trainer. Follow the corridor east until you reach the final climbable wall.

Use Rock Climb to go up the wall, then cross the bridge at the top. Continue along the path to the exit at the northern end. This final Rock Climb ascent and bridge are the last major landmarks before the League approach. Leave the cave and enter the Pokémon League building.

Victory Road contains optional item branches, including TM71 Stone Edge. Take them only if your party has enough HP and PP to continue. If the team’s main attacks are nearly empty, prioritize the northern exit and restore everything at the League Pokémon Center rather than exploring every detour.

Inside the League building, the attendant checks that all eight Gym Badges have been earned. Heal and organize the party at the Pokémon Center before walking toward the Elite Four entrance. Barry will challenge you near the entrance, so do not assume the Elite Four begins immediately.

• The upper Surf route has been completed.
• The second Surf crossing and left-hand cave entrance are complete.
• The final Rock Climb ascent and bridge have been crossed.
• The northern Victory Road exit has been reached.
• The Pokémon League attendant has verified all eight Badges.

Defeat Barry at the Pokémon League entrance

Barry challenges you before you can enter the Elite Four. His team is six Pokémon, with the final starter-dependent members changing according to your choice. If you chose Piplup, Barry uses Staraptor, Floatzel, Heracross, Roserade, Snorlax, and Infernape. If you chose Turtwig, he uses Staraptor, Roserade, Heracross, Rapidash, Snorlax, and Empoleon. If you chose Chimchar, he uses Staraptor, Floatzel, Heracross, Rapidash, Snorlax, and Torterra. His levels range from 49 to 55.

Staraptor is level 49 and holds a Focus Sash, so a full-health super-effective hit may leave it at 1 HP. Be ready to finish it immediately. Floatzel carries Ice Fang and Crunch, making it dangerous for fragile Grass or Flying counters. Heracross can use Swords Dance and Rock Slide; Flying, Fire, or Psychic attacks are useful, but do not give it a free setup turn.

Rapidash has Steel, Bug, Poison, and Fire coverage. Snorlax carries Yawn, Crunch, and High Horsepower, so a Fighting attack is effective but may not be worth risking if Yawn would disable your main attacker. Against Barry’s starter, use the appropriate matchup: Grass or Electric attacks pressure Empoleon, Fire, Flying, Ice, or Psychic attacks help against Roserade and Infernape, and Grass or Electric attacks can pressure Torterra if the user can withstand Ground and Grass coverage.

After winning, return to the League Pokémon Center. Heal the entire party, restore PP, cure status, and buy anything needed from the shop before approaching the badge doors.

• Barry’s six Pokémon have been defeated.
• Staraptor’s Focus Sash has been accounted for.
• The party has been fully healed after the rival battle.
• The team has both physical and special damage options.

Defeat Aaron, the Bug specialist

Aaron uses Dustox at level 53, Beautifly at level 53, Vespiquen at level 54, Heracross at level 54, and Drapion at level 57. Fire, Flying, and Rock attacks handle most of the team. Dustox can use Light Screen or Moonlight, Beautifly can use Quiver Dance, and Vespiquen can use Defend Order, so attack decisively rather than allowing repeated setup turns.

Drapion is Poison and Dark, so Psychic attacks do not work and Bug or Fighting attacks are not super effective. Ground attacks are the dependable weakness. Drapion carries Cross Poison, Night Slash, Earthquake, and X-Scissor, so use a sturdy Ground attacker or weaken it before sending out a frail counter.

Aaron’s Heracross holds a Flame Orb and has Guts. After the Flame Orb activates, its physical attacks become more dangerous. Do not assume that burn has neutralized it, and avoid adding another status condition unless it serves a clear purpose. Keep a Fire, Flying, or Ground answer available for the end of the battle.

• A dependable Ground attack is available for Drapion.
• Heracross’s Guts and Flame Orb are accounted for.
• A Fire, Flying, or Rock attacker remains for Aaron’s other Pokémon.
• Aaron has been defeated before entering Bertha’s room.

Defeat Bertha, the Ground specialist

Bertha uses Quagsire level 55, Sudowoodo level 56, Golem level 56, Whiscash level 55, and Hippowdon level 59. Grass attacks are the strongest shared answer to Quagsire and Whiscash. Quagsire has Water Absorb, so Water attacks fail against it and restore its HP instead.

Quagsire can use Recover and Toxic, while Whiscash carries Ice Beam and Hydro Pump. Use a strong Grass move rather than a weak attack that gives either Pokémon time to recover. Sudowoodo and Golem are vulnerable to Water, Grass, Fighting, and Ground attacks. Golem’s Sturdy ability can leave it at 1 HP after a full-health hit, so finish it immediately rather than assuming the first strike was enough.

Hippowdon activates sand with Sand Stream and carries Ice Fang, Earthquake, Crunch, and Rest. Keep a healthy Grass or Water answer for it, but remember that Ice Fang can punish Grass Pokémon. A Flying-type or another Ground-immune Pokémon avoids Earthquake, although Crunch and Ice Fang still need to be respected.

• A strong Grass move is available for Quagsire and Whiscash.
• The team can finish Golem after Sturdy activates.
• A healthy answer remains for Hippowdon’s sand, Ice Fang, and Rest.
• Bertha has been defeated before entering Flint’s room.

Defeat Flint, the Fire specialist

Flint uses Rapidash level 58, Steelix level 57, Drifblim level 58, Lopunny level 57, and Infernape level 61. His team is mixed even though his battle specialty is Fire. Water and Ground attacks are useful against Rapidash and Steelix, but Steelix carries Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Iron Tail, and Crunch, so do not send out a fragile counter solely because Steelix is part Steel.

Drifblim carries Strength Sap, Minimize, Baton Pass, and Will-O-Wisp. Attack it promptly before Minimize creates an accuracy problem or Baton Pass transfers evasion boosts. Strength Sap also reduces the Attack of a physical attacker, so a special attacker or strong neutral hit is preferable.

Lopunny carries Mirror Coat, High Jump Kick, Quick Attack, and Fire Punch. Avoid using a weak special attack if Lopunny is likely to survive and reflect the damage with Mirror Coat. Infernape is Flint’s level 61 ace and carries Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Close Combat, and Mach Punch. A sturdy Water or Ground Pokémon is effective, but Thunder Punch punishes some Water types and Close Combat defeats frail Rock types. Preserve one reliable answer for Infernape.

• A sturdy Water or Ground attacker remains for Infernape.
• Steelix’s Thunder Fang and Fire Fang are accounted for.
• Drifblim is stopped before Minimize and Baton Pass become decisive.
• Flint has been defeated before entering Lucian’s room.

Defeat Lucian and restore everything before Cynthia

Lucian uses Mr. Mime level 59, Girafarig level 59, Medicham level 60, Alakazam level 60, and Bronzong level 63. Dark, Bug, and Ghost attacks are useful, but the team carries coverage that punishes careless switching. Mr. Mime can establish Light Screen and Reflect. Girafarig can use Trick Room and Thunderbolt. Medicham’s Pure Power makes High Jump Kick, Thunder Punch, and Ice Punch dangerous.

Alakazam can use Nasty Plot, Psychic, Future Sight, and Shock Wave. Defeat it promptly or use a specially sturdy Pokémon. Bronzong has Levitate, so Ground attacks fail against it. Use Fire, Dark, or Ghost attacks instead. Bronzong carries Gyro Ball, Earthquake, Payback, and Trick Room; if Trick Room is active, avoid relying only on fast attackers.

After Lucian falls, manually restore HP, PP, and status. Replace consumed held items if you have spares, and save before speaking with Cynthia if you want a fixed retry point. The game does not restore your party between Lucian and Cynthia, so this is the last chance to prepare before the Champion battle.

• A Fire, Dark, or Ghost answer is ready for Bronzong.
• A fast attacker and a sturdy switch-in remain usable.
• HP, PP, and status are fully restored before Cynthia.
• The party is prepared for both physical and special damage.

Defeat Champion Cynthia

Cynthia’s first Brilliant Diamond team is Spiritomb level 61, Roserade level 60, Gastrodon level 60, Lucario level 63, Milotic level 63, and Garchomp level 66. Her party combines physical and special attacks, recovery, setup, held items, and abilities that punish one-dimensional teams.

Spiritomb is weak to Fairy attacks in Brilliant Diamond. It carries Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Psychic, and Sucker Punch. A Fairy Pokémon is useful, but it must still withstand Spiritomb’s attacks. If Spiritomb repeatedly uses Sucker Punch, a status move or other non-damaging action can deny it the expected priority attack.

Roserade is weak to Fire, Ice, Flying, and Psychic attacks. Gastrodon is best handled with Grass because Storm Drain blocks Water attacks and raises its Special Attack. Gastrodon carries Scald, Earthquake, Sludge Bomb, and Rock Tomb, so do not use a fragile Grass Pokémon without considering its coverage.

Lucario carries Aura Sphere, Dragon Pulse, Flash Cannon, and Nasty Plot. Ground, Fighting, and Fire attacks are effective, but choose a counter that can survive its special moves. Milotic holds a Flame Orb, which activates Marvel Scale and raises its physical Defense. Prefer strong special Electric or Grass attacks where possible, and expect Recover, Mirror Coat, Ice Beam, and Scald.

Garchomp is Cynthia’s final Pokémon and carries Dragon Claw, Earthquake, Swords Dance, and Poison Jab. Its Yache Berry reduces the damage from the first super-effective Ice attack, and Rough Skin damages attackers that make contact. Intimidate, Reflect, paralysis, a sturdy defensive switch, or a controlled sacrifice can prevent a free Swords Dance. A powerful Ice move is the cleanest answer, but a weak Ice attack may fail because of the Yache Berry. Use Full Restores and Revives whenever necessary; keeping functional Pokémon alive is more important than conserving items.

• Spiritomb is handled with Fairy attacks or dependable neutral damage.
• Gastrodon is attacked with Grass rather than Water.
• Milotic’s Flame Orb, Marvel Scale, Recover, and Mirror Coat are accounted for.
• Lucario is not allowed a free Nasty Plot turn.
• A powerful Ice answer and backup plan are ready for Garchomp.
• Cynthia’s Garchomp has been defeated.

1. Confirm the Hall of Fame entry

Defeat Champion Cynthia and allow the Hall of Fame sequence and credits to finish. The game records the Pokémon in your party during the championship, so the Hall of Fame entry confirms that the Pokémon League storyline is complete. After the game returns you to your bedroom in Twinleaf Town, go downstairs and save before beginning the postgame route.

Check the Pokédex before traveling. Professor Rowan needs the Sinnoh Pokédex completed as seen, meaning the first 150 Sinnoh entries must be registered. You do not need to catch all of them. Manaphy is outside this requirement and does not need to be registered for the National Pokédex upgrade.

• Cynthia defeated.
• Hall of Fame sequence and credits completed.
• Game returned you to Twinleaf Town.
• Sinnoh Pokédex checked for missing seen entries.

2. Reach the Battle Zone before or after completing the National Pokédex

Travel to Snowpoint City and go to the dock south of town. Speak with the sailor to sail to the Battle Zone. This ferry becomes available after entering the Hall of Fame and does not require the National Pokédex.

Your first arrival is in the Fight Area. Your rival and Buck introduce the Battle Tower, but the deeper Battle Zone routes and Stark Mountain progression require the National Pokédex. Treat this visit as optional orientation if you still have missing Sinnoh entries. You can return to Snowpoint and resume the Pokédex cleanup whenever you want.

• Snowpoint City revisited after the championship.
• Sailor at the southern dock identified.
• Fight Area and Battle Tower entrance located.
• National Pokédex requirement for deeper Battle Zone areas noted.

3. Fill missing Sinnoh entries

Open the Pokédex and identify every missing number from 001 through 150. Start with trainer battles, because many entries can be registered by battling trainers on routes, in Gyms, in caves, and in Victory Road. If the missing Pokémon is an evolution, check whether a trainer uses that evolved form before spending time leveling a new capture.

In Brilliant Diamond, the opposite-version mascot can be registered without trading. After the League, visit Celestic Town and speak with Cynthia’s grandmother in the large building at the north side of town. She shows the Palkia entry, which fills the opposite legendary slot for Brilliant Diamond. Dialga should already be registered from the Spear Pillar story battle.

If Riolu is missing, return to Canalave City and speak with the sailor near the harbor to revisit Iron Island. Complete Riley’s section and receive his Egg, then walk until it hatches. The hatched Riolu registers its entry. This is optional if Riolu is already marked as seen.

If a regular entry remains missing, use the Pokédex habitat information and revisit the appropriate route, cave, fishing spot, or Grand Underground Hideaway. The requirement is the entry status, not the number of Pokémon in your boxes. After filling the final gap, save and travel to Sandgem Town.

• Entries 001 through 150 are marked as seen.
• Palkia is registered as seen in Brilliant Diamond.
• Riolu is registered if it was missed earlier.
• No remaining Sinnoh entry is missing from the Pokédex.

4. Receive the National Pokédex and Poké Radar

Enter Professor Rowan’s laboratory in Sandgem Town and speak with him after the first 150 Sinnoh entries are registered. Professor Oak appears and upgrades your Pokédex to the National Pokédex. Rowan also gives you the Poké Radar, which is used in tall grass to find selected Pokémon not native to the original Sinnoh Pokédex and to begin radar chains.

If the scene does not trigger, check the requirements in order: you must have entered the Hall of Fame, the entries numbered 001 through 150 must be marked as seen, and you must speak with Rowan inside his laboratory. Catching every Pokémon is unnecessary. If a number is missing, return to its habitat or locate a trainer who uses that species, then come back to Sandgem Town.

When you leave the laboratory after the upgrade, Roark approaches and announces the stronger Gym Leader and Elite Four rematches. These battles are optional and should not be confused with the requirement for the first Hall of Fame victory.

• Professor Oak’s upgrade scene completed.
• Pokédex now displays the National Pokédex.
• Poké Radar received.
• Roark’s post-upgrade rematch scene triggered or made available.

5. Check National-Dex changes in the Grand Underground

Use the Explorer Kit to enter the Grand Underground after receiving the National Pokédex. Additional Pokémon are added to the Hideaway encounter pool. Leave and re-enter a Hideaway to refresh the Pokémon visible there; species do not continuously respawn while you remain in the same room.

This is also the correct time to begin gathering Mysterious Shards for Ramanas Park. Shards are excavation rewards, so use the radar points on the Grand Underground map and complete digging walls with the hammer and pickaxe. Keep small and large Mysterious Shards rather than exchanging them or selling them, because Ramanas Park uses them to purchase Slates.

You can continue exploring even if you do not yet have enough shards for a particular legendary. The National Pokédex expands the encounter pool, but it does not automatically complete the Sinnoh or National Pokédex for you.

• Grand Underground visited after the National Pokédex upgrade.
• Expanded Hideaway species confirmed.
• Mysterious Shards collected or a digging route established.
• Explorer Kit retained in the Key Items pocket.

6. Visit Ramanas Park when its prerequisites are complete

Ramanas Park is located at the southern end of Route 221. It becomes usable after both of these conditions are met: you have entered the Hall of Fame and you have obtained the National Pokédex. Enter the park and inspect the reception area and the themed rooms.

To begin a legendary encounter, purchase the appropriate Slate at the park using Mysterious Shards, carry it to the matching room, and place it on the room’s pedestal. Each Slate initiates one legendary battle. The park is optional for the National Pokédex upgrade, but access to it is one of the main confirmations that your immediate postgame progression is complete.

Brilliant Diamond has version-specific Ramanas Park encounters, including the Johto trio and Ho-Oh. The remaining version-exclusive encounters require trading or another version. Do not spend every shard without deciding which legendary room you want to open first.

• Route 221 reached.
• Ramanas Park entered after the Hall of Fame and National Pokédex requirements are met.
• Shard-to-Slate exchange counter located.
• At least one Slate room identified, whether or not you are ready to battle.

7. Handle optional first errands and the Giratina correction

Return to the Oreburgh Mining Museum if you have Fossils from the Grand Underground. Speak with the scientist near the front counter and hand over one Fossil at a time. He revives it into the corresponding Pokémon. Fossil revival becomes available after obtaining the Explorer Kit, so it is not dependent on the National Pokédex; process stored Fossils whenever convenient.

The Pokétch Marking Map is not a new National-Dex reward. It was obtained earlier in the adventure, but it becomes useful in the postgame for tracking roaming Pokémon. After the relevant events, the app can show the current location of roaming Pokémon such as Mesprit and Cresselia. Move between routes and towns to make a roaming Pokémon change areas, then enter grass when its marker reaches your route.

Do not search for a Distortion World sequence in Brilliant Diamond. That dungeon belongs to Pokémon Platinum’s story structure and is not part of Brilliant Diamond’s main climax. After entering the Hall of Fame, Giratina can instead be encountered in Turnback Cave, reached through Spring Path and Sendoff Spring. Inside the cave, locate three pillar rooms; after the third pillar, the next room leads to Giratina. If you defeat or flee from Giratina, it can return after another Hall of Fame entry, allowing a later attempt.

• Stored Fossils processed at the Oreburgh Mining Museum if desired.
• Marking Map checked when tracking a roaming Pokémon.
• Giratina route correctly identified as Turnback Cave, not the Distortion World.
• Turnback Cave postponed or attempted only after entering the Hall of Fame.

Finish the main story before starting the Giratina route

Do not search for Giratina during the Spear Pillar climax. In Brilliant Diamond, the Team Galactic story ends with Cyrus at Spear Pillar and the Dialga event. There is no Cynthia-led Distortion World sequence, no gravity puzzle route, and no required story battle against Giratina. Those events belong to Pokémon Platinum, not the original Nintendo Switch release of Brilliant Diamond.

After the Spear Pillar crisis, continue to Sunyshore City, earn the eighth Gym Badge, cross Victory Road, defeat the Elite Four, and defeat Champion Cynthia. Giratina is not required for any of those objectives and is not needed to enter the Hall of Fame.

• Complete the Spear Pillar Team Galactic climax.
• Resolve the Dialga event.
• Defeat the Elite Four and Champion Cynthia.
• Enter the Hall of Fame before beginning this optional route.
• Do not look for a playable Distortion World in Brilliant Diamond.

Obtain the National Pokédex and unlock the route

After becoming Champion, complete the Sinnoh Pokédex viewing requirement. You do not need to catch every Sinnoh Pokémon; you need to have seen the entries. Trainer battles provide many of the required entries, so review the Pokédex before assuming that extensive trading is necessary. If a version-specific entry is missing, arrange an appropriate battle or trade so the entry is recorded.

Return to Professor Rowan in Sandgem Town after the Sinnoh Pokédex is complete. Professor Oak will upgrade the Pokédex to the National Pokédex. This upgrade is the postgame trigger that opens Spring Path on Route 214 and makes Sendoff Spring accessible. Turnback Cave itself is a Hall-of-Fame postgame location, so both milestones should be complete before following this chapter.

• Enter the Hall of Fame.
• See all required Sinnoh Pokédex entries.
• Visit Professor Rowan in Sandgem Town.
• Receive the National Pokédex upgrade.
• Confirm that Spring Path is open on Route 214.

Travel from Route 214 to Sendoff Spring

Go to Route 214, south of Veilstone City and north of Valor Lakefront. On the eastern side of the route, near the lower section and before Valor Lakefront, enter the newly opened gap leading to Spring Path. Follow this short passage east; it leads into Sendoff Spring.

In Sendoff Spring, walk through the grass toward the rear of the circular lake area. Use Rock Climb on the climbable wall near the upper side of the area, walk around the hollow, and use Rock Climb again on the opposite side to descend toward the cave entrance. Enter Turnback Cave from there. Rock Climb is required for this approach. Defog is useful because the cave is foggy, but it is not the central navigation mechanic.

• Reach the lower part of Route 214.
• Enter Spring Path from the eastern side of the route.
• Follow Spring Path into Sendoff Spring.
• Use Rock Climb at both required walls.
• Enter Turnback Cave from the rear of Sendoff Spring.

Understand the Turnback Cave room system

The cave begins with an entrance room and an inscription describing the goal: pass three pillars before the room limit is exceeded. The rooms beyond the entrance are randomized each time you enter. Most rooms are filler rooms with unusual rock patterns; pillar rooms contain a single prominent pillar in the center.

Your objective is to find the first, second, and third pillar rooms before you have passed through 30 rooms. Examine each pillar when you find it. Its inscription displays two numbers: the first identifies which pillar you have reached, and the second records how many rooms you have traversed since leaving the entrance. Use that second number to monitor the limit.

In ordinary rooms, entering the doorway you came through returns you to the entrance. The other exits lead to randomly selected rooms, and one of them has a chance to produce the next pillar room. Do not try to memorize a fixed route from another visit or from a Pokémon Platinum guide. If you reach the third pillar within the limit, take any exit from that third pillar room to enter Giratina’s chamber. If 30 rooms are passed before the required progression is complete, the next door returns you to the entrance and you must try again.

• Read the entrance inscription.
• Find and examine the first pillar.
• Find and examine the second pillar.
• Find and examine the third pillar before the 30-room limit is exceeded.
• Leave the third pillar room through an exit to reach Giratina’s chamber.

Save and capture level 70 Giratina

Giratina is standing in the chamber after the third pillar room. Save before interacting with it. The encounter is a level 70 Altered Forme Giratina with the Ghost and Dragon types and the Pressure ability. Its listed moves are Shadow Force, Pain Split, Aura Sphere, and Dragon Claw.

Prepare a Pokémon that can inflict sleep or paralysis if possible. False Swipe is useful but not mandatory. Weaken Giratina gradually instead of opening with a powerful super-effective attack, especially if your team is substantially above level 70. Ghost-, Dragon-, Ice-, and Dark-type attacks can deal super-effective damage, but use them carefully so you do not knock it out.

Bring healing items and a substantial supply of Poké Balls. Ultra Balls are a reliable general choice. Dusk Balls are useful in the cave, and Timer Balls become more effective as a battle continues. Giratina’s Pressure ability makes prolonged battles consume additional PP, so restore PP before entering if your status or weakening moves have limited uses.

• Save immediately before the battle.
• Bring status support if available.
• Carry healing items and multiple capture balls.
• Lower Giratina’s HP carefully.
• Confirm the capture in the party or a PC Box before leaving.

Recover from a failed capture attempt

If Giratina knocks out the party or you accidentally defeat it, reload the save made before the battle whenever possible. This preserves the fastest route to another capture attempt and avoids repeating the randomized cave navigation.

If you fled from or defeated Giratina and kept the later save, the encounter is not permanently lost. In Brilliant Diamond, Giratina respawns in Turnback Cave after you enter the Hall of Fame again. You will then need to return through Spring Path and repeat the pillar-room navigation. A pre-battle save is still preferable because it avoids another League completion and another cave attempt.

If you leave Turnback Cave before reaching the encounter, return through Sendoff Spring and start the maze again. The cave is not a fixed Distortion World puzzle, and its intermediate room sequence should not be treated as permanently solved.

• Reload the pre-battle save whenever possible after a failed attempt.
• If Giratina was defeated or fled from, enter the Hall of Fame again to restore the encounter.
• Return through Route 214, Spring Path, and Sendoff Spring.
• Repeat the three-pillar navigation if you left before the battle.
• Verify that a captured Giratina is visible in the party or a PC Box.

Optional Ramanas Park Distortion Room

The Ramanas Park Distortion Room is separate from Turnback Cave and is not required for the Hall of Fame, the National Pokédex, or the capture of Altered Forme Giratina. After the required Ramanas Park progress, including capturing Giratina and the three Regis, you can obtain the Distortion Slate and use it at Ramanas Park.

The Distortion Room recreates a Distortion World-style setting and contains a level 100 Origin Forme Giratina battle. This Giratina cannot be captured. Defeating it awards the Griseous Orb, which can be used with your captured Giratina to enable its Origin Forme. Do not mistake this optional battle for the missing Platinum story chapter; Brilliant Diamond still has no playable Distortion World campaign.

• Capture Altered Forme Giratina in Turnback Cave if pursuing this optional feature.
• Complete the relevant Ramanas Park legendary prerequisites.
• Obtain and use the Distortion Slate.
• Defeat the uncatchable level 100 Origin Forme Giratina.
• Collect the Griseous Orb after the battle.

1. Receive the Explorer Kit and enter the Grand Underground

After reaching Eterna City, visit the Underground Man’s house beside the Pokémon Center. Speak with him to receive the Explorer Kit. Use it from the Key Items pocket while standing outdoors. It cannot be activated inside a building, cave, or another underground area.

The Underground Man gives introductory tasks that teach you how to enter the Grand Underground, dig at wall sites, and use a Digger Drill to create a Secret Base. These tasks explain the system and provide useful early resources, but they are not required for earning Gym Badges or completing the Sinnoh League.

When you enter, use the Grand Underground map to identify tunnels, sparkling excavation sites, Pokémon Hideaways, and nearby players or NPCs. Return to the surface with the Explorer Kit command whenever you need to heal, reorganize your party, change your plans, or resume the main storyline.

• Explorer Kit obtained from the Underground Man in Eterna City
• Grand Underground entered from an outdoor location
• Digger Drill obtained if you want to create a Secret Base

2. Dig at sparkling wall locations

Look for a yellow sparkle on the Grand Underground map. Move toward it and press R when nearby to reveal the exact position on the screen. Examine the marked wall to begin an excavation. The excavation display shows outlines of buried objects beneath several layers of rock. Possible finds include fossils, colored Spheres, Mysterious Shards, evolution stones, Plates, Heart Scales, stone boxes, statues and other treasures.

The two excavation tools are the sledgehammer and pickax. Press R to switch between them. The sledgehammer removes a wider section of rock but weakens the wall more quickly. The pickax removes a smaller section and is better for opening the area around an item without spending as much of the wall’s remaining stability.

Use the sledgehammer to expose a broad area when an item is deeply buried, then switch to the pickax for controlled digging near an outline. An item is collected only after it is completely uncovered. Watch the crack across the top of the screen. When the wall collapses, only fully uncovered objects are kept; partially exposed objects are lost.

Excavation locations refresh when you reenter the Grand Underground or leave a Pokémon Hideaway. For efficient farming, prioritize the item categories you currently need rather than trying to clear every object in every wall. If you are hunting fossils or shards, move between zones and check each new sparkle instead of spending time on low-value treasures.

• Use R to switch between the pickax and sledgehammer
• Fully uncover valuable objects before the wall collapses
• Reenter the Grand Underground or leave a Hideaway to refresh available excavation points

3. Obtain and revive fossils

Fossils are excavation treasures. In Brilliant Diamond, the Skull Fossil is the version-specific fossil and revives into Cranidos. In Shining Pearl, the corresponding version-specific fossil is the Armor Fossil, which revives into Shieldon. Other fossil species can also be found through the Grand Underground’s expanded fossil pool, but version availability still matters.

Take a fossil to the Oreburgh Mining Museum and speak with the scientist at the counter. Give him the fossil, leave the museum, and return to speak with him again. The revived Pokémon is then transferred to your party if there is room or to a Box if your party is full. Submit additional fossils one at a time through the same process.

A revived fossil Pokémon is received at Level 1. Because Brilliant Diamond distributes Exp. Points automatically among eligible party members, you can train it while exploring or battling, but protect it from stronger opponents until it gains several levels. If you are reviving several fossils for Pokédex completion, use the PC to manage party space before submitting each one.

For National Pokédex work, keep track of which fossil lines you have obtained. The Grand Underground expands the fossil pool, but it does not eliminate all version-exclusive restrictions. Some entries still require a trade with a player using Shining Pearl or another compatible game.

• Fossil obtained from a Grand Underground excavation
• Fossil submitted at the Oreburgh Mining Museum
• Museum scientist spoken to again after leaving the building
• Revived Pokémon added to the party or sent to a Box

4. Search Pokémon Hideaways

Pokémon Hideaways are cavern areas inside the Grand Underground where Pokémon appear visibly on the field. Hideaway terrain includes areas such as Spacious Cave, Grassland Cave, Rocky Cave, Still-Water Cavern, Riverbank Cave, Volcanic Cave, Bogsunk Cavern, Typhlo Cavern and Glacial Cavern. The available species depend on the terrain, your story progress, your Pokédex progress, and the version you are playing.

Use the Grand Underground map to locate a Hideaway, then check its terrain name before entering. Spacious Caves offer broad species variety, while volcanic, icy, grassy, watery and rocky environments favor different groups. A terrain does not guarantee one particular Pokémon, so inspect the visible encounters before committing to a battle.

Story progress expands the Hideaway encounter pool. Many species, including numerous non-Sinnoh Pokémon and starter Pokémon, require the National Pokédex. If a desired species is absent, leave the Hideaway and reenter after the visible encounters refresh, or travel to another Hideaway of the same terrain.

Secret Base statues influence the type of Pokémon appearing in Hideaways. Obtain statues from excavations, use the Digger Drill to create a Secret Base, and place statues that match the type you want to encourage. The effect improves the appearance rate for that type; it does not guarantee a particular species or replace the need for the correct Hideaway terrain.

• Identify the Hideaway terrain associated with the species you want
• Use matching-type statues when targeting a type
• Check story and National Pokédex requirements for expanded encounters
• Leave and reenter a Hideaway when its current encounters are not useful

5. Manage Spheres and other excavation rewards

Colored Spheres are common excavation rewards. Underground vendors exchange them for items such as pedestals, Secret Base decorations, statues, TMs and other supplies. Keep a reserve if you plan to improve a Secret Base or change the statue display, because spending every Sphere immediately can delay those upgrades.

Excavations can also provide evolution stones, Heart Scales and Plates. Evolution stones are needed for several stone-based evolutions. Heart Scales are useful at the Move Reminder in Pastoria City when you need to recover a forgotten move. Keep unusual excavation items until you have checked whether they support an evolution, move-recovery plan, or Secret Base project.

Mysterious Shards are different from ordinary colored shards. They do not appear as a Ramanas Park resource during the early or middle portion of the game. After you obtain the National Pokédex, Mysterious Shards begin appearing through Grand Underground excavation. This means you must first enter the Hall of Fame, complete the Sinnoh Pokédex viewing requirement, and obtain the National Pokédex before farming them for slates.

Once Mysterious Shards are available, one slate costs either three Mysterious Shards S or one Mysterious Shard L. Save shards rather than exchanging them for unrelated underground purchases if Ramanas Park is your immediate goal.

• Reserve Spheres for planned statues, pedestals or Secret Base purchases
• Keep evolution stones and Heart Scales for future team needs
• Complete the Sinnoh Pokédex viewing requirement and obtain the National Pokédex
• Only then begin farming Mysterious Shards for Ramanas Park slates

6. Unlock Ramanas Park and exchange Mysterious Shards for slates

Ramanas Park is on Route 221, reached by traveling south from Sandgem Town through Routes 219 and 220. Access requires both completion of the main story, recorded by entering the Hall of Fame, and the National Pokédex. The National Pokédex is obtained after you have seen all Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex and then speak with Professor Rowan and Professor Oak when the postgame evaluation becomes available.

After the National Pokédex is active, return to the Grand Underground and excavate for Mysterious Shards. Bring either three Mysterious Shards S or one Mysterious Shard L to the Ramanas Park shop. Exchange the shards for an available slate. Slate availability is staged: later rooms become available as earlier Ramanas Park legendary encounters are completed, so the first purchase does not unlock every room at once.

Carry the purchased slate to the corresponding room behind the Ramanas Park building. Examine the room’s pedestal and insert the matching slate. The game transfers you to the encounter area, where interacting with the legendary begins the battle. Prepare before inserting the slate: save beforehand, heal the party, carry status moves if available, and bring enough Ultra Balls, Dusk Balls or other suitable Poké Balls.

A slate is consumed when its encounter is initiated, whether you catch the legendary or fail to secure it. If the legendary is defeated, the battle is escaped, or the capture attempt otherwise fails, obtain another matching slate for another attempt. After the legendary Pokémon assigned to a room have been captured, that room’s slate remains installed and cannot be used to obtain another copy.

Brilliant Diamond has the Johto Room for Raikou, Entei and Suicune and the Rainbow Room for Ho-Oh. Other rooms contain legendary Pokémon shared by both versions or version-specific to Shining Pearl. Ramanas Park is separate from Turnback Cave and does not replace the Giratina encounter there.

• Hall of Fame entry completed
• Sinnoh Pokédex viewing requirement completed
• National Pokédex obtained from the postgame evaluation
• Mysterious Shards excavated after the National Pokédex unlock
• Three Mysterious Shards S or one Mysterious Shard L exchanged for an available slate
• Matching slate inserted at the correct Ramanas Park pedestal
• Legendary captured before treating the corresponding encounter as complete

1. Unlock the National Pokédex and reach Ramanas Park

Defeat the Elite Four and Champion Cynthia, then enter the Hall of Fame. You must also see all 150 Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex. You do not need to catch every Sinnoh Pokémon for this requirement; seeing Pokémon used by trainers, encountered in the wild, or registered through other legitimate in-game encounters is sufficient. The official Trainers Guide confirms that seeing the regional entries is enough to unlock the National Pokédex and endgame content.

Return to Sandgem Town and speak with Professor Rowan after the Sinnoh Pokédex is complete. Professor Oak appears and upgrades the Pokédex to the National Pokédex. Ramanas Park is on Route 221, south of Sandgem Town. From Sandgem, travel through Route 219, use Surf to cross the required water sections on Route 220, and continue to Route 221. Enter the park once so it is recorded as a visited location, then use Fly there later when returning from the Grand Underground or other postgame areas. Ramanas Park access requires both National Pokédex completion and Hall of Fame progress.

The Ramanas Park content was added through the Nintendo Switch update that introduced the post-Hall-of-Fame features. Nintendo lists Ramanas Park among the features implemented by version 1.1.0, with later updates subsequently released. If the facility or its slate counter is missing, update Pokémon Brilliant Diamond before continuing.

• Enter the Hall of Fame.
• See all 150 Sinnoh Pokédex entries.
• Receive the National Pokédex in Sandgem Town.
• Visit Ramanas Park on Route 221.

2. Mine Mysterious Shards in the Grand Underground

After obtaining the National Pokédex, enter the Grand Underground with the Explorer Kit and excavate the glowing dig spots. Mysterious Shards can appear among the excavation rewards. The Ramanas Park counter exchanges either three Mysterious Shards S or one Mysterious Shard L for one Slate. The exchange price is the same for every Slate.

Do not spend all of your shards on the first available room if you intend to catch several legendaries. Each ordinary Slate creates one battle opportunity, and the Slate is consumed when used. If the legendary is defeated, you flee, or your party loses, you need another Slate for another attempt. Saving before the encounter lets you reload a failed attempt without permanently losing the Slate from that saved position; do not save after a failed battle if you plan to retry from the earlier state.

Prepare before buying a Slate. Bring a Pokémon that can lower the target safely, preferably with False Swipe, and bring a reliable sleep or paralysis move. Carry Ultra Balls, Quick Balls, Timer Balls, and enough healing items. Ramanas Park sells Poké Balls and recovery supplies, so restock in the lobby before entering a room if necessary.

• Collect three Mysterious Shards S or one Mysterious Shard L for each planned Slate.
• Prepare a False Swipe user or another controlled damage option.
• Bring sleep or paralysis, healing items, and several types of Poké Balls.
• Save before activating an important encounter.

3. Purchase and use a matching Slate

Enter Ramanas Park and speak with the Slate exchange counter in the main building. Purchase the Slate currently available for the room you want. Leave the lobby and enter the cave bearing the same room name. Examine the pedestal and insert the matching Slate. The game transports you to a battle area; interact with the legendary Pokémon there to begin the fight.

A Slate cannot be used in an unrelated room. For example, a Discovery Slate belongs in the Discovery Room, while a Johto Slate belongs in the Johto Room. Slates cannot be traded between players, so every Slate you use must be purchased in your own Ramanas Park with your own Mysterious Shards.

The legendary Pokémon in the standard Ramanas Park rooms are level 70. Lower HP carefully, inflict sleep or paralysis, and avoid recoil, poison, burn, or uncontrolled damage once the target is in the red. Quick Balls are useful on the first turn. Ultra Balls work throughout the battle, while Timer Balls become more effective as turns pass. After a successful capture, the game provides a statue associated with that legendary for use in a Grand Underground Secret Base.

• Buy a Slate from the Ramanas Park counter.
• Enter the cave whose name matches the Slate.
• Insert the Slate into the room's pedestal.
• Interact with the legendary in the battle area.

4. Follow Brilliant Diamond's required room order

The Discovery Room is available first. Buy Discovery Slates and use them to encounter Regirock, Regice, and Registeel. The three Regis appear in random order, so plan to catch all three rather than waiting for a specific one. Once all three have been caught, the Johto Slate and Soul Slate become available.

In Brilliant Diamond, the Johto Room contains Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. The Soul Room contains Latias and Latios and is available to both versions. These Pokémon are level 70. You can work through the Johto and Soul Rooms in either order after they unlock, but clearing the Johto Room is the progression requirement for the remaining standard Slate rooms in Brilliant Diamond.

After all three Johto beasts have been caught, the remaining standard Slate rooms become available: the Rainbow Room for Ho-Oh, the Oceanic Room for Kyogre, the Tectonic Room for Groudon, the Stratospheric Room for Rayquaza, and the Genome Room for Mewtwo. Each of these encounters is level 70.

The complete Brilliant Diamond capture route is: Discovery Room for Regirock, Regice, and Registeel; Johto Room for Raikou, Entei, and Suicune; Soul Room for Latias and Latios; then Rainbow Room for Ho-Oh, Oceanic Room for Kyogre, Tectonic Room for Groudon, Stratospheric Room for Rayquaza, and Genome Room for Mewtwo.

• Discovery Room: Regirock, Regice, and Registeel.
• Johto Room: Raikou, Entei, and Suicune.
• Soul Room: Latias and Latios.
• Rainbow Room: Ho-Oh.
• Oceanic Room: Kyogre.
• Tectonic Room: Groudon.
• Stratospheric Room: Rayquaza.
• Genome Room: Mewtwo.

5. Capture safely and retry failed encounters

Lead with a Pokémon that can survive the target's attacks. Use a controlled damage move to lower HP, then apply sleep or paralysis. False Swipe is ideal because it cannot reduce the target below 1 HP. Keep track of your active Pokémon's health and switch or heal before a critical hit can end the attempt. Do not use moves with recoil or damage-over-time effects after the target is weak.

If the legendary faints, flees, or defeats your party, the Slate used for that attempt is gone from the active save. Mine more Mysterious Shards and buy another Slate to try again. The safer method is to save immediately before inserting or interacting with the legendary, then reload that save after a failed capture. A successful capture ends that encounter normally; do not reload unless you intentionally want to discard the capture and retry.

The room's Slate remains usable for further encounters while uncaught legendary Pokémon remain in that room. Once every legendary assigned to a room has been caught, its Slate becomes permanently fixed in the pedestal, so extra Slates cannot create duplicate copies of those room encounters.

• Save before activating the encounter.
• Lower HP without using recoil or uncontrolled status damage.
• Apply sleep or paralysis before throwing most Poké Balls.
• Reload a pre-encounter save or obtain another Slate after a failed attempt.
• Reserve enough shards for retries if a particular capture is important.

6. Account for Brilliant Diamond's version exclusives

Brilliant Diamond's exclusive Ramanas Park rooms are the Johto Room and Rainbow Room. The Johto Room contains Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, and the Rainbow Room contains Ho-Oh. Shining Pearl instead has the Kanto Room with Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, plus the Squall Room with Lugia. The official Pokémon website confirms these version-exclusive legendary groups and recommends trading as the alternative way to obtain the other version's Pokémon.

Brilliant Diamond does not gain the Kanto Room or Squall Room by buying additional Slates. To obtain Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, or Lugia, trade with a Shining Pearl player or use another legitimate compatible trade route. A Shining Pearl player likewise needs a trade to obtain Raikou, Entei, Suicune, or Ho-Oh.

The Distortion Room is separate from the ordinary capture rooms. It becomes available after the required postgame conditions, including catching Giratina, and contains a level 100 Origin Forme Giratina rematch that cannot be captured. Because Giratina is handled in the main-story and postgame Giratina chapters, do not count the Distortion Room as another legendary capture opportunity.

• Catch Raikou, Entei, Suicune, and Ho-Oh for the Brilliant Diamond-exclusive Ramanas Park set.
• Trade for Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, or Lugia if you want the Shining Pearl-exclusive set.
• Treat the Distortion Room as a separate Giratina rematch, not as a normal capture room.

1. Confirm the Hall of Fame entry and obtain the National Pokédex

After defeating Cynthia, allow the Hall of Fame registration to finish and save once you return to Twinleaf Town. The eight Badges, Elite Four victory, Champion victory, and Hall of Fame record are the completed main-story milestones for Brilliant Diamond.

The Sinnoh Pokédex must contain the seen data for the regional entries before Professor Rowan and Professor Oak can upgrade it. You normally do not need to catch every species for this upgrade. Trainer battles, wild encounters, gift Pokémon, and other valid in-game encounters can supply the required entries. Manaphy is not required for the Sinnoh Pokédex upgrade.

If an entry is missing, review the Pokédex list rather than searching randomly. Dialga is recorded during the Spear Pillar story in Brilliant Diamond, while the opposite-version legendary can be registered by viewing the book in Celestic Town. Unown can be found in the Solaceon Ruins, and Riolu can be registered through the Egg received on Iron Island or by battling a trainer who uses it.

Return to Professor Rowan’s laboratory in Sandgem Town after the Sinnoh entries are complete. Professor Oak will appear and upgrade the Pokédex to National Mode. This is the required trigger for the expanded National Pokédex systems and for the postgame fossil and Grand Underground content described below.

• The Hall of Fame record is visible in the save data or Trainer Card.
• All required Sinnoh Pokédex entries have been seen.
• Professor Rowan’s Sandgem Town laboratory has been revisited.
• Professor Oak has upgraded the Pokédex to National Mode.

2. Correctly handle the Giratina and Distortion World objectives

Brilliant Diamond is based on Diamond and Pearl rather than Platinum, so the main story does not contain the Distortion World maze. After the Spear Pillar events, Dialga is the legendary encounter tied to Brilliant Diamond, Cyrus is defeated as part of the Team Galactic climax, and the story proceeds toward Victory Road and the Pokémon League. There is no required post-Spear Pillar chase into a Distortion World in this edition.

To catch Giratina, first obtain the National Pokédex and then travel to Route 214. Enter the Spring Path and continue to Sendoff Spring, then use the entrance to Turnback Cave. The cave is a randomized room sequence. Reach the three pillar rooms before the cave’s room limit sends you back to the entrance; the chamber after the third pillar contains Giratina at level 70.

Save before entering the final chamber if you intend to catch Giratina. Bring a Pokémon with a reliable status move, a way to reduce HP safely, and Ultra Balls or Timer Balls. If Giratina is defeated or the encounter is otherwise lost, the game’s legendary encounter rules allow it to be addressed again after the appropriate subsequent Hall of Fame trigger; saving before the encounter is still the safest approach.

Ramanas Park later contains the Distortion Room. This is not the story’s Distortion World. It presents an Origin Forme Giratina battle at level 100 that cannot be caught; defeating it rewards the Griseous Orb. Treat Turnback Cave as the capture objective and the Distortion Room as an optional advanced postgame battle.

• The Spear Pillar story has been completed without expecting a Distortion World sequence.
• The National Pokédex has been obtained before attempting the postgame Giratina route.
• Turnback Cave has been reached through Spring Path and Sendoff Spring.
• Giratina has been caught in Turnback Cave, if included in the completion goal.
• The Distortion Room has been treated as an optional Ramanas Park battle, not as a missing story chapter.

3. Revive fossils and expand Grand Underground collection

Take the Explorer Kit to the Grand Underground and dig at glowing excavation points. The Explorer Kit is also required before the Oreburgh Mining Museum scientist will process fossils. In Brilliant Diamond, the Skull Fossil is the version-associated Sinnoh fossil and revives into Cranidos. Shieldon and the Armor Fossil are associated with Shining Pearl, so obtaining Shieldon normally requires a trade.

Return to the Oreburgh Mining Museum with a fossil in the Bag. Speak to the scientist near the counter and hand over one fossil. Leave the museum and return after the processing period has passed, then speak to him again to collect the revived Pokémon. Repeat this process one fossil at a time. Check the new Pokémon’s summary immediately and move it to the party or a Box as needed.

After National Pokédex progression, Grand Underground digging can produce the additional fossil types from earlier generations: Helix Fossil for Omanyte, Dome Fossil for Kabuto, Old Amber for Aerodactyl, Root Fossil for Lileep, and Claw Fossil for Anorith. These are useful for National Pokédex work, but finding them is random, so do not promise a fossil after a fixed number of excavations.

Use statues in a Secret Base to influence the types appearing in Hideaways, then leave and re-enter a Hideaway to refresh its available Pokémon. This is more practical than repeatedly searching one unchanged room. Continue collecting Mysterious Shards as well, because they are exchanged for Ramanas Park Slates.

• The Explorer Kit has been obtained and used.
• Desired fossils have been dug from the Grand Underground.
• Each fossil has been handed to the Oreburgh Museum scientist and collected after processing.
• Cranidos has been revived from a Skull Fossil, or the relevant version-exclusive Pokémon has been traded for.
• Hideaway statues and room refreshing have been used when searching for National Pokédex species.

4. Unlock Ramanas Park and plan Slate purchases

Ramanas Park is on Route 221. Access requires both entry into the Hall of Fame and the National Pokédex. Once both conditions are met, travel to the park and inspect the rooms and Slate exchange counter.

Mysterious Shards come from Grand Underground excavations after National Pokédex progression. The park exchanges three small Mysterious Shards or one large Mysterious Shard for a Slate. Slates are consumed to activate legendary encounters, and each Slate corresponds to a particular room or legendary group. Do not spend every shard immediately if you want to prioritize a version-exclusive legendary.

Brilliant Diamond contains the Johto room with Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, plus Ho-Oh’s version-exclusive room. The Kanto legendary birds and Lugia belong to Shining Pearl. Other rooms provide legendary Pokémon shared by both versions, including the Regi trio, Mewtwo, Latias and Latios, Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza.

Bring status support, False Swipe if available, and a large supply of Ultra Balls, Timer Balls, and Dusk Balls. Most Ramanas Park legendary encounters are level 70. The Distortion Room’s Origin Forme Giratina is the exception: it is level 100 and cannot be captured. Capture the Turnback Cave Giratina before treating Ramanas Park’s Giratina battle as a collectible objective.

• The Hall of Fame and National Pokédex requirements are both complete.
• Ramanas Park on Route 221 can be entered.
• Mysterious Shards have been reserved for the desired Slate sequence.
• Brilliant Diamond’s version-exclusive Ramanas Park targets have been identified.
• The Distortion Room has been cleared only if the Griseous Orb is wanted.

5. Use the Battle Zone, rematches, breeding, and trades

After entering the Hall of Fame, travel from Snowpoint City by boat to the Battle Zone. The Fight Area leads into the Battle Park and the Battle Tower, with the Survival Area and later routes providing additional postgame exploration. The Battle Tower is a challenge facility rather than a training route: its battles do not provide ordinary experience, so raise new teams elsewhere before attempting long streaks.

A standard Battle Tower run is built around consecutive battles, with seven battles forming the basic streak unit. Single Battles use a three-Pokémon team and Double Battles use four. Battle Points are the important reward and can be exchanged for battle-oriented items and other prizes. Build a dedicated team with reliable accuracy, complementary defensive types, speed control or priority, and answers to status and setup strategies.

Once the National Pokédex has been obtained, Sinnoh Gym Leaders can be challenged again at their gyms on the game’s daily schedule. Their rematch parties are substantially stronger than their original teams. The Pokémon League also gains stronger rematch teams after the National Pokédex, so heal fully, restore PP, and bring a balanced party before entering.

For breeding, visit the Pokémon Nursery in Solaceon Town. Use compatible parents to produce Eggs, then hatch and evaluate the offspring before investing in held items, TMs, and training. Version-exclusive Pokémon, including Shieldon and the Shining Pearl Ramanas Park targets, require trading if they cannot be obtained in the Brilliant Diamond save. Spiritomb, additional legendary captures, and full National Pokédex collection are optional completionist goals rather than requirements for the Hall of Fame.

• The Battle Zone has been reached by boat from Snowpoint City.
• A dedicated Battle Tower team has been trained outside the tower.
• Battle Points have been earned and exchanged if desired.
• Gym Leader rematches have been attempted after obtaining the National Pokédex.
• Stronger Pokémon League rematches have been attempted if desired.
• Breeding and version-exclusive trades have been completed for the chosen collection goal.