Dialga's spread isn't flashy. Sp. Atk leads, Speed trails, 6 stats clear the bar. Near-impossible to catch and worth 3 Sp. Atk EVs, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Radiant light caused Dialga to take on a form bearing a striking resemblance to the creator Pokémon. Dialga now wields such colossal strength that one must conclude this is its true form.
Dialga's Steel/Dragon typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting and Ground. It shrugs off Poison-type attacks completely. 9 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. Dialga's overall bulk (100/120/100) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Water, Electric, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass |
| 0x (Immune) | Poison |
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Dondozo builds →
| ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTransistor ItemChoice Specs NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Dialga View Regieleki builds →Volt Switch23-27% Electroweb18-21% Thunderbolt29-35% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Bounce ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Dialga View Hatterene builds →Nuzzle1-2% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPrankster ItemLightclay NatureImpish Moves View Grimmsnarl builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Dialga View Gliscor builds →Earthquake 2x52-62% Knock Off11-13% | ||
You can't breed Dialga or evolve it into anything else. This Steel/Dragon legendary packs 680 stats and doesn't need a chain to be relevant. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Timid nature gives Dialga the fast special lean it needs to trade hits effectively. Leftovers adds passive recovery each turn, max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs split the difference, and the remaining moves punishes anything trying to wall it.
Best Build
Dialga best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Flash Cannon
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Tank Moveset
- Earth Power
- Flash Cannon
- Roar Of Time
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Wall Moveset
- Flash Cannon
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Rest
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Flash Cannon
- Draco Meteor
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Legends: Arceus uses different battle mechanics.
Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Without TMs, Dialga's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 8 types on top of Roar of Time and Steel Beam for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Dialga's Steel and Dragon typing gives it plenty of same-type firepower. Roar of Time and Steel Beam lead a deep STAB lineup, so you can pick the right tool per matchup. Beyond STAB, coverage across 9 types rounds out the rest.
Without TMs, Dialga's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 9 types on top of Roar of Time and Draco Meteor for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.
Without TMs, Dialga's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 8 types on top of Roar of Time and Outrage for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.
Dialga can't be caught in Scarlet & Violet. Bring it over from Diamond, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Dialga is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also found in:
You'll find Dialga at Temple of Sinnoh as a set encounter. It's always there at that location, so come prepared for the battle. The location details below cover exact positioning.
Best Locations to Catch Dialga in Legends: Arceus
No wild encounters for Dialga in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. It's available in Diamond, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Dialga is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Special encounter in:
Then trade to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
Also found in:
Dialga doesn't appear in Sword & Shield. Transfer it from Diamond, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Dialga is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Special encounter in:
Then trade to Sword & Shield.
Also found in:
At 680 BST, Dialga is built different. We rank it S-Tier. As a Legendary Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Pressure increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one. That's the one you want on Dialga. Telepathy is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Dialga fills the wallbreaker role. It's a special attacker with base 150 Sp. Atk. Base 90 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.
Dialga has answers, but so do you. Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Physical attackers can break through.
Dialga has appeared in 13 games since Diamond & Pearl, spanning 7 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves