Dialga Best Moveset
Steel/Dragon at 150 Sp. Atk behind a typing that resists 10 types with only Fighting and Ground hitting super-effectively. Held ItemAdamant Orb boosts Dragon and Steel damage by 20%. NatureTimid at 90 Speed fires devastating special dual TermStab. The moveset overwhelms from the special side behind the best defensive typing among Dragon-types. S-Tier through raw power and resistances.
Dragon/Steel in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl) resisted nearly everything in the restricted format. Bulk, power, and only two weaknesses. Stealth Rock from a Pokemon most teams couldn't pressure.
Best Moves
Best Build
Dialga best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Thunder
- Dragon Pulse
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Bulk Up sets could sweep after setup in Gen V (Black & White). Dialga's defensive typing let it switch in safely against half the restricted format. Two gens dominant.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder
- Aura Sphere
Recommended Teammates
Three gens at the top of the restricted format in Gen VI (X & Y). Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre dominated, but Dialga checked both with Dragon/Steel resistances.
Special Tank Moveset
- Flash Cannon
- Draco Meteor
- Aura Sphere
- Dragon Pulse
Checked Xerneas with Steel typing in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Fairy-types threatened every other Dragon in the restricted format, but Dialga resisted Fairy STAB and fired back.
Special Tank Moveset
- Flash Cannon
- Draco Meteor
- Roar Of Time
- Aura Sphere
Five gens in the restricted format in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Dynamax Dialga boosted its Defense with Max Steelspike while dealing massive damage.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Flash Cannon
- Draco Meteor
- Roar Of Time
- Dragon Pulse
Recommended Teammates
Six gens in the restricted format in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Dragon/Steel remained one of the best defensive typings available, and Dialga's stats never fell behind.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Draco Meteor
- Draco Meteor
- Flash Cannon
- Flash Cannon
Recommended Teammates
Dialga Weakness
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 |
What is Dialga Weak Against
FortressBest Pokemon Against Dialga
Yveltal's Dark Pulse hits Dialga for 33-40%.
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureImpish Moves View Ho-Oh builds →
| ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDarkaura ItemLife Orb NatureNaive Moves
Damage vs Dialga View Yveltal builds →Dark Pulse33-40% Sucker Punch21-25% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Dondozo builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPrankster ItemLightclay NatureCareful Moves View Grimmsnarl builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityTransistor ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Dialga View Regieleki builds →Volt Switch9-11% Rapid Spin4-5% Rapid Spin4-5% Volt Switch9-11% | ||
Evolution
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
How to Get Dialga
Dialga can't be caught in Scarlet & Violet. Bring it over from Diamond & Pearl, 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 Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
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.
How to Get Dialga in Legends: Arceus
No wild encounters for Dialga in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. It's available in Diamond & Pearl, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Dialga cannot be caught in the wild in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, but you can still get it via these paths:
Obtain and trade from these games:
Then trade to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Dialga doesn't appear in Sword & Shield. Transfer it from Diamond & Pearl, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Dialga cannot be caught in the wild in Sword & Shield, but you can still get it via these paths:
Obtain and trade from these games:
Then trade to Sword & Shield.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Base Stats
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 Guide
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.
Game Availability
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 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves