Sinnoh8 gymsElite FourChampionUpdated NOV 5, 2026

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Gym Leaders

Fairy moves are in play in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, and they hit Maylene’s Meditite and Machoke as well as Cynthia’s Garchomp. Gym order and all 13 level caps are unchanged from Diamond & Pearl.

Gym leaders in every game →

Story order

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl gym order, badges and level caps

CAP is each team’s top level, the Nuzlocke cap, and +N is its rise since the gym before. After the last badge comes the Elite Four at the Pokémon League: Aaron, Bertha, Flint and Lucian in a fixed order, then Champion Cynthia.

  1. GYM 1 · OREBURGH CITY

    RoarkRockCoal Badge

    CAP 14
    1. GeodudeLv 12
    2. OnixLv 12
    3. CranidosLv 14 Ace
    COUNTERS
    1. MachopHits 3 of 3
    2. BudewHits 3 of 3
    3. OnixHits 3 of 3
    CAP 14BRINGEASIEST STARTERTurtwig or PiplupREWARDTM76 Stealth RockBADGEField move Rock Smash

  2. GYM 2 · ETERNA CITY

    GardeniaGrassForest Badge

    CAP 22+8 · biggest jump
    1. CherubiLv 19
    2. TurtwigLv 19
    3. RoseradeLv 22 Ace
    COUNTERS
    1. HoundoomHits 3 of 3
    2. PonytaHits 3 of 3
    3. MurkrowHits 3 of 3Brilliant Diamond only
    CAP 22 +8 · biggest jumpBRINGEASIEST STARTERMonfernoREWARDTM86 Grass KnotBADGEField move Cut · Traded Pokémon obey up to Lv 30
    GYM TESTFind and beat the 4 Trainers hidden in the gym's tree maze, each one hinting where the next is, and only then will Gardenia battle you

  3. GYM 3 · VEILSTONE CITY

    MayleneFightingCobble Badge

    CAP 30+8 · biggest jump
    1. MedititeLv 27
    2. MachokeLv 27
    3. LucarioLv 30 Ace
    COUNTERS
    1. GligarHits 3 of 3Brilliant Diamond only
    2. MurkrowHits 2 of 3Brilliant Diamond only
    3. BeautiflyHits 2 of 3Brilliant Diamond only
    CAP 30 +8 · biggest jumpBRINGEASIEST STARTERNo clear edgeREWARDTM60 Drain PunchBADGEField move Fly
    GYM TESTSlide the movable walls in and out to line up a path to Maylene

  4. GYM 4 · PASTORIA CITY

    Crasher WakeWaterFen Badge

    CAP 30
    1. GyaradosLv 27
    2. QuagsireLv 27
    3. FloatzelLv 30 Ace
    COUNTERS
    1. CarnivineHits 2 of 3
    2. PachirisuHits 2 of 3
    3. RoseliaHits 2 of 3
    CAP 30BRINGEASIEST STARTERGrotleREWARDTM55 BrineBADGEField move Defog · Traded Pokémon obey up to Lv 50
    GYM TESTStep on the buttons that raise and lower the pool water to line up the platforms and reach Crasher Wake

  5. GYM 5 · HEARTHOME CITY

    FantinaGhostRelic Badge

    CAP 36+6
    1. DrifblimLv 32
    2. GengarLv 34
    3. MismagiusLv 36 Ace
    COUNTERS
    1. HoundoomHits 3 of 3
    2. SpiritombHits 3 of 3
    3. SkuntankHits 3 of 3Brilliant Diamond only
    CAP 36 +6BRINGEASIEST STARTERNo clear edgeREWARDTM65 Shadow ClawBADGEField move Surf
    GYM TESTEach sign asks a simple math question; go through the door showing the right answer to climb a floor, while a wrong door leads to a Trainer, until you reach Fantina

  6. GYM 6 · CANALAVE CITY

    ByronSteelMine Badge

    CAP 39+3
    1. BronzorLv 36
    2. SteelixLv 36
    3. BastiodonLv 39 Ace
    COUNTERS
    1. GolduckHits 2 of 3
    2. GastrodonHits 2 of 3
    3. QuagsireHits 2 of 3
    CAP 39 +3BRINGEASIEST STARTERTorterra or EmpoleonREWARDTM91 Flash CannonBADGEField move Strength · Traded Pokémon obey up to Lv 70
    GYM TESTRide the lifts and moving platforms to find the route up to Byron

  7. GYM 7 · SNOWPOINT CITY

    CandiceIceIcicle Badge

    CAP 42+3
    1. SnoverLv 38
    2. SneaselLv 38
    3. MedichamLv 40
    4. AbomasnowLv 42 Ace
    COUNTERS
    1. ScytherHits 4 of 4Brilliant Diamond only
    2. BeautiflyHits 4 of 4Brilliant Diamond only
    3. CombeeHits 4 of 4
    CAP 42 +3BRINGEASIEST STARTERInfernape or EmpoleonREWARDTM72 AvalancheBADGEField move Rock Climb
    GYM TESTPick up enough speed on the ice to smash the giant snowballs between you and Candice, bouncing off other snowballs and Trainers as you go

  8. GYM 8 · SUNYSHORE CITY

    VolknerElectricBeacon Badge

    CAP 49+7
    1. RaichuLv 46
    2. AmbipomLv 47
    3. OctilleryLv 47
    4. LuxrayLv 49 Ace
    COUNTERS
    1. GastrodonHits 2 of 4
    2. QuagsireHits 2 of 4
    3. BarboachHits 2 of 4
    CAP 49 +7BRINGEASIEST STARTERTorterraREWARDTM57 Charge BeamBADGEField move Waterfall · Traded Pokémon obey at any level
    GYM TESTFind Volkner at the lighthouse first, then rotate the gym's gears to line up a path to him

  9. ELITE FOUR · 1

    AaronBug

    CAP 57
    1. DustoxLv 53
    2. BeautiflyLv 53
    3. VespiquenLv 54
    4. HeracrossLv 54
    5. DrapionLv 57 Ace
    CAP 57BRING

  10. ELITE FOUR · 2

    BerthaGround

    CAP 59
    1. QuagsireLv 55
    2. SudowoodoLv 56
    3. GolemLv 56
    4. WhiscashLv 55
    5. HippowdonLv 59 Ace
    CAP 59BRING

  11. ELITE FOUR · 3

    FlintFire

    CAP 61
    1. RapidashLv 58
    2. SteelixLv 57
    3. DrifblimLv 58
    4. LopunnyLv 57
    5. InfernapeLv 61 Ace
    CAP 61BRING

  12. ELITE FOUR · 4

    LucianPsychic

    CAP 63
    1. Mr. MimeLv 59
    2. GirafarigLv 59
    3. MedichamLv 60
    4. AlakazamLv 60
    5. BronzongLv 63 Ace
    CAP 63BRING

  13. CHAMPION · POKÉMON LEAGUE

    Cynthia

    CAP 66
    1. SpiritombLv 61
    2. RoseradeLv 60
    3. GastrodonLv 60
    4. LucarioLv 63
    5. MiloticLv 63
    6. GarchompLv 66 Ace
    CAP 66BRING

The two biggest jumps are Roark to Gardenia (+8) and Gardenia to Maylene (+8). The Turtwig line has the edge in 4 of the 8 gyms: Roark, Crasher Wake, Byron and Volkner. The gym leaders, the Elite Four and Champion Cynthia use the same teams in both versions.

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Elite Four guide →

Between badges

New Pokémon to catch before each gym in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Each row lists the Sinnoh catches that open up after the gym before it, best first by how they fare in the boss fights still ahead. Starters follow the ranked catches.

  1. From the startRoarkCAP 14

    New Pokémon, best first 15

    • ZubatZubat#1
    • BudewBudew#2
    • MachopMachop#3
    • PsyduckPsyduck#4
    • StarlyStarly#5
    • GeodudeGeodude#6
    • ShinxShinx#7
    • BidoofBidoof#8
    • OnixOnix#9
    • AbraAbra#10
    • KricketotKricke­tot#11
    • MagikarpMagi­karp#12
    Show all (+3)
    • TurtwigTurtwigStarter
    • ChimcharChim­charStarter
    • PiplupPiplupStarter
  2. After RoarkGardeniaCAP 22

    New Pokémon, best first 39

    • GastlyGastly#1
    • GligarBDGligar#2
    • HeracrossHera­cross#3
    • RaltsRalts#4
    • WurmpleWurmple#5
    • SilcoonBDSilcoon#6
    • BeautiflyBDBeau­tifly#7
    • ScytherBDScyther#8
    • HoundoomHoun­doom#9
    • MurkrowBDMurkrow#10
    • ChinglingChin­gling#11
    • PinsirSPPinsir#12
    Show all (+27)
    • PonytaPonyta#13
    • AbsolAbsol#14
    • BuizelBuizel#15
    • CroagunkCroa­gunk#16
    • BunearyBuneary#17
    • RoseliaRoselia#18
    • HoothootHoo­thoot#19
    • CleffaCleffa#20
    • SkorupiSkorupi#21
    • MedititeMedi­tite#22
    • MisdreavusSPMis­drea­vus#23
    • CombeeCombee#24
    • AipomAipom#25
    • RhyhornRhyhorn#26
    • MunchlaxMunch­lax#27
    • BurmyBurmy#28
    • ShellosShellos#29
    • GastrodonGas­tro­don#30
    • TeddiursaSPTed­diursa#31
    • PachirisuPachi­risu#32
    • SwabluSwablu#33
    • LickitungLicki­tung#34
    • SwinubSwinub#35
    • CherubiCherubi#36
    • CascoonSPCascoon#37
    • DustoxSPDustox#38
    • TogepiTogepi#39
  3. After GardeniaMayleneCAP 30

    New Pokémon, best first 25

    • WingullWingull#1
    • FloatzelFloat­zel#2
    • Mime Jr.BDMime Jr.#3
    • StaraviaSta­ra­via#4
    • GolbatGolbat#5
    • GoldeenGoldeen#6
    • WooperWooper#7
    • RemoraidRemo­raid#8
    • GravelerGra­ve­ler#9
    • KadabraKadabra#10
    • StunkyBDStunky#11
    • SkuntankBDSkun­tank#12
    Show all (+13)
    • BibarelBibarel#13
    • BronzorBronzor#14
    • PikachuPikachu#15
    • FinneonFinneon#16
    • GirafarigGira­fa­rig#17
    • SudowoodoSPSudo­woodo#18
    • BonslySPBonsly#19
    • KricketuneKricke­tune#20
    • PichuPichu#21
    • BarboachBar­boach#22
    • ChanseyChansey#23
    • HappinyHappiny#24
    • UnownUnown#25
  4. After MayleneCrasher WakeCAP 30

    New Pokémon, best first 12

    • HippopotasHip­po­po­tas#1
    • DrapionDrapion#2
    • GyaradosGya­ra­dos#3
    • QuagsireQuag­sire#4
    • ToxicroakToxi­croak#5
    • MachokeMachoke#6
    • GolduckGolduck#7
    • NoctowlNoctowl#8
    • CarnivineCar­ni­vine#9
    • MarillMarill#10
    • AzurillAzurill#11
    • PuruglySPPurugly#12
  5. After FantinaByronCAP 39

    New Pokémon, best first 8

    • RioluRiolu#1
    • TentacoolTen­ta­cool#2
    • TentacruelTen­ta­cruel#3
    • PelipperPelip­per#4
    • Mr. MimeBDMr. Mime#5
    • SteelixSteelix#6
    • LuxioLuxio#7
    • GlameowSPGlameow#8
  6. After ByronCandiceCAP 42

    New Pokémon, best first 7

    • HaunterHaunter#1
    • GibleGible#2
    • MedichamMedi­cham#3
    • SneaselSneasel#4
    • SnoverSnover#5
    • ElekidBDElekid#6
    • ClefairyCle­fairy#7
  7. After CandiceVolknerCAP 49

    New Pokémon, best first 6

    • Mr. MimeSPMr. Mime#1
    • ChimechoChi­me­cho#2
    • AbomasnowAbo­mas­now#3
    • ChatotChatot#4
    • MantykeMantyke#5
    • BronzongBron­zong#6
  8. After VolknerAaronCAP 57

    New Pokémon, best first 3

    • GabiteGabite#1
    • OctilleryOctil­lery#2
    • WhiscashWhis­cash#3
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