How many Pokemon are in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl?

493, same as the original Diamond and Pearl. The national dex covers Gens 1 through 4. The Grand Underground adds encounter rooms with Pokemon not in the original Sinnoh dex, but no species beyond Gen 4 appears.

How is BDSP different from the original Diamond and Pearl?

Chibi art style on Switch, the Grand Underground with encounter rooms, a buffed Cynthia with competitive items and smarter AI, auto Exp. Share for the whole party, and quality-of-life improvements like HM replacements. No Mega Evolution, no Dynamax. Faithful remakes with the same story and regional dex.

What is the best starter in BDSP?

Chimchar for the same reason as the originals: Sinnoh has almost no Fire types. Infernape is fast with mixed offenses (104 Atk, 104 Sp. Atk) and Fire/Fighting coverage. The Grand Underground helps fill team gaps, but starting with the rare type is still the smartest move.

What is the Grand Underground?

An expanded version of the original Underground from DP. It adds Pokemon Hideaways: themed rooms where you can encounter Pokemon not normally available on the surface. Types depend on the statues you've placed in your Secret Base. It opens before the second gym and is the main way to fill team gaps early.

What generation is BDSP?

Gen 8, Switch, 2021. BDSP are Diamond and Pearl remakes developed by ILCA (not Game Freak). The roster caps at 493 Pokemon across Gens 1 through 4. No Mega Evolution, no Dynamax. Faithful to the originals with the Grand Underground as the main addition.

Is Cynthia harder in BDSP?

Yes. Her team has perfect IVs, competitive held items (Leftovers, Sitrus Berry), and smarter AI than the originals. Her Garchomp still leads and hits like a truck, but the rest of her team is better optimized too. Many players consider BDSP Cynthia the hardest champion fight in the series.

Pokemon BDSP Pokedex - All Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl Pokemon

BDSP faithfully remakes Diamond and Pearl on Switch, including the original Fire-type drought. Infernape and Rapidash are still your main Fire options. The Grand Underground adds encounter rooms not in the originals, which helps fill coverage gaps. Garchomp at 600 BST dominates the Sinnoh dex here just like it did in 2006.

SHOWINGPokedex151+ Obtainable313 + Transfer31

Showing all 495 Pokemon that can exist in Brilliantdiamond Shiningpearl, including transfers from other games.

How to access additional Pokemon in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

BDSP recreates the original Diamond and Pearl's 151-entry Sinnoh dex on Switch. Same "see all 150, view the Manaphy book" unlock path for the National Dex. The difference is what comes after.

The Grand Underground replaces the original's basic tunnels with full encounter rooms where older-generation Pokemon spawn in themed biomes. Ramanas Park (postgame) trades mysterious slates for legendary encounters from past regions. Pokemon HOME lets you transfer from other Switch titles. Much faster to fill out than the original's 6-per-day Pal Park limit.

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Gallade

psychicfighting

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Probopass

rocksteel

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Dusknoir

ghost

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Froslass

iceghost

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Rotom

electricghost

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Heatran

firesteel

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Regigigas

normal

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Giratina

ghostdragon

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Cresselia

psychic

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Phione

water

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Darkrai

dark

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Shaymin

grass

#0493

Arceus