This page explains how to obtain the National Pokédex in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).
(1 of 2) Ask Rowan to evaluate your Pokédex.
Ask Rowan to evaluate your Pokédex. (left), After seeing all 150 or 151 Sinnoh Pokédex, Oak will upgrade your Pokédex. (right)
The Pokédex you received at the start only lists the 151 Pokémon found natively in the Sinnoh region. The National Pokédex is the upgraded model that covers all 493 Pokémon, across all regions (at the time of the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl).
You can receive the National Pokédex from the visiting Professor Oak, when you speak to Professor Rowan in Sandgem Town, having seen all 150 Pokémon in Sinnoh, with the exception of 
Manaphy (since it’s a Mythical).
Although this may seem like a tall order, it’s actually not too hard. Unless you’ve done some crazy shenanigans, if you check the number of Pokémon you’ve seen, it should be above 100 through compulsory battles alone. If you’ve been diligent and fought every trainer, that number should be above 140. (This is because there isn’t much variety in Sinnoh.)
Where to Find the Missing Pokémon¶
Legendary Pokémon¶
The Pokémon you’re most likely to miss are the Legendary Pokémon besides the one you caught at the Spear Pillar. Obviously, if you’re playing Brilliant Diamond for example, you may have caught 
Dialga, but you’ll struggle to find a 
Palkia just wandering around.
(1 of 2) Return to Celestic Town and visit the house at the back.
Return to Celestic Town and visit the house at the back. (left), The old lady will show you Palkia or Dialga’s data. (right)
What you need to do is return to Celestic Town, then visit Cynthia’s mother–the old lady–in her house near the back. She’ll show you the Legendary not found in your version.
Next, you may be missing the lake trio. So that’s potentially three more for your Pokédex. You can encounter the lake trio after dealing with the Spear Pillar incident. Please refer to the following pages for details:
Drifloon¶
(1 of 2) Drifloon at the Valley Windworks.
Drifloon at the Valley Windworks. (left), Drifloon at Hearthome City Gym. (right)
You might not realize it at first, but 
Drifloon is probably the one that trips up players the most. The only way to encounter and catch Drifloon is during Fridays at the Valley Windworks. So during 6 out of 7 days of the week, there’s nothing you can do.
If you’re still early on (unlikely if you’re reading this page), there are trainers in the Hearthome City Gym that send out Drifloon. Trouble is, the design of that gym encourages you to skip all the trainers. Then once you’ve defeated the Gym Leader, the trainers will no longer challenge you.
Unown¶
(1 of 2) Solaceon Ruins at the east edge of Solaceon Town.
Solaceon Ruins at the east edge of Solaceon Town. (left), Unown can be found in every room sans the entrance. (right)
Not as frustrating as Drifloon, but another Pokémon that’s off the beaten path. 
Unown is only encountered in the Solaceon Ruins and no trainer uses one. So if you haven’t been already, remember to take a trip there.
Other Pokémon¶
All other Pokémon can be encountered in the wild or via trainer battles. That said, it’s understandable if you use Repels to avoid wild Pokémon (or you’re plain unlucky) and/or you skip trainers to rush ahead or to stop your team from becoming over-leveled.
(1 of 2) Riolu in Oreburgh Gate.
Riolu in Oreburgh Gate. (left), Lumineon on Route 223. (right)
Here’s a list of all the Pokémon you can miss and their common locations:
| Number | Pokémon | Catch Location | Trainer Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 008 |  Prinplup |
Evolve  Piplup |
Route 212 South - Pokémon Ranger Jeffrey |
| 015 |  Kricketot |
Spacious Cave etc. | Route 203 - Youngster Dallas |
| 016 |  Kricketune |
Route 212 North | Eterna Forest - Bug Catch Donald |
| 023 |  Magikarp |
Route 203 etc. | Route 204 South - Youngster Tyler |
| 032 |  Graveler |
Route 211 East | Route 208 - Hiker Alexander |
| 040 |  Machop |
Route 207 etc. | Route 203 - Youngster Sebastian |
| 043 |  Psyduck |
Route 203 etc. | Route 210 South - Rancher Marco |
| 045 |  Burmy |
Honey trees | Eterna Forest - Bug Catch Donald |
| 046 |  Wormadam |
Evolve female Burmy |
Route 214 - Beauty Devon |
| 047 |  Mothim |
Evolve male Burmy |
Route 210 North - Ace Trainer Ernest |
| 053 |  Combee |
Grassland Cave | Route 208 - Aroma Lady Hannah |
| 059 |  Cherrim |
Evolve  Cherubi |
Route 221 - Ace Trainer Shannon |
| 063 |  Aipom |
Spacious Cave | Route 210 South - Rancher Marco |
| 067 |  Buneary |
Eterna Forest | Route 212 North - Lady Melissa |
| 069 |  Gastly |
Old Chateau | Route 214 - Psychic Abigail |
| 070 |  Haunter |
Evolve Gastly |
Route 214 - Psychic Mitchell |
| 072 |  Misdreavus |
Dazzling Cave in Shining Pearl | Route 214 - Psychic Abigail |
| 078 |  Goldeen |
Route 203 etc. | Route 205 North - Fisher Joseph |
| 080 |  Barboach |
Route 205 North etc. | Route 208 - Fisher Cody |
| 092 |  Bonsly |
Route 209 in Shining Pearl | Route 208 - Artist William |
| 094 |  Mime Jr. |
Route 209 in Brilliant Diamond | Route 208 - Artist William |
| 096 |  Happiny |
Bothersome | Route 210 South - Pokémon Breeder Kahlil |
| 099 |  Cleffa |
Mt. Coronet | Route 209 - Pokémon Breeder Jennifer |
| 102 |  Chatot |
Route 222 | Route 212 North - Gentleman Jeremy |
| 103 |  Pichu |
Trophy Garden | Route 209 - Pokémon Breeder Albert |
| 104 |  Pikachu |
Trophy Garden | Route 206 - Cyclist Kayla |
| 115 |  Riolu |
Hatch Riley’s egg | Oreburgh Gate - Veteran Grant |
| 117 |  Wooper |
Route 212 South | Not convenient |
| 134 |  Finneon |
Route 205 South etc. | Route 221 Fisher Cory |
| 135 |  Lumineon |
Evolve Finneon |
Route 223 - Swimmer Miranda |
| 136 |  Tentacool |
Route 205 South etc. | Route 220 - Swimmer Adrian |
Sign up
No Comments