Getting the Pokémon
In Pokémon Diamond you get all the fourth-generation Pokémon and only about fifty from Hoenn, Kanto and Johto. By inserting a game of the series into the GBA slot (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald) the Pokémon of that edition appear in the game.
- With the GBA cartridge: Fire Red = Arbok (Safari Zone), Caterpie (Route 204 south), Ekans (Route 212 south), Elekid (Valley Windworks power plant), Growlithe (Routes 201-202), Metapod (Eterna Forest), Weedle (Route 204 south). Leaf Green = Kakuna, Magby (Hard Mountain), Sandshrew (Wayward Cave), Sandslash (Route 228). Ruby = Mawile (Iron Mountain), Nuzleaf (Route 229), Seedot (Routes 203-204 and Eterna Forest), Solrock, Zangoose (Route 208). Sapphire = Lombre, Lotad, Lunatone, Sableye (Iron Mountain), Seviper (Route 208). Emerald = Gligar (Route 206), Pineco (Route 203), Shuckle (Route 224), Teddiursa (Route 211).
- Haunter and Gengar: with any GBA cartridge you find Haunter in the Forest Villa (and Gengar in the room with the eyes on the wall). Or trade a Haunter: when traded it becomes Gengar.
- Pikachu and Pichu: in the Trophy Garden (Pokémon Mansion) they appear at random (Pichu levels 14-18, Pikachu 22-26). Eevee: after the first Pokédex, in Hearthome City from Bebe (level 5).
- Chatot: catch a Buizel (grass in front of Valley Windworks), bring it to level 14 and trade it in Eterna City with the boy in the building to the right of the Pokémart: you get a level 14 Chatot. At level 20 it learns Chatter: in the Pokémon menu choose Chatot, press A and record your voice with the DS microphone (the sound lasts a day).
- Drifloon: at Valley Windworks on Friday during the day, after defeating Team Galactic (evolves at level 28 into Drifblim). Unown: in Solaceon Town, in the cave to the west at the top, with a Dusk Ball. Bronzor: after the Elite Four and the National Dex, at Spring Path.
- Spiritomb: on Route 208 talk to the man with the headband to get the Odd Keystone; on Route 209 south of Solaceon Town put it in the slot of the Hallowed Tower, then talk to 32 people in the Underground (Hikers do not count; you can use a friend) and re-enter: Spiritomb (Ghost/Dark) appears in the tower and is rare.
- Eggs: Riley's egg (Iron Island) hatches into a level 1 Riolu after about 6,391 steps.
Evolutions
- With happiness: Riolu → Lucario during the day; Chingling → Chimecho at night; Happiny → Chansey with the Oval Stone.
- With a move: Aipom → Ambipom (Double Hit, level 32); Mime Jr. → Mr. Mime (Mimic, level 18); Bonsly → Sudowoodo (Mimic, level 17); Lickitung → Lickilicky (Rollout); Tangela → Tangrowth and Yanma → Yanmega (Ancient Power).
- With items or places: Sneasel with Razor Claw → Weavile; Eevee near the moss-covered rock (Eterna Forest) → Leafeon; near the ice rock (Snowpoint) → Glaceon; Magneton at Mt. Coronet → Magnezone; Nosepass at Mt. Coronet → Probopass; male Kirlia with Dawn Stone → Gallade; female Snorunt with Dawn Stone → Froslass; Togetic with Shiny Stone → Togekiss.
- With trading: Rhydon with Protector → Rhyperior; Electabuzz with Electirizer → Electivire; Magmar with Magmarizer → Magmortar; Porygon2 with Dubious Disc → Porygon-Z; Dusclops with Reaper Cloth → Dusknoir; Gligar with Razor Fang at night → Gliscor.
- Milotic: raise Feebas's Beauty to the maximum (with Poffin candies) and make it level up. Vespiquen: only female Combee evolve. Mamoswine: level up Piloswine with Ancient Power (only from an egg).
- Deoxys: to change form go to Veilstone City, to the meteorite in the east, and talk to it.
Legendaries
- Dialga/Palkia: you need Rock Climb, Surf and Strength. Use Fighting or Ground moves (double damage), then bring the HP to red with weak moves and throw a Pokéball. Encounterable at Spear Pillar; if you fail talk to Lucas in front of the Laboratory in Sandgem Town to find out where it reappears.
- Uxie (Lake Acuity), Mesprit (Lake Verity) and Azelf (Lake Valor): after catching Dialga/Palkia. Mesprit and Cresselia roam: use the Marking Map on the Poketch, use False Swipe with a fast level 50 Pokémon until the target has 1 HP and throw a Quick Ball (in a cave or at night a Dusk Ball), or a Master Ball. Do not encounter them in areas with weather damage.
- Heatran: after the Elite Four and the National Dex, at Stark Mountain with Buck: after he takes the Magma Stone, go to the Rest Area, talk to Buck in a house and return where he took the stone: Heatran, level 70 (Fire/Steel).
- Regigigas: import Regice, Regirock and Registeel from Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald; with all three in the party go to Snowpoint City, enter the temple and go down to the base: Regigigas level 70 (Slow Start). Giratina: after the Elite Four and the National Dex, in the cave of Spring Path, Route 214: level 70 (Ghost/Dragon). Cresselia: in Canalave City talk to Sailor Eldritch to go to Full Moon Island: it flees and must be chased with the Marking Map (level 50).
- Phione and Manaphy: from the egg transferred from Pokémon Ranger (Phione from the breeding of Manaphy). Darkrai, Shaymin and Arceus: only with special items from Nintendo events (Darkrai on an island after sleeping in a hotel, Shaymin at Flower Paradise, Arceus at Spear Pillar).
- Rotom: in Eterna Forest, in the Old Chateau, interact with the flashing television: level 15 Rotom (use an Ultra Ball).
Tips
- All the Pokémon: in Jubilife City, at the Global Trade Station, use Wi-Fi. Easy National Dex Pokémon: talk every day to Lucas's or Dawn's sister in Sandgem Town: she tells you where to find one.
- Easy experience: spend all your money at a Pokémart and face the Elite Four: even if you lose you lose almost nothing, but the Pokémon level up. On Iron Island, at the cave with the support, go down and go to the exit on the left: Riley joins you and heals all the Pokémon at every battle, with PP at maximum and double experience.
