Every new generation of Pokémon games always comes in twos, sometimes threes. Examples over the years have included the likes of Gold & Silver, Ruby & Sapphire, and Gen IV's Diamond & Pearl.
In order to give meaning to owning different editions of the game without changing the overarching story too much, each is given several Pokémon exclusive to that particular version. With the Gen IV games, both Diamond & Pearl have 20 version-exclusive Pokémon each. This encourages players to trade with each other if they want to complete their Pokédex and 100% the entire game.
10 Slowpoke, Slowbro, and Slowking Can All Be Obtained Post-Game Thanks To The PokéRadar
While Pokémon Diamond gets Seel and Dewgong when it comes to Gen I Water-types, Pokémon Pearl has Slowpoke and Slowbro, with the added bonus of being able to obtain Slowking as well.
Slowpoke can be found as an encounter on Route 205 when using the PokéRadar, and it is then up to the player to choose which evolved form they would like to pursue. Slowpoke will evolve into Slowbro at level 37, or it can be traded while holding a King's Rock in order to evolve into Slowking.
9 Pinsir Is Exclusive To Pearl While Diamond Gets Scyther
Pokémon Diamond players can catch a Scyther which in turn will get them its evolved form of Scizor, but Pokémon Pearl has Pinsir as its Gen I Bug-type representative. Pinsir can be found on Route 229, and, despite just being a Bug-type, it can learn plenty of Fighting and Rock-type moves. With impressive base physical attack and defense stats, it can be a great physical battler for any team.
8 Misdreavus Is A Valuable Early Ghost-Type Encounter In Pearl
Pokémon Pearl's night-time encounter for Lost Tower and Eterna Forest is the Ghost-type Misdreavus, while Diamond's is Murkrow. Both are Gen II species that evolve into Gen IV Pokémon thanks to the use of a Dusk Stone, with Murkrow becoming Honchcrow and Misdreavus evolving into Mismagius.
With Ghost-types still not being abundant compared to other types, this is arguably a better encounter than its Diamond-counterpart, especially in the early game.
7 Houndoom Is A Post-Game PokéRadar Encounter For Pearl
In terms of Dark-type dog Pokémon, Diamond has Poochyena and Mightyena as its exclusives, while Pearl has Houndour and Houndoom. Like with Poochyena in Diamond, Pearl also sees the first-stage of the evolution line only being available from breeding the evolved form.
Houndoom can be found on Routes 214 and 215 when using a PokéRadar, with a 12% chance of encountering one. The necessity of the PokéRadar does mean, however, that this is a post-game encounter, as the player can only obtain the PokéRadar upon visiting the Pal Park.
6 Stantler Can Be Found On Route 207 Thanks To The PokéRadar
The Normal-type deer Pokémon is a Pearl exclusive encounter and can be found on Route 207 when using the PokéRadar. There is a 12% chance of a level 7 Stantler appearing, and, despite it not being the strongest in battle, it is still another Pokémon to tick off on the National Pokédex.
What is normally overlooked with Normal-types is the fact that their only real weakness is Fighting-types, and they often have a varied move pool to utilize. Stantler is no different.
5 Spheal And Sealeo Are High-Level Encounters, Meaning That The Bulky Walrein Is easily Obtainable
The dual Water and Ice-type evolution line of Spheal, Sealeo, and Walrein are exclusive to Pokémon Pearl. While Walrein can only be obtained through evolution, both Spheal and Sealeo can be found when using Surf on routes 226 and 230.
The Spheal encounters are considered to be rather common, with a 30% chance of finding one between levels 35 and 45 on both Routes, whereas there is a 5% chance to run into a Sealeo between levels 40 and 55. Either way, a Walrein can be obtained by evolving a Sealeo at level 44, so it would not require too much level-grinding.
4 The Powerful Salamence Cannot Be Obtained Until The Player Has The PokéRadar
The Gen III Dragon-type evolution line of Bagon, Shelgon, and Salamence is one of the best that Pearl has to offer in terms of exclusive encounters. Unfortunately, Bagon is only available with the use of a PokéRadar, which means it cannot be found until later on in the game. When in possession of a PokéRadar, the player will be able to find Bagon on Route 210.
Shelgon and Salamence are subsequently only available through evolution at levels 30 and 50 respectively. The player will have to wait a long time and then grind levels to earn it, but a Salamence is a formidable Pokémon to have on any team.
3 Pokémon Pearl Gets The Armor Fossil, Which Provides Shieldon And Its Evolved-Form Bastiodon
While Pokémon Diamond has the version-exclusive Skull Fossil that a Cranidos can be revived from, Pearl has the Armor Fossil. This fossil can be restored, reviving the Rock and Steel-type Shieldon, which can then be evolved into the mighty Bastiodon at level 30.
Rampardos has its base stats weighted somewhat unevenly in favor of its physical attack power, but Bastiodon is bulky with both high physical and special defense base stats. Bastiodon's typing means that Fighting and Ground-type moves are four times super-effective against it, but, other than that, it can hold its own against most other types.
2 Team Galactic Commander Mars Isn't The Only Trainer Who Can Own A Purugly
Purugly is particularly well-known within the Gen IV games for its pure bulk and frustratingly overwhelming power under the ownership of Team Galactic member Mars, especially in the first battle against the player. Purugly and its pre-evolved form, Glameow, are both available as Pearl-exclusive encounters.
Level 30 Glameow can be found on Route 218, while level 40 Glameow can be found on Route 222. Route 222 is also home to level 41 and 42 Purugly, with stronger forms of the large cat being found on Route 229 at around level 50.
1 Palkia Is The Legendary Pokémon For Pearl
As the opposite Legendary Pokémon to Diamond's Dialga, Palkia can only be confronted and caught at Spear Pillar in Pokémon Pearl. Despite it being dual Water and Dragon-type, all of its Water-type weaknesses are negated by the Dragon-typing, meaning that Palkia is only weak to Dragon and Fairy-type moves.
Palkia has a varied move pool and has 680 total base stats spread evenly across the board, making for one formidable foe or teammate. Dialga is often considered to be better than Palkia due to it having so many more type resistances, but they are both impressive Legendary Pokémon regardless.