When a new generation is introduced to the Pokémon franchise, the games are always split into two or three different editions. Two is the normal outcome, with the names representing the titular colors or alternatives— from the likes of Blue and Sapphire to X, Sun and Sword.
While the two versions within a generation are centered around different version-specific Legendary Pokémon, the general story and progression is often similar to its counterpart. However, in order to make them different and to encourage players to trade amongst themselves in order to achieve a complete Pokédex, in Gen IV, Pokémon Diamond & Pearl both have twenty exclusive Pokémon each, that can only be obtained in their particular version.
10 Dewgong Found In Victory Road Could Be A Perfect Pokémon For The Elite Four
The Water-type Seel and its dual Water-Ice evolved form of Dewgong from the original Gen I batch of Pokémon are exclusive to Diamond. Seel can be found while surfing around on Routes 226 and 230, while Dewgong is also a potential encounter in Victory Road. Dewgong is not always sought after in Pokémon games, but a powerful Ice-type could be invaluable for the Elite Four and Cynthia.
Diamond & Pearl's exclusive encounters mostly stick to using different alternatives from the same generation, with the Seel evolution line's Pokémon Pearl counterpart being the Slowpoke-line, also from Gen I.
9 Scyther Is Exclusive To Diamond But Still Has To Be Traded To Evolve Into Scizor
While Pokémon Pearl has the Bug-type Pinsir, Diamond's Gen I Bug-type is Scyther, which also comes with its exceptional evolved form, Scizor.
While Scyther is more common in Pokémon Platinum, in Diamond it is only available on Route 229 and is still a very rare encounter. Route 229 is situated near the Resort Area, and as this is essentially a post-game location, the level of Scyther that can be encountered reflects this, with them being of level 52. Scyther can be traded while holding a Metal Coat, in order to evolve it into a Scizor.
8 Murkrow Are Available Relatively Early On In Pokémon Diamond
Murkrow is a Diamond-exclusive dual Flying and Dark-type that can be found as a night-time encounter. Players can run into Murkrow as early as Eterna Forest at around level 10, or as a more frequent encounter in the Lost Tower where they are between levels 17 and 21.
Despite it being a Gen II Pokémon, it has a Gen IV evolved form in Honchcrow, which can be obtained using a Dusk Stone to evolve Murkrow. Murkrow and Honchcrow's Pearl counterpart is Misdreavus, which despite being Ghost-type, is also a Gen II Pokémon with a Gen IV evolution, that can be found in exactly the same locations and at the same levels as Murkrow.
7 The Larvitar Line Are Accessible To Diamond Players During The Post-Game
The Gen IV Pokémon games have a lot of additional content that can be unlocked by defeating the Elite Four and completing the main bulk of the game. Unlocking the Pal Park, obtaining the National Pokédex and the PokéRadar, all allow the player to experience and encounter new species of Pokémon in already visited locations. One such example is the popular Rock and Ground-type, whose final evolution is the powerful Rock and Dark-type Tyranitar.
There is a 12% chance of finding a Larvitar on Route 207 when using a PokéRadar, and is the only way to obtain the Pokémon in Diamond, other than by trade. Its evolved forms Pupitar and Tyranitar are not available as wild encounters.
6 Poochyena & Mightyena Are Another Product Of Effective PokéRadar Use In Pokémon Diamond
Bizarrely, the Gen III Dark-type Poochyena cannot be found in the wild in Pokémon Diamond, but its evolved form Mightyena can. Using the PokéRadar in Routes 214 and 215 gives the player a decent chance of finding the Bite Pokémon at around level 20. Poochyena can subsequently be obtained through breeding at the Solaceon Town Day Care. Poochyena and Mightyena aren't particularly usable, especially in tough post-game battles, so are essentially just names to tick off on the Pokédex.
Pokémon Pearl's equivalent to these Dark-type are Houndour and Houndoom, with exactly the same criteria and requirements in order to obtain both evolution forms of that line.
5 The Diamond-Player Can Land Themselves An Aggron With The Help Of A PokéRadar
The Rock and Steel-type Pokémon, Aron, Lairon and Aggron were originally introduced to the franchise in Gen III. As a Pokémon Diamond exclusive in terms of the Gen IV games, Aron can only be found in the Fuego Ironworks if and when the player is in possession of a PokéRadar.
Neither Lairon or Aggron are available as wild encounters so an Aron will have to evolve to obtain these, unless the player gets them in a trade.
4 The Gen III Master Of Camouflage, Kecleon, Is A Diamond Exclusive
Kecleon is another example of a Pokémon that can only be found using the PokéRadar in an essentially post-game encounter. It can be found on Route 210 near Celestic town at any level between 20 and 26.
The Gen III Normal-type is not particularly known for being a strong Pokémon, so will essentially be caught to tick another name off the National Pokédex, but it certainly is a unique encounter with its signature Color Change ability, which change's Kecleon's type to match the type of the move that was just used on it.
3 Fossils Are Assigned To Different Editions In Gen IV, With Diamond Getting Cranidos & Rampardos
Fossil Pokémon are a common staple with the Pokémon series of games, with there being region-specific prehistoric Pokémon that can be revived from fossils in almost every region. In Sinnoh, these Pokémon are Cranidos and Shieldon, which can be revived from the Skull and Armor Fossils respectively, with Cranidos being exclusive to Diamond.
The Rock-type is known for causing problems for players as early as the first Gym, under the ownership of Roark. It has explosive physical attacks and can simply overwhelm players. Its evolved form, Rampardos, is even more terrifying, although its defense and special defense leave a lot to be desired.
2 Stunky & Skuntank Give Diamond Players A Tricky Pokémon Often Used By Team Galactic
Stunky and its evolved form Skuntank are the Diamond-exclusive Pokémon that are often used by Team Galactic members, partly due to their dual Poison and Dark typing.
Stunky can be found in the wild in Routes 206, 214 and 221, with its evolved form Skuntank also being a possible encounter in Routes 221 and 225. Skuntank is often underrated in the Gen IV games, but has often caused players multiple issues with its use of critical hits and annoying Poison-type plays.
1 Dialga Is The Central Legendary Pokémon For Diamond
Dialga is the Legendary Pokémon for the Diamond version of the Gen IV games and is thus exclusive to that game, with Palkia being the same for Pokémon Pearl.
As a dual Dragon and Steel-type, Dialga only has two weaknesses in Fighting and Ground, and with 680 total base stats, it is formidable even among Legendary Pokémon. Known as the Temporal Pokémon, Dialga has a varied move-set and is a powerful Pokémon to have on any team, with it being worthy of its titular role and reputation.