Here’s how to get the National Dex in Pokemon BDSP

One of the first questions players end up asking themselves when playing Pokemon BDSP is how to get the National Dex.

The National Dex opens up a lot of content in the post-game of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Most notably, it introduces a load of new Pokemon to the game.

The actual list of Pokemon that can be caught in the gen-four remakes is relatively short, with a mixed and matched group from all four of the first Pokemon generations. The National Dex introduces a boatload of new Pokemon to Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, including bringing back some of those that hadn’t previously been available in the eighth generation.

This also opens up the bulk of the post-game content including Ramanas Park and rematches with Sinnoh’s Gym Leaders and the Elite Four and Cynthia. Here’s how to get the National Dex in Pokemon BDSP.

How do you get the National Dex in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl?

Players can obtain the National Dex from Professor Rowan after seeing all 150 Pokemon from the Sinnoh region.

Players do not have to catch all 150 Pokemon in order to get the National Dex in Pokemon BDSP. They only need to see them, meaning players can actually obtain the National Dex without trading other players. This also does not require players to obtain Manaphy and Phione, or Mew and Jirachi. The various mythical Pokemon are obtainable in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, but are not required to complete the Pokedex.

While this might sound like a tall order, it’s very easy. Players will encounter a majority of the Pokemon in the Sinnoh region just by playing through the story and can make this journey even shorter if they actively look to battle trainers in gyms and along routes.

There are a few Pokemon that players have difficulty encountering, or ones that can only be seen in the post-game. The most notable is seeing Dialga in Pokemon Shining Pearl or Palkia in Brilliant Diamond. In both cases, the player should speak to an old woman living in the house directly north of the cave in Celestic Town after beating the Elite Four. She will show the player a picture of the opposite game’s cover legendary, allowing them to complete their Pokedex.

What happens after acquiring the National Dex in Pokemon BDSP?

After obtaining the National Dex in Pokemon BDSP, the player gets access to new areas, can encounter new Pokemon, and can enjoy new battles.

The centerpiece of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl’s post-game content with the National Dex is Ramanas Park. This area allows players to encounter a variety of legendary Pokemon from the first three generations including the likes of Lugia, Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Latios, and Latias. Though players can find Ramanas Park after obtaining the Surf HM, they cannot enter the area until they have the National Dex.

In the Grand Underground, a slew of new Pokemon are introduced. This includes the starters from the first three Pokemon generations, which is particularly notable since Gold and Silver’s starters are yet to be released in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Players with the National Dex will be approached by the first gym leader Roark. Roark will tell the player that he and other gym leaders are looking to take on the new Sinnoh champion, which sets up rematches with these characters. These rematches are intensely difficult and stand as some of the most difficult trainer battles in the history of the Pokemon franchise.

Most importantly, it gives players the Pokemon Radar. The Pokemon Radar is used for controlling wild encounters. This allows players to battle the same Pokemon consecutively, which opens up the opportunity to more easily catch Pokemon with hidden abilities and shinies.