Mastering Pokemon Home Transfers: Unlock the Ultimate Guide to Seamlessly Transfer Pokemon to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

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How to Transfer Pokemon from Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl to Pokemon HOME

How to Check Pokemon Compatibility

What Pokemon Can Be Transferred to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Learn How to Transfer Pokemon from Scarlet & Violet to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

With the introduction of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Pokemon Shining Pearl (BDSP), players now have the opportunity to transfer their beloved Pokemon from previous games to these Generation 4 remakes.

For those who own both Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokemon HOME provides a convenient method to transfer exclusive Pokemon between the two games. Additionally, the best part is that Pokemon HOME's features are available completely free of charge, unless players require multiple Storage Boxes.

Content has been updated on August 14, 2023 by Renri Seong. The use of Pokemon HOME simplifies the process of completing a Pokedex without the need for online trading. Like in any other mainline Pokemon game, completing the Pokedex is a goal in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. While not essential for viewing the end credits, there are rewards for filling out each entry in the Dex. With the addition of Scarlet and Violet to Pokemon HOME compatibility, this guide now includes instructions on transferring Pokemon from Paldea to Sinnoh, as well as a list of Pokemon that are unable to be transferred to Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl.

How to Transfer Pokemon to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

To effortlessly transfer Pokemon between BDSP and Pokemon HOME on their Switch, players simply need to ensure that the desired Pokemon are residing in the Basic Box of Pokemon HOME. For those with the Premium Plan, the storage capacity extends up to accommodating 6,000 Pokemon.

Here's the procedure for transferring Pokemon:

Launch Pokemon HOME and choose either Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl. It is also possible to select the user profile at this stage, but it is not mandatory.

Within the Basic Box, press the A-button to choose a Pokemon and then transfer it to the BDSP Box. Additionally, you can use ZR or ZL to switch between multiple selection (green) or quick selection (blue) for added convenience.

Press the (+) button to Save and Exit.

Close out of Pokemon HOME and then start up Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl.

Pokemon from Generations 1-4 are eligible for transfer to Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl. However, it is important to note that Pokemon from pre-Generation 5 that have the ability to Gigantamax will lose this ability when transferred into BDSP.

Players have the option to transfer Pokemon to BDSP once they have obtained their starter Pokemon. However, they will only gain access to the PC System once they reach Sandgem Town. If players plan on transferring starters between BDSP, it is recommended to catch an additional Pokemon to keep in the party, allowing the starter Pokemon to be safely stored in the PC Box.

How to Transfer Pokemon from Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl to Pokemon HOME

After ensuring that the desired Pokemon are stored in a PC Box within BDSP, players should proceed with the following steps:

Start up BDSP and place the Pokemon in a PC Box.

Close out of BDSP and open Pokemon HOME.

Choose the game with the Pokemon that needs to be transferred.

Browse through the PC Boxes on the right until you find the desired Pokemon. Once you locate it, press the A-button to select it and proceed to transfer it to the Basic Box on the left.

Press the (+) button to Save and Exit.

How to Check Pokemon Compatibility

While Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are compatible with Pokemon HOME, it is important to note that not all Pokemon in BDSP can be transferred to Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee!, Sword & Shield, or Legends: Arceus.

If a Pokemon is unable to be transferred to a game, it will be marked with a red symbol on its render. Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl only feature Pokemon from the first four generations of Pokemon games, meaning that anything from Unova, Kalos, Alola, or Galar cannot be moved. This will also be the case for Gen-9 Pokemon when Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are released in late 2022.

While the Sinnoh Starters can be transferred between Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the Hisui Starters cannot, except for Cyndaquil. This is because Rowlett is a Pokemon from Generation 7 and Oshawott is from Generation 5, making the pair incompatible with BDSP.

Likewise, some Pokemon in the Sinnoh Dex of BDSP won't be able to move to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. These Pokemon are:

Feebas

Milotic

Goldeen

Seaking

Meditite

Medicham

Hoothoot

Noctowl

Wooper

Quagsire

Wingull

Pelipper

Girafarig

Azurill

Marill

To check Compatibility in Pokemon HOME, simply select a Pokemon (using the red selection option), scroll down to Summary, and press (+) to view the compatible games.

For example, Cyndaquil is compatible with Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but is not compatible with Pokemon Sword & Shield or Pokemon: Let's go, Pikachu! & Let's go, Eevee! The reason for this incompatibility is that Cyndaquil and its evolutions are not listed in the Pokedex of those games.

What Pokemon Can Be Transferred to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl offer a faithful recreation of the original Diamond and Pearl games for the Nintendo DS. As a result, the ability to transfer Pokemon beyond Generation 4 is restricted. This means that regions like Unova, Kalos, and Galar cannot be accessed in these remakes. Instead, players are able to transfer Pokemon from Generation 1 (Kanto) through Generation 4 (Sinnoh). Consequently, even some of the Pokemon featured in Legends: Arceus can be transferred and used in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. However, it is important to note that pre-Generation 4 Pokemon with Hisuian Forms, such as Hisuian Typhlosion, are not compatible with BDSP.

Evolutions from Gen 5 and beyond cannot be transferred to BDSP, including Sylveon, one of Eevee's evolutions. Sylveon was introduced in Gen 6, Kalos.

In summary, the Pokemon that can be transferred to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl range from Bulbasaur (#1) to Arceus (#493). Victini (#494) and those beyond are not compatible with BDSP.

How to Transfer Pokemon from Scarlet & Violet to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

After Scarlet & Violet have gained access to Pokemon HOME, players can now transfer certain Pokemon from SV to BDSP, Sw/Sh, and other compatible games. The Paldea Region introduces Gen 9 Pokemon as well as some returning Pokemon from the previous eight generations.

To transfer Pokemon from Scarlet/Violet, players must have either Scarlet or Violet and obtain the in-game Pokedex. Once this is accomplished, players can transfer the Pokemon from the Boxes/Storage to the Basic Box in Pokemon HOME. From there, they can be transferred to Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Players will first need to transfer the SV Pokemon to the HOME Box(es).

Press (+) to Save and Exit.

With the desired Pokemon in the HOME box, select Brilliant Diamond (or Shining Pearl).

Transfer the SV Pokemon from HOME box to one of the PC Boxes in BDSP.

Press (+) again to Save and Exit.

Similarly to Legends: Arceus and Sword/Shield, there are certain Pokemon in Paldea that will not be compatible with Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. This notably includes all post-Gen 4 Pokemon, meaning that the Pokemon introduced in Gen 9 will not be accepted.

Please note that when transferring a Pokemon from another game, such as Scarlet/Violet or Legends: Arceus, the Pokemon's moveset may be altered to fit BDSP. For instance, if a Jigglypuff from Scarlet/Violet has Ice Spinner as a move, it will be replaced with a different move upon transfer.

Similarly, when transferring Pokemon to Legends: Arceus, they will acquire an Ability. This is because Legends: Arceus' gameplay does not feature Abilities.

Pokemon HOME is available on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl are available on Nintendo Switch.