Rare Pokémon guide

From Jonathan's Reference Pages

This article describes how to obtain Pokémon which cannot be captured normally in any of the Nintendo DS Pokémon games, but which are necessary to obtain a full National Pokédex of all 493 or 649 Pokémon.

According to Serebii.net, 48 Pokémon are unobtainable between Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, 56 Pokémon are unavailable in Platinum, and 42 Pokémon cannot be caught in HeartGold or SoulSilver. Between all five games, only four Pokémon cannot be caught: Celebi, Mew, Jirachi and Deoxys. Nine others can technically be acquired in-game, but only in special circumstances: Regigigas, Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, and Arceus.

Between Pokémon Black and White, only six new Pokémon can not be caught normally: Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Zorua, and Zoroark.

Acquiring legendary Pokémon

Several of the legendary Pokémon were distributed by event. This list assumes you missed the event, otherwise you already have that Pokémon. This list is accurate as of 9th April 2011.

Arceus

Unavailable without cheating. Use a Wonder Card generator to cheat for the Azure Flute item in Diamond, Pearl or Platinum.

Celebi

Acquire from other game. Celebi was distributed with the Japanese Pokémon Colosseum bonus disc. Must be transferred to a Japanese copy a Pokémon GBA game, then onto a Japanese Pokémon DS game.

Darkrai

Unavailable without cheating. Use a Wonder card generator to cheat for the Member Card item in Diamond, Pearl or Platinum. Or, use "tweaking" glitch to access Newmoon Island. Or, cheat somehow to unlock the mission "Liberate the Tower!" in Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia.

Deoxys

Acquire from other game AND cheat. Cheat to acquire the AuroraTicket in Pokémon Emerald. Or, cheat somehow to unlock the mission "Deoxys and the Odd Temple" in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs.

Genesect

Unavailable.

Jirachi

Acquire from other game, or future events. Jirachi was distributed with the Pokémon Colosseum bonus disc in the US, and Pokémon Channel in Europe and Australia. Must be transferred via an English language copy of Ruby or Sapphire. Jirachi is regularly distributed each year in Japan and sometimes outside of Japan to celebrate Tanabata.

Keldeo

Unavailable.

Manaphy

Acquire from other game. A secret mission in Pokémon Ranger unlocks a Manaphy egg to trade.

Meloetta

Unavailable.

Mew

Acquire from other game. Trade 999 Pokémon from Pokémon Diamond or Pearl to My Pokémon Ranch for WiiWare. Or, cheat to acquire the Old Sea Map item in Pokémon Emerald.

Phione

Acquire from other game, or GTS. Trade 999 Pokémon from Pokémon Diamond or Pearl to My Pokémon Ranch for Wiiware. Or, acquire Manaphy, and breed it. Phione can be reliably acquired via Global Trade System, as it can breed.

Regigigas

Acquire from other game. Bring Regirock, Regice and Registeel to Snowpoint Temple in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum.

Regirock, Regice, Registeel

Acquire from other game. Catch in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald. Also unlocked in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum by an event Regigigas.

Shaymin

Unavailable without cheating. Use Wonder Card generator to acquire the Oak's Letter item in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum. Or, use "Tweaking" glitch to access Flower Paradise. Or, cheat somehow to unlock the mission "Rescue the Lost Shaymin!" in Pokémon Ranger; Guardian Signs.

Victini

Unavailable without cheating. Use Wonder Card generator to acquire the Liberty Pass item in Pokémon Black or White.

Zorua and Zoroark

Trade on GTS. Despite their rarity, Zorua and Zoroark are not legendary Pokémon. They can breed normally and thus be acquired via Global Trade System. Zorua evolves into Zoroark by level up. Alternatively, unlock a Zoroark encounter with one of the shiny legendary dogs distributed to DPPt/HGSS by event.

All Pokémon, all formes

Certain Pokémon have alternate formes which cannot be traded, or revert to their original form when traded.

Obtaining all of Rotom's alternate formes in Platinum requires the Secret Key item. If you missed the event that distributed this, you will have to cheat to acquire the Wonder Card to unlock it to add all Rotom's formes to the Pokédex in Platinum. The alternate formes can be acquired in HeartGold and SoulSilver, but Rotom reverts to its normal forme when traded.

Giratina's Origin Forme in HeartGold and SoulSilver requires it to hold the Griseous Orb, an item which cannot be traded. The only way to acquire it is to bring an event Arceus to HG/SS and use this to create a Giratina, who will be holding the orb. The Griseous Orb is available in Black & White.

Shaymin Sky Forme requires the Gracidea, which can only be acquired from Platinum onward by presenting a fateful encounter Shaymin. Shaymin acquired at the Flower Paradise in Platinum counts as fateful encounter, but not Diamond or Pearl. The Gracidea is a Key Item and cannot be traded.

Spiky-eared Pichu is unlocked in HeartGold and SoulSilver by the presence of an event shiny Pichu. It cannot be traded, but the shiny Pichu can.

Page created: 9th April 2010

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