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Gen VIII

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Faithful remakes of the beloved Sinnoh classics — the definitive classic gym journey.

The Path

The intended order — follow this and you'll stay at the right level all game.

  1. 1

    Oreburgh Gym

    Gym

    Rock · Roark · recommended Lv. 12–14

  2. 2

    Eterna Gym

    Gym

    Grass · Gardenia · recommended Lv. 20–22

  3. 3

    Hearthome Gym

    Gym

    Ghost · Fantina · recommended Lv. 24–26

  4. 4

    Veilstone Gym

    Gym

    Fighting · Maylene · recommended Lv. 28–30

  5. 5

    Pastoria Gym

    Gym

    Water · Crasher Wake · recommended Lv. 32–34

  6. 6

    Canalave Gym

    Gym

    Steel · Byron · recommended Lv. 38–40

  7. 7

    Snowpoint Gym

    Gym

    Ice · Candice · recommended Lv. 42–44

  8. 8

    Sunyshore Gym

    Gym

    Electric · Volkner · recommended Lv. 46–48

  9. 9

    Pokémon League — Elite Four

    Elite Four

    Aaron (Bug), Bertha (Ground), Flint (Fire), Lucian (Psychic) · recommended Lv. 52–58

  10. 10

    Champion Cynthia

    Champion

    The most feared Champion in series history · recommended Lv. 60–66

The Story

Return to Sinnoh, the mountainous northern region of myth and legend. As a young trainer from Twinleaf Town, you set out with your rival to challenge the eight Gyms — but your journey keeps intersecting with Team Galactic, a strange organization whose grunts speak of remaking the universe itself.

Sinnoh's story is the series' most cosmic: its myths describe Dialga and Palkia, the beings who govern time and space, and Team Galactic's leader Cyrus intends to use them to erase emotion from existence. The three lake guardians and the ruins scattered across the region slowly reveal how deep the mythology goes.

The remakes stay faithful to the 2006 originals while adding modern touches: the Grand Underground for fossil hunting and secret bases, following Pokémon, revamped Contest Shows, and quality-of-life updates. It's the most traditional Pokémon journey on the Switch.

And at the end waits Cynthia — brilliant archaeologist, unstoppable Champion, and owner of a Garchomp that has ended more playthroughs than any other Pokémon. Come prepared.

Good to Know

  • Sinnoh's level curve is honest — don't skip trainers, because Cynthia's team sits in the mid-60s and underleveling is the #1 cause of defeat.
  • Bring answers for Cynthia: an Ice move for her Garchomp is practically mandatory, and something for her bulky Milotic and Spiritomb.
  • Use the Grand Underground early: you can catch Pokémon well above the local level curve and dig up fossils and evolution stones.
  • Wild Bidoof/Bibarel can carry the HMs so your main team stays battle-ready.
  • Save before Dialga/Palkia at Spear Pillar — they're one-time encounters.

After the Credits

  • Ramanas Park: use mysterious tickets to encounter nearly every legendary from Kanto through Hoenn.
  • Stark Mountain & Heatran: follow Buck into the volcanic north for a postgame episode and a legendary encounter.
  • Battle Tower at the Fight Area: the classic streak-based battle facility.
  • Super Contest Shows, rematches with powered-up Gym Leaders, and completing the National Pokédex via the Grand Underground.

My caught checklist

Sign in to track what you've caught — your list syncs across devices.

Want the full step-by-step walkthrough? This page is the roadmap — for turn-by-turn directions, Bulbapedia and Serebii both have detailed per-route guides.