Legendary Pokemon from prior games can be caught in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, while patches will improve online features.
After a day 1 update, players can find various Slates in the Grand Underground, and bringing them to Ramanas Park. There, they can be used to summon Legendary Pokemon from past games via the corresponding room. The Slates, as shown on the games’ official website, closely resemble the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance carts their debut games would have been on.
In Brilliant Diamond, these include Ho-oh, Raikou, Entei, Suicune. In Shining Pearl, these include Lugia, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres. Other Legendary Pokemon; such as Mewtwo and Rayquaza, will be available in both.
Further, those with save data from Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee will be given the Mythical Pokemon Mew in Floaroma Town. Those with save data from Pokemon Sword and Shield will unlock the Mythical Pokemon Jirachi.
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The news being announced now was possibly motivated by recent leaks. These had confirmed all of the above, along with the fact Legendary Pokemon can be shiny (except the gifted Mew and Jirachi). This can be compared to Sword and Shield‘s The Crown Tundra expansion pass DLC, which offered the chance through Dynamax Adventures.
The starter Pokemon also have a chance to be shiny, but they can be bred (unlike Legendaries) to produce Shiny Pokemon. For more information on the leaks, you can find our coverage here [1, 2]. Some may deem what was uncovered to be spoilers however.
The admittance of the leak may also come from the series’ official Twitter account stating the game will be patched on November 11th; eight days before the official launch. The update will add communication features to the Grand Underground and Super Contest Shows, allow players to receive items via Mystery Gift, and visit the aforementioned Ramanas Park after beating the Champion.
Mystery Gift will also allow players to accept early purchase bonuses until February 21st. These include the Mythical Pokemon Manaphy, and the Platinum Style outfits.
Further patches after launch will also add other online features. At launch, the Union Room will support only two players. After a future patch, more players can access the Union Room, add greetings and Capsule Decorations, and Link Trades via the Global Wonder Station and Link Battles via the Colosseum in Pokemon Centers.
Due to mentioning specific locations, it is unclear whether this means trading and battling online is inhibited (beyond the Union Room), or if this applies to local trading and battling. We will keep you informed as we learn more.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl launches November 19th on Nintendo Switch.
