Like most core games in the Pokémon series, there are Evolution Stones in Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl that can be used to cause certain species of Pokémon to evolve. Unfortunately, these stones tend to be rare finds, with only a handful appearing in the overworld of the Sinnoh region. There are 9 Evolution Stones in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and an Oval Stone that also allows Happiny to evolve into Chansey. However, it isn't considered an Evolution Stone, since the mechanics are slightly different.

Evolution Stones can be used on applicable Pokémon to make them evolve instantly, and evolutions that are triggered through Evolution Stones are the only way to evolve these species. Evolution cannot be canceled if it was started using an Evolution Stone. Each Evolution Stone can only be used once, so trainers will have to choose wisely when picking a Pokémon to evolve.

Related: How To Level Up Fast in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Fortunately, in addition to their locations in the overworld, every type of Evolution Stone can be found in Sinnoh’s Grand Underground by digging for treasure. Dig sites are marked on the Grand Underground’s minimap with yellow diamonds, which players can approach and press the A button to start mining. However, the entire stone will have to be exposed for it to be retrieved before the cave wall collapses and everything still buried is lost.

Pokémon who have the Pickup ability will occasionally pick up an Evolution Stone and hold onto it until the player takes it from them. Dusk Stones, Dawn Stones, Shiny Stones, and Oval Stones can be picked up, but a Pokémon can only hold one at a time, so trainers should check their Pokémon’s held items often to see if they’ve found something. Pachirisu, Munchlax, Aipom, and Ambipom can have the Pickup ability, but Pachirisu is the easiest to catch in the wild, found around level 7-8 in the patch of grass just west of the Valley Windworks. The higher the Pokémon’s level, the more likely they are to pick up a rare item like an Evolution Stone. This is a great way to get multiple stones with some time and patience, but players trying to evolve a specific species of Pokémon can find almost every Evolution Stone somewhere in the Sinnoh overworld.

Pokémon BDSP - Water Stone Locations

Water Stones can be used to evolve Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Trainers can find a Water Stone by surfing into the water at the beach to the south of Route 213. Past a line of rocks to the south, there will be a shallow island with a sailor to the east. After battling him and surfing in the water to the north, there will be a Poké Ball past two trainers that contains a Water Stone. Once trainers obtain their National PokéDex and visit the Battle Tower in the Fight Area, they will be able to find another Water Stone on Route 230. On the right side of the large central island, there will be a set of stairs leading down to a rock that can be broken using the Hidden Move Rock Smash. Following this path to the end will lead to another Poké Ball containing a Water Stone. While none of the Pokémon in the Sinnoh PokéDex are able to evolve with the Water Stone, several species in the National PokéDex require it:

  • Poliwhirl to Poliwrath
  • Shellder to Cloyster
  • Staryu to Starmie
  • Eevee to Vaporeon
  • Lombre to Ludicolo

Pokémon BDSP - Fire Stone Locations

Fire Stones can be used to evolve Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

There’s a Fire Stone located against the far right wall of the Fuego Ironworks, which players can reach by solving the tile puzzle on the floor. The Fuego Ironworks can be reached by surfing west from the bridge on Route 205 just beside the Valley Windworks. Like the Water Stone, the Fire Stone can be used on several species found in the National Dex:

  • Vulpix to Ninetails
  • Growlithe to Arcanine
  • Eevee to Flareon

Pokémon BDSP - Leaf Stone Locations

Leaf Stones can be used to evolve Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

A Leaf Stone can be found in the hidden part of Floaroma Meadows to the north of Floaroma Town. Just south of the Fuego Ironworks, there’s an entrance to the north side of the meadow on the other side of the river, which players can surf across in Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl. The Leaf Stone is down the path leading south closest to the set of stairs that players entered through. In the National Dex, there are four species that can evolve with a Leaf Stone:

  • Gloom to Vileplume
  • Weepinbell to Victreebel
  • Exeggcute to Exeggcutor
  • Nuzleaf to Shiftry

Pokémon BDSP - Thunder Stone Locations

Thunder Stones can be used to evolve Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

The Thunder Stone is located in a small area right behind the Lighthouse in Sunyshore City. This area can be accessed from the stairs that lead down from the solar panel path in front of Pokémon Rock. The Thunder Stone can be used to make Pikachu evolve to fill the Sinnoh Dex, and players can use this stone on an Eevee once they get their National Dex.

  • Pikachu to Raichu
  • Eevee to Jolteon

How To Get A Sun Stone In Pokémon BDSP

Sun Stones are one of the hardest Evolution Stones to come across as there are none in the overworld, requiring that players either mine one or catch a Pokémon that’s holding one. However, there’s a chance that a wild Solrock will be holding a Sun Stone when it is caught. Trainers can find Solrock in Still-Water Caverns, Stargleam Caverns, Riverbank Caves, and Dazzling Caves in the Grand Underground once they have the National Dex. In addition, sun Stones can be used to evolve two species of Pokémon from the National Dex:

  • Gloom to Bellossom
  • Sunkern to Sunflora

How To Get A Moon Stone In Pokémon BDSP

Moon Stones can be used to evolve Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Like Sun Stones, there are no Moon Stones in the overworld, so trainers will have to get lucky treasure hunting or catching wild Pokémon that are holding one. But, there’s a slight chance that a wild Clefairy will be holding one when caught. Clefairy can be found on Mount Coronet as well as the Trophy Garden behind the Pokémon Mansion. A moon stone will evolve several Pokémon from the National Dex, as well as Clefairy from the Sinnoh Dex:

  • Nidorina to Nidoqueen
  • Nidorino to Nidoking
  • Clefairy to Clefable
  • Jigglypuff to Wigglytuff
  • Skitty to Delcatty

Where To Find Dawn Stones In Pokémon BDSP

Dawn Stones can be used to evolve Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

In the first cave at the base of Mount Coronet, just off Route 207, there’s a surfable pool of water at the top of a set of stairs in the southernmost end of the room. Just on the other side of that pool is a Poké Ball containing a Dawn Stone.

Related: Pokémon: How To Receive Mystery Gifts In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

There’s another Dawn Stone on Route 225, which can only be accessed after players have obtained their National Dex. At the northern end of the Route, there is a ledge with a rocky slope that the player can scale using Rock Climb. The trainer at the top will immediately battle them, but players can claim the Dawn Stone that’s right behind him after they've beaten him. The Dawn Stone is the only Evolution Stone restricted to gender, as it can only be used on a Male Kirlia or a Female Snorunt, both of which are part of the National Dex.

  • Male Kirlia to Gallade
  • Female Snorunt to Froslass

Where To Find Dusk Stones In Pokémon BDSP

Dusk Stones can be used to evolve Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

The Dusk Stone can be found immediately after entering the Galactic Warehouse in Veilstone City. Once Commander Jupiter drops the Storage Key after battling at Lake Acuity, players will be able to enter the warehouse and grab the Dusk Stone. There’s another Dusk Stone on Victory Road in the back room of the first floor, which players can explore after defeating the Sinnoh Champion and entering the Hall of Fame. The Dusk Stone is in a Poké Ball in the top left corner of the room, behind several boulders requiring strength to move.

While Dusk Stones can also be found by digging in the Grand Underground, there’s actually one laying on the ground in the large Pokémon Hideaway in the southernmost caves of the Grand Underground, which can be accessed by dropping down from the beach on Route 213 east of Pastoria City. This cave, Bogsunk Cave, will have a Dusk Stone in its bottom left corner. Dusk Stones can be used to evolve two version exclusive species of Pokémon from the Sinnoh Dex:

  • Murkrow to Honchkrow (Brilliant Diamond)
  • Misdreavus to Mismagius (Shining Pearl)

Shiny Stone Locations In Pokémon BDSP

Shiny Stones can be used to evolve Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

After making it through the mines of the Iron Islands with Riley, there will be a Poké Ball containing a Shiny Stone on the right side of the room just before the mine’s exit. There is also another Shiny Stone on Route 228 on the left side of a narrow bridge before the double battle with two Pokémon Rangers. Shiny Stones are required to level up two species of Pokémon:

Oval Stone Locations In Pokémon BDSP

Oval Stones can be used to evolve Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

In the Lost Tower just south of Solaceon Town on the right side of Route 209, there’s a Poké Ball on the ground in front of Youngster Oliver with an Oval Stone inside. There’s also a small chance that a wild Happiny or Chansey will be holding one of these stones when they are caught. Chansey can be caught on Route 209 and Route 210, and both of these Pokémon can be found in the Trophy Garden. While it’s technically not categorized as an Evolution Stone, the Oval Stone can be given to Happiny to hold so it will evolve into a Chansey when it levels up.

Trainers who want to see all of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl’s Evolution Stone locations for themselves can do so by viewing the YouTube video below from JohnnyCanal:

Next: How To Breed Shiny Pokémon (Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl)

Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl are available on Nintendo Switch.