Like the original games they’re based on, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will feature the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia - but which of the two is better? These Nintendo Switch remakes of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl feature Dialga (on Diamond) and Palkia (on Pearl). Both are Dragon-types, but their similarities end there. In the lore, both play a role in maintaining the universe, with Dialga controlling time and Palkia controlling space.
In terms of gameplay, Dialga and Palkia also have a number of differences. Dialga is part Steel-type while Palkia is partially Water-type. Dialga is more defensive and can shrug off most attacks, sometimes even super effective attacks from opposing Legendary Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Palkia, on the other hand, is more offensive with an impressively diverse moveset that lets it hit many different types of Pokémon for super effective damage.
These mascots of Pokémon BDSP have their distinct strengths and weaknesses, giving them unique uses for a wide variety of teams. In both competitive play and regular play, there’s plenty of room to include these Legendaries on a team. Overall, however, Dialga’s defensiveness proves to be a critical factor in the timelessness of its merits. Its high defensive stats, paired with its typing, make it a great competitive team member. At the same time, it has just enough offensive might to pack a punch while also resisting most of the boss battles remaining in casual gameplay once it’s been caught. Palkia’s offensive versatility is nothing to scoff at, especially within the confines of the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl regional Pokédex, but Dialga edges it out in terms of general viability.
Palkia & Dialga In Pokémon BDSP Competitive Play
If Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl retain a Pokédex similar to Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, then both Dialga and Palkia will be very strong in online singles battles. Dialga’s defenses are paired with respectable offenses, making it a great tank and support. Palkia is generally more offensive, and boasts higher speed than Dialga, making it a great Pokémon to break through tricky opponents.
BDSP won’t be used for the official competitive video game format, or VGC. Instead, VGC will remain on Sword and Shield. Still, doubles competitive play in the vein of the VGC format may be possible in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. If that turns out to be the case, Dialga has a leg up over Palkia. Pokémon VGC doesn’t normally allow “restricted” Legendaries like Dialga and Palkia to be used, but on years when it does, Dialga always sees more use than its space-rending counterpart.
In the 2010 World Championships via Bulbapedia, which used HeartGold and SoulSilver and allowed up to four of these normally “restricted” Pokémon - although only two could be sent into battle at a time - Dialga turned up more often and made better placements. The Senior Division, the older of the two age divisions since Masters wasn’t introduced until the next year, saw four teams with Dialga and only three with Palkia in its Top 8. Of these teams, all of the Dialga users landed in the top five spots, with one taking home the championship title, while only one Palkia team made it that high.
Over time, Dialga and Palkia have seen less use in VGC as newer Legendary Pokémon fill similar roles with better stats and Abilities. Still, Dialga’s defenses serve it better than Palkia’s offenses. Specifically, Dialga’s partial Steel typing is a huge advantage ever since Fairy type was added to the Pokémon series, which will be especially notable when looking at the mascots of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl in regards to their regular playthrough use.
Palkia And Dialga In Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Remakes Casual Play
Although some games may be easier than others, Pokémon games, in general, tend to hit a difficulty spot where players can use their favorite Pokémon without much trouble. Both Palkia and Dialga are incredibly strong legendary Pokémon that can serve their Trainers well if they choose to keep them on their team once captured. But for players looking for the better one overall, they’re best seeking Dialga.
The Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes appear as though major plot points from the originals will remain mostly unchanged. If so, that means players will be able to capture Dialga or Palkia at Mount Coronet’s Spear Pillar before challenging the eighth and final Gym Leader, Volkner. With an Electric-type Gym Leader; an Elite Four with a Bug specialist, Ground-type user, Fire-type Trainer, and Psychic user; and the Champion Cynthia to contend with, players will find Dialga has more tools to handle the BDSP’s remaining challenges.
While Palkia will likely have Fire-type attacks to deal with Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl’s Bug Elite Four member Aaron, and will definitely know Water-type moves to handle the notoriously lacking Fire-types Trainer Flint, Palkia can’t resist as many attacks. It’s damaged normally by Electric Pokémon attacks from the Gym Leader Volkner, as well as Bug, Ground, and Psychic moves. Palkia does doubly resist Fire, but Dialga resists Electric, Bug, and Psychic attacks. Of the games’ remaining Trainers, Dialga only faces weakness against Bertha’s Ground-types.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: Dialga & Palkia Against Cynthia
Champion Cynthia also makes matters more ideal for Dialga. Although nothing has been confirmed yet for BDSP, the Pokémon Center website released new “Sinnoh Champion Team” merchandise recently showcasing members of Cynthia’s iconic team from the original games. Milotic, Spiritomb, Roselia, Togetic, Lucario, and Garchomp are all shown on items like a long sleeve t-shirt and Nintendo Switch carrying case. This, combined with the effort Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are putting in remaining true to the original games, means Cynthia may retain her original, challenging Pokémon team. This means her team will have access to Water, Ghost, Dark, Grass, Poison, Fairy, Flying, Fighting, Steel, Ground, and Dragon-type moves.
Of these eleven types, Dialga resists four (one of them, Grass, is a double resistance), is immune to one, takes neutral damage from four, and is weak to only two. One of these is Garchomp’s Ground-type, but Palkia is also weak to Garchomp, this time through its Dragon typing. Palkia has a double resistance to Water, and also resists Steel, but takes neutral damage from seven of the eleven types on Cynthia’s team, which can be dangerous since Palkia isn’t as defensive as Dialga.
But perhaps even more troubling is Palkia’s other weakness: the powerful Fairy Pokémon type. Dialga is neutral to Fairy-type attacks thanks to its Steel typing, and can even hit opposing Fairy-types for super effective damage with its own Steel attacks. Palkia doesn’t have this luxury, and with Fairy-types confirmed to be added to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl through trailers showing Fairy-type moves like Disarming Voice, Togetic’s new typing may prove tricky for Palkia to outmaneuver.