Trading is a game mechanic as old as the Pokémon games themselves. Here’s how to do it in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, as well as where to find trades.

How to Trade¶

There are three main ways to trade.

Local Trading¶

After you earn your first Gym badge, you can head to the basement of the Pokémon Center and speak to a nurse to enter the Union Room. After that, you can press ‘Y’ to access it from anywhere.

This will allow you to trade with people on your local network. You can press ‘Y’ inside the room and select ‘Trade’ or ‘Battle’. Then speak to someone with a speech bubble over their head, as this means they want to do the same.

Online Trading¶

Online trading works the same way, but you will have to access the Global Room from inside the Union Room. You will need a Nintendo Switch Online Subscription to do this.

NPC Trades¶

The other way to trade is by meeting NPCs who are willing to trade one of their Pokémon for yours! They will be very specific in their wants and needs, however.

Trading Evolutions¶

Some Pokémon only evolve by evolution. For this, you’ll have to find a friend willing to trade to ensure you get the Pokémon you want. These Pokémon are as follows.

If an item is required, the Pokémon being traded should hold it to complete the evolution.