This page explains how to encounter and catch Mesprit in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).

Mesprit is a member of the Legendary trio of Sinnoh–the guardian of Lake Verity. After crushing Cyrus’s dreams at the Spear Pillar, Mesprit will be chilling in Verity Cavern, in the center of Lake Verity. After interacting with Mesprit in the cavern, you might expect a straightforward battle. But no siree!

How to Track Mesprit¶

Instead, Mesprit will begin roaming the various routes of Sinnoh, akin to the Legendary dogs in Pokémon Gold and Silver or Latios/Latias in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. How it works is that Mesprit will begin on a random route. Each time you move to a different area, Mesprit will randomly move to an adjacent route. Using HM Fly will change Mesprit’s starting point, so it’s generally better to keep traveling on foot.

To easily keep track of Mesprit’s movements, you can use the Marking Map app on your Pokétch. You can receive this app from the Pokétch president at the ground floor of the Pokétch Company building in Jubilife City, after getting your 3rd badge.

Annoyingly, even if Mesprit is currently in your route, there’s a good chance you’ll keep encountering the regular wild Pokémon there. If you encounter too many other Pokémon, it’s even possible for Mesprit to move to a different area…

Alternatively, you could lead with a Level 50 or lower Pokémon and apply a Repel item. That way, you’re guaranteed to encounter Mesprit. However, the Pokémon that you lead with is very important, as we’ll discuss next, and it might not be convenient for them to be Level 50 or lower.

Preparation¶

Before we approach the fight, you need to know that Mesprit will attempt to flee on the first turn. It will do this at the end of the turn–and even if it’s asleep… Your first priority is to stop it from fleeing, or else you’ll have to waste all that effort to track the bugger down again. There are multiple ways to achieve this, thankfully.

One, you could use a Pokémon that knows Mean Look or Block. After using one of those moves, Mesprit cannot flee unless your Pokémon faints or you switch it out.

In Brilliant Diamond, the Murkrow line can learn Mean Look; also they’re Dark-type and thus take no damage from Mesprit. We suggest teaching them Thunder Wave via TM73, obtained from the postgame Battle Park or randomly from the Small Sphere traders in the Grand Underground.

Shining Pearl players have Sableye, which is also a Dark-type with access to Mean Look, but only after obtaining the National Pokédex (generally only possible during the postgame). Unfortunately, Sableye has no way to inflict paralysis or sleep. So we wouldn’t recommend it, but the option exists.

Besides that, there’s Snorlax that can learn Block. You can catch a Munchlax from the Grand Underground after obtaining Defog. Then stuff its belly with friendship-boosting berries or other means to evolve it into Snorlax. Conveniently, Snorlax can learn Yawn, to make Mesprit fall asleep. It can also use Amnesia and Rest to survive Mesprit’s attacks.

Meanwhile, the Bronzor line (from the Grand Underground or Mt. Coronet) can also learn Block and, rather nicely, they take a quarter damage from Mesprit. Additionally, they can learn Hypnosis to put Mesprit to sleep (low accuracy, but you can use X. Accuracy). Of the lot, Bronzor/Bronzong is probably the easiest to bring along.

Two, you could field a Pokémon with the Shadow Tag ability. Only Wobbuffet and Wynaut have this though–and they’re not that reliable at weakening Mesprit. However, you could send them out during subsequent encounters, after you’ve brought down Mesprit to low HP and inflicted paralysis etc. during the initial encounter.

Now you might be wondering, are there any Pokémon that can simulatenously learn Mean Look/Block and False Swipe, so you can safely chip away at Mesprit? Yes, but it’ll take some effort.

Gallade can learn False Swipe via TM and Mean Look by breeding with the Gastly line etc. This will require hatching a male Ralts, training it and then using a Dawn Stone. Also, Gallade will take neutral damage from Mesprit. However, you can increase its bulk by spamming X Sp. Def. Gallade also has access to Hypnosis to put Mesprit to sleep.

Similarly, Absol can learn False Swipe via TM and Mean Look by breeding with Umbreon or a Smeargle that’s sketched Mean Look. This is only viable during the postgame though, as both Eevee and Smeargle require the National Pokédex. However, if you can wait, Absol happens to be a Dark-type and can thus shrug off Mesprit’s attacks. You can teach it Thunder Wave via TM too.

Legendary Pokémon¶

Of the lake trio, Mesprit is the balanced one. It has all-around good stats, not excelling in anything. For attacks, it shares Psychic, Extrasensory and Imprison with its brethren. The former two deal STAB damage, while the latter prevents your Pokémon from using moves that Mesprit knows. It’s also got Charm to greatly lower your Attack.

From the start, use your preferred means of preventing Mesprit from escaping. This will likely be a Pokémon with Mean Look or Block. Then work on reducing Mesprit’s HP and/or applying a status condition to slow it down. False Swipe is ideal, but your escape-blocking Pokémon might be unable to use it. If you don’t have False Swipe, use your best judgement.

Once Mesprit is suitably weak, it’s time to unleash your balls. As a reminder, Ultra Balls are always good. If the fight’s been dragging for over 10 turns, Timer Balls are great. Meanwhile, if it’s Night, you can try flinging some Dusk Balls. Quick Balls are too risky to use, unless this is your second encounter and Wobbuffet is out. It’s very tempting to use the Master Ball too, but Mesprit isn’t the only roamer.