How to get Arceus in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl explained

How to get Arceus in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

If you want to catch Arecus in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you first need to meet three requirements.

The first is to have a save file for Pokémon Legends: Arceus on your Nintendo Switch where you've completed all of the main missions. This includes the post-game missions and, if you'd like to know where you are in the main campaign, visit our Pokémon Legends: Arceus walkthrough.

Secondly, in either Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you need to have entered the Hall of Fame by defeating the Elite Four and unlocked the National Pokédex. If you're yet to complete the main campaign, visit our Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl walkthrough.

Finally, you must download Version 1.3.0 for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, which went live on Tuesday, 15th March. It should automatically download onto your Nintendo Switch if it's connected to the Internet.

If this has not occurred, make sure your console is connected to the Internet and then press the '+' button when selecting either Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl from the main menu. Here you'll find the option to perform a software update either via the Internet or by matching your current version with local users.

Once you've met these requirements, start either Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl and visit your house in Twinleaf Town. Here, in your room on the top floor, you'll find the Azure Flute next to the Nintendo Switch.

After picking up the Azure Flute, stock up on health items and your preferred Poké Balls before visiting Spear Pillar atop Mount Coronet. Upon arrival, you'll be prompted to play the Azure Flute and doing so will cause a staircase to appear.

Arceus is awaiting you at the top of these stairs and, since this Pokémon is not shiny locked, this is the perfect place to save if you're shiny hunting.

Arceus will be Level 80 and, since it's a normal-type Pokémon, it's weak to fighting-type attacks. Be careful though - you don't want Arceus to faint!

We recommend using a Pokémon which is both below Level 80 and can target Arceus' weaknesses, so you can safely decrease its health. It's also a good idea to either paralyse or put Arceus to sleep to reduce its ability to attack you.

Finally, Ultra Balls are a good choice of Poké Ball, but, if you still have it, you could always use the Master Ball. Though, you may want to keep it in case you encounter a shiny Pokémon!

Good luck catching Arceus!