How to Unlock & Catch Arceus

Learn the exact requirements to unlock Arceus in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, where to find it, and how to catch the mythical Pokemon.

Alright, so you've heard about Arceus, the ultimate Pokémon, and you're wondering how to get your hands on it in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl? It's definitely not a simple side quest; you'll need to meet a few pretty specific conditions first. Think of it as a final test after you've conquered the main game!

Here's what you need to have locked down before you can even think about chasing Arceus:

1. Latest Software Version: First things first, make sure your game is updated to Version 1.3.0 or higher. If your Switch is online, it usually handles this automatically, but you can always double-check in your System Settings.
2. Save Data from Pokémon Legends Arceus: This is a big one. You'll need save data from Pokémon Legends Arceus on the same Nintendo Account, and crucially, you must have completed Mission 27 in that game. That means you'll have had to obtain *every* Pokémon in that game – no small feat!
3. Defeated the Pokémon League: Yep, you need to be in the postgame. That means beating the Elite Four and Champion and officially entering the Hall of Fame.
4. National Pokédex: You'll need to have seen all 150 Pokémon native to the Sinnoh region. Don't panic, this is easier than it sounds, and there are plenty of guides to help you fill it out.

Once all those stars align, head back to your room in Twinleaf Town. You should find a mysterious item near the stairs – it's the Azure Flute! Grab it, because this is your ticket to finding Arceus.

Where to Find Arceus

With the Azure Flute in your possession, it's time to make your way to the Spear Pillar, located at the very top of Mt. Coronet. A good route is to fly to Oreburgh City, then head north into Route 207, and finally east towards Mt. Coronet. If you're a bit fuzzy on the path to the Spear Pillar, starting from Mt. Coronet is your best bet. If you use Repels, you can probably get there in about 5 minutes.

When you reach the Spear Pillar and step onto the square panel near the entrance, you'll be prompted to play the Azure Flute. Go ahead and play it! A staircase made of light will appear before you. Walk up those stairs, and there Arceus will be, waiting at the top.

How to Catch Arceus

As soon as you reach the top of the light staircase, a battle with Arceus will begin. Be prepared, because this isn't just any wild Pokémon encounter!

Arceus Battle Details

Arceus is Level 80, making it the highest-level wild Pokémon you'll encounter. While you don't need to be Level 80 yourself, being close to it will definitely help. The higher your level, the better your chances!

Arceus has a few key moves you need to watch out for:

• Hyper Beam: This is its strongest attack, but it requires a recharge turn afterward. If you can survive this hit, it's a great window to attack Arceus while it's vulnerable.
• Future Sight: This attack hits two turns after it's declared, so keep that in mind for your strategy.
• Recover: This is probably the most frustrating move, as it heals Arceus for half of its HP, potentially dragging the battle out.
• Healing Wish: This move isn't actually used in this battle, so don't worry about it.

To survive Arceus's powerful STAB Hyper Beam, a resistant Pokémon is a good idea. Steel-types are excellent choices since they resist both Normal and Fighting (if it had any STAB moves). Dark and Ghost-types are also good because they're immune to one of Arceus's potential STABs and take neutral damage from the other. Spiritomb, if you have one, is immune to both, but it's quite rare.

The biggest challenge here is Arceus's Recover move. There's not much you can do to prevent it, so your best bet is to hope it uses its other moves more often. You can try to inflict paralysis early on to potentially reduce its turns. If you're using a Pokémon with False Swipe, consider boosting its Attack with moves like X. Attack or Swords Dance to speed up the process.

Your main goal is to get Arceus's HP as low as possible, ideally while it's afflicted with a status condition like paralysis. Once it's weakened, start throwing your best Poké Balls. Ultra Balls are a solid, reliable choice. Timer Balls are also effective if the battle goes on for more than 10 turns.

Changing Arceus's Form

Once you've caught Arceus, you can change its type! If you give Arceus a Plate item, which you can find in the Grand Underground, Arceus will change its type to match the Plate. For example, holding the Sky Plate will turn Arceus into a Flying-type. This makes Arceus incredibly versatile, allowing it to be virtually any type in the game!