How to Get Dialga in Pokémon Diamond

Reviewed by Ishrak

Last Updated: February 8, 2025

Dialga is the main legend for Pokémon Diamond. Without it, you are not the Pokémon master you could be. Are your healing potions at the ready?

Steps

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After you defeat the seventh Gym, Cyrus will have captured the Lake Trio (Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit) and taken them to the Galactic Building in Veilstone City to extract their red gems to make a red chain in order to summon Dialga.
You'll need to battle any Galactic Grunts on your way until you find your way to the lab where Cyrus is. Battle and defeat Cyrus. He will tell you to go to the warp panel that leads to the Lake Trio and to save them. He'll then give you a Master Ball, then head to Mt. Coronet to finish what he started. Locate Saturn and he'll challenge you to a battle. Press the button to free the Lake Trio after defeating him. They will float off from their prison and Saturn will flee to Mt. Coronet. Take the green warp panel to get out of the building quickly.

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Coronet. Don't be confused by the maze-like format. You need to find the right way, defeating the Galactic Grunts along your way there. You need Surf, Rock Climb, Strength, and Rock Smash to get to the top of Mt. Coronet (Spear Pillar).
You'll then see Cyrus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars all together. Cyrus will summon Dialga (or Palkia if you have the Pearl version) and you will see some pretty interesting animation sequences for this.
Mars will challenge you to a battle. Your rival will suddenly arrive and battle Jupiter and it becomes a double battle. After defeating them, your rival will heal your Pokémon for you. You'll then see Dialga starting to form a new universe under Cyrus' control. The Legendary Trio arrives and destroys the Red Chain, which destroys Cyrus' control.
Defeat him like you have done with all the other Galactic Team members. After defeating him, Team Galactic will disappear. Professor Rowan and Dawn (or Lucas if your character is a girl) will arrive and tell you to help Dialga who is now unable to control itself. You can do this by capturing it (recommended) or defeating it.

Community Q&A

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Question

What are Dialga's moves in Pokemon Diamond?

Community Answer

Dialog's moves are ancient power, dragon claw, metal claw and his signature move- the Roar of Time.

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Can I catch Dialga without a master ball?

Juliet Faye

Community Answer

Although it will be far more complicated without a master ball, you just need some high-grade Pokeballs, lower Dialga's health as much as you can, and binge throw with powerful Pokemon standing ground in the field.

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Can you catch both a Palkia and a Dialga?

Community Answer

In Pokemon versions Diamond and Pearl, it is impossible to get both. To get both legendaries, try playing Pokemon Platinum.

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Tips

Dialga is Level 47 in Diamond. He also has a very powerful move called Roar of Time (Palkia in Pearl has Spacial Rend.) Make sure to save before battling him (you have a chance to before you go to him, so don't worry) in case you end up defeated or you make it faint. Despite being a powerful legendary, Dialga actually has the same catch rate as a Chatot. Ultra Balls or Dusk Balls are recommended. If you are in the battle for a long time, a timer ball might work. If it's the start of a battle, you could try a quick ball too, just in case. Make sure you save your Master ball.

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Recommended Poké Balls are Quick Balls for the first three turns of the battle, because they sometimes work. Timer Balls are good if you are in the battle for a long time. Ultra Balls and Dusk Balls are the best to use if you are in between and have got it down to pretty low health.

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Make sure to heal up with healing items and save before you go to Dialga.

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Warnings

Don't get frustrated if you are having trouble catching Dialga. Just turn off the game if you saved before going to it. Then take a break and try again later.

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Things You'll Need

Pokémon Diamond game card
A Ground or Fighting type Pokémon (not required, but helpful).
Any Nintendo DS model
About 20 Ultraballs (if nighttime, use Dusk balls, which are not required, but helpful).
Time and Patience.