Pokemon Diamond and Pearl In-Game Tiers
- Introduction
- High Tier
- Middle Tier
- Low Tier
- Bottom Tier
The best possible Pokemon for an in-game team are the ones that are obtained at the start of the game, can OHKO enemies easily, take little damage from nearly any enemy, can learn many HMs, can heal themselves, can learn useful moves upon level up, don't need excessive TMs, and have a useful ability. Such a Pokemon doesn't exist, of course, but this means that Pokemon closer to this ideal are obviously the best ones to use.
The goal of this in-game tier list is to recommend a select group of Pokemon for an efficient run through the game. The ones that fit most of the above requirements are placed in the high tier. Very inefficient Pokemon will be put in the low tier. Things that are neither efficient nor inefficient, for example Pokemon that have some opportunity costs but don't end up as good as high tiered ones, will be put in the middle tier.
Don't confuse an efficient run with a speed run. Speed runs are often ones that are segmented and recorded with luck manipulation through resets, and aim for the absolute fastest time recorded, but the real time spent on them is usually much more. Just assume you want to play through in a relatively fast time frame. The most efficient team size for these runs is only one member, but if one doesn't assume something more like 3 members, the resulting in-game tier lists become incredibly centralized around Pokemon you get early on in the game rather than anything encountered later on. Also note when reading through this guide that some of the moves and abilities listed for a Pokemon may only be obtained by their evolutions. Some Pokemon may be placed in higher tiers due to their evolutions capabilities as well.
Abra
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has very high Special Attack and Speed stats, however, needs to be traded to fully evolve.
Azelf
Availability: Late
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Very wide
Additional Comments: Although it is available very late in the game it is available at a high level of 50 which compensates for this. Also has very high Attack, Special Attack, and Speed stats.
Bidoof
Availability: Very Early
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Wide
Additional Comments: Very useful in-game Pokemon because it learns a vast amount of HMs, such as Cut, Rock Climb, Rock Smash, Strength, Surf, and Waterfall.
Buizel
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has high Attack and Speed stats.
Chimchar
Availability: Beginning
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Very wide
Additional Comments: Has great offensive stats, a high Speed stat, and learns a vast amount of TMs and useful moves upon level up.
Cranidos (Diamond Only)
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has an incredibly high Attack stat capable of OHKOing many Pokemon.
Dialga (Diamond Only)
Availability: End
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Is only available once you have completed the game.
Gastly
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Wide
Additional Comments: Has a very high Special Attack and Speed stat, however, needs to be traded to fully evolve.
Machop
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Average
Additional Comments: Has a very high Attack stat and good defenses, learns useful STAB attacks upon level up, and has a useful ability in No Guard. However, it needs to be traded to fully evolve.
Palkia (Pearl Only)
Availability: End
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Wide
Additional Comments: Is only available once you have completed the game.
Piplup
Availability: Beginning
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has a good typing and has a high Special Attack stat.
Shinx
Availability: Very Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has great offensive stats and a useful ability in Intimidate.
Starly
Availability: Very Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Wide
Additional Comments: Has a very high Attack and Speed stat and learns powerful moves upon level up such as Close Combat and Brave Bird.
Turtwig
Availability: Beginning
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has a high Attack stat and learns powerful moves upon level up such as Earthquake and Wood Hammer.
Bronzor
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has great defensive stats, great typing, learns Hypnosis upon level up, and has useful abilities.
Croagunk
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has a high Attack stat and useful ability in Dry Skin.
Magikarp
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Despite being useless as a Magikarp, once it evolves it is an incredibly useful Pokemon. Gyarados has a very high Attack stat, great defenses, learns Dragon Dance upon level up, and has a useful ability in Intimidate. However, it has a poor level up movepool and relies on HMs and TMs.
Marill
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has an incredibly high Attack stat with the ability Huge Power and has good bulk.
Meditite
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has an extremely high Attack stat with the ability Huge Power capable of OHKOing Pokemon easily. However, it has a poor level up movepool.
Misdreavus (Pearl only)
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has above average Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats.
Murkrow (Diamond only)
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has very high Attack and Special Attack stats.
Pikachu
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Wide
Additional Comments: Has an above average Attack, Special Attack, and Speed stat, and learns a wide variety of moves through TM.
Ponyta
Availability: Early
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Very shallow
Additional Comments: One of the few Fire-types in the game if you don't choose Chimchar as a starter; however, has a shallow movepool outside of Fire-type attacks.
Shellos
Availability: Early
Stats: Average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has a very high HP stat, above average defenses, and learns Recover upon level up.
Bonsly
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average stats and a shallow movepool.
Budew
Availability: Early
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has poor offensive stats as a pre-evolution and has a shallow movepool outside of Grass-type attacks. However, outside of Turtwig, it is the best Grass-type in-game.
Buneary
Availability: Early
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average offensive stats.
Chatot
Availability: Late
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average offensive stats, a shallow movepool, and is available late in the game.
Clefairy
Availability: Early
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Very wide
Additional Comments: Has decent stats all-round and a very wide movepool, but its movepool relies on TMs.
Drifloon
Availability: Early
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool and is only available on one day of the week (Friday).
Geodude
Availability: Early
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has a bad typing, low Speed stat, and needs to be traded to be fully evolved.
Gible
Availability: Late
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game and evolves at a high level of 48.
Girafarig
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool and below average offensive stats.
Glameow (Pearl only)
Availability: Late
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Below average offensive stats and a shallow movepool outside of Normal-type attacks.
Hoothoot
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average offensive stats and a shallow movepool.
Mesprit
Availability: Late
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Very wide
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game and must be found in the wild randomly to be captured.
Psyduck
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average stats and a shallow movepool.
Stunky (Diamond only)
Availability: Late
Stats: Average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Has high HP and Attack stats and learns useful moves upon level up; however, it is found quite late in the game.
Uxie
Availability: Late
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Despite having excellent defensive stats, its offensive stats are quite poor.
Wingull
Availability: Late
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average offensive stats and a shallow movepool, but learns 3 useful HMs in Fly, Surf, and Defog.
Wooper
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average offensive stats and a shallow movepool, but has good defenses and a useful ability in Water Absorb.
Zubat
Availability: Early
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has poor offensive stats and a shallow movepool.
Aipom
Availability: Early
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Only capturable from honey trees (which takes 6 hours for a Pokemon to appear), has a low encounter rate, and you would have to rely on luck to find one.
Barboach
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average offensive stats.
Burmy
Availability: Early
Stats: Poor
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Only capturable from honey trees (which takes 6 hours for a Pokemon to appear), has poor stats overall, and has a shallow movepool.
Carnivine
Availability: Late
Stats: Decent
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game and has a shallow movepool outside of Grass-type attacks.
Chansey
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Very shallow
Additional Comments: Has very poor offensive stats, a very shallow movepool, and very low Defense and offensive stats.
Cherubi
Availability: Early
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Only capturable from honey trees (which takes 6 hours for a Pokemon to appear), has below average offensive stats, and a shallow movepool outside of Grass-type attacks.
Chingling
Availability: Early
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has poor offensive stats and a shallow movepool.
Combee
Availability: Early
Stats: Poor
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Only capturable from honey trees (which takes 6 hours for a Pokemon to appear), has a shallow movepool, and has poor offensive stats.
Feebas
Availability: Late
Stats: Very poor
Movepool: Very shallow
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game, too hard to capture, too hard to evolve, and practically useless until it does evolve.
Finneon
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Poor
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has poor offensive stats and a shallow movepool outside of Water-type attacks.
Goldeen
Availability: Late
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average stats and a shallow movepool.
Heracross
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Wide
Additional Comments: Only capturable from honey trees (which takes 6 hours for a Pokemon to appear), has a low encounter rate, and you would have to rely on luck to find one.
Hippopotas
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Poor
Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool and an ability that hinders the rest of the team.
Kricketot
Availability: Early
Stats: Poor
Movepool: Very shallow
Additional Comments: Has very poor stats besides its Attack stat, has a very shallow movepool, and is useless until it evolves.
Mantyke
Availability: Late
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game and has below average offensive stats.
Mime Jr.
Availability: Mid-game
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has a shallow level-up movepool outside of Psychic-type attacks.
Munchlax
Availability: Early
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Wide
Additional Comments: Only capturable from honey trees (which takes 6 hours for a Pokemon to appear), only has a 1% chance of appearing, and is only available on certain trees which depend on your ID/SID combination.
Onix
Availability: Early
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool and poor Speed and Special Defense stats.
Pachirisu
Availability: Early
Stats: Poor
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has poor stats overall and a shallow movepool.
Remoraid
Availability: Late
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game and has below average offensive stats.
Riolu
Availability: Late
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Obtained too late in the game and at too low of a level.
Shieldon
Availability: Early
Stats: Below average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Has below average offensive stats and a terrible typing.
Skorupi
Availability: Late
Stats: Average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game and has a shallow movepool.
Sneasel
Availability: Late
Stats: Above average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game and has a shallow movepool.
Snover
Availability: Late
Stats: Average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game and has an ability that hinders the rest of the team.
Spiritomb
Availability: Early
Stats: Average
Movepool: Shallow
Additional Comments: Very hard to obtain since it can only be caught once 32 people have been talked to in the underground over Wi-Fi.
Tentacool
Availability: Late
Stats: Average
Movepool: Decent
Additional Comments: Available too late in the game.
Wurmple
Availability: Early
Stats: Poor
Movepool: Very shallow
Additional Comments: Has poor stats overall and has a shallow movepool.
