Complete guide to obtaining Arceus in BDSP with battle strategies and preparation tips
Understanding the Arceus Challenge
Seeking to add the legendary Arceus to your Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl roster? This comprehensive guide delivers proven strategies for successfully encountering and capturing this Mythical Pokemon.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl trainers can now pursue Arceus through the 1.3.0 update, marking a significant post-game opportunity for dedicated players.
Known as the ‘Original One’ within Pokemon lore, Arceus represents the pinnacle of Mythical Pokemon encounters. This deity-level creature allegedly shaped the entire Pokemon universe, making it one of the most coveted additions to any trainer’s collection. The arrival of update 1.3.0 on March 15, 2022, at 6pm PDT finally enabled this long-awaited feature, though several specific conditions must be fulfilled before the encounter becomes accessible.
Essential Preparation Steps
The Pokemon Company
The Spear Pillar serves as the sacred ground where Arceus manifests once you possess the Azure Flute. Before attempting to capture Arceus in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, you must first conquer the main storyline by defeating Champion Cynthia and securing entry into the Hall of Fame. Following this achievement, visit Professor Oak to acquire the National Pokedex. Crucially, you’ll need both the 1.3.0 game update installed and a completed Pokemon Legends: Arceus save file on your Nintendo Switch system where all primary narrative missions are finished.
Once these conditions are satisfied, the mystical Azure Flute will materialize within your bedroom. Retrieve this sacred instrument, then journey to the Spear Pillar summit atop Mount Coronet to initiate your confrontation with the Mythical Arceus. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the sequential requirements for encountering Arceus in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl:
Battle Strategy and Capture Tactics
Experienced trainers strongly recommend creating a manual save before engaging Arceus in combat, as this legendary encounter represents a single opportunity—if you accidentally defeat it without capture, the chance is permanently lost! The original Japanese announcement specified that trainers must have either Dialga or Palkia present to summon Arceus, though English documentation omitted this detail. Given this regional discrepancy, including one of these legendary Pokemon provides insurance against potential encounter blocking mechanics.
For optimal capture success, prepare a team featuring Pokemon with sleep-inducing moves like Hypnosis or Sleep Powder, as status conditions significantly improve catch rates. Arceus possesses a base catch rate of 3, identical to most legendary Pokemon, making it considerably challenging to capture. Stock up on Ultra Balls, Timer Balls (increasingly effective in prolonged battles), and consider Dusk Balls since the Spear Pillar qualifies as a cave environment. Bringing a Pokemon with the False Swipe move ensures you can reduce Arceus to 1 HP without accidental knockout.
Expert Strategies and Common Pitfalls
Advanced trainers should consider bringing a Synchronize Pokemon at the front of their party to influence Arceus’s nature—particularly valuable given Arceus’s versatility across multiple type specialties through its Plates. Common mistakes include forgetting to save beforehand, insufficient ball inventory, and lacking status-inflicting moves. Remember that fainting Arceus ends the encounter permanently, unlike other legendary Pokemon that respawn after defeating the Elite Four again.
Successfully captured Arceus becomes an incredibly versatile team member, capable of changing types via its held Plates and boasting balanced base stats of 120 across all categories. The Arceus captured in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl can be transferred to Pokemon HOME and potentially used in future Pokemon titles, making this encounter valuable beyond the immediate gameplay experience.
Now that you understand the Arceus capture process, explore our additional Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl resources: All Rare Candy locations | Where to find Cresselia | How to get the National Pokedex | Best starter to pick | Beating all Gym Leaders | How to get all Sinnoh starters | Best ways to make money | How to unlock Mystery Gifts | How to get Eevee | How to get Leafeon | How to get Glaceon | How to get Umbreon & Espeon | Where to catch Spiritomb | How to get Riolu & Lucario | All trade evolutions
Pokemon Go: All Legendary Pokemon & how to catch them (2026)
Pokemon Legends Z-A players filling world with Shiny Pokemon thanks to bench reset method
Pokemon Go: All Mythical Pokemon & how to catch them (2026)
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » How to get Arceus in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Complete guide to obtaining Arceus in BDSP with battle strategies and preparation tips