How to Evolve Kadabra into Alakazam in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Since the very first generation of Pokémon games, a handful of Pokémon have only been able to reach their peak evolutionary forms through the act of two trainers trading them. In-universe, this is explained away as some kind of minor radiation absorbed during the trading process. Out of universe, it was a mild annoyance, as it required you to convince your parents to buy you a link cable. Thankfully, link cables aren’t a thing anymore, nor do you need to be right next to someone to trade with them, so the process is much simpler. Case in point, here’s how to evolve Kadabra into Alakazam in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

As my little lead-in no doubt tipped you off, Alakazam is one of the few Pokémon that can only be obtained through a trade evolution. It’s a chore, but one certainly worth undertaking, as Alakazam is one of the strongest pure Psychic types in the entire National PokèDex, with a raw DPS potential beaten out only by legendary Psychic types like Mewtwo. If you want to get one, you’ll need to evolve an Abra into a Kadabra, then find a trusted friend to perform a trade with.

How to Evolve Kadabra into Alakazam in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

To evolve Kadabra into Alakazam in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl:

1. Evolve an Abra into a Kadabra and bring it with you to a Union Room at a Pokémon Center
2. Arrange to trade the Kadabra for any other Pokémon with another trainer.
3. Kadabra will evolve into Alakazam immediately following the trade, at which point you just need to trade back.

Setting up trades is simple; just take the escalator up to the second floor of any Pokémon Center to visit the Union Room, where you can trade with folks either near you or elsewhere in the world. You should arrange to do this with someone you know and trust, however, just to ensure they don’t run off with your Pokémon.

When you’ve got your trade partner, simply offer up your Kadabra in exchange for any old Pokémon and perform the trade. The Kadabra will immediately evolve into an Alakazam on your trade partner’s side. Once that’s done, just swap ‘em back, and you’ve got your Alakazam.

For more helpful guides like this one, you can check out our website’s Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl section.