How to get Shaymin in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

In the olden days of the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, certain Legendary Pokémon could not be obtained without special event items. These items would unlock special quests and areas where certain Legendaries could be found. Besides trading, this was the only way to obtain these particular Pokémon for a long time, which is why it was so frustrating that many of the event items weren’t widely circulated, at least in the western market. You would have to be near a registered game retailer like a GameStop, happen to know if they’re doing an item distribution, and drag yourself all the way over there to get it.

This is, unfortunately, a quirk that has carried over to Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Several Legendary Pokémon are still locked behind event items, and while distributing the items will probably be a little more user-friendly this time around, we don’t know when precisely the items will be available. However, thanks to the endless tinkering of the playerbase, we do have a lead on a… less-than-savory method of obtaining at least one event Legendary, Shaymin. Here’s how to get Shaymin in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Like the other event Pokémon, Shaymin is normally locked behind the event item Oak’s Letter, which would grant you passage to Shaymin’s secret home, the Flower Paradise. However, players have uncovered a glitch that, when performed correctly, will get you into Flower Paradise for a Shaymin encounter.

Before we get into this glitch, a word of caution: as this method requires glitching out the game, there is a distinct possibility that employing it, whether properly or improperly, could wreck your save file. There is no way to make separate backups of your save data on a Switch (at least that I know of), so know that you undertake a level of risk in pursuing Shaymin in this manner.

How to get Shaymin in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Firstly, there are a few requirements you need to have fulfilled (or not fulfilled in one case). 

• Obtain the National Dex by registering all 150 Sinnoh-native Pokémon
• Have access to Route 224, to the east of Victory Road
• You need to have NOT battled the Trainer Black Belt Carl on Route 224. If you’ve already fought and beaten him, you’re out of luck

Walk through Route 224 until you come across the Black Belt, Carl, walking in a circle. Do not fight him yet. Walk past him and defeat the three trainers that are stationed ahead of him. Afterwards, save your game. You need to have Carl engage you in a very specific spot. Stand in spot in the following image and face the water until Carl engages you. The moment he sees you, start mashing the A button.

If you timed your button press correctly, after you beat Carl, you should immediately get a prompt to use Surf, even though you’re not facing the water. If you don’t get the prompt, reload your save and try again. If you do get it, click yes to start surfing, and save your game.

You’ll be surfing right on top of Carl. Gently tilt the stick upwards (and make sure you use the stick, as the D-pad will move you too quickly) to move past Carl. If you move too quickly, you’ll dismount and have to reload your save. Once you’re past Carl, carefully maneuver your way through the next area until you’re up and past the Dragon Tamer Trainer. Your character model should be a bit clipped into the ground, like this:

Move into the left side of the stairs until your character model is completely obscured. Save your game and close the game software entirely. Open the game back up and your character should be hovering slightly. Save your game and close the software again. When you load up again, you should be hovering above the stairs while still surfing. Float downwards past the column of trees, then to the left past the rocks in the water. It’s okay to stop surfing here, as you’ll be walking on the water.

Walk as far up and right as you can until you hit an invisible wall. Facing to the right, use Surf on the water. The game will inform you you’ve entered Seabreak Path; you’re on the right track.

Move a little bit to the right while surfing, then face north and dismount. You’ll be able to start walking to the north through the level boundary. Get comfortable, as you’re going to be walking for about 40 seconds.

Eventually, you’ll pass through the boundary and end up in Flower Paradise. Walk up to Shaymin and save your game before interacting with it. At this point, you can encounter and catch it like normal, and when you’re done, you can leave Flower Paradise with Fly.

How to get Gracidea in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Once you’ve gotten Shaymin, don’t forget to pay a visit to Floaroma Town. There’s a blonde woman hanging out near a signpost, and if you talk to her, she’ll give you the Gracidea, a key item that, when used on Shaymin from your inventory, will swap it between its Grass type Land Forme and Grass/Flying type Sky Forme. 

That’s everything you need to know about how to get Shaymin in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, as well as how to get the Gracidea to swap between its forms.