How to get Shaymin and Oak's Letter in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

How to get Oak's Letter in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Before you can get Oak's Letter in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you must ensure you've unlocked the Mystery Gift feature.

After doing, or if you already, have Mystery Gift unlocked, make sure you download Oak's Letter before Sunday, 27th March. Once this date has passed, you'll no longer be able to receive Oak's Letter and, in turn, Shaymin.

Finally, you will need an Internet connection to download Oak's Letter, but, thankfully, you don't need a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

It's important to note that, while you can only catch Shaymin during the post-game, you can download Oak's Letter at any point in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Due to this, we highly recommend getting Oak's Letter no matter your progress in the game, so you don't lose your chance to catch Shaymin.

When you're ready, download Oak's Letter by following these steps:

1. Start Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl
2. Begin playing the game and open the X menu
3. Select 'Mystery Gift'
4. Select 'Get via Internet' and connect to the Internet
5. Select 'Oak's Letter' from the gift list
6. Oak's Letter will now appear in the Key Items pocket of your inventory

We recommend saving your game after you've downloaded Oak's Letter.

It’s time to revisit Sinnoh! Our now complete Diamond and Pearl walkthrough to the main story is where to start. Your journey begins with selecting your starter Pokémon near Twinleaf Town, before visiting Sandgem Town and Jubilife City. To become a Pokémon Master, you need to defeat the Gym Leaders in Oreburgh City, Eterna City, Veilstone City, Pastoria City and Hearthome City, along with three others.

Aside from badges, you’ll want to grab Mystery Gift codes, complete the Sinnoh Pokédex by using Honey Trees, visiting the Great Marsh and the Pokémon Hideaways in the Grand Underground. Take the time to catch Gible, Spiritomb andDrifloon! Finally, you can now catch Arceus.

How to get Shaymin in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

To get Shaymin in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you must first unlock the National Pokédex.

Once you've done this, you need to visit Route 224. This area is only accessible during the post-game, but, since you've already got the National Pokédex, it will already be open to you.

The easiest way to reach Route 224 is to fly to the Pokémon League and, from here, enter Victory Road.

Within Victory Road, you need to cross the bridge directly south of the entrance and go down the climbable rocks. From there, follow the path north and go up the stairs near the trainer.

Next, climb the stairs and follow the path eastward until you come to an entrance, which you need to go through. Head through this new tunnel to reach an area which requires you to use Defog to proceed.

If this is the first time you've visited this cavern, you'll be met by Marley who will accompany you to the exit. If you've met her before, then you'll have to go it alone.

Either way, there are two routes through this cavern - the high road, which involves more trainer battles if you're with Marley, or the low road, which avoids most of these fights. Whichever route you take will bring you to the cavern's exit where Marley will depart if you've been travelling with her.

Leave the cavern and go up the stairs to reach Route 224.

Now that you've finally on Route 224, head north-east until you see a small beach. Run along said beach, until you can head north and, by following this path, you'll find Professor Oak standing in front of a stone tablet.

Talk to Professor Oak and he'll ask you who you'd like to thank for helping you on your journey throughout the Sinnoh region. Your answer doesn't affect whether or not Shaymin will appear, but it will be recorded on the stone tablet.

Shaymin will appear once you've given your answer, but quickly run away out of fright by up the Seabreak Path. All you have to do now is run up the surprisingly long Seabreak Path until you reach Flower Paradise where Shaymin resides.

Shaymin is a Level 30 grass-type Pokémon and we highly recommend saving your game before battling it.

Since Shaymin is Level 30, it's a good idea to include some Pokémon around this level in your team to avoid accidentally knocking it out. As a grass-type Pokémon, Shaymin is weak to bug, fire, flying, ice and poison-type moves. You can also try paralysing or putting Shaymin to sleep to make it easier to catch.

How to get Sky Forme Shaymin and the Gracidea in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

After catching Shaymin, you'll be able to transform it into Sky Forme Shaymin by collecting the Gracidea in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

To do this, you first need to ensure Shaymin is in your team and then visit Floaroma Town. Once there, talk to the woman near the signpost just above the Pokémon Centre.

She'll give you the Gracidea, which can be found in the Key Items pocket of your inventory.

When selecting the Gracidea in your inventory, it will give you the opportunity to use it on Shaymin and, doing so, will transform this Pokémon into its grass and flying-type Sky Forme.

It's important to note that the Gracidea can only be used between 5am to 8pm and will not work if Shaymin is frozen. This transformation will also revert if you place Shaymin in storage and then remove it.

Good luck catching Shaymin in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl!