Pokémon Brilliant Diamond And Shining Pearl: How To Get Cresselia

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl launched for Nintendo Switch in November 2021 and fans eager to jump back into the Sinnoh region have been (re)catching their favourite Pokémon. There are also plenty of Legendary Pokémon to catch, some of more difficult than others.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to get Cresselia in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

How to get Cresselia in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Complete the Sinnoh Dex

Firstly, you’ll need to complete the Sinnoh Pokédex. Thankfully, this can be done with one copy of the game, and in one playthrough. All you need to do is to see one of every Pokémon, not catch them, and this can all be achieved during the course of the normal game.

If you’re struggling to see the box legendary of the other copy, Dialga or Palkia, speak to Cynthia’s grandmother and she’ll show you it.

After that, head back to Professor Rowan and he’ll upgrade your Pokédex for you, allowing you to catch almost 500 Pokémon in total, including plenty of new legendaries.

Canalave City / Fullmoon Island

Head to Canalave City and speak to the sick boy and his mother in the house in the bottom left corner. After you do this, speak to the sailor outside and he’ll take you to Fullmoon Island.

Once there, you’ll speak to Cresselia before it flies away.

Roaming Cresselia

Like many legendaries in the past, Cresselia is a roaming Pokémon. This means when you fly, it’ll move locations, and you need to track it down on foot or on bike, or get extremely lucky and run into it. You can do this by using the marking map on your Pokétch which is given to you in Jubilife City.

Once you’ve found Cresselia, you’re going to need to stop it from escaping. Freeze or Hypnotize the Pokémon to stop it from fleeing from battle, and after that, it’s just like any wild Pokémon encounter.

This article is part of our Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl walkthrough and guide series, which includes every version-exclusive Pokémon in each version of the game, advice on the best Sinnoh starter Pokémon to choose, and all the old and new Pokétch Apps, plus how to get specific Pokémon such as Mew and Jirachi, Rilou and Lucario, Manaphy and Phione, Arceus, Eevee, Leafeon And Glaceon, Cresselia, Rotom, Ditto, Spiritomb, Heatran, Regigigas, and — of course — the mighty Feebas.

We also cover how to catch 17 Legendaries in Ramanas Park, where to find the Defog HM and chain catching (or how to increase your chances of catching Shiny Pokémon), plus how to earn money fast, how to beat the Elite Four, how the Trophy Garden works, and how to get the DS sounds and Catching Charm. We also have a full and updated list of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Mystery Gift codes, plus we tell you how to unlock the Mystery Gift function, too.

And finally, Where to Buy Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl on Nintendo Switch, if for some reason you haven't yet picked up the game!