Ever since Pokemon Red, Green, and Blue aka Generation I, GameFreak has always locked several Pokemon’s evolutions behind the player trading feature to emphasize the social aspect of the series along with the local wired (and eventually global wireless) PVP. In Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, in total there are 16 Pokemon that can only evolve through trading. Check the complete list of trade evolutions Pokemon for Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl below.
List of Trade Evolutions Pokemon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
| Pokemon | Evolves To | Requirements |
| Clamperl | Huntail | Hold a Deep Sea Tooth while trading |
| Clamperl | Gorebyss | Hold a Deep Sea Scale while trading |
| Dusclops | Dusknoir | Hold a Reaper Cloth while trading |
| Electabuzz | Electivire | Hold an Electrizer while trading |
| Graveler | Golem | Trade only |
| Haunter | Gengar | Trade only |
| Kadabra | Alakazam | Trade only |
| Machoke | Machamp | Trade only |
| Magmar | Magmortar | Hold a Magmarizer while trading |
| Onix | Steelix | Hold a Metal Coat while trading |
| Poliwhirl | Poliwrath | Hold a King’s Rock while trading |
| Porygon | Porygon2 | Hold an Upgrade while trading |
| Porygon2 | PorygonZ | Hold a Dubious Disc while trading |
| Rhydon | Rhyperior | Hold a Protector while trading |
| Scyther | Scizor | Hold a Metal Coat while trading |
| Seadra | Kingdra | Hold a Dragon Scale while trading |
| Slowpoke | Slowking | Hold a King’s Rock while trading |
To trade with other Trainers in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl locally or in the same wireless connection, you must go to the Union Room. Take the escalators upstairs at any Pokemon Center and speak with the nurse in the middle of the room to enter the Union Room and meet other Trainers. Speak with them to initiate a trade. Meanwhile, for online trading, you have to head downstairs and have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Again, speak with the middle nurse. After beating the Oreburgh City Gym, you can press Y in the basement of any Pokemon Center to quickly trade either via a local connection or globally.
Both Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl are available now on the Nintendo Switch.
