During your time playing Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, your Pokémon party will naturally level up and EXP share between themselves as you take on wild Pokémon, trainer battles and gyms. Sometimes, however, this isn't enough, especially if you're trying to level up a new party member quickly.
In this guide, we explain different ways to level up fast in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Never Skip a Battle
This is obvious, but whether it is a wild Pokémon or a trainer that surprises you, if you want to earn EXP, you should never avoid a battle! Especially on later routes where the Pokémon you're up against will be higher levelled, it's important to take these on, both for the EXP and the money, too.
Battle in Pokémon Hideaways
In the Grand Underground, the areas where you can find random items and battle with wild Pokémon are known as Pokémon Hideaways. These Pokémon will typically have a level that is comparable to that of your party, so fighting with them repeatedly can gather you that much-needed EXP. However, it's worth noting that battling with Trainers and Gym Leaders will earn more EXP than wild Pokémon battles, with the added bonus of being able to earn some cash from the Trainer battles too.
Rematch Gym Leaders
It might take a while for your Pokémon party to reach levels of 60 and above, but when you do, you can rematch and attempt to beat the Gym Leaders all over again. This is a great way to earn even more EXP and more money, and learn about facing new types of Pokémon. To have a better idea of how to counter each Pokémon type, check out our type-chart to help make the gym leader rematches a little easier.
Use Vs. Seeker
The Vs. Seeker is an item that a player can equip to be able to battle with all Pokémon Trainer's around the Sinnoh Region. By using it along Routes and other areas that are rife with Pokémon Trainers, it'll alert you who's up for a battle. More battling with more Trainers means more EXP!
It's important to note that the Vs. Seeker item can be found under 'Key Items' in your Bag, and will recharge after every 100 steps. To keep a track of this, you can use the Pedometer on your Pokétch!
Equip the Lucky Egg
When a Pokémon is holding the Lucky Egg item and participates in a battle, they will earn 1.5x the amount of EXP gained. To get the Lucky Egg, you will need to go and collect Chansey's who have a chance of holding the item when you capture them. Alternatively, if one of your Pokémon has the Thief move, they can attempt to steal the Lucky Egg item from a Chansey while battling them.
Good luck with levelling up your party of Pokémon. In the meantime, it may also be worth looking at fishing in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl as a means of encountering new Pokémon and earning EXP. Alternatively, if you need a break from the grind of battling, try participating in Super Contest Shows or visiting Amity Square.