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Dialga(JP) is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a dual-type Steel/Dragon legendary Pokémon that made its first appearance in the fourth generation games Diamond and Pearl. It is the one of the Pokémon of Myth trio alongside Palkia and Giratina. Dialga represents time. Dialga can change form to Origin Forme via the Adamant Crystal. It serves as the mascot for Pokémon Diamond and Brilliant Diamond.

Physiology and Behaviour[]

Dialga is a dark-blue, sauropod-like Pokémon with some gray metallic portions, such as its chest plate, which has a diamond in the center. It also has various light blue stripes. It has a fin-like structure on its back and a crest on its head, resembling a dinosaur. Dialga also has two horns on top of its head, two fang-like horns around its mouth, and three spines on the back of its neck. It has three claws on each foot of the same metallic looks as its chest plate. Faint cracks exist across its body. The wing-like structure on its back can be used to focus the flow of time, as seen in Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky.

Dialga has the power to control time; it can warp time by either speeding it up, slowing it down, reversing it, or stopping it altogether; it can also travel through time to visit the past, present, and future. It also has the power to destroy and create time itself. As shown in the anime, Dialga's temporal powers possess the ability to devolve anything or anyone against their will: Pokémon, humans, and plants. It can even reverse these devolution effects. It is said that time started moving when Dialga was born and will continue flowing as long as Dialga's heart beats.

Dialga has the power to create a new universe by itself or with Palkia. As Dialga primarily resides in a different dimension, its behavior is nearly impossible to study. In the dimension where Origin Forme Dialga lives in, time is said to be constantly moving in different directions and speeds. It has been shown to be very protective of its home. It also tends to have violent conflicts with its counterpart Palkia. Dialga has been referred to a deity in Sinnoh myths.

Origin Form Dialga[]

Said to be the Pokémon's true form, Dialga's Origin Forme is drastically different from the usual sauropod-like look of its other forme, being a hybrid between it, a dragon, and a centaur, while also resembling its creator, Arceus. The back legs of Dialga become unguligrade in shape and have pointed tips instead of feet. The front legs are noticeably larger, with three distinct rhomboid claws on the underside. Further up, Dialga's knees have rectangular, long, and thin protrusions. Its chest plate is gone; however, it has a similar polygonal shape in its place. On Dialga's neck is a large shape jutting out towards the front, along with two pairs of protrusions on either side, the upper pair being larger and resembling panels or wings. Inside this large shape and wing-like protrusions are deep blue diamond-like crystals, embedded into diamond-shaped grooves. The three spines located on the back of the neck are longer and sharper. Dialga's head has two thin arrow-shaped horns extending towards the top and back of its head, along with longer fang-like horns connected to a plate mask covering its lower jaw, which can shift in angle to reveal the mouth. The plate mask also partly covers the arrow-shaped horns on their sides. Around Dialga's abdomen is a cross comprised of four arrow shapes attached to a small wheel, reminiscent of Arceus's cross-wheel. The fin-like plate on Dialga's posterior has a star-shaped layer on top of it. The tail is much shorter and crystal-shaped. Overall, Dialga's entire body becomes larger and nearly completely dark blue. The crest, arrow-shaped horns, knee protrusions, and abdomen cross are light blue, while the tips of Dialga's fin-like plate and feet are dark gray.

Dialga is at its full power when in the Origin Forme and is supposedly, permanently in it while in its home dimension. Dialga's transformation into its Origin Forme is triggered by a radiant light; it can also be invoked using the Adamant Crystal. The crystals and light blue accents on Dialga's body glow brightly when it uses its powers.

Appearances[]

Main Pokémon games[]

Dialga is only obtainable in Diamond and Brilliant Diamond, in the same way that Palkia is only obtainable in Pearl and Shining Pearl. It is summoned by the defeated leader of Team Galactic, Cyrus, who hopes to have it create a new universe for him, at the Spear Pillar on top of Mt. Coronet. It is stopped by Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, which nullify its power, and the player now challenges it. Its special item is the Adamant Orb which amplifies Dialga's Steel- and Dragon-type attacks when held by it. In Platinum, it can be faced after getting the Adamant Orb.

In HeartGold and SoulSilver, Arceus can create one at the Sinjoh Ruins.

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Dialga is obtainable at the Temple of Sinnoh towards the end of the main story. Starting with Legends: Arceus, Dialga gained an alternate form, called the Origin Form. The Adamant Crystal is required to change Dialga's form.

Other Pokémon games[]

Primal Dialga artwork

Primal Dialga in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky: Dialga appears in the main storyline, but mostly as Primal Dialga. In the future, because of the collapse of the Temporal Tower, Dialga has lost control of itself and has entered a state of self-preservation, keeping time frozen and refusing to let it flow properly. When the player and partner return from the future and arrive at the collapsing Tower, they must beat almost-Primal Dialga in battle and restore the Tower. After putting some sense into it, Dialga is so grateful that it revives the player (who was erased from existence). After going back to Dialga at the top of Temporal Tower, it decides that the player wants a rematch. Once defeated, Dialga joins the player's team. In the Sky-only Special Episode, In the Future of Darkness, after the final battle between Primal Dialga and the trio of Grovyle, Dusknoir and Celebi, all of them start to disappear due to the past finally being changed by the player, but are saved by an implied higher being than Dialga, who also restores Dialga to its normal state.

Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia: Dialga appears as a bonus boss during one of the Ranger Net extra missions. Dialga was injured from a battle with Palkia and entered Almia Castle to recover. It caused a time distortion due to its wounds and sent the main character and Wendy back in time to before the events of the game started by using Roar of Time.

Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs: Dialga appears in the optional Ranger Net extra mission Pledge to Arceus. It must be captured along with its counterparts Palkia and Giratina in the Sky Fortress to access Arceus.

Super Smash Bros. series[]

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Dialga, along with Palkia and Cresselia (take note, however, that these Pokémon would appear here at different times), appeared in the center of the Spear Pillar stage, where it would deliver one of many different attacks based on moves from the Pokémon video game series. The Lake guardians also appeared here, though they had no effect on the gameplay.

Trophy descriptions[]

"A Temporal Pokémon. This Legendary Pokémon is talked about as a deity in fables passed down through generations in the Sinnoh region. Identifiable by the diamondlike crystal in the center of its chest, Dialga is said to have set time in motion at the moment of its birth. Its fearsome Roar of Time attack is so powerful that it must refrain from attacking on its next turn."

In the anime[]

Dialga anime

Dialga in the anime

Dialga made its physical debut in The Rise of Darkrai, where it fought with Palkia and Darkrai in a battle that nearly destroyed Alamos Town. It then briefly reappeared in Giratina and the Sky Warrior. During its trip back to its own dimension, Dialga ended up in the Reverse World and got attacked by Giratina, who had been angered by Dialga and Palkia's fight in the previous movie.

In Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Dialga was shown for the first time with both the other members of its trio. After being called by Sheena to stop a spatial distortion, it briefly fought with Giratina once more. Later, it returned to help Palkia and Giratina fight Arceus. After being injured, it sent Sheena, Ash Ketchum, and his friends back in time to fix Arceus's betrayal.

Dialga appeared in two Pokémon miniseries: Pokémon Generations (with Palkia and Giratina) and Pokémon Evolutions.

Origin and inspiration[]

The origin of Dialga (and Palkia) might be based on the Shinto legend of Izanami and Izanagi, who are said to have created an island with a spear and from there created the islands of Japan. Appearance-wise, Dialga seems to be based on short-necked sauropod dinosaurs such as Camarasaurus or Brachytrachelopan. Its Steel type is possibly due to the hardness of diamonds, the fact that metal is known to last long periods of time, or the fact that most parts of a clock are made of metal, such as the gears.

Its Origin Form may be based on a qilin or Longma, as it possesses both equine and dragon-like qualities, the latter of which are more pronounced in Dialga's case due to its Dragon typing.

In-game information[]

Pokédex entries[]

Normal[]

Title Entry
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond It has the power to control time. It appears in Sinnoh-region myths as an ancient deity.
Pokémon Pearl A Pokémon spoken of in legend. It is said that time began moving when Dialga was born.
Pokémon Platinum A legendary Pokémon of Sinnoh. It is said that time flows when Dialga's heart beats.
Pokémon HeartGold This Pokémon completely controls the flow of time. It uses its power to travel at will through the past and future.
Pokémon SoulSilver This Pokémon completely controls the flow of time. It uses its power to travel at will through the past and future.
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black A legendary Pokémon of Sinnoh. It is said that time flows when Dialga's heart beats.
Pokémon White A legendary Pokémon of Sinnoh. It is said that time flows when Dialga's heart beats.
Pokémon Black 2 A legendary Pokémon of Sinnoh. It is said that time flows when Dialga's heart beats.
Pokémon White 2 A legendary Pokémon of Sinnoh. It is said that time flows when Dialga's heart beats.
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X A Pokémon spoken of in legend. It is said that time began moving when Dialga was born.
Pokémon Y It has the power to control time. It appears in Sinnoh-region myths as an ancient deity.
Pokémon Omega Ruby A Pokémon spoken of in legend. It is said that time began moving when Dialga was born.
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire It has the power to control time. It appears in Sinnoh-region myths as an ancient deity.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond It has the power to control time. It appears in Sinnoh-region myths as an ancient deity.
Pokémon Shining Pearl A Pokémon spoken of in legend. It is said that time began moving when Dialga was born.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus This Pokémon is revered as a deity in Hisuian legend. The birth of Dialga was what caused the vast river of time to begin flowing in our world.

Origin[]

Title Entry
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Radiant light caused Dialga to take on a form bearing a striking resemblance to the creator Pokémon. Dialga now wields such colossal strength that one must conclude this is its true form.


Game locations[]

Title Location(s)
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond
Spear Pillar
Pokémon Platinum
Spear Pillar
Pokémon HeartGold
Sinjoh Ruins (requires event Arceus)
Pokémon SoulSilver
Sinjoh Ruins (requires event Arceus)
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black
Trade
Pokémon Black 2
Transfer from Pokémon Dream Radar (requires Pokémon Diamond)
Pokémon White 2
Transfer from Pokémon Dream Radar (requires Pokémon Diamond)
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X
Trade
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
Soaring (requires the Lake guardians)
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ultra Sun
Ultra Space Wilds (Rocky World)
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword
Max Lair (Dynamax Adventure)
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond
Spear Pillar
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Temple of Sinnoh


Base Stats[]

Normal[]

Base Stats
HP 100
Attack 120
Defense 120
Sp. Attack 150
Sp. Defense 100
Speed 90
Total 680

Origin[]

Base Stats
HP 100
Attack 100
Defense 120
Sp. Attack 150
Sp. Defense 120
Speed 90
Total 680


Form change[]

Dialga
Adamant Crystal
Dialga
Origin Form
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Moveset[]

Main article: Dialga/moveset

Gallery[]

  Main article: Dialga/gallery

Sprites[]

Sprites
Diamond Pearl
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Platinum
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Heart Soul
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Black White
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Black 2 White 2
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X Y
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Sword Shield
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Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl
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Legends Arceus
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Scarlet Violet
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Origin[]

Renders
Legends Arceus
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Scarlet Violet
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Trivia[]

  • Dialga had the most number of movie appearances than any other Legendary Pokémon, at four (10, 11, 12, and 18).
  • Dialga (in both forms) has the highest base Special Attack stat of all Steel-type Pokémon.
  • Dialga is the only member of the Pokémon of Myth trio not to be a Poké Ball Pokémon.
  • Dialga's roars in Super Smash Bros. Brawl were created by altering the sea dragon Manda's roars from Godzilla, specifically from Godzilla: Final Wars.
  • Six years after Primal Dialga's introduction, Primal Reversion was announced, with the Pokémon who have used Primal Reversion (Kyogre and Groudon) being identified by the word "Primal" in front of their names, like Primal Dialga. However, Primal Reversion is unrelated to this Pokémon, as Primal Dialga is referred to as "Dark Dialga" in Japan, whereas the Pokémon who undergo Primal Reversion are referred to as "Primal" in Japan.
  • Although Dialga is gender unknown in the core series games, it is referred to as male in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness's story; it is still gender unknown for purposes of gameplay.
  • According to Junichi Masuda's blog, the Spanish translation team suggested changing the name Dialga because of its similarity to the Spanish word alga (algea).

External links[]

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