Diploma

A certificate given after completing the Galar Pokédex (Pokémon Sword and Shield)

The diploma or certificate^SwSh (Japanese: 賞状 honorable certificate) is an item awarded in almost all core series Pokémon games for completing various modes of the Pokédex.

The only games in which the player cannot earn a diploma are Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, where the player is given stamps instead, and Legends: Arceus.

History

In Generation I and II, there is only one diploma in the game, awarded for completing the Pokédex. From Generation III to VI, there is one diploma awarded for completing the regional Pokédex and a second for completing the National Pokédex.

In Pokémon X and Y, a total of five diplomas are awarded: one for capturing every Pokémon in each of the Kalos Pokédexes, one for obtaining all of those three diplomas, and one for completing the National Pokédex. The regional diplomas are different if the player completed their Pokédex only with blue pentagon Pokémon.

In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, an additional Diploma can be received if the player shows the Game Freak lead developer a Pokémon that was originally caught in either Ruby, Sapphire, or Pokémon Emerald; unlike most diplomas, this one is customized according to the Pokémon shown to the developer, with its Generation III sprite appearing in the bottom-left corner. If the player obtains this Diploma with a Pokémon that did not exist in Generation III, such as Gallade, no sprite will be on the Diploma. A similar time travel Diploma can be obtained in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl by showing Game Freak's lead developer a Pokémon that was originally caught in Diamond, Pearl, or Pokémon Platinum; as with its predecessor, the Pokémon's Diamond and Pearl sprite will appear in the bottom-left corner. If the player obtains this Diploma with a Fairy-type Arceus, it will use the sprite of Normal-type Arceus instead.

In Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, instead of a diploma, the player is given stamps on their Trainer Card for completing the various regional Pokédexes. In these games, players can obtain all existing Pokémon as of this generation, however, there is no reward for doing so, likely because the National Pokédex is not obtainable in these games. In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the player can receive a diploma from the director for completing their Kanto Pokédex; due to only Pokémon in the Kanto Pokédex existing in these games.

Since Pokémon Sword and Shield, the National Pokédex no longer exists but the player will receive a diploma for completing the region's Pokédex.

Acquisition

Location

The diploma is awarded to the player by the Game Freak lead developer from Generations I to VIII. In Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass and starting with Generation IX, it is instead awarded by different characters.

• In Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Let's Go, Pikachu!, and Let's Go, Eevee!, the Game Freak lead developer is located in the Game Freak Headquarters in Celadon Condominiums.
• In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, he is on the top floor of Cove Lily Motel in Lilycove City.
• In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, he is in the north-westernmost house in the Hotel Grand Lake at the Valor Lakefront.
• In Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, he is located in the Game Freak building in Castelia City
• In Pokémon X and Y, he is in the Hotel Coumarine in Coumarine City.
• In Pokémon Sword and Shield, he is in the western Hotel Ionia building in Circhester.
  • In The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, a female Doctor who upgrades the Pokédex in the Armor and Crown Tundra Stations rewards the player with the respective Diplomas instead.
• In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Clavell rewards the player with the Diploma at the Biology Lab of Naranja Academy^S/Uva Academy^V.
  • In The Teal Mask, Jacq rewards the player with the Diploma near Reveler's Road just east of Mossui Town.
  • In The Indigo Disk, Cyrano rewards the player with the Diploma near the entrance to Blueberry Academy.

Pokédex completion

For a Pokédex to be considered complete, the player must have owned all Pokémon in that Pokédex (except a select few Pokémon). In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, to complete the Sinnoh Pokédex, the player only needs to have seen all the Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex, not own them.

Mythical Pokémon are not usually required to qualify for diplomas; however, in Pokémon Platinum, seeing Manaphy is required to obtain the Sinnoh Pokédex Diploma, and in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, owning Deoxys is required to obtain the National Pokédex Diploma.

In Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald and Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, owning Ho-Oh and Lugia is not required to complete any Pokédex. In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, due to a bug, Chikorita is not required to complete the National Pokédex.

Function

The diploma is not an item as it is not added to the player's Bag; to view it after obtaining it, the player must talk to said lead developer again. In Pokémon Black and White, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, and Pokémon X and Y, the diploma is instead sent to the player's bedroom for display. In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the diploma can be hung on the wall of the player's Secret Base. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the diplomas can be viewed from the player's Pokédex.

In Pokémon Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal, it is possible to print out a copy of the diploma using a Game Boy Printer. The printout displays additional graphics in the bottom half of the diploma which cannot be otherwise seen. Interestingly, in Yellow, the image only visible on the printout includes Mew, despite Mew not being necessary to obtain the diploma.

Completion requirements

Regional Pokédex

Games	Pokédex	Requirement
RGBY	Pokédex	Have owned 150 species of Pokémon
GSC	New Pokédex	Have owned 249 species of Pokémon
RSE	Hoenn Pokédex	Have owned all Hoenn Pokédex Pokémon except Jirachi and Deoxys
FRLG	Kanto Pokédex	Have owned all Kanto Pokédex Pokémon except Mew
DP	Sinnoh Pokédex	Have seen all 150 Sinnoh Pokédex Pokémon except Manaphy
Pt		Have seen all 210 Sinnoh Pokédex Pokémon
HGSS	Johto Pokédex	Have owned all Johto Pokédex Pokémon except Mew and Celebi
BW	Unova Pokédex	Have owned all Unova Pokédex Pokémon except Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, and Genesect
B2W2	New Unova Pokédex	Have owned all New Unova Pokédex Pokémon except Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, and Genesect
XY	Central Kalos Pokédex	Have owned all Central Kalos Pokédex Pokémon except Diancie, Hoopa, and Volcanion
	Coastal Kalos Pokédex	Have owned all Coastal Kalos Pokédex Pokémon except Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres
	Mountain Kalos Pokédex	Have owned all Mountain Kalos Pokédex Pokémon except Mewtwo
	Kalos Pokédexes	Have owned all Kalos Pokédex Pokémon except Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mewtwo, Diancie, Hoopa, and Volcanion
ORAS	Hoenn Pokédex	Have owned all Hoenn Pokédex Pokémon except Rayquaza, Jirachi, and Deoxys
PE	Kanto Pokédex	Have owned all Kanto Pokédex Pokémon except Mew, Meltan and Melmetal
SwSh	Galar Pokédex	Have owned all Galar Pokédex Pokémon
SwShIoA	Isle of Armor Pokédex	Have owned all Isle of Armor Pokédex Pokémon except Zarude
SwShCT	Crown Tundra Pokédex	Have owned all Crown Tundra Pokédex Pokémon
BDSP	Sinnoh Pokédex	Have seen all (non-expanded) Sinnoh Pokédex Pokémon except Manaphy
SV	Paldea Pokédex	Have owned all Paldea Pokédex Pokémon
SVTM	Kitakami Pokédex	Have owned all Kitakami Pokédex Pokémon
SVID	Blueberry Pokédex	Have owned all Blueberry Pokédex Pokémon except Walking Wake, Iron Leaves and Pecharunt

National Pokédex

Games	Requirement
RS	Have owned all Pokémon except Mew, Chikorita, Celebi, Jirachi, and Deoxys
FRLGE	Have owned all Pokémon except Mew, Ho-Oh, Lugia, Celebi, Jirachi, and Deoxys
DPPt	Have owned all Pokémon except Mew, Ho-Oh, Lugia, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, and Arceus
HGSS	Have owned all Pokémon except Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, and Arceus
BWB2W2	Have owned all Pokémon except Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, and Genesect
XY	Have owned all Pokémon except Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, Hoopa, and Volcanion
ORAS	Have owned all Pokémon except Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, Hoopa, and Volcanion
BDSP	Have owned all Pokémon except Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, and Arceus

Other Diplomas

Time Travel Awards

Games	Location	Requirement
ORAS	Speak to the Game Director in Cove Lily Motel in Lilycove City.	Have a Pokémon that was originally caught in either Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald in the first party slot.
BDSP	Speak to the Game Director in the north-westernmost house in Hotel Grand Lake at the Valor Lakefront.	Have a Pokémon that was originally caught in either Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum in the first party slot.

Gallery

National Pokédex

• 
  Ruby and Sapphire
• 
  FireRed and LeafGreen
• 
  Emerald
• 
  Diamond and Pearl
• 
  Platinum
• 
  HeartGold and SoulSilver
• 
  Black and White
• 
  Black 2 and White 2
• 
  X and Y
• 
  Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
• 
  Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Kanto Pokédex

• 
  Red and Green
• 
  Blue (Japanese)
• 
  Red and Blue
• 
  Yellow
• 
  Game Boy Printer (from Yellow with 150 Pokédex entries)
• 
  Game Boy Printer (from Yellow with all 151 Pokédex entries)
• 
  FireRed and LeafGreen
• 
  Let's Go, Pikachu!
• 
  Let's Go, Eevee!

Johto Pokédex

• 
  Gold, Silver, and Crystal
• 
  Game Boy Printer (from Gold and Silver)
• 
  Game Boy Printer (from Crystal)
• 
  HeartGold and SoulSilver

Hoenn Pokédex

• 
  Ruby and Sapphire
• 
  Emerald
• 
  Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Sinnoh Pokédex

• 
  Diamond and Pearl
• 
  Platinum
• 
  Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Unova Pokédex

• 
  Black and White
• 
  Black 2 and White 2
• 
  Scarlet and Violet Indigo Disk

Kalos Pokédex

• 
  Central Kalos Pokédex
• 
  Coastal Kalos Pokédex
• 
  Mountain Kalos Pokédex
• 
  All Kalos Pokédexes
• 
  Central Kalos Pokédex completed with transferred Pokémon
• 
  Coastal Kalos Pokédex completed with transferred Pokémon
• 
  Mountain Kalos Pokédex completed with transferred Pokémon
• 
  All Kalos Pokédexes completed with transferred Pokémon

Galar Pokédex

• 
  Sword and Shield
• 
  Isle of Armor
• 
  Crown Tundra

Paldea Pokédex

• 
  Scarlet
• 
  Violet

Kitakami Pokédex

• 
  Scarlet Teal Mask
• 
  Violet Teal Mask

Other Diplomas

Time Travel Awards

• 
  Time Travel Award (ORAS)
• 
  Time Travel Award (BDSP)

Trivia

• Excluding the bugged Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire National Pokédex diploma requirement:
  • The diplomas in Pokémon Black and White, regional and National, were the only ones to require Pokémon that were event-exclusive at the time of release, namely Zorua and Zoroark. However, they later became obtainable without events via trading with Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
  • The only diplomas to not require at least one non-Mythical Pokémon included in the corresponding Pokédex are in Generation VI, namely the Coastal Kalos Pokédex with Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, the Mountain Kalos Pokédex with Mewtwo, the combined Kalos Pokédexes with the aforementioned four Pokémon, and the Hoenn Pokédex with Rayquaza. The diploma for the Central Kalos Pokédex is the only regional diploma in the generation to actually require all included non-Mythical Pokémon.
• Mew will only appear on Pokémon Yellow's printed diploma if the Kanto Pokédex is fully complete with 151 entries. It will not appear if the Kanto Pokédex contains 150 entries with Mew's entry registered but a different Pokémon missing.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 獎狀 Jéungjohng Mandarin 獎狀 / 奖状 Jiǎngzhuàng French Diplôme German UrkundeSwSh Diplom Italian Diploma Korean 상장 Sangjang Spanish Diploma

References

This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.