Diploma

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

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

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.

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.

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[1]
GSC New Pokédex Have owned 249 species of Pokémon[2]
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 (non-expanded) Sinnoh Pokédex Pokémon except Manaphy
Pt Have seen all expanded 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 Central, Coastal and Mountain 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

Kanto Pokédex

Johto Pokédex

Hoenn Pokédex

Sinnoh Pokédex

Unova Pokédex

Kalos Pokédex

Galar Pokédex

Paldea Pokédex

Kitakami Pokédex

Other Diplomas

Time Travel Awards

Trivia

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.