Dialga

Dialga is famous for being one of the Pokémon revealed before the Japanese release of Pokémon Diamond Version and Pearl Version, as the Pokémon who would adorn the box-art of Pokémon Diamond (see also Palkia). The purpose of Dialga in the games, anime and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.

Characteristics
Dialga is described as an ancient deity of the Sinnoh region with the ability to control time. According to Sinnoh-region mythology, it was created by Arceus, at which point time began to flow.

Dialga is shaped much like a dinosaur with some features of a dragon. It has a long neck, tail and thick set legs with sharp, metal-like claws. It has many silver protrusions resembling spikes along the back of its neck, on its head, on its top rear, and on its chest. Lodged into the chest protrusions is a glowing blue, diamond-like jewel. Running along its body are light blue lines that fluctuate into diamond shapes. In Pokémon Battle Revolution, it can be seen that Dialga's underbelly is reflective like a mirror. When it is in attack mode, Dialga expands the size of its rear spikes, as seen in its silhouette in the Pokémon tenth movie teaser broadcast in Japan.

Dialga, like Palkia, has a distinctive feature that represents the game in which it is featured: The ornament in the middle of Dialga's chest resembles a diamond which in turn represents the Diamond version.

Appearance
Dialga is one of the legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Its Steel- and Dragon-type combination means that only Fighting- and Ground- type moves are Super Effective. Dialga has many more Resistances, including immunity to Poison. This type combination is a first in the Pokémon world and makes Dialga the only Dragon-type that isn't weak to dragon-type moves.

Dialga is only obtainable in Diamond, in the same way that Palkia is only obtainable in Pearl. For "Pearl" players, however, after fighting/catching Palkia, the elder in Celestic Town will show you a picture of Dialga in a book, thus adding it to your Pokédex. This is vice versa in "Diamond", where the elder will show you a picture of Palkia.

Dialga has slightly higher base HP and Defense than Palkia, while Palkia has slightly higher base Special Defense and Speed. It can be encountered and captured at Level 47 after defeating the leader of Team Galactic, Cyrus at the Spear Pillar on top of Mt. Coronet. It has a signature move called Roar of Time, which is a Dragon type version of Hyper Beam.

In Pokémon Diamond, there is a statue of Dialga in Eterna City (although it is interesting to note that both games have a Palkia statue, but the inscriptions are different since Pearl references Palkia, and vice-versa in Diamond). It is thought by players to be accidentally put in both games, though Nintendo has not stated such. Also, in a house near the statue it is said that the statue was the centerpiece of many festivals in Sinnoh. Likewise, the same is in Pearl with Palkia

Anime
Dialga, along with Palkia and Darkrai is set to appear in Dialga VS Palkia VS Darkrai, the tenth Pokémon movie. It is also known that Dialga, as well as Palkia, will be shown in the episode of the anime currently Japanese titled as "The Sinnoh Space-Time Legend!".

Trading Card Game
There is currently one Dialga card available:


 * Diamond & Pearl, as Dialga Lv.68, a Metal-type holographic card (#1)

In the second expansion to Diamond and Pearl, a Level X version of Dialga will be released.