Transfer

This article is about the process of sending Pokémon to another generation. For the feature that transfers Pokémon to the Generation V games, see Poké Transfer.

If you were looking for the mechanic in Pokémon GO and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, see Released Pokémon.

Transferring is a process in which Pokémon are sent from a game in one generation to a game in another, usually later, generation. The exact process usually differs for different generations. Transfers differ from trading in that they are usually only one-way.

Transfer methods

Generation III is the only generation where there is no method by which one can receive Pokémon from games from a past generation. All other games have a method for receiving Pokémon from the past generation (and therefore, by a chain of transfers, from generations before that as well). With the Virtual Console releases of Generation I and II games and an update to Poké Transporter in Generation VII, it became possible for the first time since Generation II to have Pokémon from all generations in a single game.

When transferred, Pokémon may have their stats, abilities, or other attributes changed to fit the target game's environment. What gets modified will differ based on the transfer method - see each transfer method's article for details.

Up through Pokémon Sword and Shield, moves are retained when transferring, and most species have moves that are exclusive to transferring from a previous generation where they could learn them or a previous generation's event. Starting in Generation VIII, Pokémon have a separate move list for each game, so this is no longer the case. In Sword and Shield specifically, Pokémon transferred from Generations I-VII keep their old moves, but they will not be eligible for official competitions unless all of their transferred moves are deleted (see Battle-ready symbol for details).

Generations I and II

The Time Capsule allows Pokémon to be traded between Generation I and Generation II games, conceptually acting as a time machine bridging the three years between events in each generation. It requires two systems connected by a Game Link Cable, or via local wireless in the Virtual Console releases.

It does not allow trading of any Generation II Pokémon or any Pokémon that know moves introduced in Generation II.

To Generation IV

The Nintendo DS's dual-slot mode allows Pokémon to be transferred from Generation III games to Generation IV games. When a Generation IV game is started with a Generation III game in the console's Game Pak Slot, if Pal Park has been visited in the game, the option to "Migrate from [game]" will be available on the main menu. (Due to the removal of the Game Pak Slot for the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo 3DS, Pokémon cannot be transferred to Generation IV on DSi or 3DS consoles.)

Six Pokémon can be migrated at a time and, in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Pokémon can only be migrated once every 24 hours. In the destination game, the migrated Pokémon will be available at Pal Park for the player to catch in a Catching Show. The Park Balls used in Catching Shows always capture a Pokémon when thrown; however, Pokémon captured during the Catching Show retain the kind of Poké Ball they were caught in in a Generation III game.

This is the only generation where transferred Pokémon retain their held items.

To Generation V

In Generation V, there are two methods of transferring Pokémon from Generation IV: Poké Transfer and the Relocator. Poké Transfer is the general transfer method, while the Relocator is a special method of transferring a few specific event Pokémon. Either method requires two systems and uses the system's built-in wireless communication.

Poké Transfer is used by visiting the Poké Transfer Lab on Route 15 in a Generation V game. A Scientist at the back of the lab will allow the player to start Poké Transfer on their game, at which point a system with a Generation IV game must be started and the Poké Transfer application must be selected from the system's DS Download Play option. Six Pokémon can be sent to the Generation V game from the Generation IV game via the downloaded application. These Pokémon must then be captured in a time-limited slingshot minigame; any Pokémon that are not caught will remain in the Generation IV game.

The Relocator is only available in Pokémon Black and White. Only the Celebi, Raikou, Entei, and Suicune distributed to commemorate the thirteenth movie can be transferred with the Relocator. The Relocator can be found in Castelia City and must be unlocked with the correct keywords.

Some games may impose transfer restrictions:

• Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
  • Spiky-eared Pichu cannot leave its game of origin.

To Generations VI and VII

Pokémon Bank

Pokémon Bank can facilitate transfer from multiple generations and to multiple generations:

• Pokémon from the Virtual Console releases of Generations I and II can be sent to Pokémon Bank through Poké Transporter, and may be withdrawn in Generation VII games.
• Pokémon from Generation V can be sent to Pokémon Bank through Poké Transporter, and may be withdrawn in Generation VI or VII games.
• Pokémon from Generation VI can use two-way transfer with Pokémon Bank. This also applies to Pokémon that originated from Pokémon Bank distribution events during Generation VI. However, once a Pokémon has been in a Generation VII game, it cannot be transferred back into Generation VI.
• Pokémon from Generation VII can use two-way transfer with Pokémon Bank.

Source		Transfer method		Destination
VC Gen I VC Gen II	→	Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank	→	Gen VII (excluding LGPE)
Gen V	→	Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank	→	Gen VI Gen VII (excluding LGPE)
Gen VI	→	Pokémon Bank	→	Gen VII (excluding LGPE)

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are unable to connect to Pokémon Bank, despite being Generation VII games. To transfer a Pokémon to these games, it must first be sent from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon HOME, where it can then be withdrawn in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! additionally have access to GO Park, which can transfer Pokémon from Pokémon GO into Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

• Note that Pokémon transferred through GO Park will undergo modifications to fit the environment of Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. See the GO Park article for details.

Source		Transfer method		Destination
Pokémon Bank	→	Pokémon HOME	→	LGPE
Pokémon GO	→	GO Park	→	LGPE

Some games may impose transfer restrictions:

• Pokémon Black 2 and White 2:
  • Fused versions of Kyurem cannot leave their games of origin, but can leave if they are unfused.
• Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:
  • Cosplay Pikachu cannot leave its game of origin.
• Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (USUM):
  • Fused versions of Necrozma cannot leave their games of origin, but can leave if they are unfused.
  • Totem-sized Marowak, Ribombee, Araquanid, and Togedemaru are exclusive to USUM, and cannot go outside the pair of games.
• Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (LGPE):
  • LGPE may only withdraw Pokémon with National Pokédex #001 - 151, as well as Meltan and Melmetal.
  • Partner Pikachu and partner Eevee cannot leave their games of origin.

To Generation VIII

Pokémon HOME allows for the following transfers:

• Pokémon from Pokémon Bank can be sent to Pokémon HOME, and may be withdrawn in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, or Generation VIII.
• Pokémon from Pokémon GO can be sent to Pokémon HOME through the GO Transporter, and may be withdrawn in Generation VIII.
• Pokémon from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! can use two-way transfer with Pokémon HOME. However, once a Pokémon has been in a Generation VIII game, it cannot be transferred back into Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
• Pokémon from Generation VIII can use two-way transfer with Pokémon HOME. This also applies to Pokémon that originated from Pokémon HOME distribution events during Generation VIII.

Source		Transfer method		Destination
Pokémon Bank	→	Pokémon HOME	→	LGPE Gen VIII
Pokémon GO	→	GO Transporter → Pokémon HOME	→	Gen VIII
LGPE	→	Pokémon HOME	→	Gen VIII

In Generation VIII, not all Pokémon exist in the coding of each game. Due to this, HOME will only permit a Pokémon to be withdrawn if they exist in the coding of the target game.

• If a Pokémon exists in the coding of a particular game, it will have an entry in that game's full Pokédex (i.e. that game's National Pokédex, or equivalent).
• Compatible Pokémon for a particular game may be expanded with updates and DLC over time.
• Due to this system, any Pokémon that lack a compatible game in Generation VIII cannot be withdrawn into Generation VIII at all:

Pokémon ineligible for transfer into Generation VIII games
#		Name	Notes
019		Rattata (Alolan)	-
020		Raticate (Alolan)	-
074		Geodude (Alolan)	-
075		Graveler (Alolan)	-
076		Golem (Alolan)	-
088		Grimer (Alolan)	-
089		Muk (Alolan)	-
327		Spinda	Can be natively caught in BDSP, but cannot be transferred into or out of those games.
495		Snivy	-
496		Servine	-
497		Serperior	-
498		Tepig	-
499		Pignite	-
500		Emboar	-
503		Samurott (Unovan)	-
504		Patrat	-
505		Watchog	-
511		Pansage	-
512		Simisage	-
513		Pansear	-
514		Simisear	-
515		Panpour	-
516		Simipour	-
522		Blitzle	-
523		Zebstrika	-
540		Sewaddle	-
541		Swadloon	-
542		Leavanny	-
580		Ducklett	-
581		Swanna	-
585		Deerling	-
586		Sawsbuck	-
594		Alomomola	-
602		Tynamo	-
603		Eelektrik	-
604		Eelektross	-
648		Meloetta	-
650		Chespin	-
651		Quilladin	-
652		Chesnaught	-
653		Fennekin	-
654		Braixen	-
655		Delphox	-
656		Froakie	-
657		Frogadier	-
658		Greninja	-
664		Scatterbug	-
665		Spewpa	-
666		Vivillon	-
667		Litleo	-
668		Pyroar	-
669		Flabébé	-
670		Floette	-
671		Florges	-
672		Skiddo	-
673		Gogoat	-
676		Furfrou	-
720		Hoopa	-
731		Pikipek	-
732		Trumbeak	-
733		Toucannon	-
734		Yungoos	-
735		Gumshoos	-
739		Crabrawler	-
740		Crabominable	-
741		Oricorio	-
774		Minior	-
775		Komala	-
779		Bruxish	-

In addition to the above, some games may impose further restrictions on transferring:

• Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (LGPE):
  • LGPE may only withdraw Pokémon with National Pokédex #001 - 151, as well as Meltan and Melmetal.
  • Partner Pikachu and partner Eevee cannot leave their games of origin.
• Pokémon Sword and Shield:
  • Sword and Shield may not withdraw any Hisuian regional variants.
  • Fused versions of Calyrex cannot leave their games of origin, but can leave if they are unfused.
• Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP):
  • BDSP may not withdraw any Alolan, Galarian, or Hisuian regional variants.
  • Spinda cannot be transferred between Pokémon HOME and BDSP because of a bug in the latter game, which causes the encryption constant to be read as a big-endian value (i.e. bytes are read in reverse order), and the possibility to indirectly change Spinda's spot pattern.
  • Nincada cannot be transferred to BDSP due to clone-related glitches, but Nincada originating in BDSP can be transferred outside of the game.
  • Gigantamax Factor Meowth, Pikachu and Eevee cannot be transferred to BDSP. This is to prevent them from evolving while still having the Gigantamax Factor.
  • Pokémon from BDSP that are normally only available once per save file (such as Dialga or Palkia) may only be transferred once per BDSP save file and HOME account.
• Pokémon Legends: Arceus:
  • Legends: Arceus may not withdraw non-Hisuian regional variants, with the exceptions of Johtonian Sneasel, Alolan Vulpix, and Alolan Ninetales.
  • Gigantamax Factor Pikachu and Eevee cannot be transferred to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. This is to prevent them from evolving while still having the Gigantamax Factor.

Moveset alteration

Unlike previous generations, games in Generation VIII have significant coding differences, and thus cannot trade with each other outside of paired versions. In this sense, the generation is split into multiple "game environments" - Sword and Shield would be one environment, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl would be another environment, etc.

Different game environments will also have different move lists. To allow Pokémon to be transferred despite these differences, HOME tracks the game-specific data of each Pokémon, and assigns appropriate movesets whenever the Pokémon's game environment changes.

• If the Pokémon enters a game environment that it has never been in before, it will be assigned a moveset of the 4 most-recent level-up moves for a Pokémon of its species and level in the target game.
  • Example: a level 20 Pikachu caught in Sword is transferred to Brilliant Diamond. Upon arrival in Brilliant Diamond, the Pikachu will have a moveset of Spark, Feint, Electro Ball, and Double Team.
• If the Pokémon returns to a game environment that it has previously been in before, its moveset data for that environment will be restored.
  • Example: if the Pikachu from the previous example is transferred back into Sword or Shield, its moveset from the last time it was in Sword or Shield will be restored. If it is transferred into Brilliant Diamond again, its moveset from the last time it was in Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl will be restored.

References

Inter-generational transfer
Gen I Time Capsule • Poké Transporter → Bank Gen II Gen III Dual-slot mode → Pal Park Gen IV Dual-slot mode → Pal Park • Poké Transfer • Relocator Gen V Poké Transfer • Relocator • Poké Transporter → Bank Gen VI Poké Transporter → Bank Gen VII Poké Transporter → Bank • GO Park • HOME Gen VIII Bank → HOME • GO Transporter Gen IX