Pokémon Home is a cloud-based storage system that offers Pokémon fans a modern way to collect, trade, and manage their Pokémon across multiple game titles. Launched in February 2020, Pokémon Home bridges the gap between previous Pokémon generations and the current games, allowing for the transfer of Pokémon from as far back as the Nintendo 3DS Pokémon Bank app, all the way to the latest games on the Nintendo Switch, such as Pokémon Sword and Shield. The platform not only serves as a comprehensive Pokémon database where players can keep track of their Pokédex across games but also introduces a new dimension to Pokémon trading. Through its mobile app and Nintendo Switch versions, trainers worldwide can trade Pokémon in various ways, including Wonder Box, Global Trade System (GTS), Room Trade, and Friend Trade, making Pokémon Home an essential tool for collectors and competitive players aiming to complete their Pokédex or find the perfect battle companion.
Before Pokémon Home, there was Pokémon Bank, a pioneering service launched in December 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS. Pokémon Bank was the first official cloud-based storage option for the Pokémon series, allowing players to store up to 3,000 Pokémon from the core games starting with Pokémon Black and White. It represented a significant step forward in the Pokémon franchise, providing players with a way to preserve their beloved Pokémon across game generations and titles. Pokémon Bank included features like transferring Pokémon to and from compatible titles and the Poké Transporter app, which facilitated moving Pokémon from even older games into the Bank. Despite its subscription fee, Pokémon Bank became an indispensable tool for dedicated Pokémon trainers, setting the groundwork for the more expansive and interactive Pokémon Home. The transition from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon Home marked a new era of connectivity and community within the Pokémon universe, underscoring the series’ evolution in embracing digital and global trends.
Guide of Marks inside Pokemon Home
Here’s a useful image that user r/Byotan created on Reddit of the various marks inside Pokemon Home
Origin Marks
The Pokémon games feature various “origin marks” indicating the game or region a Pokémon originates from, each with unique criteria and implications for gameplay. The “blue pentagon” mark, for instance, signifies Pokémon from the Kalos region (Pokémon X and Y, and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire), and includes the first 721 Pokémon plus certain others from later generations that have Kalos-native pre-evolutions, totaling 729 Pokémon. The “black clover,” symbolizing Pokémon from the Alola region (Pokémon Sun and Moon, and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon), can appear on 809 Pokémon, including specific later-generation Pokémon with Alolan pre-evolutions. The “Game Boy” mark is for Pokémon transferred from the Generation I and II Virtual Console games, applying to the first 251 Pokémon and their non-regional evolutions, making 275 Pokémon eligible. The “GO” mark represents Pokémon from Pokémon GO, the “Let’s Go” mark for those from Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, the “Galar symbol” for Pokémon Sword and Shield, the “Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl” mark for those games’ Pokémon, and the “Legends: Arceus” mark for Pokémon from that title. The “Scarlet and Violet” mark, meanwhile, indicates Pokémon from those latest entries, covering all available Pokémon in those games plus specific regional forms, totaling 700 Pokémon able to have this mark. Additionally, Pokémon from Generations III, IV, and V, as well as certain Pokémon transferred to newer games, may lack an origin mark, affecting gameplay and transferability across different Pokémon titles.
The specific types of known origin markings thus far are:
- The Blue pentagon: Used for the generation 6 games. Specifically, this is used for Pokemon from X and Y and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
- The Black clover: Used for the generation 7 games. Specifically, this is used for Pokemon from Sun and Moon, as well as Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
- The Gameboy icon: Used for Pokemon obtained through use of the Poke Transporter from the 3DS virtual console. This includes all remakes, for both generation 1 and 2.
- The GO icon: Used for Pokemon obtained from Pokemon GO. Only used in Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee so far.
- The Galar Symbol: Used for the generation 8 Pokemon games (Pokemon Sword and Shield).
- The Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl mark: Used for Pokémon obtained in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
- Legends: Arceus mark: Used for Pokémon obtained in Pokémon Legends: Arceus
- Scarlet & Violet mark: Used for Pokémon obtained in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
- No origin marking: Used for Pokemon obtained in generation 3, 4 and 5, as these do not have origin markings.
Transferring from Previous Games to Pokemon Home
Transferring Pokémon to Pokémon Home is a convenient process that allows players to consolidate their collections from various Pokémon games into one central location. Pokémon Home acts as a cloud-based hub where players can deposit Pokémon from compatible titles such as Pokémon Bank, Pokémon GO, and main series games from the Nintendo 3DS and Switch eras. Once transferred to Pokémon Home, Pokémon can be organized, traded globally with others, and even moved to other compatible games, providing a seamless and unified experience for managing and enjoying one’s Pokémon collection. This system supports the modern Pokémon gaming experience by facilitating cross-game compatibility and preserving the efforts of trainers across different game versions.
CengizMan from Reddit also created this useful transfer chart as well.
Pokemon Home Useful Links
