Have you ever wanted to use Pokémon from older games in Pokémon Sword and Shield? Assuming they are in the Galar Pokédex (along with several other games’), you can transfer them in with Pokémon Home. Here’s how to do it.
Transferring from the 3DS
Pokémon caught prior to Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee can only be sent to Home through Pokémon Bank on the Nintendo 3DS. There are two ways to get a transfer from games into Bank, and the method you need to use depends on which game you are transferring from.
You can send Pokémon from X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon straight into Pokémon Bank. If you want to transfer from an older game, you need to download the Pokémon Transfer app. This will allow you to send creatures from Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, along with the Virtual Console versions of Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal. If you want to transfer from a different game, you need to trade the desired creatures to a compatible game.
Once everything you want to transfer is in Bank, you must download the Pokémon Home app on the Nintendo Switch (you can’t transfer via the phone app). Open the app and select the “move” feature on the Switch, then the “move to Pokémon Home” option on the 3DS. If you have done everything correctly, you will have to enter a moving code into the 3DS. After this, your boxes will move onto the Switch. You can then send Pokémon into Sword and Shield by selecting them and dragging them into boxes (assuming they are legal).
Transferring without a 3DS
If you have a Pokémon Bank account, you can still make transfers even without a 3DS. You will need to enter your Nintendo Network ID to verify the account, and then you can make transfers.
Remember that these transfers need to be made over the internet, so make sure to have a wireless connection. It’s also important to ensure that both devices are charged when the transfer takes place. Stay tuned for more news and guides!
