Pokémon Home Details Revealed - Everything You Need to Know
Back in May 2019, we received the announcement of Pokémon Home, a replacement for Pokémon Bank that allows players to save their Pokémon to a cloud database.
Here’s the full rundown:
Move
Move Pokémon to Pokémon HOME
The Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon HOME supports connectivity with the Nintendo Switch games Pokémon Sword, Pokémon Shield, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!, and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!Both the Nintendo Switch version and mobile device version of Pokémon HOME support connectivity with the Nintendo 3DS software Pokémon Bank.
There are plans to support Pokémon GO in the future as well.
* Once a Pokémon from Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! is moved into Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield, it cannot be moved back to Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!
However, you can move Pokémon from Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! to Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! (or vice versa).
Connect with Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield can link to the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon HOME. Once the games are linked, you can deposit or retrieve Pokémon that can be obtained using those games.Connect with Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! can link to the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon HOME. You can move Pokémon back and forth between Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! or into Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.Once a Pokémon from Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! is moved to Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield, it cannot be returned to its original game!
Connect with Pokémon Bank
If you are enrolled in a Premium Plan (paid), you’ll be able to move Pokémon from Nintendo 3DS Pokémon titles to Pokémon HOME using Pokémon Bank.Once a Pokémon from Pokémon Bank is moved into Pokémon HOME, it cannot be moved back to Pokémon Bank.
To commemorate the release of Pokémon HOME, we will make Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter available at no cost for a one-month period after Pokémon HOME is released. You’ll be able to bring Pokémon from various Pokémon series games using Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter. Once you’ve got your Pokémon in Pokémon Bank, you’ll then be able to move them to Pokémon HOME!
Trade
Trade Pokémon
Use your mobile device to trade Pokémon anytime, anywhere! There are four ways to trade Pokémon using Pokémon HOME on your mobile device.Wonder Box
Pokémon placed in the Wonder Box can be traded with people around the world before you even know it! The Pokémon placed in the Wonder Box will be traded even when you’re not using Pokémon HOME.You’ll be able to increase the number of Pokémon you can trade at once by enrolling in a Premium Plan (paid).
GTS
With the GTS, you’ll be able to specify which Pokémon you want to trade and which Pokémon you want to receive and then be matched with a Trainer whose requests meet your criteria. You’ll even be able to request Pokémon that you haven’t yet registered in Pokémon HOME’s National Pokédex!You’ll be able to increase the number of Pokémon you can trade at once by enrolling in a Premium Plan (paid).
Room Trade
Room Trade lets you create a room and trade Pokémon among the people who join. Each room can hold up to 20 people. To add a little suspense, you won’t know what Pokémon you’ll receive until the trade is complete.
Trading in rooms has no cost, but you’ll only be able to create rooms when enrolled in a Premium Plan (paid).Friend Trade
Friend Trade allows you to trade your Pokémon with other users who you’ve become friends with in Pokémon HOME. You can add friends using the Add Friend feature in Pokémon HOME.The features related to adding and managing friends in Pokémon HOME cannot be used by users under the age of 16.
More Features
Pokémon HOME is full of features that you can use to connect with games in the Pokémon series and more!
National Pokédex
Pokémon will be registered to the National Pokédex when you deposit them in the Boxes in Pokémon HOME. If you move a Pokémon that can Mega Evolve or Gigantamax, then these forms will be registered, too! In the National Pokédex, you’ll be able to see Pokédex entries from various different games in one place.With the mobile app version of Pokémon HOME, you’ll be able to see much more than just Pokédex entries. You’ll also be able to check each Pokémon’s Abilities as well as the moves it can learn!
Mystery Gifts
You can receive Mystery Gifts in the mobile device version of Pokémon HOME! With this feature, you can receive Mystery Gifts for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield as well as gifts specifically for Pokémon HOME. Pokémon received in Pokémon HOME can be directly deposited in a Box in Pokémon HOME.Notes: You must be at least 16 years old to use the Local Event Check option for Mystery Gifts.
Depending on your device and OS version, some features may not be supported.
You can also get some gifts, such as items for Pokémon, by receiving a code for a Mystery Gift in Pokémon HOME and then using that code in Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield.
Judge Pokémon
If you’ve enrolled in a Premium Plan, you’ll have access to the Judge function, which allows you to check how strong your Pokémon are.Your Room
In your room, you’ll be able to see all sorts of information about events or the games you’ve connected to Pokémon HOME. You’ll also be able to edit your profile using stickers. You can obtain stickers when you meet certain conditions or perform certain tasks in Pokémon HOME known as Challenges.In the mobile app version of Pokémon HOME, you can check out how Ranked Battles and various Online Competitions in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are going, as well as the rankings of the Pokémon being used in them. By going to Battle Data, you’ll be able to see the battle records of each Trainer as well as information about what moves are popular among the Pokémon in the competitions.
Note: The Battle Data function is expected to become available sometime after the February 2020 launch of Pokémon HOME.
News
In Pokémon HOME for mobile devices, you’ll be able to receive news about Pokémon being distributed as gifts and information about Online Competitions for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.Pokémon HOME Points
Pokémon HOME Points are points that accumulate in Pokémon HOME as you deposit more Pokémon. When using the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon HOME, you’ll be able to exchange your Pokémon HOME points for BP (Battle Points) to be used in core Pokémon series games.
On top of all this, the Switch and mobile versions will differ from each other.
| Feature | Nintendo Switch | Mobile |
| Move Pokémon with Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! | Yes | No |
| Move Pokémon with Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield | Yes | No |
| Move Pokémon with Pokémon Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Judge Pokémon | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Pokémon | No | Yes |
| Receive Mystery Gifts | No | Yes |
| Check Battle Data | No | Yes |
| Check News | No | Yes |
| Exchange Pokémon HOME Points for BP (Battle Points) | Yes | No |
Lastly, there will be a premium version of Pokemon Home, with the service costing US$2.99 for 30 days, US$4.99 for three months and US$15.99 for one year. Here’s what the premium version will get you:
| Description | Basic | Premium |
| Moving Pokémon from Pokémon Bank | No | Yes |
| Number of Pokémon that can be deposited | 30 | 6000 |
| Number of Pokémon that can be placed in the Wonder Box at once | 3 | 10 |
| Number of Pokémon that can be placed in the GTS at once | 1 | 3 |
| Room Trade | Participate | Participate and host |
| Judge function | No | Yes |
In regards to bringing your Pokémon over from Pokémon Bank, the Pokémon Company will have a promotion that provides Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter for free for one month. This will allow you enough time to get all of your Pokémon into Pokémon Home.
Pokémon Home is set to launch in February 2020, however there is no firm release date as of yet.