On Nintendo Switch, open Pokémon HOME, choose Pokémon, select the source game and save data, move the legendary into a HOME or destination-game box, check Check Summary for allowed destinations, then press + and choose Save changes and exit. Compatibility is checked per Pokémon: a legendary can move only to a game in which its species and relevant form appear, and origin-specific rules may still block the transfer.
What Pokémon HOME actually does
Pokémon HOME is a storage and transfer hub, not a universal converter. The governing rule is simple: Pokémon can move only to games in which they appear. Connecting two titles to HOME does not mean every legendary can travel between them.
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Nintendo lists Pokémon Scarlet, Pokémon Violet, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Shining Pearl, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield as compatible with HOME. Restrictions can apply to particular species, forms, origins and transfer histories. The most reliable test is the individual Pokémon’s Check Summary screen, which shows the games that Pokémon can travel to.
There is no official aggregate number for how many legendary Pokémon can move across every HOME-compatible game. Treat each legendary as an individual case rather than relying on a universal list.
#1 Best Overall
- Embark on a new Pokémon adventure
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities.
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea.
- Embark on an independent study called the Treasure Hunt to gain new experiences, meet new people, and find your very own treasure.
Prepare before transferring a valuable legendary
A legendary may be difficult or impossible to replace, so check the route before you open the boxes. Identify the source game, the destination game, the Pokémon’s form and its origin. A legendary received from Pokémon GO is subject to different rules from one caught in Sword or Scarlet, and a Pokémon that passed through Let’s Go, Pokémon Bank, FireRed or LeafGreen, or Pokémon Legends: Z-A can have a permanent boundary attached to its transfer history.
Decide whether you need the legendary to return to its source. If the answer is yes, do not commit a move across a documented one-way boundary. You can leave it in the source game or in a HOME box while you decide. Also make sure it is in a PC box rather than an active party, and confirm the Nintendo Switch user whose save data you intend to edit.
Check these conditions before moving a legendary
- The species appears in the destination. If the destination game does not contain that legendary, HOME will not make it compatible.
- The form is supported. A species may be available while a particular form, origin mark or other variation is not.
- The Pokémon’s origin matters. Pokémon GO, Pokémon Bank, Let’s Go, FireRed/LeafGreen and Pokémon Legends: Z-A each have additional rules.
- It is not in a party. Nintendo says Pokémon currently assigned to a party cannot be transferred through the Switch version of HOME.
- You are using the Switch app. The mobile app does not perform game-to-HOME box transfers.
- You have selected the correct save data. HOME can expose save data belonging to other users on the same Switch, so verify the user before changing boxes.
- You understand the return path. A successful move can still be permanent when the source is Let’s Go, Bank, FireRed/LeafGreen or a route involving Legends: Z-A.
Which games can exchange Pokémon through HOME?
| Source or destination | HOME behavior | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet | Listed by Nintendo as HOME-compatible | The exact species and form must be supported in the selected title. |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | Listed as HOME-compatible | Species, form and transfer-history restrictions can apply. |
| Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl | Listed as HOME-compatible | Only Pokémon that appear in the selected game can move there. |
| Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield | Listed as HOME-compatible | HOME’s per-Pokémon destination list is authoritative. |
| Pokémon GO | GO can send Pokémon to HOME | Some rare Pokémon require registration in the destination Pokédex first; a transfer from GO to HOME cannot be reversed back to GO. |
| Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! | Can move Pokémon to HOME and between the two Let’s Go games | Once a Pokémon enters a newer game, it cannot return to its original Let’s Go title. |
| Pokémon Bank and Nintendo 3DS titles | Bank can move Pokémon into HOME | That move is one-way: Pokémon cannot return to Bank or be used with Nintendo 3DS titles. |
| Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen | Pokémon from these games can reach HOME through supported transfer paths | Pokémon transferred to HOME cannot be transferred back to FireRed or LeafGreen. |
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A | Has its own documented transfer boundaries | A Pokémon befriended in Z-A cannot be brought into previous main-series titles; a Pokémon brought into Z-A from an older title cannot return to those older titles. |
This table describes the broad connection between products, not a guarantee for a particular legendary. The species, form and history still have to pass HOME’s individual check.
How to transfer a legendary on Nintendo Switch
Use this procedure whenever you are moving a legendary between a compatible game and Pokémon HOME, or from one compatible game to another through HOME.
- Open Pokémon HOME. From the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu, start Pokémon HOME and press A.
- Choose Pokémon. Select the Pokémon option on the HOME main screen.
- Select the source game. Choose the game containing the legendary, then select the user’s save data. Check the user name carefully if several Nintendo Switch profiles appear.
- Find the legendary. Open the appropriate game box and select the Pokémon. If it is in a party, return to the game and place it in a box before trying again.
- Inspect destinations. Select the Pokémon, choose Check Summary, and press +. Review the games shown as compatible for that specific Pokémon.
- Move it to the intended box. Drag or select the legendary and place it in a HOME box or a box belonging to the destination game. Do not assume that a box being visible means every Pokémon can enter it; HOME will indicate an invalid placement.
- Commit the change. Press + after arranging the boxes, then choose Save changes and exit. Until you save, the box arrangement is not committed.
- Open the destination game. Launch the game associated with the destination box and check its PC or storage system. The Pokémon should appear there if the move completed successfully.
The actual game-to-HOME transfer requires the Nintendo Switch version. The mobile application can manage HOME features, but it does not perform these box moves. If you only have a phone available, you can review HOME information there, but you must return to the Switch app to rearrange game boxes and save the transfer.
Moving a legendary from Pokémon GO
GO-origin legendaries have two separate rules that often cause confusion. First, certain rare Pokémon sent from Pokémon GO to HOME cannot enter another game until that species has been registered in the destination game’s Pokédex. Second, once a Pokémon has moved from GO to HOME, it cannot be returned to Pokémon GO.
Recommended sequence for a GO legendary
- Send the legendary from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME using the GO transfer feature.
- Receive it in HOME and inspect the Pokémon’s Check Summary destination list.
- If the intended game is blocked by the registration condition, register that species in the destination game first by catching or otherwise obtaining it there, where that game permits.
- Return to HOME and check the summary again.
- Move the legendary only after the destination appears as allowed, then save the HOME box changes.
Pokédex registration is not a universal override. The official rule is species- and destination-specific, so registration may not remove every restriction. A form or origin limitation can still prevent the move. Most importantly, do not send a GO legendary to HOME as a temporary stop if you may want it back in GO later; the return route is unavailable.
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The species does not exist in that game
HOME cannot add a species to a title that does not contain it. Select the legendary, open Check Summary and choose a destination that appears in the compatibility list.
The form is unsupported
Forms can have different destination rules from the base species. If the species is present but the particular form is unavailable, HOME may show the destination as blocked. Keep the Pokémon in HOME or choose a game that supports that form.
Rank #2
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- The World of Pokémon Has Evolved - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet offer an open-world experience that only the Pokémon series can deliver—one welcoming even to newcomers to the series.
- You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you’re free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story. You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you. Meet a variety of people and Pokémon, and adventure in the world of Pokémon the way you want to.
- A Deeper Experience with Multiplayer* Gameplay - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet allow multiplayer gameplay with up to four players. Along with series staples, such as trading and battling Pokémon, you will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players. You can discover new Pokémon and explore unfamiliar areas with your friends and family, opening the door to an adventure more precious and fun than ever!
- Meet the characters - As one of the main characters, you’ll set off on your adventure. Your outfit will vary depending on whether you play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Who knows what kind of story awaits you? For the first time in the series, one of two different professors will appear in your game depending on the version you choose to play.
The legendary came from Pokémon GO
Check whether the destination Pokédex-registration condition applies. Register the species in that game where possible, then inspect the summary again. Do not move the Pokémon expecting to send it back to GO; that return route does not exist.
The Pokémon is in a party
Nintendo does not allow party Pokémon to be transferred. Open the source game, place the legendary in a PC box, close the game and retry the HOME operation.
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The move would cross a one-way boundary
HOME blocks returns to certain older games even when the original transfer path was valid. This is expected behavior, not a save-data error.
The wrong save profile is selected
Because HOME can display save data from multiple users on one console, a legendary may appear missing or unavailable if you opened another profile’s save. Exit the transfer screen and select the correct user’s save data.
You have not saved the box arrangement
Moving an icon on screen is only a proposed arrangement. Press + and select Save changes and exit. If you close HOME first, the Pokémon may remain in its original box and the destination game will not show the transfer.
One-way transfers you should treat as permanent
Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
These two Let’s Go titles can exchange Pokémon with each other and can send Pokémon to HOME. After a Pokémon enters a newer game, it cannot return to its original Let’s Go game. Move a prized legendary only when you are comfortable losing that return option.
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Pokémon transferred from Bank into HOME cannot go back to Bank and cannot be used with Nintendo 3DS titles. Consider the move a migration to the HOME and Nintendo Switch ecosystem.
FireRed and LeafGreen
Nintendo specifically states that Pokémon transferred from Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version to HOME cannot be transferred back to those games.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
A Pokémon befriended in Z-A cannot be brought into previous main-series titles. Conversely, a Pokémon brought into Z-A from an older title cannot return to those older titles. Check the individual Pokémon before committing to either direction.
Rank #3
- Embark on a new Pokémon adventure
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea
- Embark on an independent study called the Treasure Hunt to gain new experiences, meet new people, and find your very own treasure
How to choose a destination before you commit
| Question | What to verify | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Does the destination contain the legendary? | Species and relevant form are part of that game’s available Pokémon. | If not, choose another title; HOME cannot convert it. |
| Where did the legendary originate? | GO, Bank, Let’s Go, FireRed/LeafGreen and Z-A have special boundaries. | Read the applicable one-way or registration rule before moving it. |
| Do you need a return path? | Some transfers permanently remove the ability to return to the source. | Keep the Pokémon in the source game or HOME until you accept the consequence. |
| Does the destination require Pokédex registration? | This can apply to certain rare Pokémon originating in GO. | Register the species first where the destination allows it, then recheck HOME. |
| Does the summary list the destination? | Use the Pokémon’s own Check Summary screen. | Move only when the intended game is shown as compatible. |
For example, a legendary caught in Sword may be eligible for a listed Switch destination if that species and form appear there, while a GO-origin copy of the same species may first require registration. Two copies with the same species name therefore can show different destination lists. The summary on the exact Pokémon you plan to move is more useful than a general compatibility chart.
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Account, plan and console requirements
- A Nintendo Account is required for the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon HOME.
- Link the same Nintendo Account to the Switch and mobile versions if you want the HOME account synchronized across both apps.
- Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required to use Pokémon HOME.
- The free Basic Plan can move and trade Pokémon between compatible games. The Premium Plan adds extra features, but a Premium subscription does not override species, form, origin or one-way transfer restrictions.
- Use the Nintendo Switch app for the box operation. The mobile app is not a substitute for the console transfer screen.
There is no separate Nintendo Switch Online fee required for this process. The relevant choice is whether the free Basic Plan provides the HOME features you need or whether you want Premium features; neither plan changes the compatibility rules displayed for an individual legendary.
Common mistakes and safer habits
- Moving before checking reversibility: Read the origin-specific rule first, especially for Let’s Go, Bank, FireRed/LeafGreen and Z-A.
- Assuming two HOME-compatible games are fully interchangeable: Compatibility is per species, form and history, not simply per game.
- Skipping the summary screen: The destination list is the practical, Pokémon-specific authority before you save.
- Forgetting the GO lockout: A GO-to-HOME transfer cannot be returned to Pokémon GO.
- Editing the wrong profile: Confirm the user and save data before moving anything.
- Closing without saving: Press + and choose Save changes and exit; otherwise the rearrangement is not committed.
- Assuming a visible destination box is permission: A box can be displayed while a particular Pokémon remains invalid for it. Let HOME’s placement warning and summary list decide.
- Treating registration as a blanket fix: Registering a GO species can address the documented Pokédex condition, but it cannot remove every form or origin restriction.
What to do when the transfer still will not work
- Return the Pokémon to a box if it is currently in a party.
- Confirm that you selected the intended Nintendo Switch user and save data.
- Open Check Summary and note the exact destinations HOME permits.
- Compare the Pokémon’s species, form and origin with the destination game.
- If it came from GO, complete any required Pokédex registration and check again.
- If the desired route crosses a documented one-way boundary, stop; no HOME setting can make that return transfer legal.
- Save the HOME changes only after the destination is explicitly allowed.
- Open the destination title and inspect its storage after saving. If the Pokémon is not there, return to HOME and verify that the save operation completed rather than assuming the on-screen move was permanent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move a legendary from Pokémon GO to Scarlet or Sword?
Often, but not automatically. Send it to HOME, inspect Check Summary, and follow any requirement to register that species in the destination game’s Pokédex. The exact species, form and origin determine the result. Once it leaves GO for HOME, it cannot return to GO.
Why is my legendary grayed out in Pokémon HOME?
Common causes are an unsupported species or form, a GO-origin registration requirement, the Pokémon being in a party, an attempt to cross a one-way boundary, or the wrong user save being selected. Check the individual summary first.
Can I transfer a legendary back after moving it?
Only if the summary lists the original game as an allowed destination and no origin rule forbids it. Transfers from GO cannot return to GO; moves from HOME to Bank, Nintendo 3DS titles, FireRed or LeafGreen are not reversible; and newer-game moves involving Let’s Go or the documented Z-A boundaries can also be one-way.
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The transfer screen works with compatible save data available on the console and the HOME account. Select the relevant user and save data carefully. HOME’s destination list, not merely installation status, determines whether the legendary can enter the game.
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online?
No. Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required for Pokémon HOME. The free Basic Plan can move and trade Pokémon between compatible games; Premium adds features but does not bypass transfer restrictions.
Can I use the phone version of HOME to move the Pokémon?
No. Use the Nintendo Switch version for the game-to-HOME box operation. The mobile app can be linked to the same Nintendo Account and used for other HOME features, but it does not perform this transfer workflow.
Is there a complete list of every legendary that can transfer everywhere?
No universal official count or all-games list applies. Compatibility is determined for each Pokémon, including species, form, origin and transfer history. Use Check Summary on the exact legendary.
Rank #4
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
Bottom line for legendary transfers
Use the Switch version of Pokémon HOME as a controlled, per-Pokémon transfer system. Select the correct save data, verify the legendary with Check Summary, and save only when the destination is listed. Pokémon GO legendaries may need destination Pokédex registration and can never go back to GO, while Let’s Go, Bank, FireRed/LeafGreen and Legends: Z-A create documented one-way limits. Those rules—not the fact that both games connect to HOME—determine whether your legendary can make the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer a legendary from Pokémon GO to Scarlet or Sword?
Usually only after checking the exact Pokémon. Send it to HOME, review Check Summary, and register the species in the destination Pokédex first if HOME requires it. A GO-to-HOME transfer cannot be returned to Pokémon GO.
Why is my legendary grayed out in Pokémon HOME?
The species or form may not appear in that game, the Pokémon may be from GO and require registration, it may still be in a party, the route may cross a one-way boundary, or the wrong save profile may be selected.
Can I move a legendary back after transferring it?
Only when the original game appears in that Pokémon’s allowed destinations. GO, Bank, FireRed/LeafGreen and certain Let’s Go and Legends: Z-A routes have documented irreversible limits.
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Do I need Nintendo Switch Online for HOME transfers?
No. Nintendo Switch Online is not required. The free Basic Plan supports moving and trading Pokémon between compatible games; Premium adds features without overriding compatibility rules.
Can I make the transfer with the Pokémon HOME mobile app?
No. Use the Nintendo Switch version for game-to-HOME box transfers. The mobile app does not perform the console box operation.
Is there one complete list of transferable legendary Pokémon?
No. The authoritative answer is the exact Pokémon’s Check Summary screen, because species, form, origin and transfer history can change the allowed destinations.
The Bottom Line
Check the exact legendary’s Check Summary before saving. HOME moves only Pokémon that appear in the destination, GO transfers may require Pokédex registration and cannot return to GO, and several older-game routes are permanently one-way.
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