The transfer system between Pokémon GO and Pokémon Home has released, and with it comes a list of various Pokémon that won't be able to make the jump, or that will be altered from a special form if transferred. To prevent the loss of a specific Pokémon form, or avoid trying to transfer a Pokémon that won't be available to make the jump from GO to Home, it will be important for players to take a look at which Pokémon are on the list and why. From costumes to unique event Pokémon, the list is longer than fans might have thought.
The first thing Pokémon fans will want to check on before transferring anything is form changes. There is a list of Pokémon that include things like the Sunny or Rainy versions of Castform, that when transferred, will revert to a neutral form. The change of form effects a few legendary Pokémon as well, like Genesect and Giratina. If players have these Pokémon in a special form and don't want to lose them, they'll want to refrain from using them in the transfer. They also have a high energy cost for transfer, meaning that they could drain a player's transporter energy and lose their special form on top of that.
Players will also find that special costumed Pokémon from events will not be able to transfer from Pokémon GO to Pokémon Home. According to Serebii.net, just about every Pokémon wearing an event hat or special costume will not be eligible to be transferred out to Pokémon Home. This might be a letdown for fans hoping to add their Sunhat Pikachu to their team in Sword and Shield. While these adorable event Pokémon won't be leaving the mobile app any time soon, they will remain a stylish addition to a players team in Pokémon GO.
Pokémon That Change Form When Transferred to Pokémon Home
There are some Pokémon that will revert or change forms when transferred to Pokémon Home from Pokémon GO. The list below will help to prevent players from accidentally losing a special form of a Pokémon they got through an event or caught in the wild, and at an unfortunately steep energy transfer price, especially for Shiny or Legendary Pokémon which can cost up to the full 10,000 units of energy a player has to spend a week on transfers.
- Castform (Sunny Form) Reverts to Neutral Castform
- Castform (Rainy Form) Reverts to Neutral Castform
- Castform (Snowy Form) Reverts to Neutral Castform
- Cherrim (Sunshine Form) Reverts to Cherrim (Overcast Form)
- Giratina (Origin Form) Reverts to Giratina (Altered Form)
- Darmanitan (Zen Mode) Reverts to Darmanitan (Standard Mode)
- Darmanitan (Galarian Form Zen Mode) Reverts to Darmanitan (Galarian Form)
- Meloetta (Pirouette Forme) Reverts to Meloetta (Aria Forme)
- Genesect (Shock Drive) Reverts to Genesect
- Genesect (Burn Drive) Reverts to Genesect
- Genesect (Chill Drive) Reverts to Genesect
- Genesect (Douse Drive) Reverts to Genesect
Pokémon That Will Not Transfer to Pokémon Home From Pokémon GO
Due to costumes, hats, or form changes, certain unique event Pokémon exclusive to Pokémon GO will not be supported for transfer to Pokémon Home or other Pokémon games currently available. There is no indication that these Pokémon will be available for other games via transfer.
- Spinda
- Mewtwo (Armored Mewtwo)
- Bulbasaur (Halloween)
- Bulbasaur (Party Hat)
- Bulbasaur (Pikachu Visor)
- Venusaur (Clone)
- Charmander (Halloween)
- Charmander (Party Hat)
- Charmander (Pikachu Visor)
- Charizard (Clone)
- Squirtle (Sunglasses)
- Squirtle (Halloween)
- Squirtle (Party Hat)
- Squirtle (Pikachu Visor)
- Wartortle (Sunglasses)
- Blastoise (Sunglasses)
- Blastoise (Clone)
- Raticate (Party Hat)
- Pikachu (Original Cap)
- Pikachu (Party Hat)
- Pikachu (Santa Hat)
- Pikachu (Witch Hat)
- Pikachu (Summer Style)
- Pikachu (Fragment Cap)
- Pikachu (Flower Crown)
- Pikachu (Detective)
- Pikachu (Straw Hat)
- Pikachu (Mimikyu Costume)
- Pikachu (Beanie)
- Pikachu (Party Hat 2019)
- Pikachu (Clone)
- Pikachu (Safari)
- Pikachu (Flower Hat)
- Pikachu (Charizard Hat)
- Pikachu (Umbreon Hat)
- Pikachu (Rayquaza Hat)
- Pikachu (Lucario Hat)
- Pikachu (World Cap)
- Pikachu (Flying Pikachu)
- Pikachu (Pikachu Libre)
- Raichu (Original Cap)
- Raichu (Party Hat)
- Raichu (Santa Hat)
- Raichu (Witch Hat)
- Raichu (Summer Style)
- Raichu (Fragment Cap)
- Raichu (Flower Crown)
- Raichu (Detective)
- Raichu (Beanie)
- Raichu (World Cap)
- Nidorino (Party Hat)
- Gengar (Party Hat)
- Gengar (Halloween)
- Eevee (Flower Crown)
- Vaporeon (Flower Crown)
- Jolteon (Flower Crown)
- Flareon (Flower Crown)
- Pichu (Original Cap)
- Pichu (Party Hat)
- Pichu (Santa Hat)
- Pichu (Witch Hat)
- Pichu (Summer Style)
- Pichu (Beanie)
- Pichu (Flowers)
- Togepi (Flowers)
- Espeon (Flower Crown)
- Umbreon (Flower Crown)
- Wobbeffet (Party Hat)
- Stantler (Bells)
- Smoochum (Bow)
- Wurmple (Party)
- Kirlia (Top Hat)
- Sableye (Halloween)
- Shinx (Top Hat)
- Buneary (Flowers)
- Croagunk (Backwards Crown)
- Leafeon (Flower Crown)
- Glaceon (Flower Crown)
While the costume event Pokémon have become very popular with fans, it is unlikely that they will be added as transferrable any time soon to Pokémon Home, as this would require adding them to any games that could link up with the transfer system. Other Event Pokémon, like the Clones of Blastoise, Charizard, Venusaur, and Pikachu, as well as Armored Mewtwo, have only ever appeared in Pokémon GO and are not likely to be made available in games like Sword and Shield. This is one of many transfer restrictions that players are seeing between Pokémon GO and Pokémon Home, and while less frustrating than the cost to transfer Shiny legendary and Mystic Pokémon via the energy system, it could still be frustrating for some players wanting to bring their costumed Pokémon in other games.
Much to the struggle of fans, it appears that there will be some limitations and set backs for the new transfer system once it becomes available to players under level 40 on Pokémon GO. Because of this, it will be important for players to double check their special forms before trading them out over the transporter into Pokémon Home, to prevent the loss of special versions and forms they may have worked hard to get. While the transfer system for Pokémon GO and Pokémon Home has many kinks and possible frustrations for players, knowing which Pokémon to keep and which to transfer will help keep players special forms safe from mishap as they continue to take their costumed buddies out for a trip to the nearest PokéStop.