Does transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME count as trading?

Does Transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME Count as Trading?

Pokémon HOME, a free app developed by ILCA and published by The Pokémon Company, has taken the world of Pokémon enthusiasts by storm. As the name suggests, Pokémon HOME serves as a virtual space for players to store and transfer their Pokémon across various Pokémon games. But have you ever wondered if transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME counts as trading? In this article, we’ll dive into the answer and explore some crucial details about Pokémon HOME.

Direct Answer

To address the question directly: no, transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME does not count as trading. While transferring Pokémon between games through Pokémon HOME may seem like trading, it’s a unique mechanism that doesn’t qualify as traditional trading. Let’s break down why:

• No monetary value is exchanged: In traditional trading, players typically exchange Pokémon for other Pokémon, berries, or even money. In Pokémon HOME, you’re simply transferring your Pokémon between games without exchanging anything of value.
• No direct ownership change: When you transfer a Pokémon to Pokémon HOME, the ownership of the Pokémon doesn’t change hands. The Pokémon remains yours, and you can still use it as part of your party in the linked game.

How Pokémon HOME Transferring Works

So, how does transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME work? Here’s a brief overview:

• Connecting your Pokémon games: Pokémon HOME requires you to link your Nintendo Switch, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and other compatible games. Once connected, you can access your Pokémon in each linked game.
• Sending and receiving Pokémon: Select the Pokémon you want to transfer and send it to Pokémon HOME. Then, choose the destination game (e.g., Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Sword, or Pokémon Shield) where you want to receive the Pokémon.

Key Features and Restrictions

Here are some crucial features and restrictions to consider when transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME:

• Type restrictions: Certain Pokémon have type restrictions when transferred to Pokémon HOME. For instance, some Legendary Pokémon or Mythical Pokémon can only be transferred from specific games.
• Moveset limitations: Pokémon that receive moves through transfers might have limited moveset compatibility, especially when transferred to different generations.
• No guarantees: Transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME does not guarantee that they’ll receive the same level, stat, or IV values in the destination game.
• No evolution restrictions: Pokémon that can evolve under specific conditions in their native game will evolve according to those conditions in the new game.

Comparison with Traditional Trading

While transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME isn’t traditional trading, here are some key differences to consider:

• Ownership: In traditional trading, ownership of the Pokémon is transferred from one player to another. In Pokémon HOME, the Pokémon remains your property.
• Conditions: Traditional trading often requires specific conditions, such as a trade-in requirement, to facilitate the exchange. Pokémon HOME does not impose such conditions.
• Game compatibility: Pokémon HOME allows for more flexible transferring between games compared to traditional trading, where games have specific compatibility requirements.

Conclusions

Transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME may seem like trading at first glance, but it’s a unique mechanism that operates under different rules. Key differences include the lack of monetary value exchanged, direct ownership change, and different conditions for transfer. Whether you’re looking to diversify your Pokémon collection, experiment with new games, or simply organize your digital Pokémon, Pokémon HOME is an excellent tool for fans of the Pokémon franchise.