Can Lucky Pokémon Be Transferred to Pokémon HOME?
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The short and direct answer is: No, Lucky Pokémon cannot retain their Lucky status when transferred to Pokémon HOME. While you can transfer these Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME, they will lose their Lucky status in the process. This means they will no longer have the benefits associated with being Lucky, such as reduced Stardust costs for powering up. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics and understand why this occurs and what other aspects to consider regarding Lucky Pokémon transfers.
What Happens When You Transfer Lucky Pokémon?
When a Lucky Pokémon is moved from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME, the game mechanics essentially reset the Pokémon. The data structure that indicates a Pokémon is ‘Lucky’ is unique to Pokémon GO and doesn’t translate over to Pokémon HOME‘s system. Therefore, the most significant change is that your Pokémon will revert to a standard, non-Lucky Pokémon. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:
- Loss of Lucky Status: The most notable change is the disappearance of the shimmering effect and the associated benefits. Your Pokémon will no longer have the Stardust power-up discount.
- IVs and CP Remain: The Individual Values (IVs), Combat Power (CP), and other stats of your Pokémon remain the same when transferred. The change is purely on the Lucky status.
- Form Changes: Some Pokémon, like Giratina (which reverts from Origin Forme to Altered Forme) will experience form changes. However, this is not unique to Lucky Pokémon and happens to other forms as well.
Why Can’t Lucky Pokémon Retain Their Status?
The limitation arises from the design of Pokémon GO and Pokémon HOME. The systems are designed differently. Lucky Pokémon are part of the Pokémon GO trading and friendship system, which has specific mechanics not mirrored in other Pokémon games. Pokémon HOME aims to be a centralized storage service, not necessarily a replication of the mechanics of each game it pulls from. As such, the following aspects of the Pokémon GO mechanics don’t transfer over:
- Trading History: The ‘Lucky’ status is tied to the trading event in Pokémon GO. This history isn’t relevant to Pokémon HOME.
- Game-Specific Mechanics: Pokémon GO uses a specific algorithm to determine which Pokémon become Lucky and the benefits that come with it. These aren’t compatible with Pokémon HOME.
Considerations Before Transferring
Before transferring your Lucky Pokémon to Pokémon HOME, consider the following:
- Loss of benefits: Be fully aware that the lower Stardust cost for powering up will disappear. If a specific Pokémon is valuable because of its Lucky status, you might want to reconsider the transfer.
- Purpose: Think about the specific reason for transferring a Lucky Pokémon. Do you need it for a specific game? Or is it just for collection? Is the Lucky status important for it?
- Other Options: Consider other ways to utilize the Lucky Pokémon, such as battling in raids and gyms in Pokémon GO, as you can only have these benefits in Pokémon GO.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if I transfer a Lucky Pokémon to Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee!?
Similar to Pokémon HOME, Lucky Pokémon transferred to Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee! will lose their Lucky status and benefits. The Lucky status is specific to Pokémon GO.
2. Can Shiny Pokémon be transferred to Pokémon HOME?
Yes, Shiny Pokémon can be transferred to Pokémon HOME without losing their Shiny status. This is one feature that translates successfully across games, unlike Lucky status.
3. Do Lucky Pokémon become Shiny when transferred?
No, Lucky Pokémon do not become Shiny upon transfer, and vice versa. The two are independent statuses. A Pokémon can be both Shiny and Lucky, but this status does not change during the transfer.
4. Can I get a guaranteed Lucky trade?
Yes, you can get a guaranteed Lucky trade when you reach the Best Friend status with another trainer. When you become Lucky Friends there’s a 100% chance for the next trade to result in two Lucky Pokémon, one for each trainer.
5. How do I become Lucky Friends?
To become Lucky Friends, you need to reach the Best Friend level with another player in Pokémon GO. There is a chance for that level to be come a Lucky Friend each day of interaction.
6. How rare are Lucky Pokémon?
The chance of a trade resulting in a Lucky Pokémon is approximately 5%, with odds increasing based on how old the Pokémon is. The chance is 5% for Pokémon held for less than a year, 10% for Pokémon held for one year, and 15% for Pokémon held for two years or more.
7. Is a Lucky Pokémon better than a Shiny Pokémon?
It depends on what you value more. Shiny Pokémon are differentiated by their unique appearance, making them collectibles. Lucky Pokémon are valuable due to the reduced Stardust cost for powering them up, making them more practical for battle.
8. Can a 2-star Pokémon become a 3-star Pokémon?
No, a Pokémon’s star rating (based on its IVs) cannot be changed. The IVs are set when the Pokémon is caught. The star rating is based on the IVs which cannot be changed.
9. Should I keep a Lucky Pokémon?
Yes, generally you should keep a Lucky Pokémon if you plan to power it up, given that it has the reduced Stardust cost for powering up. They also have a cool shimmering effect and are more likely to have higher IVs, making them good options for battles.
10. How can I get rid of a Lucky Pokémon?
You can transfer a Lucky Pokémon to the professor, just like any other Pokémon. Make sure that it’s not set as a favourite and transfer the Pokémon individually.
11. Does Pokémon GO warn you if you transfer a Shiny Pokémon?
Yes, Pokémon GO has a warning prompt when you try to transfer a Shiny Pokémon to prevent accidental transfers. This doesn’t appear for Lucky Pokémon.
12. Can you trade back a Lucky Pokémon?
No, trades in Pokémon GO cannot be undone or reversed. Once you trade a Lucky Pokémon (or any Pokémon) to another trainer, you cannot get it back through a trade.
13. Can you get more than one Lucky trade per day?
Yes, you can make multiple Lucky trades in one day, provided you have multiple trades that result in Lucky Pokémon. However, you can only do one special trade per day, which may or may not be a Lucky trade.
14. Why do people want Lucky Pokémon?
People want Lucky Pokémon for various reasons, including their potential for higher IVs, reduced Stardust cost for powering them up, and the cool shimmery effect in the Pokédex and on the Pokémon’s summary page.
15. Should I power up Pokémon before evolving?
Generally, it’s better to evolve a Pokémon first and then power it up if it has the moveset that you desire. You should evolve and confirm the move set before investing in Stardust to avoid wasting resources.
Conclusion
In summary, while Lucky Pokémon are incredibly valuable within Pokémon GO, their Lucky status is not preserved during a transfer to Pokémon HOME. Be mindful of this before making any transfers and consider if the reduced Stardust cost is an important factor for the Pokémon you are planning to transfer. This way, you can make informed decisions on which Pokémon to transfer and which to retain within Pokémon GO.