Can You Get Banned for Owning Hacked Pokemon? The Definitive Guide

The short answer is: probably not, but it’s complicated. Simply owning a hacked Pokémon is unlikely to trigger a ban from Nintendo or The Pokémon Company. The focus of their enforcement tends to be on those who create, distribute, or actively use these Pokémon in ways that negatively impact the online experience for other players, such as in ranked battles. However, ignorance isn’t bliss. While you might not be actively targeted for possession alone, using a hacked Pokémon online significantly increases your risk of facing penalties. It’s a delicate balance, a digital tightrope walk between personal enjoyment and community responsibility.

Understanding “Hacked” Pokémon

Before diving deeper, let’s clarify what constitutes a “hacked” or “illegitimate” Pokémon. This isn’t just about Pokémon with perfect stats. It’s about Pokémon that defy the rules of the game’s universe.

• Illegal Combinations: A Pokémon with an impossible ability, move set, or origin (location of capture) is illegal. For example, a Spiritomb with Wonder Guard or a Pokémon that knows a move it can’t legally learn.
• Stat Anomalies: While a Pokémon with perfect IVs (Individual Values) isn’t inherently hacked, a Pokémon that exceeds the maximum possible stat values definitely is.
• Shiny Locked Pokémon: Some Pokémon are “shiny locked,” meaning they are programmed never to appear in their shiny form through normal gameplay. Obtaining a shiny version of these Pokémon through hacking makes it illegal.
• Incorrect Origin: A Pokémon may be deemed illegal if its origin data doesn’t align with legitimate event distributions or in-game possibilities.
• Genned vs. Hacked: It’s crucial to differentiate between “genned” and “hacked” Pokémon. Genned Pokémon are created with tools that generate legal Pokémon, adhering to the game’s rules regarding stats, moves, and abilities. While these may be considered ethically questionable, they are technically legal and less likely to trigger anti-cheat measures.

The Risks of Using Hacked Pokémon

While simply owning a hacked Pokémon is low-risk, using it online opens you up to potential consequences. Here’s a breakdown:

• Online Battles: Using obviously hacked Pokémon in online battles is the fastest route to a ban. The game’s systems are designed to detect irregularities, and reports from other players can trigger investigations.
• Trading: Trading hacked Pokémon can also lead to penalties, especially if you’re knowingly distributing obviously illegitimate Pokémon on a large scale.
• Pokémon HOME: While Pokémon HOME has safeguards to prevent illegal Pokémon from being transferred, bypassing these safeguards to deposit and trade hacked Pokémon can result in restrictions or suspension. The risk is higher when trading these with others than simply having them in your boxes.
• Surprise Trade/Wonder Trade: Receiving a hacked Pokémon through Surprise Trade (formerly Wonder Trade) is unlikely to result in a ban for the receiver. However, it’s still best to release these Pokémon to avoid any potential issues down the line.
• Game Integrity: Apart from the risk of bans, using hacked Pokémon can diminish the enjoyment of the game for yourself and others. The challenge and sense of accomplishment are lessened when you’re using artificially enhanced Pokémon.

How Enforcement Works

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company employ various methods to detect and penalize players using hacked Pokémon.

• Automated Checks: The game’s code includes checks to verify the legality of Pokémon. These checks can detect impossible combinations of stats, moves, and abilities.
• Player Reports: Players can report suspected hackers, which can trigger investigations.
• Manual Review: In some cases, suspicious accounts may be manually reviewed by moderators.

The penalties for using hacked Pokémon can include:

• Restriction of Online Play: You may be unable to participate in online battles, trading, and other online activities.
• Restricted Use of Trading Features in Pokémon HOME: Your ability to trade Pokémon in Pokémon HOME may be limited.
• Indefinite Suspension from Pokémon HOME: In severe cases, your Pokémon HOME account may be permanently suspended.
• Game Bans: Although rare, a full ban from the game is possible for egregious violations.

Minimizing Your Risk

If you’ve unknowingly received a hacked Pokémon, or if you’re simply curious about exploring the world of Pokémon hacking, here are some tips to minimize your risk:

• Avoid Online Use: Do not use any Pokémon you suspect to be hacked in online battles, trades, or other online activities.
• Release Suspicious Pokémon: If you receive a Pokémon through Surprise Trade that seems too good to be true, it’s best to release it.
• Research and Verify: Before trading for a Pokémon, research its legality. Check its stats, moves, and origin to ensure it’s legitimate.
• Use Reputable Sources: If you’re obtaining Pokémon through trades or giveaways, stick to reputable sources with a history of providing legitimate Pokémon.
• Don’t Distribute Hacked Pokémon: Even if you’re not using hacked Pokémon yourself, distributing them to others can lead to penalties.

The Ethical Considerations

Beyond the risk of bans, there are ethical considerations to using hacked Pokémon. The Pokémon community thrives on fair play and a shared love of the game. Using hacked Pokémon can undermine the spirit of competition and diminish the enjoyment of the game for others. It also affects the shiny hunting community, making legitimate shiny hunters annoyed.

Furthermore, using hacked Pokémon can encourage others to do the same, creating a cycle of cheating and undermining the integrity of the game.

Conclusion

While owning a hacked Pokémon might not lead to immediate repercussions, actively using it online is a gamble with potentially significant consequences. The potential banishment from online features and the ethical implications involved outweigh the short-term advantages. Focus on building your team through legitimate means, engaging with the community in a positive way, and embracing the challenges and rewards of the game as it was intended. Consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society to better understand the broader implications of gaming ethics and responsible digital citizenship. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more information. The thrill of victory is much sweeter when it’s earned through skill and dedication, not through illicit means.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Pokehex?

Pokehex is a third-party software used to edit Pokémon game save files, allowing users to create or modify Pokémon beyond the limits of normal gameplay. This can involve changing stats, abilities, movesets, and even the Pokémon’s appearance. Using Pokehex to create illegitimate Pokémon can lead to penalties if these Pokémon are used online.

2. Is it OK to keep hacked Pokémon offline?

Generally, yes. As long as you don’t use them in online battles or trades, keeping hacked Pokémon offline is unlikely to result in any penalties. It’s essentially your own private game experience.

3. Can you get banned for using hacked Pokémon in the Battle Tower or similar offline challenges?

No. Features like the Battle Tower are technically offline. Your Pokémon data is not cross-referenced with any servers.

4. What happens if Pokémon HOME detects a hacked Pokémon?

Pokémon HOME has a detection system that identifies illegal Pokémon. If it detects one, it will prevent it from being transferred into or traded through the service. You will not be banned for attempting to transfer one.

5. What makes a Pokémon illegal?

A Pokémon is illegal if it possesses characteristics that are impossible to obtain through normal gameplay, such as an impossible ability-move combination, or if a shiny Pokémon is created when it’s shiny-locked.

6. Can you tell if a Pokémon is hacked?

Sometimes. Obvious signs include impossible stats, shiny versions of shiny-locked Pokémon, or movesets that a Pokémon can’t legally learn. However, a well-made hacked Pokémon can be indistinguishable from a legitimate one without using external tools to analyze its data.

7. Can you get banned for getting a hacked Pokémon from Surprise Trade?

No. It’s generally understood that receiving a hacked Pokémon through Surprise Trade is not a bannable offense. Most people are just releasing the Pokémon into the wild when that happens.

8. Is it bad to have hacked shiny Pokémon?

Ethically, yes. It can diminish the value of legitimately obtained shiny Pokémon and disrupt the online competitive environment. For collectors it defeats the purpose of hunting and puts people off.

9. Does Nintendo track you in Pokémon games?

While Nintendo collects data for gameplay analysis and system stability, it doesn’t actively track your specific movements or activities within the game in a way that directly targets individual players using hacked Pokémon. The focus is on detecting illegal data and disruptive online behavior.

10. Are cloned Pokémon considered hacked?

Cloned Pokémon are generally considered legitimate, as they are one-for-one copies of existing Pokémon created within the game’s mechanics (even if through a glitch). The cloned Pokémon must be legal itself.

11. Will my Pokémon get deleted from HOME if I don’t pay for a subscription?

Pokémon that exceed the storage limit of the basic Pokémon HOME plan will become inaccessible but won’t be permanently deleted for a certain period. You’ll need to subscribe to a premium plan to access them again.

12. What is the punishment for hacked Pokémon?

The punishment ranges from restriction of online play, restricted use of trading features in Pokémon HOME, or indefinite suspension from Pokémon HOME. Nintendo’s primary target is the people creating and distributing illegitimately generated Pokémon.

13. Are genned Pokémon legal to use?

Genned Pokémon that are created to be legal (i.e., they could exist through normal gameplay) are technically legal and may not trigger anti-cheat systems. However, using genned Pokémon with illegal characteristics can still result in penalties.

14. Why is shiny locked a thing in Pokémon games?

Shiny locking prevents certain Pokémon from appearing in their shiny forms through normal gameplay. This is done to preserve the value of shiny Pokémon and to create special event distributions.

15. Can Pokémon generators get you banned?

Using a Pokémon generator to create illegal Pokémon can potentially lead to a ban if those Pokémon are used online. The legality of the generated Pokémon is the critical factor.