Alpha Pokémon and the Transfer Conundrum: Will They Stay Big?

So, you’ve bagged yourself a hulking, red-eyed Alpha Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus and you’re itching to bring it into the more modern worlds of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet via Pokémon HOME. The burning question: Do Alpha Pokémon stay Alpha when transferred? The somewhat disappointing answer, based on current information and player experiences, is no, not exactly. While the Pokémon itself transfers, its “Alpha” status as defined in Legends: Arceus does not survive the transition to Pokémon HOME and subsequent transfer into Scarlet and Violet.

Essentially, the “Alpha” attribute is specific to the mechanics of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. When transferred to Pokémon HOME, the game only carries the core data of the Pokémon: its species, stats, moves, and any held items (if applicable). The Alpha designation, being a specific gameplay mechanic within Arceus, is lost in translation. While they lose their “alpha” status and appearance, the size stat might impact a few things in game.

Let’s dig deeper into what this means and explore some common questions surrounding Alpha Pokémon and their fate in the wider Pokémon universe.

Understanding Alpha Pokémon in Legends: Arceus

Before we dive into the transfer process, it’s crucial to understand what makes an Alpha Pokémon special in Pokémon Legends: Arceus:

• Size: Alpha Pokémon are significantly larger than their regular counterparts. This is perhaps the most noticeable characteristic.
• Red Eyes: They sport glowing red eyes, making them easily identifiable in the wild.
• Higher Effort Levels (EVs): Alpha Pokémon typically have higher initial Effort Values (EVs) compared to standard Pokémon, giving them a stat advantage from the get-go.
• Unique Movesets: They may know moves that regular Pokémon of the same species wouldn’t learn until later levels, or potentially not at all without the Move Tutor.
• Aggressive Behavior: Alpha Pokémon are often more aggressive and likely to attack the player on sight.
• Static Spawns: Some Alpha Pokémon have fixed spawn locations, making them relatively reliable to find.
• Respawning: Alphas at static locations will respawn in the same spot.

Transferring to Pokémon HOME and Beyond

Pokémon HOME acts as a cloud-based storage system for your Pokémon across various games. When you transfer a Pokémon from Legends: Arceus to Pokémon HOME, it essentially strips away the game-specific elements and focuses on the fundamental data.

The “Alpha” characteristic is a gameplay element unique to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. When transferred out of that game, the Alpha status is lost.

When you transfer that Pokémon from Pokémon HOME to Pokémon Scarlet or Violet, it’s essentially treated as a regular Pokémon. You’ll likely retain any unique moves it learned as an Alpha, and its higher initial EVs will still provide a slight stat advantage. However, its oversized model and Alpha visual cues will be gone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Alpha Pokémon and the transfer process, providing more detailed insights into their unique characteristics and limitations:

1. Will my Alpha Pokémon’s size be retained after the transfer?

No, the distinctive large size of Alpha Pokémon from Legends: Arceus is not retained when transferred to Pokémon HOME or Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. They will revert to the standard size for their species in those games.

2. Do Alpha Pokémon lose their higher Effort Levels (EVs) after the transfer?

No. Their higher initial Effort Levels from Legends: Arceus are retained after the transfer, giving them a slight stat advantage compared to Pokémon caught in Scarlet and Violet. Keep in mind that EVs work differently across different Pokémon games.

3. Will the moves learned as an Alpha be retained?

Yes, moves learned as an Alpha, including those not normally accessible through leveling, will generally be retained after the transfer to Pokémon HOME and subsequently to Scarlet and Violet.

4. Can Alpha Pokémon be shiny?

Yes! In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it is possible to find shiny Alpha Pokémon. These are highly sought-after due to their rarity. If a shiny alpha is transferred, they will remain shiny, but will no longer be the larger size from Legends Arceus.

5. Are static Alpha Pokémon shiny locked?

Yes, fixed alpha Pokémon spawns are shiny-locked, so they cannot be shiny.

6. Do Alpha Pokémon disappear permanently if I defeat them?

No, Alphas do not disappear permanently. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, all Alphas in predetermined locations will respawn after you’ve returned to the village and come back to the area after two in-game days, regardless of whether you catch or defeat them.

7. Is there any benefit to using Alpha Pokémon in Legends: Arceus?

Yes, Alpha Pokémon are stronger due to their higher level, improved Effort Levels and access to uncommon moves.

8. Can I use Alpha Pokémon in competitive battles after transferring them?

While you can technically use transferred Alpha Pokémon in online battles, their initial stat advantage might be negligible compared to carefully bred and trained Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet. The loss of their Alpha status and size means they won’t have any unique visual impact.

9. How rare are Alpha Pokémon in Legends: Arceus?

The chance of a Pokémon being an Alpha ranges from 0.2% to 2%, depending on the species, location, and time of day. Some Alpha Pokémon have guaranteed spawn locations, making them easier to find.

10. Can I breed Alpha Pokémon to get more Alphas?

Breeding in Pokémon Legends: Arceus occurs at the Pastures in the Obsidian Fieldlands. Breeding can only be done with Ditto (who is not in the game) meaning that you cannot breed Alpha Pokémon to get more Alphas. You can however obtain eggs and hatch Pokémon.

11. What happens to held items when Alpha Pokémon are transferred?

Any held items on an Alpha Pokémon when transferred to Pokémon HOME will be sent to your inventory in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. They do not transfer to Pokémon Scarlet or Violet.

12. What is the highest level Alpha Pokemon?

The highest level Alpha Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a Garchomp that is level 85.

13. Do Alpha Pokemon have max IVS?

IV doesnt count towards stats calculation in PLA. Instead, it determines your Pokemon’s initial Effort Level.

14. Is it better to catch or defeat Alpha Pokémon?

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it is more beneficial to catch Alpha Pokémon, as they are worth more money in the reports, and releasing them afterwards will give higher grit items like gravel/pebble/rock.

15. Where can I learn more about the educational aspects of gaming?

For those interested in the academic side of gaming and its potential for learning, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. This organization explores the intersection of games and education.

The Bottom Line

While transferring your Alpha Pokémon from Pokémon Legends: Arceus to Pokémon HOME and then to Pokémon Scarlet or Violet won’t preserve their Alpha status (large size and red eyes), they will retain their higher initial Effort Levels and any unique moves they learned. These traits will give them a slight advantage when embarking on new adventures in the Paldea region. So, while they may not be visibly “Alpha” anymore, their legacy will live on in their stats!