How to Spot a Hacked Pokémon: A Trainer’s Guide to Detecting Illegitimacy
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So, you’ve just received a Pokémon in a trade, maybe through Wonder Trade or from a friend, and a nagging feeling tells you something is off. Is it hacked? Determining the legitimacy of a Pokémon can be tricky, but with a trained eye and a little knowledge, you can often spot the telltale signs. This guide will arm you with the expertise to identify hacked Pokémon and navigate the complex world of legality in the Pokémon universe.
The Quick and Dirty Checks: Spotting Obvious Hacks
The fastest way to potentially identify a hacked Pokemon is to look at the following characteristics:
- Impossible Movesets: This is the most reliable indicator. Does your Pikachu know Hydro Pump? Unless you’re messing around with glitches and errors, something is definitely wrong. Check online resources like Bulbapedia or Serebii.net to verify if a Pokémon can legally learn a specific move through leveling up, TMs/TRs, breeding, or event-exclusive methods.
- Unobtainable Abilities: Pokémon have abilities, some rarer than others (Hidden Abilities). If your Pokémon has an ability it cannot legally possess, it’s almost certainly hacked. Again, online resources are your friend here.
- Illegal Shiny Status: Some Pokémon are “shiny locked,” meaning they cannot legitimately be found as shiny in the wild. Receiving a shiny of one of these Pokémon is a huge red flag.
- Incompatible Poké Ball: Some Poké Balls are only obtainable through specific methods. For example, a Pokémon caught in a Cherish Ball is almost always from an event. If a Pokémon is in a Poké Ball that it couldn’t possibly be caught in given its origin, it is very likely hacked.
- Impossible Stats/IVs/EVs: While less obvious, ridiculously high or perfect IVs (Individual Values) and EVs (Effort Values) across the board can be suspicious, especially if the Pokémon is low-level. While not definitive proof, it warrants further investigation.
Digging Deeper: Advanced Authentication Techniques
If the initial checks don’t reveal anything glaring, you’ll need to employ more advanced methods:
- Event Pokémon Examination: Check the EventDex. If your Pokemon claims to be an event, but it’s not listed, it’s highly suspicious. Research the event the Pokémon supposedly originates from. Pay close attention to the Original Trainer (OT) and Trainer ID (TID). These details should match known event distributions. You can Google the OT and TID of the Pokemon and cross reference the origin.
- Origin and Met Date Inconsistencies: Is the Pokémon supposedly from a very old event, but the Met Date is recent? Does the location where it was “met” match the origin? These discrepancies are strong indicators of foul play.
- Ribbon Verification: Event Pokémon often come with specific ribbons. Ensure the ribbons present on the Pokémon align with its purported origin.
- Legality Checkers (Use with Caution): Third-party tools (like PKHeX) can analyze a Pokémon’s data and identify any illegal combinations. However, using these tools can be risky and may violate the terms of service of online services like Pokémon HOME. Use this for research only, but don’t hack your own.
Understanding Legal vs. Legitimate vs. Illegal
It’s crucial to understand the difference between these terms:
- Legal: A Pokémon that can pass the game’s rudimentary checks for online battles and trading. This means it has valid moves, abilities, stats, and is in a legal Poké Ball.
- Legitimate: A Pokémon obtained through legitimate means, such as catching it in the wild, hatching it from an egg, or receiving it as a legitimate event distribution.
- Illegal: A Pokémon that is impossible to obtain through intended gameplay. Examples include a Pokémon with an impossible move combination, an invalid ability, or a shiny locked Pokémon.
A hacked Pokémon can be legal, but it will never be legitimate. It’s created using external tools, even if it adheres to all the in-game legality checks.
What To Do With a Suspect Pokémon
Ultimately, what you do with a potentially hacked Pokémon is a personal decision.
- Offline Use: If you’re comfortable with it, you can use it in offline gameplay.
- Release: You can simply release the Pokémon back into the wild.
- Trade Away (Proceed with Caution): Trading it away is generally frowned upon, as you’re potentially passing on an illegitimate Pokémon to someone else. Be transparent about your suspicions if you choose to trade it.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about hacked Pokémon, offering more in-depth insights and addressing common concerns.
1. Can a hacked Pokémon corrupt my game save?
Generally, receiving a hacked Pokémon through trading won’t corrupt your save file. The Pokémon is essentially being created on your system when traded, not transferred directly from the sender’s game. However, using hacking tools to modify your own save data carries a significant risk of corruption.
2. Will I get banned for having a hacked Pokémon?
The risk of being banned for possessing a hacked Pokémon is relatively low. Nintendo typically focuses on those who create and distribute hacked Pokémon, or those who use them in online battles to gain an unfair advantage. However, consistently using obviously illegal Pokémon online could potentially lead to consequences.
3. What happens if Pokémon HOME detects a hacked Pokémon?
Pokémon HOME has better detection than the Pokémon Bank. If HOME detects a hacked Pokémon, it will likely prevent you from transferring it into the service. You won’t be banned for trying to transfer it, but the Pokémon will be blocked.
4. Is it okay to keep hacked Pokémon as trophies?
Keeping hacked Pokémon as “trophies” for personal enjoyment is generally acceptable, as long as you avoid using them in online activities or showcasing them in ways that could negatively impact other players.
5. Can a hatched Pokémon from a hacked egg be legitimate?
If a Pokémon hatches from an egg that was genned into the game, as long as the baby Pokémon has normal states and no illegal characteristics, its moveset, or ability, then the resulting Pokémon is likely a legitimate Pokemon.
6. What’s the difference between genned and cloned Pokémon?
- Genned Pokémon are created from scratch using external software like PKHeX.
- Cloned Pokémon are copies of existing Pokémon, often made through exploits or hacking tools.
While both are considered illegitimate, they are created through different methods.
7. Can I transfer cloned Pokémon to Pokémon HOME?
It depends on how well the clone was made. HOME’s legality checks might catch poorly cloned Pokémon.
8. How does Pokémon GO detect spoofers?
Pokémon GO uses various methods to detect spoofers, including comparing reported locations for impossible jumps, analyzing altitude data, and identifying inconsistent movement patterns.
9. What is the “7-day warning” in Pokémon GO?
The “7-day warning” is the first strike against players caught cheating in Pokémon GO. During this period, certain gameplay features may be restricted.
10. Can I use hacked Pokémon offline without consequences?
Using hacked Pokémon in offline gameplay is generally safe, as it doesn’t affect other players or the game’s online services.
11. What happens if I use an illegal Pokémon in an official tournament?
Using illegally obtained Pokémon in official tournaments will lead to disqualification and potential bans. The rules are strictly enforced to maintain fair play.
12. Can Pokémon leave their trainers in the main series games?
No, Pokémon cannot leave their trainers in the main series games. In the anime, there is an episode where Butterfree leaves Ash to travel with its mate.
13. Is Pokémon GO spying on me?
While there’s no definitive proof of Pokémon GO “spying,” the game collects a significant amount of data, including location information and camera access, which could potentially be shared with third parties. It’s essential to be aware of the privacy implications.
14. What happens to Pokémon above level 100 in Pokémon HOME?
For environments like Pokémon Home, any Pokémon above level 100 will be reduced to level 100.
15. Can a Pokemon be hacked if it has perfect stats?
While having perfect stats doesn’t automatically mean a Pokémon is hacked, it does raise suspicion. Legitimately obtaining a Pokémon with perfect stats across the board is incredibly rare, making it a common characteristic of genned Pokémon. It’s just one factor to consider, along with other potential red flags.
By understanding these nuances and employing the techniques outlined in this guide, you can significantly improve your ability to identify hacked Pokémon and make informed decisions about how to handle them.