Table of Contents

Should You Release Hacked Shiny Pokémon? The Definitive Guide

The short answer is yes, you should release hacked shiny Pokémon, especially if you intend to engage in online activities. While the temptation to keep a rare and visually appealing creature might be strong, the risks associated with possessing and using hacked Pokémon far outweigh any perceived benefits. This article will delve into the reasons why releasing these Pokémon is the safest and most ethical course of action, along with addressing frequently asked questions to help you navigate the murky waters of hacked Pokémon.

Why Releasing is the Best Option

Several compelling reasons support the recommendation to release hacked shiny Pokémon:

Potential for Bans: Nintendo and Game Freak actively monitor online gameplay for irregularities. Using a Pokémon with illegal moves, stats, or abilities can trigger their anti-cheat systems, leading to a temporary or permanent ban from online features. The risk simply isn’t worth it for a digital collectible.
Fair Play and Integrity: Using hacked Pokémon in online battles provides an unfair advantage over legitimate players who dedicate time and effort to training their teams. Maintaining the integrity of the game requires everyone to adhere to the rules.
Undermining the Value of Shinies: Shiny Pokémon are rare and highly sought after. The proliferation of hacked shinies diminishes their value and takes away from the satisfaction of legitimately obtaining one.
Game Stability: While generally hacked Pokémon can not ruin your save file if it is traded to you, a badly done hack, or a hacked Pokemon done to cause damage on purpose, can theoretically cause issues with your game, although rare.
Ethical Considerations: Many players view the use of hacked Pokémon as a form of cheating, which is considered unethical within the Pokémon community. Upholding ethical gameplay contributes to a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Identifying Hacked Pokémon

Before releasing a shiny Pokémon, you’ll want to determine if it’s legitimate or potentially hacked. Here are some red flags to look out for:

Perfect IVs: Pokémon with all “Best” IVs, or near-perfect IVs with an optimal “No Good” stat in Attack (for special attackers), are highly suspicious, especially if obtained through Surprise Trade.
Unusual Origins: Pay attention to the Original Trainer (OT) name. OTs with website URLs or names like “PkmLab” or “Deadcns” are almost always hacked Pokémon.
Impossible Combinations: Pokémon with abilities they can’t legitimately possess, or shiny Pokémon that are shiny-locked (intentionally made unobtainable in their shiny form through normal gameplay), are guaranteed hacks. Zacian in its Crowned Sword form is a prime example.
Location and Level Inconsistencies: Pokémon found in locations where they shouldn’t be, or at levels that are impossible for their species in that area, are likely hacked.
Suspicious Movesets: Pokémon possessing moves they shouldn’t legally know, even through TM/TRs or breeding, are suspect.

It’s entirely possible to create “perfect” undetectable hacked Pokémon, so you may never find out one way or the other.

What to Do After Receiving a Hacked Pokémon

Isolate the Pokémon: Immediately move the suspicious Pokémon to a separate box in your PC.
Analyze Carefully: Examine the Pokémon’s stats, origin, and moveset for any of the red flags mentioned above.
Release the Pokémon: If you suspect the Pokémon is hacked, release it through the in-game menu or Pokémon HOME. This prevents any potential issues with your account.
Report Suspicious Traders: Consider reporting suspicious trainers who consistently trade hacked Pokémon. This helps Game Freak identify and address the source of these Pokémon.

While some suggest keeping hacked Pokémon as a “trophy,” the risks associated with accidentally using them online are too high. Releasing them is the safest and most responsible option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I get banned for receiving a hacked Pokémon through Surprise Trade?

No, you will not get banned for having hacked Pokémon. You are unlikely to be banned simply for receiving a hacked Pokémon through Surprise Trade. Game Freak understands that players can unknowingly receive these Pokémon. However, using hacked Pokémon in online battles or trading them can lead to penalties.

2. Is it safe to breed a hacked Pokémon?

Offspring of hacked pokemon – provided they don’t inherit an unreleased hidden ability or illegal ball – are perfectly legal by the game standards and undetectable. Pokemon do not store parent data. Furthermore, no, they can’t ban you for breeding from a hack. Breeding a Pokémon with a hacked Pokémon creates offspring. This offspring is illegitimate (because you used illegitimate Pokémon to get it). It will be either legal or illegal based on whether the parents were legal or illegal. If you go to a tournament, legality is the ONLY thing that matters. While not dangerous if done correctly, it’s recommended to avoid it.

3. Are cloned Pokémon considered hacked?

Big difference between Clones and hacks. A clone is a legit pokemon that has been copied. Whereas a hack is a completely user generated pokemon usually consisting of impossible stats or abilities. A cloned pokemon can be traded over the WiFi but a hack is likely to get rejected. Clones are legitimate copies of existing Pokémon and don’t pose the same risk as Pokémon with modified stats or abilities.

4. Can Pokémon HOME detect hacked Pokémon?

Bank won’t ban you for trying to bring in a hacked Pokemon, it just won’t let you bring it over. HOME has a slightly better detection method, so it may catch a couple that Bank missed as well. You can unknowingly obtain hacked Pokemon, Game Freak doesn’t punish you for doing so, they just filter out the obvious ones. Pokémon HOME has detection methods, but it isn’t foolproof. It’s possible for some hacked Pokémon to slip through.

5. What happens if I use a hacked Pokémon in a raid?

As long as the hacked pokemon is within the “legal” parameters and no illegal move sets it should be fine. I have got 6IV shiny gmax machamp, shiny glaceon and shiny tyranitar on the surprise trade (obviously they’re hacks) and I have no problem using them on raids. While it may seem harmless, using even a “legal” hacked Pokémon in raids contributes to an unfair advantage.

6. Is it ethical to trade hacked Pokémon, even if they appear legal?

No. Even if a hacked Pokémon appears legal, trading it is unethical. You’re potentially exposing other players to the risk of using it unknowingly and facing penalties. Terms of service outright state that pokemon and items edited/obtained through third party tools are illegal, no matter how possible ingame.

7. How can I tell if a traded shiny is hacked?

Being shiny is one, but doesn’t guarantee it’s hacked. Check the IVs with the judge function. If all stats are Best, or 5 are Best and Atk is No Good, that is usually too good to be true. If this were a Surprise trade, some people trade hacks with URLs for names or OTs as advertisements to sell hacks. Check the IVs, Original Trainer name, and moveset for any inconsistencies.

8. What is the punishment for using hacked Pokémon online?

Players caught using hacked Pokemon face the following penalties: restriction of online play for all Pokemon titles, restricted use of trading features in Pokemon HOME, or an indefinite suspension from Pokemon HOME. Penalties can range from temporary restrictions on online play to permanent bans from Pokémon HOME.

9. Are there any circumstances where it’s okay to keep a hacked shiny Pokémon?

Only if you NEVER plan to use it in any online capacity. If you only play offline and have no intention of battling or trading, the risk is minimal. However, the safest course of action remains releasing it.

10. Do hacked Pokémon ruin my game?

I only breed Pokemon for fun and ingame use, so if I use this Ditto to speed up my breeding, is there any chance of it ruining my game? Hacked pokemon CAN be dangerous, but only if it’s badly done or a one done to cause damage on purpose. You’re fine. A ditto with a hacked ability and max IVs isn’t dangerous. While generally hacked Pokémon can not ruin your save file if it is traded to you, a badly done hack, or a hacked Pokemon done to cause damage on purpose, can theoretically cause issues with your game, although rare.

11. Is Zacian net legal?

No, they’re hacked, release them ASAP. Zacian, especially in its Crowned Sword form, cannot be legally shiny and is almost certainly a hack.

12. Why are some Pokémon shiny locked?

Shinies were meant to be special treasures. People have straight up ruined that by cheating. In order to preserve the value of at least SOME shiny pokemon, they were forced to make them unavailable, except through certain special events. Shiny-locked Pokémon are intentionally made unobtainable in their shiny form through normal gameplay to preserve their rarity or prevent glitches.

13. Does breeding with a shiny Pokémon increase the odds of getting a shiny offspring?

Source: Bulbapedia page on Pokemon breeding, subsection ‘Breeding for shininess’. No, pokemon being a shiny does not influence chances of it’s offspring being a shiny in any way. The only way to raise chance of hatching a shiny pokemon is to breed a pokemon traded from a different region. No, the only way to influence the odds is using the Masuda method (breeding Pokémon from different regions) or having a Shiny Charm.

14. What is the point of shiny Pokémon being so rare?

Shinies were meant to be special treasures. People have straight up ruined that by cheating. In order to preserve the value of at least SOME shiny pokemon, they were forced to make them unavailable, except through certain special events. Shinies were meant to be special treasures, so people were forced to make them unavailable, except through certain special events.

15. Are Genned Pokemon legal?

Genned Pokemon are legal but not illegitmate. You can still use them online if you want. But having hacked Pokemon with the wrong moves on them or shiny pokemon that are shiny locked can get you risk of ban. Genned Pokemon are legal but not illegitimate.

Conclusion

While the allure of a shiny Pokémon is undeniable, obtaining one through illegitimate means can have serious consequences. By understanding the risks and taking the necessary precautions, you can protect yourself and contribute to a fair and enjoyable Pokémon experience for everyone. So, release those hacked shinies and embrace the challenge of legitimately building your dream team!

For more information about ethical gameplay and the impact of games on learning, visit the Games Learning Society website: GamesLearningSociety.org.

Should you release hacked shiny Pokemon?