What Happens When You Put an Alpha Pokémon in Pokémon HOME?

When you transfer an Alpha Pokémon from Pokémon Legends: Arceus into Pokémon HOME, it retains its Alpha status in terms of its stats, Effort Levels (ELs), and moves. It will remain unseen, but the size and red eyes appearance associated with Alphas is lost upon transfer. It will appear as a regular sized Pokémon in Pokémon HOME and any game you subsequently transfer it to.

Delving into the Alpha Pokémon Phenomenon and Pokémon HOME

The introduction of Alpha Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus was a game-changer, adding a new layer of challenge and reward to the gameplay experience. These imposing creatures, easily identifiable by their larger size, glowing red eyes, and aggressive behavior, presented a unique opportunity for trainers seeking powerful additions to their teams. The integration of Pokémon HOME, a cloud-based storage service, allows players to transfer Pokémon between compatible games, raising the question: What happens to these special Alpha Pokémon when moved into Pokémon HOME and potentially other games?

Understanding Alpha Pokémon

Before exploring the intricacies of transferring Alpha Pokémon, it’s crucial to understand what defines them. Alpha Pokémon possess several distinguishing characteristics:

• Increased Size: They are significantly larger than their normal counterparts.
• Red Eyes: This visual cue immediately distinguishes them from regular Pokémon.
• Higher Level: Alphas typically appear at a much higher level than other Pokémon in the same area, presenting a formidable challenge to catch or defeat.
• Effort Levels (ELs): They often start with higher ELs in certain stats, giving them an edge in battle.
• Learned Moves: Some Alpha Pokémon know moves that normal Pokémon of the same species wouldn’t learn until later levels, or through move tutors.

These features make Alpha Pokémon desirable catches, providing players with a head start in building a strong team within Pokémon Legends: Arceus. However, the question remains: How much of this Alpha status is preserved when transferred to Pokémon HOME?

The Pokémon HOME Transfer Process

Pokémon HOME acts as a central hub for storing and transferring Pokémon between compatible games. When transferring from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the process involves selecting the Pokémon you want to move and placing them into Pokémon HOME‘s storage boxes. The game then uploads the data to the cloud, where it can be accessed from other games. This system has some caveats, particularly regarding the unique attributes of Alpha Pokémon.

The Reality of Alpha Pokémon in Pokémon HOME

As mentioned earlier, upon transferring an Alpha Pokémon to Pokémon HOME, its size and red eyes appearance are lost. In essence, while the underlying stats (levels, ELs, moves) are retained, the visual representation of the Alpha is not. This means that the Pokémon will appear as a normal-sized Pokémon within Pokémon HOME, lacking the visual distinctions that made it an Alpha in the first place.

Implications for Subsequent Transfers

The loss of the Alpha visual traits in Pokémon HOME also affects any subsequent transfers to other compatible games like Pokémon Sword, Pokémon Shield, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, and Pokémon Shining Pearl. The Pokémon will appear as a regular Pokémon in these games as well, even though it may retain the higher ELs and potentially unique moves it had when it was an Alpha in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Why the Change?

The decision to remove the Alpha size and appearance during the transfer process likely stems from a number of factors:

• Game Compatibility: Not all Pokémon games are designed to accommodate the varying sizes of Pokémon. Implementing Alpha sizes across all games would require significant changes to existing game engines and battle mechanics.
• Data Management: Storing size data for every Pokémon could increase the storage requirements for Pokémon HOME substantially.
• Aesthetic Consistency: Maintaining a consistent visual style across different games is important for the overall user experience. The Alpha appearance, unique to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, might clash with the art style of other games.

Is it Still Worth Transferring Alpha Pokémon?

Despite the loss of the Alpha visual features, transferring Alpha Pokémon to Pokémon HOME can still be beneficial. The higher levels, ELs, and potentially unique moves can give these Pokémon an edge in battles and other activities in compatible games. Moreover, Pokémon HOME provides a secure and convenient way to store your valuable Pokémon collection in the cloud, protecting them from data loss or game corruption.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Alpha Pokémon and Pokémon HOME

Here are some frequently asked questions about Alpha Pokémon and their interaction with Pokémon HOME to provide further clarity and information.

1. Do Alpha Pokémon lose their boosted stats when transferred to Pokémon HOME?

No, Alpha Pokémon retain their boosted stats (levels, ELs) when transferred to Pokémon HOME. The change primarily affects their appearance.

2. Can you tell if a Pokémon was originally an Alpha after transferring it to Pokémon HOME?

Not visually. However, you can infer it based on the higher Effort Levels it might have compared to other Pokémon of the same species and level. Also, if it has any moves learned earlier than usual.

3. Does the Alpha status affect the Pokémon’s trade value in Pokémon HOME?

In general, the “Alpha status” doesn’t directly affect the trading value in Pokémon HOME. Value is usually influenced by rarity, shininess, and individual stats.

4. Are Shiny Alpha Pokémon affected differently when transferred?

No, Shiny Alpha Pokémon are affected the same way as regular Alpha Pokémon. They retain their shininess upon transfer, but lose their Alpha size and glowing red eyes.

5. Can I transfer Pokémon back to Pokémon Legends: Arceus from Pokémon HOME?

Yes, but only if the Pokémon is natively available in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. You cannot transfer Pokémon that are not part of the Pokémon Legends: Arceus Pokédex into the game.

6. Will transferring an Alpha Pokémon cause any glitches or errors in Pokémon HOME?

No, the transfer of Alpha Pokémon is a standard feature supported by Pokémon HOME, and it should not cause any glitches or errors.

7. Are there any advantages to catching regular Pokémon over Alpha Pokémon if I plan to transfer them to Pokémon HOME?

Not really. Even though they lose their size, Alpha Pokémon start with higher Effort Levels which is an advantage.

8. Does Pokémon HOME display the original catch location of Alpha Pokémon?

Yes, Pokémon HOME displays the original catch location of Pokémon, so you can see that it was caught in the Hisui region (the setting of Pokémon Legends: Arceus).

9. Can I breed Alpha Pokémon in other games after transferring them from Pokémon HOME?

Yes, you can breed Pokémon that were originally Alpha Pokémon in other compatible games, but the offspring will not inherit the Alpha size or red eyes. However, the inherited stats and ELs might be advantageous.

10. Is there a limit to how many Alpha Pokémon I can store in Pokémon HOME?

The storage limit in Pokémon HOME applies to all Pokémon, regardless of whether they were originally Alpha Pokémon. You can increase your storage capacity by purchasing a Premium Plan.

11. Does the Hidden Ability of an Alpha Pokémon transfer through Pokémon HOME?

Yes, if the Alpha Pokémon has a Hidden Ability, it will be retained when transferred to Pokémon HOME and subsequent games.

12. If a Pokémon evolves after being transferred, will it become an Alpha again?

No, once the Alpha size and appearance are lost upon transfer to Pokémon HOME, they do not return upon evolution in other games.

13. Will the introduction of future Pokémon games change how Alpha Pokémon are handled in Pokémon HOME?

It’s possible that future game updates or new game releases could introduce changes to how Alpha Pokémon are handled in Pokémon HOME. However, as of now, the described behavior remains consistent.

14. Can I use Alpha Pokémon in competitive battles after transferring them to Pokémon Sword or Shield?

Yes, you can use Pokémon that were originally Alpha Pokémon in competitive battles, but they will appear as normal-sized Pokémon.

15. Does transferring Alpha Pokémon to Pokémon HOME affect their compatibility with other Pokémon games, like Pokémon GO?

While you cannot directly transfer from Pokémon Legends: Arceus to Pokémon GO, once an Alpha Pokémon is in Pokémon HOME, you can transfer it to other mainline games such as Pokémon Sword/Shield and from there to Pokémon GO, granted it’s a species that exists within the Pokémon GO world. The lost Alpha status will remain, however.

In conclusion, while Alpha Pokémon lose their most distinctive visual features when transferred to Pokémon HOME, they still retain valuable statistical advantages. This makes them worthwhile additions to your Pokémon collection, especially if you plan to use them in other compatible games. Remember to weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether to transfer your Alpha Pokémon, considering their role in Pokémon Legends: Arceus versus their potential utility in other games.