Will Hacked Pokemon Ruin Your Game: Sword Edition?

The allure of a perfectly statted, shiny Pokémon is strong, especially when grinding for hours yields little success. But the question always lingers: Will bringing these hacked creatures into your Pokémon Sword game spell disaster? The short answer is: probably not in terms of ruining your game completely, but it’s a gamble with potential consequences. Let’s break it down.

While a total game wipe-out is incredibly unlikely, the real risks revolve around violating Nintendo’s Terms of Service, potentially impacting your online access, and the ethical considerations of playing with creatures that circumvent the intended gameplay loop. The key here is understanding what constitutes a “hacked” Pokémon, how the game identifies them, and the possible repercussions.

Decoding the Hacked Pokémon Landscape

A “hacked” Pokémon isn’t just any Pokémon that looks a bit off. It refers to a Pokémon whose data has been artificially altered, either through external tools or modified game code. This could involve:

• Stat Manipulation: Maxing out IVs (Individual Values) and EVs (Effort Values) beyond legitimate limits.
• Illegitimate Movesets: Giving a Pokémon moves it cannot normally learn.
• Altered Abilities: Assigning a Pokémon an ability it shouldn’t possess.
• Impossible Characteristics: Creating shiny versions of Pokémon that are shiny-locked (cannot be found shiny in the game).
• Illegal Items or Balls: Giving a Pokemon an item it couldn’t normally hold or catching it in a Poke Ball that isn’t allowed for that species.
• Faked Origins: Falsifying where the Pokémon was caught or hatched.

Pokémon Sword and Shield have internal checks designed to detect these discrepancies. However, these checks aren’t foolproof.

The Game’s Detection System: Flaws and All

The game primarily focuses on legality, not legitimacy. This means it checks if a Pokémon’s data aligns with what is theoretically possible within the game’s code. A cleverly hacked Pokémon can slip through the cracks. If the hacked Pokémon has legal stats, moves, and ability; if it isn’t a shiny of a shiny locked Pokemon; if it isn’t in a Ball it can’t be in then it will pass the rudimentary check.

The ramifications of keeping a “hacked” Pokémon in your Sword game vary:

• Online Restrictions: The most common consequence. The game might prevent you from using that specific Pokémon in online battles, Max Raid Battles, or trades. This is the game’s primary method of addressing illegal Pokémon to maintain online fairness.
• Breeding Concerns: Breeding with a Pokémon generated through third party tools is considered illegal, no matter how possible ingame.
• Account Suspension (Rare): While there is always a risk, Nintendo is more likely to target the creators and distributors of hacked Pokémon, not necessarily every player who possesses one. However, repeated offenses or blatant flaunting of hacked Pokémon online could increase the risk.
• Moral Implications: This is subjective, but using hacked Pokémon can diminish the feeling of accomplishment and undermine the competitive integrity of the game for yourself and others.

When Things Could Go Wrong

Although rare, specific scenarios could lead to more serious issues:

• Corrupted Save Data (Extremely Rare): This is most likely to occur if you are the one creating the hacked Pokémon, manipulating your save file directly. Receiving a hacked Pokémon through trade or Surprise Trade is unlikely to corrupt your save. However, if you were to hack your own Pokémon, then it could very well corrupt your save.
• Exploiting Glitches: Using hacked Pokémon to trigger glitches or exploits could lead to penalties, including temporary or permanent bans from online services.

Best Practices: Navigating the Hacked Pokémon Dilemma

If you find yourself in possession of a Pokémon you suspect might be hacked, here’s what you can do:

• Exercise Caution Online: Avoid using the Pokémon in online battles or trades. If it is an obvious hack, keeping it in your offline boxes is ideal.
• Examine the Pokémon’s Data: Check for any glaring inconsistencies, such as impossible movesets, abilities, or origins. Tools exist online that can help analyze Pokémon data for red flags.
• Consider Releasing It: If you’re uncomfortable with the possibility of using a hacked Pokémon, the safest option is to release it into the wild.
• Focus on Legitimacy: Embrace the challenge of catching and training Pokémon legitimately. The satisfaction of raising a powerful team through hard work is far more rewarding.

Final Thoughts

While the risk of your Pokémon Sword game being permanently ruined by a hacked Pokémon is minimal, the potential repercussions of violating Nintendo’s terms and the ethical considerations make it a decision that requires careful thought. By understanding the risks, exercising caution, and prioritizing legitimate gameplay, you can enjoy Pokémon Sword without compromising your account or your integrity. Always strive to enjoy the game as intended and remember that resources such as the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org offer valuable insights into the broader world of gaming and its impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I get banned for using hacked Pokemon in Sword and Shield?

Yes, there is always a risk, but Nintendo is more likely to go after those who create and distribute hacked Pokémon. Bans are more common if you use hacked Pokémon in online battles.

2. Can I use hacked Pokemon in raids?

As long as the hacked Pokémon has legal stats, moves, and abilities, it should be fine for raids. The game’s checks are less stringent for offline activities.

3. What happens if I keep hacked Pokemon in Pokemon Sword?

If you don’t use it online or in multiplayer battles, nothing should happen. You can keep it as a “trophy” in your PC boxes.

4. Will I get banned if I get traded a hacked Pokemon?

Unknowingly receiving a hacked Pokémon is unlikely to result in a ban. It’s the creation and distribution of such Pokémon that carries a higher risk.

5. Can hacked Pokemon be sent to Pokemon home?

It depends on the extent of the hack. Pokémon Home has its own legality checks, and significantly altered Pokémon may be rejected.

6. Are shiny24 Pokemon legit?

“Shiny24 Pokémon” likely refers to Pokémon sold online, often with modified data. They are generally considered hacked, even if they pass initial legality checks.

7. Can you tell if a Pokemon is hacked?

A properly hacked Pokémon can be difficult to distinguish from a legitimate one without using external tools. Look for red flags like impossible stats, movesets, or origins.

8. What happens if I traded a hacked Pokemon?

Likely nothing will happen to you, but the recipient might face issues if they try to use the Pokémon online.

9. Are Pokemon bred with a hacked ditto legit?

Yes, the Pokemon it makes are still legit. Even on the off chance the ditto is genned, the pokemon it makes are still legit. There is no way to trace the bred children back to it.

10. Can Nintendo detect cloned pokemon?

No. Properly cloned Pokémon are basically impossible to detect, as they are exact copies of legitimate ones.

11. Is shiny Zacian illegal?

Yes. Zacian is shiny locked, meaning that you can never find a shiny one in the wild during the story. Therefore, any shiny Zacian is hacked.

12. What is the difference between hacked and genned Pokemon?

Hacked Pokémon have altered data that may be illegal or impossible. Genned Pokémon are created to be legal and usable online, but they’re still artificially generated.

13. Are genned Pokemon legal?

Genned Pokemon are legal but not legitimate. 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 at risk of a ban.

14. Do hacked Pokemon have memories?

If a Pokémon’s memory seems to be missing or corrupted, especially if it’s claimed to be caught/hatched in the game, it could be a sign that it’s hacked.

15. Why are there so many hacked Pokemon in sword and shield?

The Surprise Trade function and online trading made it easy for hackers to distribute modified Pokémon widely.