Note that Power-Up Punch was only a TM (TM98) in X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire.
On 13 Aug 2026, the shutdown of the 3DS application Pokémon Bank was announced for 26 February 2027. After that date, players will no longer be able to move Pokémon from the 3DS to the Nintendo Switch (via Pokémon HOME).
This page will attempt to maintain a comprehensive list of Pokémon that, as of this writing, cannot be obtained in Pokémon HOME (or in specific Pokémon games) except for through Pokémon Bank. This is an active document and I welcome any and all updates as I research the situation. Contact me, submit a pull request, or post on Smogon forums to alert me to Pokémon I should add to this list or ask questions.
Much Mythical information is contained in the Mythical Pokémon section at the end.
Although Spinda can be captured in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl or Pokémon GO - both of which can transfer Pokémon to HOME - Spinda itself cannot be transferred, due to some differences in how those games handle Spinda's spot patterns compared to the "expected" process. Currently, transferring a Spinda through Pokémon Bank is the only way to get one into Pokémon HOME.
If Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are rereleased for the Nintendo Switch and have HOME compatibility, this should solve the issue. Until then, however, it is currently impossible to complete the National Pokédex in Pokémon HOME without transferring a Spinda through Bank.
This is a special Greninja that was only ever made available in the demo of Sun and Moon. It was transferable to the full version of Sun and Moon once received in the demo, and could be transferred from Sun and Moon to Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon or Pokémon HOME via Pokémon Bank. It has the special ability Battle Bond, which allows it to transform into the Ash-Greninja form upon defeating a Pokémon. The Ash-Greninja form of Greninja cannot be seen by any other means, and Ability Capsules and Ability Patches cannot change a regular Greninja's ability to Battle Bond.
In Switch games, only Fancy, Meadow, Garden, and Marine (which is non-catchable) patterns are available for Vivillon. Postcards from Pokémon GO can be used to encounter the other patterns within Scarlet and Violet. However, without access to Pokémon GO, the other patterns must be transferred from Pokémon Bank.
The Poké Ball pattern of Vivillon was distributed to X and Y in local events in France, Japan, and Germany in 2014, ORAS in a local event in Japan in 2016, and was available for X and Y via a Nintendo Network event in the American and PAL regions between August and September 2014. It has not been released in any game since then, so Pokémon Bank must be used to move it to Pokémon HOME.
Type: Null (and its evolution Silvally) can only be obtained natively in a Switch game in Sword and Shield. This Type: Null cannot be Shiny. Therefore, a shiny Type: Null or Silvally must come from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon via Pokémon Bank. A shiny Silvally was also distributed digitally for Sun and Moon between September 2017 and February 2018.
Poipole (and its evolution Naganadel) can only be obtained natively in a Switch game in the Sword and Shield Expansion Pass. This Poipole cannot be Shiny. Therefore, a shiny Poipole or Naganadel must come from Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon via Pokémon Bank. A shiny Poipole was also distributed digitally for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon between March and December 2018.
The Partner Cap Pikachu was made available to Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon via a QR code released between November and December 2017. Due to a bug, it can be Shiny. The Partner Cap Pikachu released to Sword and Shield in 2020 cannot be shiny. Therefore, a shiny Partner Cap Pikachu must come from Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon via Pokémon Bank.
A few Pokémon cannot legitimately be obtained, as an actual Pokémon individual, in their shiny form. However, using the QR code scanner in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon would allow the player to register some Pokédex entries in such a way that the entry is transferred to HOME when a connection with HOME is made. This only affects the Pokédex entry for the Pokémon in HOME - the player is still not able to get an actual individual of the species using this trick.
The following shiny entries are exclusive to this method:
There is also a small number of Pokémon whose Shiny forms could theoretically be added using this method, but the encryption key needed to make valid QR codes for them is not currently known to the fans. If it is discovered after 26 February 2027, these Pokémon could then have their Shiny entries added for Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, but not Pokémon HOME.
Before the shutdown, use of Pokémon Bank allowed players to transfer Pokémon with Ribbons from Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS games to the Switch, where they could then go on to collect more Ribbons. Following the shutdown, a Pokémon will only be able to collect Ribbons in the following games, and only if its species is compatible with that game:
Several moves in the HOME Move Dex require transfer from previous generations. The full list is given below.
The Switch games introduced a system where Pokémon's movesets could be replaced or modified when the Pokémon is brought into a Switch game. Therefore, transferring moves from other games or generations is not normally something to be worried about. There are a few exceptions, though, so I will describe each set of games below.
A Pokémon cannot be moved into Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee unless it originates from those games and has not been to any other game. Therefore, the only legal moves for a Pokémon in these games are the same moves that they can already learn in the game. There are no transfer-only moves to worry about here.
Sword and Shield was the one game set for Switch where a Pokémon's moveset would be maintained from its HOME moveset. Therefore, Pokémon transferred from the 3DS via Bank would be able to keep their movesets in Sword and Shield, provided they were compatible with Sword and Shield's Pokédex.
This spreadsheet, compiled and sent to me by ShinkoNet, contains all moves (according to Pokémon Showdown) that are transfer-only at the current time.
When a Pokémon is moved into these games, its moveset is replaced within the game with the four moves it would have most recently learned according to its level. The player may use the Change Moves function to replace this default set with level-up or TM with which the Pokémon is compatible within Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
If the Pokémon enters Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and it has been recorded in at least one other game as having a move that is in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's data as an Egg move, then that Egg move will become available with the Change Moves function. In some cases, there may be an Egg move that is assigned to the Pokémon in the data, but there is no legal parent for the move within Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. In such cases, the Pokémon will have to be bred to have the Egg move in another game and then be transferred to Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl while still knowing the Egg move in order to unlock it via Change Moves.
Keep in mind that, since these are Egg moves, they can be obtained indefinitely after the shutdown provided that the player has a parent that can pass on the move. The shutdown's impact simply means that any player trying to obtain these moves will have to trade to obtain a parent Pokémon if they do not have a parent already.
I believe this list covers all cases, but if it does not, please contact me.
| Pokémon | Move(s) | Method | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Snorlax | Power-Up Punch | Breed a female Snorlax with a male compatible Pokémon knowing Power-Up Punch in X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon. Note that Power-Up Punch was only a TM (TM98) in X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire. |
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Taillow | Boomburst | Breed a female Taillow or Swellow with a male Noivern knowing Boomburst in X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon |
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Plusle | Tearful Look | Breed a female Dedenne with a male Smeargle knowing Tearful Look in Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon to get a male Dedenne with Tearful Look. Then breed that Dedenne with a female Plusle in Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon. |
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Minun | Tearful Look | Breed a female Dedenne with a male Smeargle knowing Tearful Look in Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon to get a male Dedenne with Tearful Look. Then breed that Dedenne with a female Minun in Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon. |
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Luvdisc | Heal Pulse | Breed a female Luvdisc with a male Alomomola knowing Heal Pulse in Black, White, Black 2, White 2, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon. |
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Starly | Detect | Breed a female Starly, Staravia, or Staraptor with a male Pidove, Tranquil, or Unfezant knowing Detect in Black, White, Black 2, White 2, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon. |
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Chatot | Boomburst | Breed a female Chatot with a male Noivern knowing Boomburst in X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon |
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Chatot | Encore | Breed a female Chatot with a male Togetic or Togekiss knowing Encore in any Nintendo DS or 3DS game |
I will be researching to see if there are additional instances to add.
The only moves a Pokémon can learn in Legends: Arceus are via level-up and tutor, so there is nothing here that would require a transfer.
If an Alolan Raichu knowing Volt Tackle is transferred into Scarlet or Violet, then the player can use the Change Moves function to give the Alolan Raichu Volt Tackle within Scarlet and Violet. However, the only other Switch game in which the player can get an Alolan Raichu knowing Volt Tackle is Legends: Z-A, and Pokémon from Legends: Z-A cannot be transferred into Scarlet and Violet. Alolan Raichu with Volt Tackle cannot be obtained in other Switch games because Volt Tackle is always either a breeding- or Pikachu-exclusive move, meaning it is acquired on Pichu or Pikachu, but there is no Switch game that allows the player to evolve Pikachu into Alolan Raichu. Let's Go Pikachu, Let's Go Eevee, Sword, and Shield all give the player Alolan Raichu via an in-game trade.
Therefore, an Alolan Raichu knowing Volt Tackle must be transferred from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon, by breeding a Pichu with Volt Tackle there and evolving the Pikachu into Raichu normally, whereupon it becomes Alolan Raichu.
Aside from this case, the introduction of picnics and the Mirror Herb allow any Pokémon to learn any of its Egg moves from a Mirror Herb "donor". After the release of the DLC, all Pokémon had at least one valid donor within Scarlet and Violet for each of its Egg moves (except Volt Tackle), meaning all other moves can be obtained without need for transfer.
The only moves a Pokémon can learn in Legends: Z-A are via level-up and TM, so there is nothing here that would require a transfer.
The following list contains all Pokémon that will not be obtainable in certain Poké Ball types in Pokémon HOME after the shutdown. It is likely that several of these will change after the release of Winds and Waves. Only base forms are listed.
The list of "Apricorn" Balls includes the Heavy Ball, Lure Ball, Friend Ball, Love Ball, Level Ball, Fast Ball, and Moon Ball.
Apricorn Balls were distributed as a pre-order bonus for Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Therefore, any Pokémon that has Apricorn Balls in the list below could be captured with them in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl if the player pre-ordered the game. All of the Apricorn-less Pokémon listed below, except Alolan Rattata, are catchable within Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
| Pokémon | Ball(s) | |
|---|---|---|
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Rattata (Kantonian) | Safari, Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver) Dream (Dream World) |
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Rattata (Alolan) | Net, Dive, Nest, Repeat, Timer, Luxury, Dusk, Heal, Quick, Premier, Apricorn, Beast (Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) |
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Spearow | Safari (HeartGold & SoulSilver) Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver, Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) Dream (Dream World) Beast (Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) |
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Paras | Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver, Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) Sport (HeartGold & SoulSilver) Dream (Dream World) Beast (Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) |
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Meowth (Alolan) | Master (Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) |
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Ledyba | Safari (Emerald) Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver, Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) Dream (Dream World) Beast (Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) |
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Unown (all forms) | Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver) |
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Wurmple | Apricorn, Sport (HeartGold & SoulSilver) Dream (Dream World) |
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Taillow | Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) Dream (Dream World) Beast (Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) |
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Skitty | Dream (Dream World) |
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Castform | Apricorn (Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) Dream (Dream World) Beast (Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) |
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Clamperl | Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) Dream (Dream World) Beast (Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) |
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Bidoof | Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver) Dream (Dream World) |
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Burmy (all cloaks) | Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver) Dream (Dream World) |
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Glameow | Dream (Dream World) |
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Chatot | Apricorn (HeartGold & SoulSilver) Dream (Dream World) |
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Carnivine | Carnivine's only available Poké Balls will be Safari Ball (Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl), Strange Ball (Legends: Arceus), and Poké Ball (breed Strange Ball) |
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Darumaka (Unovan) | Master (Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire for Darmanitan; Black & White, Black 2 & White 2 for Darumaka) |
Starting with X and Y, Pokémon captured in a specific game or generation will have an icon on their summary screen that indicates which game or generation they were originally captured in. The breakdown of which games support Origin Marks and the type of mark used is as follows:
Several Marks can only be obtained on certain Pokémon species in Pokémon HOME if they are transferred through Pokémon Bank first. The breakdown is as follows:
No mark: The first 649 Pokémon (Bulbasaur through Genesect) can only be obtained with no mark if transferred from a game that has no mark through Pokémon Bank. In addition, the following Pokémon species introduced in later games can have no mark, if their pre-evolution was transferred from a markless game and then evolved in the correct game:
Pentagon (Kalos mark): The first 721 Pokémon (Bulbasaur through Volcanion) can only be obtained with the Kalos mark if transferred from X, Y, Omega Ruby, or Alpha Sapphire through Pokémon Bank. In addition, the following Pokémon species introduced in later games can have the Kalos mark, if their pre-evolution was transferred from X, Y, Omega, Ruby, or Alpha Sapphire and then evolved in the correct game:
Clover (Alola mark): 801 of the first 807 Pokémon (Bulbasaur through Zeraora) can only be obtained with the Alola mark if transferred from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon through Pokémon Bank. The six that cannot be obtained this way are Unown, Deoxys, Keldeo, Genesect, Diancie, and Volcanion. Unown is not breedable and not capturable in the wild in any Alola game, and the other five are Mythicals that never had an event distribution in an Alola game. In addition, the following Pokémon species introduced in later games can have the Alola mark, if their pre-evolution was transferred from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon and then evolved in the correct game:
Game Boy mark: The first 251 Pokémon (Bulbasaur through Celebi) can only be obtained with the Game Boy mark if transferred from the Virtual Console releases of Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, or Crystal through Pokémon Bank. In addition, the following Pokémon species introduced in later games can have the Game Boy mark, if their pre-evolution was transferred from Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, or Crystal and then evolved in the correct game:
In Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow, it is possible to name your player character or a Pokémon a name consisting of space characters. This cannot be done in any future game, meaning the only way to get a name like this is to transfer a Pokémon from a Virtual Console copy of Red, Green, Blue, or Yellow.
The following achievements in HOME require a Pokémon to have been transferred from an earlier game to register.
Only the first achievement is permanently missable. The others can be obtained by trading to obtain the corresponding Pokémon, brought over before the shutdown.
These achievements may become available again if Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are rereleased for the Switch.
Additionally, the Time Travel Award in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl requires a Pokémon from Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum to obtain.
This section concerns all Mythical Pokémon information, including Pokémon that used to be Mythical (such as Deoxys) but have since obtained somewhat of a normal status. This does not take into account Pokémon that can be obtained through Pokémon GO.
Shiny Mew requires a transfer from either Bank or Pokémon GO. In Bank-compatible games, it can only be obtained in Japanese copies of Emerald, at Faraway Island. Glitches and hacks can be used to gain access to Faraway Island even in non-Japanese versions of the game, and glitches in the Virtual Console releases of Red, Green, Blue, Yellow can be used to give a Mew the correct properties to allow it to move to Pokémon Bank and have DVs that will correspond to a Shiny Pokémon once moved.
Mew in a Cherish Ball is transfer-only: it was only obtainable in My Pokémon Ranch, and in event distributions for Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, and Moon between 2007 and 2017. These Mew cannot also be Shiny.
Mew in a Great, Ultra, Master, Net, Dive, Nest, Repeat, Timer, Luxury, or Premier Ball is transfer-only: the Faraway Island Mew must be caught in that Poké Ball type.
Shiny Celebi was distributed in an event for Sword and Shield between 2020 and 2022. Apart from that, Shiny Celebi requires a transfer from either Bank or Pokémon GO. In Bank-compatible games, it can only be obtained in Virtual Console copies of Crystal.
Celebi in a Poké Ball is transfer-only: it is obtainable in a Poké Ball either from the aforementioned Crystal case, in event distributions for Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen in 2006, or from the Japanese Colosseum Bonus Disc.
Shiny Jirachi requires a transfer from either Bank or Pokémon GO. In Bank-compatible games, it can only be obtained from the North American Colosseum Bonus Disc, the European and Australian versions of Pokémon Channel, or in event distributions for X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire between 2014 and 2016.
Shiny Jirachi from Colosseum or Channel are in Poké Balls, and Shiny Jirachi in the event distributions are in Cherish Balls.
Deoxys in a Dusk, Heal, or Quick Ball is transfer-only: the Deoxys in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire must be caught in that Poké Ball type. These Deoxys cannot also be Shiny.
Phione in a Cherish Ball is transfer-only: it must be obtained from My Pokémon Ranch.
Shiny Manaphy in a Poké Ball is transfer-only: it must be obtained from one of the three Ranger games.
No Darkrai is transfer-exclusive.
Shaymin in a Cherish Ball is transfer-only: it was only obtainable in event distributions for Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black, White, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon between 2008 and 2018. These Shaymin cannot also be Shiny.
Arceus in a Cherish Ball is transfer-only: it was only obtainable in event distributions for Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon between 2009 and 2018.
Shiny Arceus in a Cherish Ball is transfer-only: it was only obtainable in event distributions for X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire in 2015.
Victini in a Poké, Great, Ultra, Master, Net, Dive, Nest, Repeat, Timer, Luxury, Premier, Dusk, Heal, or Quick Ball is transfer-only: the event-exclusive Victini in Black and White must be caught in that Poké Ball type.
No Keldeo is transfer-exclusive.
Non-Shiny Meloetta in a Cherish Ball is transfer-only: it was only obtainable in event distributions for Black, White, Black 2, White 2, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon between 2012 and 2018.
Shiny Genesect requires a transfer from either Bank or Pokémon GO. In Bank-compatible games, it was only obtainable in event distributions for for Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 in 2013 and 2014.
Shiny Diancie requires a transfer from either Bank or Pokémon GO. In Bank-compatible games, it was only obtainable in event distributions for X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire in 2015 and 2016.
Diancie in a Cherish Ball is transfer-only: it was only obtainable in event distributions for X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire between 2014 and 2016.
Hoopa in a Cherish Ball is transfer-only: it was only obtainable in event distributions for X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon between 2015 and 2018.
No Volcanion is transfer-exclusive.
The regular color of Magearna in a Cherish Ball is transfer-only: it can only be obtained by scanning QR Codes in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon. This Magearna can still be obtained.
Note that the Original Color Magearna in a Cherish Ball is a reward for completing the HOME National Pokédex (as it was after Sword and Shield's release). Spinda is included in the National Pokédex and cannot be obtained altogether without transfer, meaning transfers are required to receive this Magearna. If Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are rereleased on the Switch, then this issue should be resolved.
No Marshadow is transfer-exclusive.
Non-Shiny Zeraora in a Cherish Ball is transfer only: it was only obtainable in event distributions for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon between 2018 and 2019.