Quick Links

  • How to Transfer Pokemon to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
  • How to Transfer Pokemon from Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl to Pokemon HOME
  • How to Check Pokemon Compatibility

Now that Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Pokemon Shining Pearl (BDSP) are compatible with Pokemon HOME , players can finally transfer some of their Pokemon from other games into the Generation 4 remakes. In the case players have a copy of both Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, they can use Pokemon HOME to transfer version-exclusive Pokemon between both games as well. Better still, unless players want more than one Storage Box, Pokemon HOME's features are completely free of charge.

However, one major drawback of transferring Pokemon from HOME to a console game is that held items will not be carried over. Players will also need to link a Nintendo Account if they want to be able to use HOME. Once this has been set up, it's possible to move Pokemon to and from Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. By transferring Pokemon, players might be able to fill up their Pokedex much quicker.

How to Transfer Pokemon to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

pokemon home transfer bdsp (1)

As long as players have Pokemon HOME on their Switch, they can transfer Pokemon back and forth between BDSP with ease. To do so, players should make sure that any Pokemon they want to transfer to Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl are in the Basic Box of Pokemon HOME. If players have the Premium Plan, they can store up to 6,000 Pokemon.

Here's how to transfer Pokemon:

  1. Start up Pokemon HOME and select Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl. Players can also select the user profile here, though this is entirely optional.
  2. In the Basic Box, select a Pokemon with the A-button and then drag it over to the Box for BDSP.
    1. Optional: Use ZR or ZL to toggle between multiple selection (green) or quick selection (blue).
  3. Press the (+) button to Save and Exit.
  4. Close out of Pokemon HOME and then start up Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl.

As long as a Pokemon is from Generations 1-4, they can be moved into Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl. It's worth noting though that pre-Generation 5 Pokemon capable of Gigantamaxing won't have the Gigantamax ability once they cross over into BDSP.

Players can transfer Pokemon to BDSP as soon as they get their starter Pokemon. However, they won't be able to access the PC System until they get to Sandgem Town. If transferring Starters back and forth between BDSP, players should make sure to catch a Pokemon to keep in the party so that the starter Pokemon can be deposited in the PC Box.

How to Transfer Pokemon from Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl to Pokemon HOME

pokemon bdsp cyndaquil (1)

If players want to move their Pokemon back to Pokemon HOME, they'll want to make sure that the desired Pokemon are in a PC Box in BDSP. If a Pokemon is in the Party, it won't appear in Pokemon HOME.

After making sure of this, players should follow the steps below:

  1. Start up BDSP and place the Pokemon in a PC Box.
  2. Close out of BDSP and open Pokemon HOME.
  3. Select the game with the Pokemon that's being moved.
  4. Navigate through the PC Boxes on the right to find the desired Pokemon. After locating it, select it with the A-button and then bring it over to the Basic Box (left).
  5. Press the (+) button to Save and Exit.

How to Check Pokemon Compatibility

pokemon home cyndaquil

Although Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are compatible with Pokemon HOME, not all of the Pokemon in BDSP can be moved to Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee!, Sword & Shield or Legends: Arceus.

If a Pokemon cannot be moved to a game, it will have a red symbol on its render. Since Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl only include Pokemon from the first four generations of Pokemon games, anything from Unova, Kalos, Alola, or Galar can't be transferred. This will apply to Gen-9 Pokemon when Pokemon Scarlet &Violet are released in late 2022.

While the Sinnoh Starters can be shared between Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the Hisui Starters cannot, barring Cyndaquil, that is. This is because Rowlett is a Pokemon from Generation 7 and Oshawott is from Generation 5, making the pair incompatible with BDSP.

Likewise, some Pokemon in the Sinnoh Dex of BDSP won't be able to move to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. These Pokemon are:

  • Feebas
  • Milotic
  • Goldeen
  • Seaking
  • Meditite
  • Medicham
  • Hoothoot
  • Noctowl
  • Wooper
  • Quagsire
  • Wingull
  • Pelipper
  • Girafarig
  • Azurill
  • Marill
  • Azumarill

Despite both games taking place in the same region albeit, in different timelines, the Pokemon with Hisuian forms can't be transferred to BDSP either. This goes for Hisuian Typhlosion, meaning that if players want Typhlosion, they'll have to transfer Cyndaquil or Quilava and then evolve it.

If players want to check the Compatibility in Pokemon HOME, all they need to do is select a Pokemon (red selection option), scroll down to Summary, and then press (+) to view the compatible games.

For example, Cyndaquil is compatible with Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but is not compatible with Pokemon Sword & Shield or Pokemon: Let's go, Pikachu! & Let's go, Eevee! This is because Cyndaquil and its evolutions do not have Pokedex entries in those games.

Pokemon HOME is available on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl are available on Nintendo Switch.

MORE: Pokemon Home: How to Release Pokemon