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Which Pokémon Should You Transfer in Pokémon GO?

There is no universal CP or appraisal cutoff for transferring Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Review your collection carefully: transfer is permanent, and Pokémon HOME cannot send Pokémon back to GO.
WorldPokémon GO? Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Transfer Pokémon only when you are comfortable losing them permanently. Niantic says a transferred Pokémon cannot be recovered; there is no official CP, IV, species, or age cutoff that tells every Trainer what to keep. Review candidates against your own collection goals, and check each selection before confirming.

What happens when you transfer a Pokémon?

Transferring sends a Pokémon to Professor Willow, permanently removes it from your Pokémon GO collection, and awards Candy. Niantic describes transferring as a way to free Pokémon storage, but its help page does not specify a fixed Candy amount. As Niantic puts it, “You’ll receive Candy in exchange for transferring a Pokémon, but be careful: you can’t get Pokémon back after you’ve transferred them.” (Niantic: Transferring Pokémon)

Because the action is irreversible, decide based on what you personally want to keep—not a universal rule about low CP, weak appraisal, duplicates, or age. Those attributes alone do not establish that a Pokémon has no value to you.

Which Pokémon should you consider transferring?

Use a deliberate review rather than a blanket threshold. A candidate is worth transferring only if its permanent removal fits your priorities and you have checked that it is not one you intend to keep.

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#1 Best Overall
Sale
Pokémon GO Plus +
  • The packaging is Japanese, but item works the same as the US version.
  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Start with your goal. If you need room, identify candidates you are willing to lose rather than selecting Pokémon solely because they have low CP or an appraisal you dislike.
  • Check your collection preferences. Consider whether you want to retain a particular Pokémon for personal, collection, or gameplay reasons. Niantic does not publish a universal keep-or-transfer ranking.
  • Use tags to organize a review. You can tag candidates for a later decision and filter your collection by tag. Niantic says custom tags are available to Trainers at level 15 and above; tags help organize Pokémon but do not determine which ones are valuable. (Niantic: Tagging your Pokémon Inventory)
  • Pause on uncertainty. If you are not sure you want to lose a Pokémon permanently, leave it in your collection while you decide.

Check restrictions before transferring

Some Pokémon cannot be transferred, and safeguards can prevent certain selections. Niantic’s help page identifies these restrictions; the exact behavior can change, so check the current app if a selection is blocked.

  • Your active Buddy, favorited Pokémon, and Pokémon defending Gyms cannot be transferred.
  • Batch-transfer safeguards apply to multiple Shiny, Lucky, and established Buddy Pokémon.
  • Some Legendary and Mythical Pokémon cannot be selected at all; Niantic gives Mew and Celebi as examples.
  • Transferring multiple Legendary or Mythical Pokémon requires enabling the relevant option in the app settings.
  • If you have Max Pokémon, Niantic says you can transfer them for Candy, but must keep at least one Max Pokémon in storage. (Niantic: What are Max Pokémon?)

These protections are not a complete measure of what matters to you. A Pokémon that is eligible for transfer may still be one you want to keep.

Rank #2
Sale
Pokémon GO Plus +
  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)

How to transfer one Pokémon or a batch

  1. Open your Pokémon collection and select a Pokémon to inspect it.
  2. Choose Transfer to send that Pokémon to Professor Willow. For a batch, press and hold one Pokémon in the collection, select the other candidates, then choose Transfer.
  3. Review the selected Pokémon and the confirmation prompt before completing the action. If anything is included by mistake or you are uncertain, cancel and review the selection again.

Niantic identifies transferring as one way to free storage when your Pokémon collection is full. Storage capacity can also be increased with an upgrade in the in-game Shop. (Niantic: Why is there an orange dot on the Poké Ball menu?)

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Is Pokémon HOME a way to keep a Pokémon safely?

Pokémon HOME is a separate destination, not a backup that lets a Pokémon return to Pokémon GO. Eligible Pokémon can be sent through the GO Transporter after linking accounts, but Niantic says Pokémon sent to HOME cannot return to GO. Some Pokémon are ineligible, and some may change form or lose a status; the confirmation screen indicates form changes. Use HOME only if you are willing for that Pokémon to leave GO permanently. (Niantic: Sending Pokémon to Pokémon HOME)

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Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Pokémon GO Plus +
Pokémon GO Plus +
The packaging is Japanese, but item works the same as the US version.; Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
$144.99
SaleBestseller No. 2
Pokémon GO Plus +
Pokémon GO Plus +
Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!; Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
$124.99
SaleBestseller No. 3
Pokemon Go Plus +
Pokemon Go Plus +
Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!; Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
$149.99
Bestseller No. 5
Pokemon Go Plus + (Renewed)
Pokemon Go Plus + (Renewed)
Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!; Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
Best Value
Pokemon Go Plus + (Renewed)
  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
Rank #4
Silicone Case for Poke Go Plus + (2023), Go Plus Plus Cover Case with Strap, Soft Protective Case Shockproof Scratch-Resistant (Black)
  • Designed for GO Plus +: The case is specially designed for GO Plus + and its size fits the GO Plus + so well that the gaming switch will not move around and tumble in the case.
  • Premium Silicone Material for Comfort & Safety: Crafted from high-quality silicone, this case delivers a soft, pleasant touch while shielding your Poke GO Plus+ from scratches, dirt, and daily wear.
  • Portable Design with Wrist Strap: The built-in hand strap allows you to wear the case on your wrist, ensuring easy portability and hands-free convenience during outdoor adventures.
  • Designed for GO Plus +: The case is specially designed for GO Plus + and its size fits the GO Plus + so well that the gaming switch will not move around and tumble in the case.
  • Package: Silicone Case x1; Hand strap x1. If you need any support please feel free to contact us.
Rank #3
Sale
Pokemon Go Plus +
  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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