Pokémon HOME connects Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Sword, but that does not mean every Pokémon can move between them. A Pokémon can only be used in a game where it appears. Check the individual Pokémon’s Connected Games list in the Nintendo Switch version of HOME to see whether Sword is available.
Does “Arceus” mean the Pokémon or the game?
The question can mean either the Pokémon species Arceus or a Pokémon coming from Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The distinction matters: HOME supports both Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Sword, but each Pokémon still has its own destination-game compatibility. The official sources cited here do not provide an exhaustive species-by-species Arceus entry for Sword, so HOME’s individual Connected Games display is the practical check.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Pokémon Sword - Nintendo Switch | $54.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Pokémon Sword - Nintendo Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Hn46gyJvL._SL160_.jpg)
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Pokémon Sword - Nintendo Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Pokemon Sword - Nintendo Switch (European Version) | $53.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Pokémon Sword + Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51L+MTaoMmL._SL160_.jpg)
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Pokémon Sword + Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $89.98 | Buy on Amazon |
How to check whether a Pokémon can go to Sword
- Open Pokémon HOME on Nintendo Switch.
- Select Pokémon, choose the Pokémon Sword save data, and select the Pokémon you want to check.
- Choose Check Summary, then press + to view Connected Games.
- Look for Pokémon Sword. If its game image is grayed out, that Pokémon cannot be used in Sword. If Sword is available, arrange the Pokémon in the Sword boxes and save the changes.
Pokémon Support documents this compatibility check in its guide to checking which games a Pokémon can travel to in Pokémon HOME. The mobile app also has a Games it can travel to section, but Pokémon Support says moving Pokémon to Sword and Shield is limited to the Nintendo Switch version of HOME.
What happens to moves when a Pokémon moves games?
If the destination game does not support a Pokémon’s current moves, HOME replaces them with moves that Pokémon can learn in the destination. HOME saves game-specific move sets, so returning a Pokémon to a game it has visited restores the move set saved for that game. Pokémon’s 2022 announcement also noted that transfers between games can cause changes to moves, level, and Poké Ball type; do not assume every detail will remain identical after a transfer.
#1 Best Overall
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on an all-new adventure in the Galar region
- Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
- Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
- Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles***!
- Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and try catching them***
Why HOME is required
Use Pokémon HOME as the bridge between the games; the documented transfer process is not a direct move between the game cartridges. HOME supports both titles, while the individual Pokémon’s eligibility determines whether it can be placed in Sword. Pokémon’s HOME transfer information states the rule plainly: Pokémon can only be moved to games in which they appear.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Part 1 - The Isle of Armor releases June 17, 2020; Part 2 - The Crown Tundra is scheduled for release during the fall of 2020
- New Areas Discovered in the Galar Region and expand Your Pokémon Adventure
- This bundle includes both the Pokémon Sword game and the Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on a new adventure in the Galar region
- If you purchase the Pokémon Sword + Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass, you'll get some in-game apparel as a bonus.
Rank #3
- New entries in the main series of Pokémon RPGs arrive on Nintendo Switch simultaneously in late 2019
- The Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games take place in the newly discovered Galar Region
- Galar is an expansive region with diverse environments - an idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forest and craggy, snow-covered mountains
- Fans will have the opportunity to visit Gyms in the Galar region in their quest to become Champion
- Newly discovered partner Pokémon join in this new iteration of the games - Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble
Rank #2
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on an all-new adventure in the Galar region
- Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
- Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
- Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles
- Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles and try catching them
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