A dedicatedPokemonfan has successfully migrated a Pokemon from the Nintendo GameCube to the Nintendo Switch. Originating in the cult classicPokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, the Pokemon in question is now ready for battle inPokemon Sword.
One of thePokemonfranchise’s most unique features is its focus on allowing players to bring cherished Pokemon into each new game. WhilePokemon SwordandShielddo not allow every Pokemon to come to the Galar region, Nintendo offersthePokemon Homeapplicationas a way to store every Pokemon for future games.In the past, Pokemon could even be transferred between mainline entries and spin-offs likeMy Pokemon Ranch,Pokemon Stadium, andPokemon Battle Revolution.
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Reddit user bodnast revealed that they use the same Salamence inPokemon Swordthat they met inPokemon XD: Gale of Darkness15 years ago. Salamence must have traveled fromGale ofDarknessto the Game Boy AdvancePokemongames, the Nintendo DS games, the 3DS games, and finallyPokemon Swordon the Switch. While fans have made an easy-to-readinfographic for the Pokemon transfer process, the transfer is time-consuming, with bodnast noting that it could have been easier.
As one ofPokemon XD: Gale of Darkness' Shadow Pokemon, this particular Salamence had to be acquired in an unusual way. The player needed to steal (or “snag”) the Salamence from the villainous Cipher Admin Eldes and purify it before it could be transferred to the mainline Game Boy Advance games. Sadly, anyone looking at a Pokemon transferred toSwordfromGale of Darknesswould just see a normal Pokemon, with no acknowledgement of its shadowy origins. Moreover, on a broader level,Pokemon SwordandShielddon’t acknowledgeGale of Darknessor its setting, the Arizona-like Orre Region, in any way.
The Reddit post also highlights the ease with which Pokemon inSwordandShieldcan grow stronger and be optimized for competitive battles. For example, players can retroactively max out a Pokemon’s genetic potential (the stats known as IVs) through Hyper Training. Perhaps the biggest new addition is theAbility Patch, introduced in theCrown Tundraexpansion, that unlocks a Pokemon’s Hidden Ability. With the Ability patch, bodnast was able to give Salamence the ability Moxie, which is useful for turning Salamance into an offensive powerhouse.
Sadly, there is one aspect of using Salamence that does not carry over intoPokemon SwordandShieldfrom past installments: Mega Salamence, the Pokemon’s Mega Evolution. Although the latest games introduce the new Dynamax mechanic, they represent a return to the series' roots in other ways, abolishingultra-powerful Z-Moves and fan-favorite Mega Evolutions. At the very least, if those mechanics are ever re-introduced, longtime veteran Pokemon like bodnast’s Salamence will likely be there to see it happen.
