Game Compatibility

Currently, only Generation 6, 7 and 8 games have the ability for online access, thus it is only through these games can the Pokémon sold here be received at:

  • Gen 8: Pokémon Legends Arceus (PLA)
  • Gen 8: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl (BDSP)
  • Gen 8: Pokémon Sword, Pokémon Shield (SwSh)
  • Gen 7: Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu!, Pokémon Let's Go, Eevee! (LGPE)
  • Gen 7: Pokémon Ultra Sun, Pokémon Ultra Moon (USUM)
  • Gen 7: Pokémon Sun, Pokémon Moon (SuMo)
  • Gen 6: Pokémon Omega Ruby, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire (ORAS)
  • Gen 6: Pokémon X, Pokémon Y (XY)

The Pokémon games have no backward compatibility. The basic logic is that a Pokémon originally caught, bred or received exclusively as an event Pokémon in a specific generation cannot be received at any past, non-same generation game version. Example, any Pokémon originally coming from Gen 7 games (Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon) bearing the four-leaf clover or the + sign cannot be received at any Gen 6 (XY, ORAS) game versions.

It is also important to know that although they are of the same game generation, all Pokémon that were released only in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon game (Stakataka, Blacephalon, Poipole, Naganadel, Totem Pokémon, shiny Ultra Beasts, Zeraora) can neither be received in Pokémon Sun nor Pokémon Moon.

Similarly, some specific Pokémon and Items can be received from Omega Ruby to Alpha Sapphire or vice versa, but not in XY. If an event Pokémon was released for only ORAS and was slated to be received only at these game versions, it cannot be received in other Gen 6 games such as XY, as X & Y are older game versions.

Conversely, any Pokémon released in older game versions can be received in any later version, as long as the specie is coded to be available in receiving game version. For example, a Pokémon released or caught or bred in a Gen 6 game (X,Y, ORAS) with the pentagon sign can be received in any Gen 7 game. All Pokémon originally caught, bred or received as an event Pokemon from Generation I, I, III, IV, and V games can be received in Gen VI, VII and VIII.

It is therefore necessary to remember which game version is older, which ones are newer.

In a nutshell:

Game Version
 Release Date
Remarks
Pokémon X, Y October 12, 2013 receptive of Pokémon originally caught, bred, or event Pokémon distributed for Gen 6 (XY & ORAS), and past game versions; not receptive of Pokemon from virtual consoles. Items released only in ORAS (ex. Red Orb, Blue Orb) cannot be received in these games.
Pokémon Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire November 21, 2014
receptive of Pokémon originally caught, bred, or event Pokémon event Pokémon distributed for Gen 6 (XY & ORAS), and past game versions; not receptive of Pokemon from virtual consoles
Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow Virtual Console February 27, 2016 not receptive of online trading
Pokémon Sun, Moon November 18, 2016
receptive of Pokémon originally caught or bred in SuMo and USUM 
(except Totem Pokémon, Stakataka, Blacephalon, Poipole, Naganadal, shiny Ultra Beasts, Zeraora), or event Pokémon distributed for SuMo and past game versions, including all virtual consoles
Pokémon Gold, Silver Virtual Console
September 22, 2017
not receptive of online trading
Pokémon Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon November 17, 2017
receptive of Pokémon originally caught, bred, or event Pokémon distributed for SuMo & USUM and past game versions, including all virtual consoles
Pokémon Crystal Virtual Console January 26, 2018
not receptive of online trading
Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee! November 16, 2018 receptive of Pokémon originally caught, bred, or event Pokémon distributed for Let's Go games only
Pokémon Sword, Shield November 15, 2019 receptive of Pokémon originally caught, bred, or event Pokémon distributed for Sword and Shield and past game versions, including all virtual consoles, as long as the Pokémon specie is coded available in Gen 8 games (not all 900+ Pokémon are present in SwSh)