Pokémon Sword and Shield had an infamously limited Poké Dex. While many Pokémon were inaccessible in-game, data mining suggested that the Pokémon were still able to be added to the game. With the release of Pokémon Home, it confirms what data miners found: some Pokémon can only be obtained by transferring them from Pokémon Home or from events.
Pokémon Home invites players to transfer Pokémon from other platforms to a convenient mobile platform. Once in Pokémon Home, some of these Pokémon can be added to Sword and Shield. Just because they’re able to be in Pokemon Home doesn’t automatically make them transferrable to Sword and Shield.
The upcoming DLC content is expected to expand the Poké Dex. Venusaur, for example, was not in the game but is getting a gigantamax form, effectively adding the entire Bulbasaur line to the game. Some Pokémon have regional forms that are otherwise not accessible, such as Ponyta and Rapidash.
Here’s a handy list for all new Pokémon that can be transferred to Sword and Shield from Home.
Regional Variants:
First, all Pokémon with regional variants found in Sword and Shield can be added. If there was a Pokémon with a regional variation in the game, the regional variant can be added without fuss.
- Alolan Raichu
- Alolan Vulpix
- Alolan Ninetales
- Alolan Diglett
- Alolan Meowth
- Alolan Persian
- Kantonian Ponyta
- Kantonian Rapidash
- Kantonian Farfetch’d
- Kantonian Weezing
- Johtonian Corsola
- Hoennian Zigzagoon
- Hoennian Linoone
- Unovan Darumaka
- Unovan Darmanitan
- Unovan Stunfisk
- Trainer Hat Pikachu
New Transferrable Pokémon
We already knew about some of the original 151, such as Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Mew and Mewtwo. There’s more that can be transferred than these staple Pokémon. Pokémon Home also makes several other Pokémon more accessible including starter Pokémon and legendaries.
Starter Pokemon:
- Rowlet
- Dartrix
- Decidueye
- Litten
- Torracat
- Incineroar
- Popplio
- Brionne
- Primarina
Legendary Pokemon:
- Celebi
- Jiranchi
- Cobalion
- Terrakion
- Virizion
- Reshiram
- Zekrom
- Kyurem
- Keldeo
- Cosmog
- Cosmoem
- Solgaleo
- Lunala
- Necrozma
- Marshadow
- Zeraora
- Meltan
- Melmetal
It is possible more Pokémon will become transferrable in Sword and Shield after Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra are released in June and autumn, respectively. Both DLCs are expected to expand the Poké Dex, which may allow other Pokémon to migrate to Sword and Shield.
