Gen VII Pokémon Bank – What We Know & What It All Means

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Pokémon Bank, the massive online storage system and transfer means for Pokémon, is due for a major overhaul by the end of January 2017 – here’s what we’ll get in the update and what it means for Generation VII!

As of right now, Pokémon Bank is only compatible with Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. And its companion app, Poké Transporter, is only compatible with Pokémon Black, White, Black 2 and White 2; bridging the gap between Gen III and Gen VI if you use the proper transfer channels in each subsequent game.

In short, the promised update will make Bank compatible with Pokémon Sun and Moon, and allow Transporter to make transfers from Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow on the Virtual Console. Along with this new compatibility, a brand new National Pokédex feature will be implemented into Bank: grabbing data from XY, ORAS and SM to see if you’ve caught them all! But other than those two changes, no other details have been released on whether or not other features will be added.

So What Does This All Mean?

Like we’ve discovered with other transfer means in the past, once you transfer a Pokemon from any previous generation to Pokémon Sun & Moon, it won’t be able to go back to that era of games. That means any ‘mons you bring over from Gen VI to Sun & Moon even once cannot make a trek back to XY and ORAS. Why is this such a big deal? Well, there are so many things that aren’t currently obtainable in Sun & Moon. Take Mega Stones for example: since items aren’t transferable via Bank, and only a little under half of the Mega Stones are available for purchase in game, most of these forms are now constricted and exclusive to Gen VI (for now).

More over, this is the first time since Generation II that Gen I Pokémon will be able to be brought over to a newer era of games. It’s been a solid twenty years since we took our first steps into the Kanto Region, and in that time dozens upon dozens of changes have been made to the game. Back in RBY, Pokémon only had four IVs – Attack, Defense, Speed and Special – and only had a maximum value of 15. It wasn’t until the overhaul in Gen III that we adopted the current 6 IV, 31 value IV system that we all know and love. So what will happen to our beloved Gen I Pokémon? Will their IVs and Natures just be randomly assigned upon transfer, or will there be a way to influence these changes? Will some Pokémon just randomly transfer as shiny since they didn’t exist until Gen II? There have just been so many changes, and unfortunately we won’t get any of the answers until Pokémon Bank updates sometime this month.

What are some features you want to see in the future of Pokémon Bank? Any predictions on what event Pokémon we may get with the update if at all?

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582 thoughts on “Gen VII Pokémon Bank – What We Know & What It All Means”

  3. As far as I know the following have been confirmed for the 1.1 patch:
    > Fixes Kadabra evolve moveset (now it’s no longer garbage until you get Psychic TM).
    > Fixes disconnect bug with Z-Parting Shot and Z-Memento.

    Reply

  4. To the people who were wondering why Colress is wearing a heavy trench coat in Alola:
    “He was bragging to me about how his wearables are cooled with water so they stay comfortable.”

    Reply

  6. We’re getting absolutely battered by storms here in the Bay Area, and just now we had these bizarre pulsing lights next to our house that were pink and blue and lit up the whole sky. I think this is a sign that Diamond and Pearl remakes will be announced on Thursday.

    Reply

  11. well the fat curbstomped my team three times but i managed to beat it with Supersonic
    so here’s my status
    Badges 3
    Croconaw 19
    Phanpy 21
    Zubat 17
    Teddiursa 16

    Reply

  12. um I dunno but i can’t do internet stuff in my copy of moon because it wants new software or something. please help also using a 2ds here

    Reply

  14. So I’m heading towards my next tournament this Sunday and my team (I’m not even done building it!!!) might be: Vikavolt, Kartana, Tapu Fini, Gigalith, Arcanine so far.

    My last one could be Garchomp, Porygon 2 or Celesteela.

    Reply

  20. I guess tomorrow to keep me busy I’ll perfect my bingo card when I get home from school and go to bed a little early. Switchmas might be a late night for me.

    ALSO GUESS WHAT THERE’S A POSSIBILITY THAT I’LL HAVE A SNOW DAY ON FRIDAY IT’D BE A SWITCHMAS MIRACLE

    Reply

  22. I just watched the whole GameXplain predictions discussion. Getting so pumped! I do agree with them though, that Stars won’t be announced for a while yet.

    Reply

  23. Just beat Tate and Liza in Emerald, and they were actually difficult. Lunatone kept on spamming Calm Mind and took out a good chunk of my team, and I was down to my Slaking and Hariyama.

    Reply

  24. Alright this is why earthen don’t play emulator Pokemon games no’mo
    i apparently have a game time of 50:07 because of the Throttle (those unfamiliar it speeds up the game)
    so i think i need sleep….
    Status Update
    Badges: 4
    Croconaw: 28
    Donphan: 25
    Golbat: 26
    Teddiursa: 24

    Reply

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