TL;DR
- Pokémon Home now issues permanent bans for trading modified Pokémon with severe account restrictions
- Bans affect both Pokémon Home access and online play across main series games
- Illegal Pokémon often show impossible movesets, stats, or shiny variants
- Accidental recipients are protected, but repeat offenders face permanent consequences
- Use move verification and statistical analysis to identify suspicious Pokémon

The Pokémon Company has implemented strict enforcement measures targeting players who engage in trading illegitimately modified Pokémon through Pokémon Home. This represents a significant escalation in their anti-cheating initiatives.
Pokémon is systematically addressing players who exploit trading functionalities, with announced intentions to regularly suspend accounts. Users possessing any form of improperly altered data within Pokémon Home will face permanent suspension from the service and lose trading capabilities.
Additionally, affected players will experience complete revocation of online functionality across all main series titles, including Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Sword and Shield, and other connected games.

Losing online access severely limits modern Pokémon gaming experiences. Players cannot participate in cooperative Raid Battles with friends or exchange Pokémon. While some might underestimate Pokémon Home bans, the inability to trade fundamentally undermines core gameplay mechanics.
Pokémon is targeting these violators in preparation for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s integration. Reports confirm the game will connect to Pokémon Home during 2023.
The company has clarified that players who unknowingly receive illegitimate Pokémon won’t face penalties. This policy specifically targets individuals who repeatedly engage in prohibited activities.
Modified Pokémon transactions typically occur through coordinated Discord bot networks and Pokémon Showdown platforms. These services enable users to inject any desired Pokémon into their games, provided the species exists within the game’s code. Users could theoretically introduce level 100 shiny Mewtwo specimens if desired.
How can you tell if a Pokémon is illegal in Pokémon Home?
These artificially enhanced Pokémon create significant technical problems within applications. Games may experience saving failures, potentially resulting in complete data loss. In competitive environments, employing illegal Pokémon guarantees disqualification and permanent bans.
Multiple verification techniques exist to detect illegitimate Pokémon. When a Pokémon possesses moves unavailable through normal gameplay mechanics, it’s likely modified. Shiny legendary Pokémon should always raise suspicion, as their acquisition typically requires extensive legitimate effort. Generally, if a Pokémon appears excessively optimized or statistically improbable, it probably violates game integrity standards.
Advanced detection involves examining Pokémon origins, statistical distributions, and move compatibility. Pokémon with perfect individual values across all stats, particularly for rare species, often indicate manipulation. Additionally, verify that Pokémon obtained through specific events match their documented characteristics and distribution periods.
Implement trading safeguards by verifying Pokémon statistics before accepting trades. Check move compatibility through official Pokémon databases to ensure learned moves are obtainable through legitimate means. Be particularly cautious with trades offering shiny legendary Pokémon, as these represent the most commonly modified specimens.
Establish a verification checklist examining origin marks, level-up moves, and encounter locations. Pokémon caught in locations where they don’t naturally appear indicate definite manipulation. Utilize community resources and official guidelines to cross-reference suspicious Pokémon characteristics.
When uncertain about a Pokémon’s legitimacy, consider using the Pokémon Home judge function to evaluate individual values. While perfect IVs are possible legitimately, their combination with specific natures and abilities in rare Pokémon should trigger additional scrutiny.
Action Checklist
- Verify move compatibility through official Pokémon databases
- Check Pokémon origins and encounter locations for consistency
- Examine statistical distributions for improbable combinations
- Use Pokémon Home’s judge function to evaluate individual values
- Cross-reference event Pokémon with documented distribution details
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Pokemon Home to ban players with illegal data Essential guide to identifying illegal Pokémon in Pokémon Home and avoiding permanent bans
