Will Pokemon HOME update expand rosters of BDSP, Legends Arceus?

The highly anticipated Pokémon HOME 2.0.0 update marks a significant milestone for trainers, finally bridging the connectivity gap between Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, Sword, and Shield. This comprehensive compatibility overhaul represents the most substantial upgrade since the service’s initial launch, bringing long-requested cross-game functionality to the Pokémon ecosystem.

For months, data miners and community investigators had uncovered tantalizing clues about the update’s potential scope and implementation across titles released following Sword and Shield. Despite widespread speculation and leaked details circulating within fan communities, The Pokémon Company maintained official silence until the recent announcement. The company’s official website now provides detailed documentation outlining precisely how this update transforms player experiences.

“The mutual compatibility between Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Shining Pearl, Pokémon Sword, and Pokémon Shield with Pokémon HOME represents a fundamental shift in how players manage their collections,” the official statement clarifies. This interoperability allows seamless deposit and withdrawal operations across all specified titles.

Trainers gain unprecedented flexibility to move Pokémon throughout the entire Generation 8 game library. This system enables practical scenarios like transferring an Eevee captured in Pokémon Legends: Arceus to Sword version, then to Brilliant Diamond, and ultimately returning it to its original game. The functionality extends beyond current-generation Pokémon, permitting imports from previous generations via Pokémon HOME into all three Generation 8 platforms.

The transfer mechanics introduce new strategic considerations for team building. Pokémon moved between games retain their original stats, abilities, and movesets where mechanically possible, though some moves may become unavailable when transferring to games where those moves don’t exist. Understanding these transfer limitations becomes crucial for optimizing your collection management strategy.

Practical tip: Before initiating transfers, verify that destination games can properly support your Pokémon’s abilities and moves to avoid functionality issues. Many players make the mistake of transferring specialized Pokémon only to discover key moves become unusable in the new environment.

Will New Pokémon Be Added to Sword and Shield, BDSP, and Legends: Arceus?

Despite the enhanced connectivity, the Pokémon HOME 2.0 update disappointingly will not introduce additional Pokémon species to the existing rosters of Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, or Legends: Arceus. This limitation represents a conscious design decision by The Pokémon Company rather than a technical constraint.

While the first seven Pokémon generations provided comprehensive access to every species available up to their respective release points, Sword and Shield dramatically altered this approach. These titles launched with approximately 400 of the then-available 800+ Pokémon species. Subsequent expansions through the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLC substantially increased available species, yet Sword and Shield still fall short of including all 905 currently known Pokémon.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl adopted an even more restrictive stance. Unlike previous remakes such as HeartGold, SoulSilver, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire that expanded roster options, BDSP deliberately emulated the original Diamond and Pearl games’ limitations. This design philosophy specifically confined the Pokédex to the first four Pokémon generations. Meanwhile, Pokémon Legends: Arceus features its own distinctive roster primarily centered around Sinnoh-region species while selectively incorporating Pokémon from other regions.

The generational shift in roster accessibility reflects evolving development priorities within the franchise. Early games prioritized completionist collection goals, while recent titles emphasize curated regional experiences. This approach allows for better balancing and more focused game design but inevitably disappoints players seeking comprehensive national dex functionality.

Advanced optimization tip: Focus on transferring Pokémon that gain strategic value in different game environments. For example, Pokémon with unique typing combinations or abilities that counter specific regional challenges can provide significant advantages when moved between titles. Time investment for building optimized cross-game teams typically ranges from 10-20 hours depending on your collection’s current state.

Although many trainers hoped Pokémon HOME would finally enable Sword and Shield to incorporate every Pokémon from all generations, this expectation will not be realized. The community now looks toward future releases like Scarlet and Violet to potentially fulfill this longstanding community desire for complete Pokémon accessibility.

Common planning mistake: Avoid transferring Pokémon haphazardly between games without considering long-term collection strategy. Instead, develop a systematic approach to maximizing roster utility across your entire game library. This systematic approach typically saves 5-8 hours of reorganization effort later.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Will Pokemon HOME update expand rosters of BDSP, Legends Arceus? Pokémon HOME 2.0 enables cross-game transfers but won't expand Sword, Shield, BDSP, or Legends: Arceus rosters