Which Pokémon to transfer before Pokémon Bank closes in February 2027

Nintendo will end Pokémon Bank in February 2027. Poke Transporter will also shut down, removing the ability to move Pokémon from the first seven generations into Nintendo Switch games.

Players are advised to review their Nintendo DS and 3DS games and transfer anything they want to keep to Pokémon Home. Edited save files are not a reliable workaround because Pokémon Home checks for a valid tracker.

Spinda cannot transfer from Brilliant Diamond

Spinda can still be obtained on Nintendo Switch, but Spinda caught in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl cannot be moved into Pokémon Home because of an error in the games’ spot-pattern coding. Spinda from earlier titles can be transferred; the article recommends hunting a Shiny version in Pokémon Platinum through swarms on Route 227.

Rare forms from the 3DS games

Partner Cap Pikachu can be obtained only in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon by scanning a QR code. Once Bank closes, the form will be available only through trading. It can also be reset for a Shiny version, with 1-in-4,096 odds and no benefit from the Shiny Charm.

Shiny Type: Null, Silvally, Poipole and Naganadel were available as events or gifts in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Type: Null and Poipole are Shiny-locked in Sword and Shield, leaving older games as the remaining hunting option described by the source.

Victini and other difficult targets

Victini is currently unavailable through legitimate means on Nintendo Switch; the source lists Zarude, Walking Wake and Iron Leaves alongside it. Existing Victini from the GF or Liberty Garden events can be transferred from older games.

The difficult Shiny targets include Celebi, Mew and Jirachi. Celebi requires the Nintendo 3DS release of Crystal, Mew requires a Japanese copy of Emerald with the Old Sea Map event item, and Jirachi requires a GameCube, the Pokémon Colosseum Bonus Disc and extensive resetting. Mew and Celebi have full odds of 1 in 8,192.

Vivillon and NPC-owned Pokémon

Poke Ball Vivillon has not been distributed since its 2014 event, so any existing specimen in Pokémon Bank should be moved. Other notable targets include Battle Bond Greninja, N’s Pokémon from Black 2 and White 2, Shauna’s starter from X and Y, and Alolan Rattata and Raticate with the player’s own Trainer ID.