Pokémon Bank update released, compatible with Gen 7
The Pokémon Bank update has just been released! Find out all the new features and details here. Comes with a Mewnium Z Crystal!
Pokémon Bank, the spiritual successor to Pokémon Box and My Pokémon Ranch and cloud storage system used throughout Gen 6 to store many trainer’s beloved Pokémon, has now been updated to be usable with Pokémon Sun and Moon. This update was announced almost a year ago when Gen 7 was revealed in the February 2016 Pokémon Direct. This Pokémon Bank update allows players to transfer their Pokémon from X, Y, Omega Ruby, or Alpha Sapphire to Pokémon Sun and Moon. This introduces a huge amount of new Pokémon (499 of them) to the Alola Region’s tropical shores.
To celebrate this update, all Pokémon Bank subscribers can get a Mewnium Z, the Z-Crystal that only Mew can use. When you launch Pokémon Bank and receive the gift, a new Wonder Card will appear in your Pokémon Sun or Pokémon Moon game. You can use the Mystery Gift function to claim your Mewnium Z. You have until October 2nd 2017 to download the Mewnium Z gift.
The new Pokémon Bank is ~61 MB, or 496 3DS Blocks (compared to 239 Blocks for the original Bank).
Pokémon Bank was originally released a month or so after X and Y came out for the 3DS. It is a subscription-based 3DS application that provides online storage for up to 3000 Pokémon, costing $4.99 US per year. It now has a language switch feature added with the update.
Pokémon Bank will serve as the only way to transfer Pokémon from older games into Sun and Moon. As an added bonus, Pokémon Bank is the only location for the National Pokédex in Gen 7, as Sun and Moon will not be getting one. Said National Dex will combine all Seen and Caught data from every game connected to your account. Other data such as Eggs hatched or Pokémon encountered can be viewed for each game. Furthermore, new Pokédex entries for all Pokédex are with Pokémon Bank’s National Pokédex. It is assumed that Pokémon Bank will continue to be compatible with any main series Pokémon games released. You can access the Pokédex via the Y (Menu) button.
In addition, the the Poké Transporter application originally used to move Pokémon from Black and White (and their sequels) to Pokémon Bank has been updated to add compatibility with the VC (Virtual Console) versions of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow (RBY). This update takes up 420 blocks. You can transfer one Box at the time to Bank, with Box 1 the transfer box.
Pokémon transferred have a minimum of three perfect Individual Values (IVs), and will have their Hidden Ability. (This means that transferred Machop with Fissure will not have No Guard as their Ability!) Pokémon from the first generation games also gain a Game Boy icon in their status screen. Check this article for more details on this. Unfortunately, Mew obtained through glitches in RBY cannot be transferred.
Therefore, Pokémon can be now moved to Sun and Moon from all but three games (Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal).
Please note that Pokémon transferred to Gen 7 from any of the 11 previous Generation games directly compatible with Pokémon Bank or Poké Transporter (Black, White, Black 2, White 2, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, and the VC versions of Red, Blue, and Yellow) CANNOT be returned to any of said games. Pokémon transferred from Gen 5 or left in Bank from Gen 6 can still be used with Gen 6 games until you decide to move them up. Not all your Pokémon need to be transferred at once.
Old Abilities will be retained for these Pokémon. This means that a transferred Pelipper won’t magically obtain the Drizzle Ability, nor would Vanilluxe gain Snow Warning.
Transferred Pokémon will be eligible to compete in rating battles.
Are you excited about the Pokémon Bank update? Let us know in the comments!
Edited by bobandbill.
