Key Takeaways
- Transferring Pokemon from GO to HOME permanently removes Lucky status
- This affects only Pokemon that were traded in GO to become Lucky
- Hundredth-percent and event Pokemon lose their trade-locked status
Bottom Line: The transfer removes Lucky status as a scarcity measure — keeping powerful Lucky Pokemon in GO prevents meta disruption in HOME/Sword.
The Lucky Trade Penalty
What Is Lucky Status?
Lucky Pokemon in GO have:
- Reduced power-up costs (50% Stardust, regular candy)
- Guaranteed Lucky friends (in PvP trades with Lucky trades)
- Special background (golden sparkles)
When a traded Pokemon becomes Lucky (via high friendship trades), it's marked as "Lucky."
The Transfer Rule
Transferring a Lucky Pokemon from GO to HOME permanently removes the Lucky status:
GO: Lucky Charmander (transferred) → HOME: Normal Charmander
GO: Lucky Gyarados (transferred) → HOME: Normal Gyarados
The Pokemon retains its moveset and CP, but loses:
- Lucky background
- Reduced power-up costs
- Lucky trade eligibility
Why Does This Happen?
Niantic intentionally removes Lucky status during transfers because:
- Power Creep Prevention: Lucky Pokemon are cheaper to power up. Allowing them in HOME would create an unfair advantage in competitive play.
- Cross-Game Balance: HOME connects to Sword/Shield, which has different power systems. Lucky advantages would be too strong.
- Scarcity Enforcement: Lucky trades are meant to be GO-exclusive rewards. Removing them on transfer incentivizes staying in GO.
The transfer penalty is a deliberate friction point — it makes you choose between GO's Lucky system and HOME's competitive scene.
The Technical Reason
When transferring:
- GO sends Pokemon data to Nintendo's servers
- Nintendo's HOME system doesn't recognize GO's Lucky status
- HOME overwrites the Pokemon's metadata during import
- Lucky markers are scrubbed as part of the transfer protocol
This is by design — not a bug.
Workaround: Don't Transfer Luckies
If you value Lucky status:
| Pokemon Type | Keep in GO | Transfer to HOME |
|---|---|---|
| Lucky Legendary | ✓ | × |
| Lucky Mythical | ✓ | × |
| Lucky PVP IV | ✓ | × |
| Lucky Event Exclusive | ✓ | × |
Lucky Pokemon are typically worth more in GO than in HOME.
The Bigger Picture
The Lucky transfer penalty is part of Niantic's broader strategy:
- Keep valuable Pokemon in GO to maintain engagement
- Limit cross-game power transfer to preserve balance
- Encourage dual-account play (one for GO, one for HOME)
Bottom Line: Transferring Lucky Pokemon to HOME is a strategic choice. You gain compatibility with Sword/Shield but sacrifice one of GO's most valuable features — Lucky power-up discounts.
FAQ
Can I get Lucky status back if I transfer?
No — Lucky status is permanently lost during transfer. There's no way to restore it.
Does this apply to all GO Pokemon?
Only Pokemon that are currently marked as Lucky. Non-Lucky Pokemon transfer normally.
What about Pokemon I transferred before they became Lucky?
If the Pokemon was Lucky before transfer, the status is lost. If you transferred it while non-Lucky, it can't become Lucky retroactively in HOME.
Is there a refund policy?
No — transfers are permanent and irreversible. Niantic does not restore Lucky status.
Why don't they just keep the status?
Because HOME and Sword have different competitive ecosystems. Lucky power-up discounts would unbalance those games.