Best Transfer Only Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet, Ranked

Pokémon HOME offers players an opportunity to transfer Pokémon from other installments into the latest game of Scarlet and Violet. This Cloud service is used to store Pokémon caught in-game where you can check which are compatible to be used in other Pokémon games. Depending on which game you have played in the past, from Pokémon Sword and Shield to Pokémon GO. Game Freak has made an additional 162 Pokémon from previous games available for transfer into Scarlet and Violet. Your only requirement is to have the free (30 stored Pokémon) or premium (6,000 Pokémon) service of HOME. With a price of $3 a month, premium offers players the chance to use transfer-only Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet.

These are our best picks for transfer-only Pokémon to use in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This ranking has taken into account the best of each Generation that are available for transfer from HOME to Scarlet and Violet. This list will show you the requirements to obtaining the Pokémon in their corresponding games if you have not previously caught them. For those trying to catch the best for the first time, we will demonstrate what you need to do to obtain, plus the its difficulty to obtain. So, let us get into the list of the best transfer-only Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet.

Best Transfer-Only Pokémon per Generation to Use in Scarlet and Violet

8. Generation 5: Samurott

Base Stats:

• Health – 95
• Attack – 100
• Defense – 85
• Special Attack – 108
• Special Defense – 70
• Speed – 70

Requirements: Pokémon Arceus

Difficulty: 1/5 Starter or 4/5 Wild

How to Obtain Samurott in Pokémon Arceus

Samurott is relatively easy to obtain in Arceus due to it being part of the evolutionary chain of Oshawott. This Pokémon is one of the three starter Pokémon in Arceus. By choosing this Pokémon, players simply need to level Oshawott to Level 36 to evolve into Samurott. Because this is a starter Pokémon, it is easy to level up for its evolution as it will likely stay in your active party throughout your Arceus playthrough. There are no special requirements to evolve aside from standard levelling up so Samurott is one of the easiest transfer-only Pokémon to obtain for HOME.

If you did not select Oshawott as one of your starting Pokémon, that is okay. Samurott can be found in Space Time Distortion in the Alabaster Icelands. However, these Distortions are random. Increasing its difficulty in obtaining a Samurott to a 4/5. You can find the Hisuian form of Samurott as Level 45-58 in these Distortions.

7. Generation 2: Overqwil

Base Stats:

• Health – 85
• Attack – 115
• Defense – 95
• Special Attack – 65
• Special Defense – 65
• Speed – 85

Requirements: Pokémon Arceus

Difficulty: 2/5

How to Obtain Overqwil in Pokémon Arceus

Players can obtain a Hisui Qwilfish in Arceus. Found in the waters of both Obsidian Fieldlands and Cobalt Coastlands. The special evolutionary requirement to evolve Qwilfish into Overqwil is to use the move Barb Barrage in Strong Style 20 times in battle. This is the only evolutionary chain available with Qwilfish and can only be obtained in Hisuian form, found only in Arceus. Using this move 20 times will instantly evolve Qwilfish into Overqwil.

6. Generation 7: Decidueye

Base Stats:

• Health – 78
• Attack – 107
• Defense – 75
• Special Attack – 100
• Special Defense – 100
• Speed – 70

Requirements: Pokémon Arceus

Difficulty: 1/5

How to Obtain Decidueye in Pokémon Arceus

For players who chose Rowlet as their starter Pokémon, Decidueye is the easiest to obtain and transfer into Scarlet and Violet. Decidueye is the final evolution of Rowlet at Level 34. For those who did not pick Rowlet as their starting Pokémon in Arceus, another can be obtained in the post-game. Rowlet can be obtained from Professor Laventon after completing the main story of Arceus. It is a simple process to get Rowlet in Arceus. All players need to do after obtaining is to level the Pokémon up to get Decidueye.

5. Generation 1: Mewtwo

Base Stats:

• Health – 106
• Attack – 110
• Defense – 90
• Special Attack – 154
• Special Defense – 90
• Speed – 130

Requirements: Pokémon Let’s Go Pickachu! or Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee!

Difficulty: 3/5

How to Obtain Mewtwo in Pokémon Let’s Go

Players on either Let’s Go versions have to beat the Elite Four and complete the main base-game. In the post-game section, players are told to go to Cerulean Cave. Go north of Cerulean City, across the bridge and Sea Skim to the left to reach the Caves. Inside, take the ladder in the north-eastern side of the room. In the next room filled with ladders, take the ladder down (located on the north-western side of the room). Head into the next area (with water) and use Sea Skim to get to Mewtwo. This Pokemon is a Level 70. Battle to obtain Mewtwo.

4. Generation 6: Volcanion

Base Stats:

• Health – 80
• Attack – 110
• Defense – 120
• Special Attack – 130
• Special Defense – 90
• Speed – 70

Requirements: Pokémon Sun and Moon/ Pokémon Sword and Shield

Difficulty: 5/5

How to Obtain Volcanion in Pokémon Sun and Moon or Sword and Shield

Volcanion is one of the hardest Pokémon to obtain, similar to that of Groudon. It is likely that those who have not obtained Volcanion in either Sun and Moon (transferring the Pokémon from Bank to HOME) or Sword and Shield will never obtain a Volcanion. Therefore, this addition on the list is only relevant to those who have managed to obtain this legendary Pokémon through the limited time events in either Sun and Moon or Sword and Shield. There are no recommendations to obtaining this Pokémon now, the only option is if Game Freak brings forward another event which allows players to obtain this Pokémon. Otherwise, Volcanion can only be traded once this Pokémon becomes part of Sword and Shield via HOME.

3. Generation 8: Regidrago

Base Stats:

• Health – 200
• Attack – 100
• Defense – 50
• Special Attack – 100
• Special Defense – 50
• Speed – 80

Requirements: Pokémon Sword and Shield

Difficulty: 4/5

How to Obtain Regidrago in Sword and Shield

There are a fair few steps to obtaining Regidrago in Sword and Shield. The primary requirement is to first obtain the Pokémon: Registeel, Regirock, Regice. These are caught in the Crown Tundra DLC. After this, players can obtain the final Regi Pokémon, Regidrago. These are all the steps to obtaining all four Pokémon:

• After being given Peony’s second Legendary Clue, head to Rock Peak Ruins in Giant’s Bed.
• At the ruin door, give an Everstone (the stone can be picked up in front of Turrfield’s Gym) to your main Pokémon in your active party and interact with the door.
• Battle and obtain Regirock.
• Next, head to Iceberg Ruins in Snowslide Slope.
• Open the ruin door by having Cryonagal as your main Pokémon in your active party. This Pokémon can be caught in the surrounding areas of the ruins.
• Battle and obtain Regice.
• Head to Iron Ruins in Giant’s Bed.
• Use your flute next to the door to open it. Head inside to find the last of the trio Regi Pokémon that you need to obtain Regidrago.
• Battle and obtain Registeel.
• Head to Split Decision Ruins in Giant’s Bed (take the path towards the Rock Peak Ruins).
• Go to Frigid Sea and into Three-Point Pass to find the Split Decision Ruins.
• You need Regirock, Regice and Registeel in your party to open the ruin doors.
• To summon Regidrago, light up the top three panels, then the left and right panel of the middle row, the middle of the third row and finally the singular panel at the bottom. This will look like a triangle on the screen.
• Fight and obtain Regidrago.

2. Generation 4: Giratina

Base Stats:

• Health – 150
• Attack – 100
• Defense – 120
• Special Attack – 100
• Special Defense – 120
• Speed – 90

Requirements: Pokémon Arceus

Difficulty: 4/5

How to Obtain Giratina in Arceus

Giratina can only be caught in the post-game of Arceus. The post-game you need to complete first is the ‘Seeking the Remaining Plates‘ questline with Volo. This will end with a trainer battle against Volo and Giratina. We recommend you verse Volo with Pokémon in your party at Level 70+. Once beaten, return to Jubilife Village and speak to Ress and Professor Laventon. This will start the quest ‘On the Trail of Giratina‘. You must go to Turnback Cave in Cobalt Coastlands where Giratina can be found at the caves entrance. We recommend using Ultra Balls when getting the Giratina to low health in battle.

1. Generation 3: Groudon

Base Stats:

• Health – 100
• Attack – 150
• Defense – 140
• Special Attack – 100
• Special Defense – 90
• Speed – 90

Requirements: Pokémon GO

Difficulty: 5/5

How to Obtain Groudon in GO

Groudon can only be picked up in Pokémon GO and it is no easy task to do so. Similar to the post-game of Scarlet and Violet with its primary focus of 5- and 6-Star Raids, GO has this feature also. In GO, players can battle 5-Star Pokémon which are legendary Pokémon with the likes of Virizion and Terrakion. Groudon is an incredibly rare legendary Pokémon to catch, with a rate of just 2%. Therefore, this ranking is best for players who have already obtained Groudon in their playthrough of GO. 5-Star Raids change monthly and as of December’s Raid, Groudon is not available to catch. Raids also take place every Wednesday, so keep an eye out each month for the possibility to pick up another Groudon in GO.

For players who have managed to catch Groudon in a 5-Star Raid in GO, this is the perfect Pokémon to transfer into Scarlet and Violet. Groudon will be a great Pokémon to use in Tera Raid Battles.

Keep in mind that HOME does not yet support Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The only means of obtaining these transfer-only Pokémon is via cheats which we do not condone. Therefore, players must remain patient in the update of Pokémon HOME. For the return of our favourite Pokémon is imminent.

We hope you enjoyed our ranking of the Best Transfer-Only Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet. Be sure to check out future content and all discussions of Gamer Journalist’s Facebook. Feel free to check out more of our articles, from Is Greninja in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet? and Will Rayquaza be in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?