The Pokémon world is buzzing this week as the highly anticipated Version 4.0.0 of Pokémon HOME has officially rolled out. This update marks a massive milestone for the 30th Anniversary year, finally bridging the gap between the historical streets of Lumiose City and the modern competitive scene.
Here is your breakdown of the major headlines following the April 2nd update.
As of yesterday, trainers can now officially deposit and withdraw Pokémon from Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
While the integration allows you to bring your hard-earned Mega Evolution-capable teams into HOME, there is a significant “Time-Travel” catch. The Pokémon Company has confirmed a One-Way Restriction:
The Rule: Any Pokémon moved into or out of Legends: Z-A is permanently bound to the “modern” era (Gen 8 and beyond).
The Consequence: You cannot transfer Pokémon from Legends: Z-A back to older titles like Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl or Legends: Arceus.
“We want to ensure the integrity of the regional data,” a representative from The Pokémon Works stated. “The DNA of Pokémon in the Z-A era is uniquely adapted to the Mega Dimension.”
Mystery Gift: Alpha Johto Starters
To celebrate the launch, a special gift has been triggered for all users. By moving at least one Pokémon from Legends: Z-A into the Switch version of HOME, you can claim a trio of Alpha-sized Johto Starters in the mobile app:
- Alpha Chikorita
- Alpha Tepig
- Alpha Totodile
These Pokémon come with their Hidden Abilities and the “Alpha” mark, making them massive additions to any collection.
The update also lays the groundwork for next week’s release of Pokémon Champions (launching April 8, 2026).
Trainers will be able to pull their teams from HOME into the Champions arena for high-stakes competitive battling.
Note: While you can bring Pokémon into Champions, any Pokémon specifically caught or recruited within the Champions software cannot be deposited back into HOME.
Beyond the big game integrations, Version 4.0.0 brought some much-needed polish:
Latin American Spanish: The mobile version now fully supports Latin American Spanish, a long-requested feature for the growing community in that region.
Mega Pokédex Completion: With Mega Evolution returning as a core mechanic in Z-A, the HOME Pokédex has been updated to better track Mega forms. Trainers who register a Mega-capable Pokémon in Z-A will see its Mega entry automatically unlocked in HOME.
With the servers now fully stable after yesterday’s maintenance, it’s a great time to organize your Hisuian and Lumiose City collections. With Pokémon Winds and Waves looming on the horizon for 2027, this update is the first step in preparing your “Living Dex” for the 10th Generation.
