Games, New

Three Pokémon hobbies that keep separate collections

In review Under fact check; out of search until accepted.

The main-series games, the paper card game and the phone and console apps each keep their own collection and their own currency, and none of them pays out in another. HOME is the one bridge, and it moves Pokémon between games and from Pokémon GO; nothing moves between paper cards and any digital product. Most mistakes come from assuming that buying, catching or opening something in one hobby shows up in another.

For newcomers and parents sorting out the games, the paper card game and the apps. Drafted 8 Nov 2026.

draft Confidence: check

Bridge between gamesHOME (games and Pokémon GO)

Paper to digitalNo transfer

Pocket to TCG LiveNo transfer

CurrenciesEach stays inside its own product

Cash outNone of the digital currencies

Each Pokémon hobby keeps its own collection

In the main-series games, a collection is the Pokémon stored in a save file, plus anything moved into HOME, Nintendo's storage service for Pokémon. In the paper card game, a collection is the physical cards in a binder or box, and it belongs to whoever holds them. In TCG Pocket and TCG Live, the two digital card games, a collection is a list of cards tied to an account. In Pokémon GO, it is the Pokémon stored on a GO account. In Pokémon Unite, it is the Pokémon licences and outfits on a Unite account. The same character can appear in all five. Owning it in one says nothing about the others.

Each currency stays inside the product that sold it

The main games use money earned in play and sell no in-game currency; their paid expansions are bought from the Nintendo eShop, and Scarlet and Violet also sell theirs from the game's own menu. Pokémon GO sells PokéCoins for items and storage. TCG Pocket sells a premium currency for extra packs and cosmetic items, alongside earned items such as pack hourglasses. Pokémon Unite sold Aeos gems until 27 October 2026 and ends service on 23 March 2027. TCG Live uses two earned currencies, Trade Credits and Trainer Points. None of these converts into another product's currency, none is redeemable for cash, and none buys paper cards. A balance in one app is spent there or not at all. Set purchase limits per app, since each account bills separately.

HOME links the games and Pokémon GO, never the card games

HOME, per Nintendo's support page read on 8 November 2026, connects Scarlet and Violet, Legends: Z-A, Legends: Arceus, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Sword and Shield, Let's Go, Champions and the Switch release of FireRed and LeafGreen, plus Pokémon GO and Pokémon Bank, which can no longer be downloaded and closes on 25 February 2027. Most Switch games move Pokémon in and out. Some routes run one way: Pokémon GO, Bank and the Switch FireRed and LeafGreen send in without a way back, and a Pokémon moved into Legends: Z-A cannot return to an earlier game. Champions takes qualifying Pokémon as visitors and returns them. Every destination also has to support the species. The HOME transfer checklist covers the details.

Paper and digital cards share artwork and nothing else

A physical card cannot be scanned or moved into Pocket, TCG Live or any game, and nothing opened in an app can be printed or redeemed as a paper card. Every booster pack includes one code card, per Pokémon Support, a separate slip that unlocks digital items in TCG Live; it gives Live content, leaves the paper cards where they are and never works in Pocket. Pocket and TCG Live also stay apart from each other: separate apps, separate rules and separate collections, even where a card looks the same. The existing guides on paper, Live and Pocket and on the three card games go through the rules of each in more detail.

Five assumptions newcomers make that turn out wrong

First, that buying a Switch game brings cards with it: the game and the card game are sold and played separately. Second, that Pocket cards have a cash value: Pocket allows trades only between friends inside the app, one card for one of the same rarity, and the Pokémon terms of use give virtual items no cash value. Third, that one login covers everything: a Nintendo Account, a Pokémon Trainer Central account, a GO account and app logins can all be separate. Fourth, that a Pokémon from GO can go into any game: it goes to HOME, one way, and then only into a game that supports its species. Fifth, that a strong paper card is strong in Pocket: the two card games use different rules.

Where each Pokémon hobby keeps its collection and what moves
Hobby	Collection lives in	Currency	Moves to	Moves from
Main-series games	Save file and HOME	Earned in play; expansions bought separately	HOME and other supported games	HOME, GO via HOME, Bank via HOME
Paper card game	Binder or box	None; cards bought as products	Nothing digital	Nothing digital
TCG Live	Live account	Trade Credits and Trainer Points, earned in play	Nothing	Code cards, one in each booster pack
TCG Pocket	Pocket account	Premium currency and earned items	Nothing	Nothing
Pokémon GO	GO account	PokéCoins	HOME and Let's Go, one way	Nothing
Pokémon Unite	Unite account	Aeos gems; sales ended 27 October 2026	Nothing	Nothing

5 checks before you act

Name which of the hobbies a purchase or gift belongs to
Keep one account list per person: Nintendo, Pokémon Trainer Central, GO and each app
Use HOME for game-to-game moves only, and check the direction first
Treat code cards as TCG Live items, separate from the paper cards
Set purchase limits in each app separately

Sources read for this page

ReadNintendo support: Pokémon HOME FAQread 8 Nov 2026
ReadOfficial news: connecting HOME with Legends: Z-A and Championsread 7 Nov 2026
ReadOfficial Pokémon HOME siteread 8 Nov 2026
ReadOfficial TCG Pocket siteread 7 Nov 2026
ReadOfficial TCG Live siteread 7 Nov 2026
ReadOfficial Pokémon GO newsread 7 Nov 2026
ReadOfficial card game product galleryread 7 Nov 2026
ReadWriter's game knowledgeundated
ReadPokémon Support: What are the in-game currencies used in Pokémon TCG Live?read 8 Nov 2026
ReadPokémon UNITE End of Serviceread 8 Nov 2026
ReadPokémon Scarlet and Violet official site: how to purchaseread 8 Nov 2026
ReadPokémon HOME: Move Pokémon to Pokémon HOMEread 8 Nov 2026
ReadNintendo Support: Pokémon Bank End of Serviceread 8 Nov 2026
ReadPokémon Support: What can I expect in a Pokémon Trading Card Game booster pack?read 8 Nov 2026
ReadPokémon Support: Code Card Redemption FAQread 8 Nov 2026
ReadPokémon Support: Pokémon TCG Pocket Trading FAQread 8 Nov 2026
ReadPokémon: Terms of Useread 8 Nov 2026