Overview
As you progress through Pokemon Pokopia and unlock multiple areas, you may want to move Pokemon from one area to another. This is useful for spreading out specialties, triggering unique Pokemon interactions, and managing population levels. Moving a Pokemon requires preparing a suitable home in the destination area, having the Pokemon follow you there, and then asking it to relocate.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Prepare a Suitable Habitat
Before you can move a Pokemon, you must build a suitable house or habitat for it in the destination area. Check the Pokedex to see the Pokemon's preferred habitat type and comfort requirements. The new home needs to meet these preferences, or the Pokemon may refuse to move in.
Step 2: Ask the Pokemon to Follow You
Go to the Pokemon you want to relocate and ask it to follow you. You can do this by talking to it and selecting "Follow me!", or by pressing the Up button on the D-Pad while standing in front of it. Once following, walk or fast travel to the destination area with the Pokemon in tow.
Step 3: Request the Move
Bring the Pokemon close to their new habitat or house in the destination area. Talk to them again and ask if they want to move. If the habitat is suitable and the Pokemon is willing, they will agree and begin living in the new area.
Relocation Steps Summary
Step | Action | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
1 | Build habitat in destination area | Check Pokedex for the Pokemon's preferences |
2 | Ask Pokemon to follow you | Talk or press Up on D-Pad |
3 | Travel to the new area | Walk or fast travel with follower |
4 | Speak to Pokemon near new habitat | Ask if they want to move in |
When Pokemon Refuse to Move
Not every Pokemon will agree to relocate. There are two main reasons for refusal:
Reason | Details |
|---|---|
Unfinished business | Some Pokemon will refuse to leave their current area because they still have unfinished business there. The game will state this in the dialogue. You may need to complete certain requests or unlock specific milestones before these Pokemon are free to leave. |
Unsuitable habitat | If the new habitat or house does not meet the Pokemon's preferences or comfort requirements, it will decline the move. Upgrade the habitat with better furniture and decorations, or build the correct habitat type before trying again. |
Strategic Benefits of Relocation
Specialty Distribution
Each Pokemon has a specialty that provides useful abilities. Spreading different specialties across your areas prevents redundancy and ensures you have access to the abilities you need everywhere. For example, having at least one Fly-specialty Pokemon in every area gives you fast travel coverage across the entire map.
Unique Pokemon Interactions
Some Pokemon have unique interactions or conversations with certain other species. Moving specific Pokemon into the same area can unlock these dialogues and events, which may reveal additional lore or reward items.
Population Management
Each area appears to load only about 20 to 30 Pokemon at a time. When the population of an area exceeds this number, some Pokemon will become invisible and difficult to find. Keeping each area's population balanced and relatively low helps avoid the missing Pokemon problem and makes it easier to interact with all of your residents.
Tips
Before moving a Pokemon, make sure you will not lose a specialty you rely on in the origin area. Check that another Pokemon with the same specialty remains behind.
If a Pokemon refuses to move due to unfinished business, check your request log for incomplete tasks involving that Pokemon.
You can move Pokemon back to their original area if the relocation does not work out. The process is the same in both directions.
Aim for roughly even population counts across your areas to minimize the chance of Pokemon disappearing due to the loading limit.