Yes. Pokémon HOME version 4.1.0 added support for Pokémon caught in a GO Safari Ball, so you can now send them from Pokémon GO to HOME. The official HOME update notice says the ball changes into a Strange Ball when the Pokémon arrives. Older guides still say the opposite, so this article explains what changed, how the transfer works, and which questions, such as breeding legality, no source answers yet.
⚡ Quick Intel: Safari Ball Transfer
- Status: Supported since HOME 4.1.0
- Ball after transfer: Strange Ball
- Update date: Oct 6–7, 2026, sources differ
- Restrictions: None listed in the notice
- Breeding legality: Not confirmed
Can You Transfer Safari Ball Pokémon to Pokémon HOME?
You can. The official Pokémon HOME update notice for version 4.1.0 says the app “added compatibility with Pokémon caught in a GO Safari Ball in Pokémon GO.” It adds that when these Pokémon move to HOME, “the GO Safari Ball will change into a Strange Ball.” Nintendo Life, Pokebip and Pokemonblog report the same change.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Update | Pokémon HOME 4.1.0 |
| Change | GO Safari Ball Pokémon can transfer |
| Ball in HOME | Strange Ball |
| Restrictions listed | None in the official notice |
| Platforms | Mobile and Nintendo Switch |
However, some well-known pages have not caught up. Serebii’s GO-to-HOME page still says Pokémon caught in GO Safari Balls cannot transfer, and the Bulbapedia GO Safari Ball page says the same, with a note that the restriction will lift later. Both describe the situation before the update. Because the official notice is newer, I treat it as the correct answer.
When Did HOME 4.1.0 Release?
Sources disagree on the day. Pokemonblog says the update released on October 6, 2026 on Switch and mobile. Pokebip, a French site, says version 4.1.0 arrives the night of October 7, with maintenance running from 2:00 to 8:00 and a possible extension. The official notice gives no date, but it says the mobile version is already at 4.1.0 and the Switch version can update now.
Therefore, the safest statement is that the update arrived in early October 2026 and is live today. If your transfer option does not appear, update the app first.
How to Transfer Safari Ball Pokémon
No source I read lists a Safari-specific procedure. Serebii describes the general GO-to-HOME flow, and the Safari Ball Pokémon should follow the same one. The steps below combine that general flow with the confirmed ball change.
- Update Pokémon HOME. You need version 4.1.0 or later on your phone.
- Connect Pokémon GO to HOME. Use the same Pokémon HOME account on both sides.
- Open the GO Transporter. In Pokémon GO, choose the Pokémon you want to send.
- Pick your Safari Ball Pokémon. Look for the ones you caught with a GO Safari Ball.
- Pay the energy cost. The Transporter uses energy for each Pokémon.
- Accept them in Pokémon HOME. Open the app and confirm the arrival.
The official notice does not describe these steps itself. Its list of changes mentions new Help menu entries in the mobile app, so check those if something looks different.
GO Transporter Energy Costs
Serebii lists the energy system for all transfers, and no source gives a separate Safari Ball price. These numbers come from Serebii’s page and may differ from the current game.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum energy | 10,000 |
| Regeneration | 60 per hour |
| Standard Pokémon | 10 base energy |
| Legendary and Ultra Beast | 1,000 |
| Mythical | 2,000 |
| Buy energy | 1 Coin per 10 energy |
Shiny status and high CP add more energy, according to the same page. As a result, plan your transfers, because a full refill from zero takes nearly seven days and costs 1,000 Coins to buy.
What Is a Strange Ball?
The Strange Ball is the ball HOME shows for Pokémon that came from the GO Safari Ball. The official notice describes it only as the new ball for those transferred Pokémon. It does not explain where else the Strange Ball appears, and my attempt to open the Bulbapedia Strange Ball page failed. Because of that, I cannot describe the ball’s history or its other uses.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Old ball in GO | GO Safari Ball |
| New ball in HOME | Strange Ball |
| Details beyond this | Not given in the notice |
| Other uses | Not confirmed |
Are Safari Ball Pokémon Legal for Breeding in HOME?
Not confirmed. Your keywords ask whether these Pokémon are legal in breeding, and no source I found answers it. The official notice lists no restrictions, and Pokebip says only that the normal rule applies: a Pokémon can move to a game only if it can appear in that game. That rule is about transfer, not breeding or ball inheritance.
I will not guess about breeding, offspring balls or competitive legality. If you plan to breed, keep these Pokémon in HOME until a trusted source, such as the official Help entries or a community database, documents the result.
Where Safari Balls Come From in Pokémon GO
Bulbapedia says the GO Safari Ball is an event-exclusive ball that appears during GO Wild Area events. You can get them from Photo Discs at PokéStops and Gyms. Ticket holders also get them from hourly Timed Research and, in the 2025 event, from Supply Balloons. Unused balls disappear at the end of each event day.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Availability | GO Wild Area events only |
| Sources | Photo Discs, Timed Research, Supply Balloons in 2025 |
| Expiry | Unused balls vanish at day’s end |
| Blocked targets | Scatterbug, Shadow Pokémon, Legendary and Mythical research |
Bulbapedia dates this information to the 2025 event, so check the current event page before you plan your catches.
Other Changes in HOME 4.1.0
The same update adds Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen support on Switch. That link runs one way, and transferred Pokémon cannot return to those games. Paid Premium Plan members can also store 9,000 Pokémon, up from 6,000, and the price does not change. Players who finish the Pokédex in FireRed or LeafGreen get a Celebi in the mobile app.
For another Pokémon-adjacent mobile guide, see our Steal an Egg Alien biome article.
Tips Before You Transfer
These tips are my advice, based on the confirmed details.
- Update first. The feature needs HOME 4.1.0 or later.
- Check your energy. Costs rise for shiny, strong and rare Pokémon.
- Transfer a test Pokémon. Send one common Safari Ball catch and confirm the Strange Ball.
- Hold your breeders. Legality stays unknown, so wait for documentation.
- Do not trust old guides. Pages from before the update say the transfer fails.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Believing the old restriction. HOME 4.1.0 lifted it.
- Expecting a GO Safari Ball in HOME. The ball turns into a Strange Ball.
- Assuming breeding is safe. No source confirms it.
- Skipping the app update. Older versions lack the feature.
- Wasting energy on bulk sends. Plan around the cost table.
Last verified: November 4, 2026, against the official Pokémon HOME notice for version 4.1.0, Nintendo Life, Pokebip, Pokemonblog, Serebii and Bulbapedia. Breeding legality and any hidden restrictions remain unconfirmed.
FAQs
Can you transfer Safari Ball Pokémon to Pokémon HOME?
Yes. HOME 4.1.0 added compatibility with Pokémon caught in a GO Safari Ball.
What ball do they have in HOME?
A Strange Ball. The official notice says the GO Safari Ball changes into it.
When did the Safari Ball transfer start?
With HOME 4.1.0 in early October 2026. Sources give October 6 and October 7.
Are there restrictions on Safari Ball transfers?
The official notice lists none. The usual transfer rules still apply.
Can transferred Safari Ball Pokémon enter breeding?
No source I found covers breeding or ball inheritance.
Why do some sites say the transfer is impossible?
Those pages, including Serebii and Bulbapedia, describe the situation before the update.
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