Time Capsule
- This article is about the trading method in Generation II. For the Pokémon fought in a Pokéstar Studios movie, see Time Machine.
The Time Capsule (Japanese: タイムカプセル Time Capsule) is a part of Pokémon Centers in the main series Generation II games where players can trade with their main series Generation I games. It's also the only facility so far that allows direct inter-generational trades.
The Time Capsule is located on the second floor of each Pokémon Center. However, it's not readily accessible when players start their adventures; it is under repair, and thus unavailable until the player has met Bill in Ecruteak City. Even then, the player has to wait for another 24 real-life hours before being able to use the Time Capsule.
After this point, it is possible to trade with the main series Generation I games; however, there are still some requirements:
- The player cannot have any Generation II Pokémon or Eggs in their party.
- None of the Generation I Pokémon that are in the party can know any moves introduced in Generation II.
When linked up to a Generation I game, the trade will happen as it did in Generation I, and the Generation II game will act as if it is a Generation I game.
Due to the restriction on later-generation moves when trading back to Generation I, the Move Deleter was also introduced in Generation II so that Generation I Pokémon that had learned newer moves could be traded back. The Move Deleter carried on into Generations III, IV, and V, even though trades with previous generations were not supported. However, it still had use for forgetting HM moves.
The Time Capsule's limitation that prevents Generation II Pokémon from entering can be bypassed with the Johto guard glitch, though Generation II Pokémon brought in this way must still only know Generation I moves. When traded to a Generation I game, they will become glitch Pokémon. The four Pokémon that evolve by trade in Generation I - Haunter, Kadabra, Machoke, and Graveler, if traded from a Generation I game to a Generation II game at the correct level, will learn a Generation II move after evolving, thus enabling them to be traded back to Generation I immediately and allowing access to glitch moves in the Generation I game.
The Generation IV counterpart to the Time Capsule, which allows Pokémon from Generation III to be transferred ahead, is Pal Park; however, these are not trades, but instead, permanent transfers from Generation III to IV. Also, Generation V introduces the Poké Transfer, which does the same thing, except this time it transfers Generation IV Pokémon to Generation V.
In the TCG
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring the Time Capsule in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Time Capsule Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats. | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
Time Capsule | T | Neo Genesis | 090/111 | Gold, Silver, to a New World... | —/096 | ||
Trivia
- In Generation II, when the player goes to battle Red on Mt. Silver, his dialogue may be slightly modified depending on whether or not the Time Capsule has been used. If it has not, there will be only one ellipsis. However, if it has been used, four will be present.
Names
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |