Infrared

The infrared communication (Japanese: 赤外線通信 infrared communication) feature allows communication between the Pokémon games and certain accessories. It was first used in the Generation I spin-off game Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Infrared interaction between a Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS and a Game Boy Color

Core series games

Generation II

In Generation II, the infrared port at the top of the Game Boy Color allows players to obtain Mystery Gifts via Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS or other Game Boy Colors.

Generation IV

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, an infrared sensor on the game card is used to communicate with the Pokéwalker.

Generation V

In Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, the C-Gear has an infrared communication feature and the Multi Battle Lines in the Battle Subway can use infrared for communication; this is used to quickly identify which player will be communicated with, after which DS Wireless Communications are used.

Official tournaments sometimes use infrared for the duration of the battle. Event Pokémon that are distributed using infrared can be obtained multiple times.

Generation VI and VII

In the Generation VI and VII games, the infrared port on the top of the Nintendo 3DS is used to quickly identify which player will be communicated with, after which 3DS Wireless Communications are used.

Like in Generation V, official tournaments sometimes use infrared for the duration of the battle. Some event distributions are conducted via infrared communications; this is most common in South Korea.

Spin-off games

Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR!

In Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, players can send and receive cards and deck configurations or perform a Card Pop! between two copies of the same game via infrared, using the Infra-Red Communications Port of two Game Boy Color systems.

Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR! cannot communicate with each other. Attempting to perform a Card Pop! between the two can result in glitches such as a game freeze or a loss of save data in Pokémon Trading Card Game.

All multiplayer features are disabled in the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console release of Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Pokémon Pinball

Pokémon Pinball allows for players to send and receive high score data through infrared communication. The top five high scores for each table between two players will be recorded.

Pokémon mini

The video game handheld Pokémon mini has an infrared port that allows some games to participate in multiplayer games with up to 10 players (number of players varies per game).

Pokémon Party mini, Pokémon Zany Cards, Pokémon Tetris, Pokémon Race mini, and Pichu Bros. mini all utilize this feature.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 紅外線通訊 Hùhngngoihsin tūngseun
Mandarin 紅外線通訊 Hóngwàixiàn tōngxùn *
红外线连接 Hóngwàixiàn liánjiē *
  French Connexion infrarouge
  German Infrarotverbindung
  Italian Collegamento a infrarossi
  Korean 적외선 통신 Jeogoeseon tongsin
  Spanish Comunicación por infrarrojos

External links


Communications media
Gen I Game Link CableTransfer Pak3DS Wireless (VC)
Gen II  Game Link CableInfraredTransfer Pak
Mobile Game Boy Adapter3DS Wireless (VC)
Gen III Game Link CableWireless AdapterDual-slot mode
Gen IV DS WirelessWi-FiDual-slot modeInfrared
Gen V DS WirelessWi-FiInfrared
Gen VI 3DS WirelessNintendo NetworkInfraredStreetPassSpotPass
Gen VII 3DS Wireless/Switch WirelessNintendo Network
InfraredNintendo Switch OnlineBluetooth
Gen VIII Switch WirelessNintendo Switch Online
Gen IX Switch WirelessNintendo Switch Online


  This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.