Nintendo Switch emulators like Yuzu and Ryujinx have made it possible to play modern Pokemon games such as Pokemon Sword, Pokemon Shield, and Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet on PC.
Since these newer emulators don’t support traditional save states and save slots, there’s less room for error and fewer chances for redos. But with a tool like PKHeX, you can modify your save file to get any item or Pokemon you want.
However, using PKHeX with Switch emulators is a bit more confusing than with older systems. Save file locations and formats are different, and many players end up scrambling for the save file or overwriting progress by accident.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to correctly use PKHeX with Switch emulators step by step, so even first-time users can follow along safely.
Keep reading:
- How to Use PKHex for Nuzlocke Challenge
- 5 Affordable Pokemon Gifts for Nintendo Switch Players
- Your Ultimate Guide on How to Breed Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet
Using PKHeX on Switch Emulators
Let’s start with the basics and go over the programs and stuff you’ll be needing to get started with PKHeX and Switch emulators.
What You’ll Need:
- A Switch emulator (Yuzu or Ryujinx).
- PKHeX installed on your PC.
- A Pokemon Switch game.
- An in-game save file.
Step 1: Create an In-Game Save
Launch your Pokemon game in your Switch emulator and save normally through the game menu.
Do this at least once. I suggest you only do this after you have obtained your starter Pokemon. For our example, we’ll be using Pokemon Violet.
After saving, close the game completely. You do not need to close the emulator yet, but the game must not be running while you edit the save.
If you are already in the middle of your adventure and have saved multiple times, then you should skip this step and proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Locate Your Save File
The easiest way to find your save file on Switch emulators is to open up the emulator, right-click on the game title, and look for something like “Open User Save Directory.”
Yuzu
1. Open Yuzu.
2. Right-click your Pokemon game.
3. Select Open Save Data Location.
This opens the exact folder PKHeX needs.
Ryujinx
1. Open Ryujinx.
2. Right-click the game.
3. Select Open User Save Directory.
Inside these folders, you will see files and subfolders. You usually do not need to rename anything. The save file will usually be in the file format.
Important Reminders:
- Do not rename files inside the save folder.
- Do not move files out of the folder.
- Copy and paste the save file into a different safe folder.
Step 3: Open the Save in PKHeX
There are multiple ways you can go about this, but we’ll go with the quickest method.
This is 100% safe as long as you have duplicated your original save file into another folder on your computer.
Drag the original save file into PKHeX to open it. Alternatively, you can open PKHeX and click on File, then look for the Switch save file you want to edit. This will load up the save in PKHeX’s interface.
If you’ve done everything correctly so far:
- PKHeX will detect the game version.
- Your party and boxes will appear.
- Trainer and item data will be loaded.
You can now edit your Switch game save file using PKHeX.
How to Edit Switch Emulator Saves With PKHeX
Once the save loads, editing works similarly to other generations.
Editing Pokemon
On the right side, the Party tab shows your active team, and the Box tab shows stored Pokemon. Right-click a Pokemon, then select View to load its data on the left side.
You can do these modifications without worrying about breaking anything:
- Set IVs and EVs within legal limits.
- Change Nature and Ability.
- Add moves the Pokemon can actually learn.
- Change or give held items.
- Change nicknames.
Avoid these edits unless you know exactly what you’re doing:
- Met location and encounter details.
- Event flags.
- Illegal movesets.
- Forcing shiny status.
Always watch the legality indicator. A red warning means something is wrong and invalid, so you should change it.
Editing Items and Trainer Data
The SAV tab contains your Trainer’s info, items, and other important stuff about your save file.
To edit items:
1. Click the SAV tab.
2. Open Items.
3. Look for items you want, such as Rare Candies and Poke Balls.
4. Change the amount to the quantity you want for that item.
5. Hit Save.
Avoid adding:
- Story key items
- Event-only items you never unlocked
Trainer edits like money and playtime are generally safe. Changing the Trainer ID or Secret ID can break ownership data, so beginners should avoid those.
Saving and Using the Edited Save From PKHeX to Your Switch Emulator
When you are done with your edits, it’s time to export your new and modified save file to use it in your Switch emulator.
- Click File, then Export Save.
- Save directly into the original save folder.
- Overwrite the files when prompted (as long as you have a backup of the unedited save file in another folder).
- Return to your emulator and launch the game normally. It should recognize your new save file, and you can just hit Continue to load it into your game.
Once the modified save from PKHeX is loaded:
- Check for your edits.
- Enter a battle.
- Save in-game again to confirm stability.
If anything looks wrong, close the game and restore your backup by deleting the modified save and copying your backup of the original save into that folder.
Conclusion
And that’s how to use PKHeX on Switch emulators. It’s pretty straightforward, and the process is actually more seamless than older generation games and emulators, as long as you understand it.
You don’t even need to convert the save files into another format. Modern Switch emulators also take you straight to the game save folder directly from their interface.
As long as you respect the save structure and make careful edits, PKHeX works extremely well with Switch emulators for Pokemon games.
The most important thing to remember is to always back up your original save files. This will give you a failsafe in case some hiccups do happen in the process.
