DeSmuME is a super popular emulator that has been around for quite some time, and it has been tested and proven to be very effective in running DS Pokemon games on the PC.
Pair it with a tool like PKHeX, and you have a powerful setup for editing save files and experimenting with your team’s lineup.
However, many players struggle to get PKHeX working properly with DeSmuME because of save formats, file locations, and save state confusion.
In this guide, I’ll explain how to correctly use PKHeX with DeSmuME, from finding the right save file to safely exporting edited saves back into the emulator.
Everything is written step by step, so even if you’re a first-time user, you can follow along without breaking your game.
More DeSmuME guides:
Using PKHeX With DeSmuME: What You’ll Need
Before you can do anything with PKHeX and DeSmuME, there are a few things you’ll have to prepare.
- DeSmuME emulator installed.
- PKHeX installed.
- A Pokemon DS game.
- A save file for that game.
PKHeX only works with real save files, not save states. If you have never saved in-game, PKHeX will not work. This alone makes players struggle to even get started with PKHex.
How DeSmuME Saves Work
DeSmuME uses two different save systems:
1. Battery save (.dsv)
This is the default game save format for DeSmuME.
2. Alternative Format (.sav)
You can also export or import .sav files. They are compatible with both DeSmuME and PKHeX.
3. Save states (.ds#)
These are emulator snapshots. PKHeX cannot edit these.
Many players get confused and end up editing the wrong file. Once you understand this, you can proceed.
How to Use PKHeX With DeSmuME
Step 1: Locate Your In-game Save
To get started, you need a save file to work with. So, open up your favorite Pokemon game and make sure you have performed the in-game save at least once. Not the save state feature, but the actual in-game save.
Press the X button of your emulator and go to Save. Now that you have a save file, close the emulator and locate the .sav or .dsv file on your PC.
- Default location: DeSmuME folder/Battery
- Alternative: Same folder as your ROM file
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/DeSmuME/
If your save is not appearing, check Config, then Path Settings in DeSmuME to confirm the Battery folder location.
Here are some important things to keep in mind when finding save files:
- The save file must have the exact same filename as the ROM.
- Save states use different file types such as .dsx or .dst and cannot be edited.
Create a duplicate of your save file by copying and pasting it to another folder. Never edit your original .dsv.
Step 2: Convert Your .dsv File
The default save file format DeSmuME uses is .dsv. However, PKHex can’t edit this file format directly, so we need to convert it to .sav.
There are two ways to do this.
- Renaming: This method is the quickest, and I use it all the time. All you need to do is locate the .dsv file, right-click on it, and choose Rename. Change the .dsv to .sav, click Yes on the pop-up warning, and it should be converted automatically.
- Using DeSmuME: Open DeSmuME. Load your Pokemon game. Go to File and select Export Backup Memory. Save the file as .sav.
The .sav file can now be loaded up to PKHeX.
Step 3: Open the Save File in PKHeX
Now, open PKHeX. Click on File, then select Open, and look for the save (.sav) file you just created. Alternatively, you can go to the save file’s folder and drag it into PKHex to edit it.
If successful, PKHeX will automatically detect the game version and load your party, boxes, trainer info, and items.
How to Edit DeSmuME Save Files With PKHeX
Now that you’ve successfully opened your save file in PKHeX, what can you actually do?
On the right side of PKHeX, you will see your Party and Box tabs. These show the Pokemon you currently have with you and the ones stored in your PC.
Clicking any Pokemon here will load its full data on the left side of the screen.
From here, you can safely edit the following:
- IVs and EVs within legal limits.
- Nature and Ability.
- Moves that the Pokemon can actually learn.
- Held items.
- Nicknames.
These edits are safe for single-player use most of the time, especially if you are just testing teams or fixing something you already earned in-game.
These, on the other hand, can affect your game save’s legality.
- Met location and met level.
- Event flags tied to story progression.
- Impossible/illegal movesets.
- Forcing shiny status.
Always look at the legality indicator in PKHeX. If you see a red warning icon, something is wrong. Do not ignore it.
Editing Items and Trainer Data
If you want to modify items, click the SAV tab and go to Items. This allows you to add things like Rare Candies, Poke Balls, or even HMs and TMs.
Editing items is usually safer than editing Pokemon, but you should still avoid the following:
- Key items tied to story progression
- Event-only items that you never unlocked
You can also edit basic trainer data such as name, money, and playtime. Changing the Trainer ID or Secret ID is possible, but it affects Pokemon ownership and shiny mechanics, so beginners should avoid touching that stuff.
Saving and Using Your Edited Save File in DeSmuME
Once you are done editing, you need to export the edited save file so you can use it on DeSmuME. Click File, then select Export Save, and save the file as .sav.
Next, open DeSmuME, go to File, then select Import Backup Memory, and choose the edited .sav file. This converts it back into DeSmuME’s .dsv format.
Restart DeSmuME, load the game as usual, and choose Continue. DO NOT load a save state. Check for your edits, enter a battle, and save in-game once to confirm everything works correctly.
Conclusion
Now you know how to use PKHeX with DeSmuME. The process may seem daunting at first, but once you understand the difference between save states and real in-game saves, you can finally get it to work.
Make sure you are always working with the correct file format, backing up your saves, and making edits carefully instead of changing everything at once.
If you respect how the game systems work and avoid touching story-critical data, PKHeX and DeSmuME work extremely well together for single-player Pokemon experiences.
For more helpful guides like this one, check out our articles at Pokecoders. We are a team of passionate Trainers who share your love for Pokemon.
