Key Takeaways
- Creating a second Pokémon account for yourself on your own device is permitted under the terms of service.
- Selling, trading, or giving away accounts to other people is against Pokémon Company policy and can lead to account suspension or permanent ban.
- Using multiple accounts to gain unfair advantages in competitive play, raids, or event rewards is considered cheating and will result in enforcement action.
- Each account needs its own Nintendo Network ID (for Switch games) or Pokémon Trainer Club account, and they must be linked to separate payment methods if you're making purchases.
- Pokémon Bank and Pokémon Home have their own account rules — you cannot transfer Pokémon between your own accounts using a single Home subscription.
What the Terms of Service Actually Say
The Pokémon Company's terms of service permit you to create multiple accounts for personal use on devices you own. The restriction is on account sharing — letting someone else log into your account, or you logging into someone else's. It is also prohibited to buy, sell, or trade accounts with other people, even if both parties agree to it.
The policy exists because account sales create fraud risk (the original owner can reclaim the account), enable money laundering, and allow players to circumvent bans by purchasing "fresh" accounts. From Pokémon Company's perspective, one person = one account. If you own the device and the account is yours alone, you are within the rules.
When Multiple Accounts Trigger Enforcement
Pokémon Company actively monitors for specific behaviors that indicate rule violation, even if you own both accounts legitimately. Using multiple accounts to farm rare items, duplicate Pokémon, or reset event rewards is considered abuse. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, for example, using multiple accounts to reset Tera raid battles and collect multiple rewards from the same raid is flagged as exploitative.
Competitive play has stricter rules. If you enter the same tournament or ranked season with two accounts under different names but the same device or network, that is considered match manipulation. Pokémon Company's enforcement team can see device IDs, IP addresses, and play patterns. They have suspended players for running multiple accounts in ranked battles to artificially inflate ratings or farm rewards.
In Pokémon GO, the terms explicitly state that one account per person is the rule, and using multiple accounts is grounds for permanent ban. The game's location-based mechanics and raid system are designed around one player = one account, so the enforcement is stricter there than in mainline games.
How Pokémon Home and Bank Handle Multiple Accounts
Pokémon Home is where the account rules become confusing for people with multiple game accounts. You can link multiple game accounts to a single Pokémon Home account, but you cannot transfer Pokémon between your own game accounts using that same Home subscription. The system treats Home as a single storage vault — once a Pokémon is deposited from Account A, it belongs to that account's "box" in Home and cannot be moved to Account B's box without paying for a second Home subscription.
If you want to move Pokémon between your own game accounts, you need either a second Nintendo Switch console (to trade with yourself locally) or a second person to trade with. This is by design — Pokémon Company wants to prevent players from using multiple accounts to duplicate items or Pokémon.
Pokémon Bank (the older service for Generation V through VII games) has the same restriction. One Bank account can hold boxes from multiple game cartridges, but you cannot move Pokémon between your own cartridges through Bank alone.
The Difference Between Personal Alts and Account Violations
A personal alt — a second account you create and play yourself on your own device — is not a violation on its own. The violation happens when you use that account for a prohibited purpose: selling it, sharing it with someone else, using it to cheat in competitive play, or exploiting game mechanics to gain items or Pokémon you would not otherwise have access to.
The enforcement team distinguishes between accounts by looking at behavior patterns, not just the existence of multiple accounts. If you play your main account competitively and your alt account casually in single-player mode, that is fine. If you play both accounts in the same ranked season, that is not.
What Happens If You Violate the Rules
Enforcement starts with a warning for minor violations — using multiple accounts to farm a single event, for example. Repeated violations or serious violations (selling accounts, using bots, or systematic competitive manipulation) result in a temporary ban, usually 30 days to 6 months depending on severity.
Permanent bans are reserved for players who continue after warnings or engage in large-scale violations. A permanent ban affects the account itself, not your Nintendo Network ID or Pokémon Trainer Club account, so you could technically create a new account and start over. However, Pokémon Company can and does ban players across multiple accounts if they detect a pattern of rule-breaking.
If your account is banned, you cannot appeal the decision through Pokémon Company. Nintendo's support team will review the ban if you contact them, but they rarely overturn enforcement decisions unless there is evidence of a mistake (like a false positive from an automated system).
Regional and Platform Differences
The rules are the same across North America, Europe, and other regions where Pokémon Company International operates. However, enforcement intensity varies. Pokémon GO has the most aggressive monitoring because the game's economy and raid system depend on one account per person. Mainline games (Scarlet, Violet, Sword, Shield) have looser enforcement on casual multiple accounts but strict enforcement on competitive abuse.
Nintendo Switch Online membership is tied to your Nintendo Network ID, not your game account. If you have two game accounts on the same Switch, you only need one Switch Online subscription, and both accounts can use it. This makes running a second account on the same console relatively inexpensive — you just need a second game cartridge or digital copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have two Pokémon accounts on the same Nintendo Switch?
Yes. Create a second user profile on the Switch, link it to a different Nintendo Network ID, and start a new game. Both accounts can use the same Switch Online subscription. You cannot trade Pokémon between the two accounts using Pokémon Home unless you pay for a second Home subscription.
What if I want to sell my old Pokémon account?
Do not. Selling accounts violates the terms of service and is grounds for permanent ban. The buyer has no protection — the original owner can reclaim the account at any time by contacting Nintendo support, and Pokémon Company will not honor the sale. If you want to stop playing, you can delete the account or leave it inactive.
Is using a second account to farm raid rewards cheating?
Yes, in games where raids are limited per account per day. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, using multiple accounts to reset and re-enter the same raid is considered exploitative and can result in enforcement action. In Pokémon GO, it is explicitly prohibited.
Can I get banned for having two accounts if I play them both casually?
No, as long as you are not using them to exploit game mechanics or gain unfair advantages. Playing a second account in single-player mode or casual multiplayer is fine. The ban risk comes from specific behaviors — competitive manipulation, item duplication, event farming — not from the existence of a second account.
What is the difference between a ban and a suspension?
A suspension is temporary, usually 30 days to 6 months. A ban is permanent. Both prevent you from accessing the account online. After a suspension ends, your account is restored with all your Pokémon and items intact. A banned account cannot be recovered.