Dual-slot mode
Dual-slot mode (Japanese: ダブルスロット Double-Slot) is a method of communication between a Nintendo DS game card and a Game Boy Advance game cartridge by inserting both into the same Nintendo DS system. However, due to the removal of the GBA slot, dual-slot mode is not available if the player is using a system from the Nintendo DSi family or Nintendo 3DS family.
In the core series games
Pal Park
- Main article: Pal Park
In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, Pal Park allows the player to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen, using dual-slot mode for communication.
The Pokémon are sent from the Generation III game to the Generation IV game, and cannot be sent back.
Dongle method
In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, the dongle method changes the wild Pokémon that appear based on the game in the Game Boy Advance slot, via dual-slot mode. This method is compatible with any of the Generation III core series games: Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen.
The name "dongle method" is an unofficial name that comes from the fact that this method uses the Game Boy Advance game as a dongle for the Nintendo DS game.
The wild Pokémon that can appear this way are mostly not in the Sinnoh Pokédex in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. They are usually game-exclusive Pokémon to one of the Generation III games.
If the player has the ability to use Pal Park, the dongle method allows specific wild Pokémon to appear depending on the GBA game with an 8% chance (4% each if there are two different Pokémon that can appear this way due to the same game). If the player cannot use Pal Park, the dongle method has no effect.
In order for these changes to wild encounters to take effect, the GBA game must already be in the GBA slot when the player opens the title screen. Wild encounters will not change if a GBA game is inserted or removed from the Nintendo DS system after this time.
Unlike Pal Park, the language of the GBA game will not prevent it from affecting wild encounters. For example, a Japanese Pokémon FireRed can allow wild Elekid to appear in the Valley Windworks in an English Pokémon Diamond, while an English Pokémon Emerald can allow wild Teddiursa to appear on Route 211 in a Japanese Pokémon Platinum.
Pokémon Dream Radar has a similar feature that allows players to catch a Generation IV game mascot with its Hidden Ability in extensions unlocked by putting the Game Card of the corresponding game into the game card slot of the Nintendo 3DS system.
List of Pokémon available using the dongle method
Event distributions
In the Generation IV core series games, some event distributions were done using a Slot 2 cartridge, which was inserted into the GBA slot to send data to the DS game card.
In Pokémon Dash
In Pokémon Dash, players can make custom cups based on the inserted GBA game's Pokémon team, using Pokémon Emerald sprites. Shininess will not carry over in these courses. Spinda patterns are retained.
The Japanese, European, and American versions of the game have no region checks, and let the player use any main series gen 3 cart of their choice. The Korean version will only allow Japanese carts to be used.
In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. |
In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team, dual-slot mode allows the game to communicate with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team.
See also
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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. |