How to Use PowerSaves 3DS Pokémon: A Step-by-Step Guide

As a Pokémon fan, you might be aware of the importance of backing up your save files to prevent data loss or corruption. PowerSaves 3DS is a popular tool that allows you to do just that. However, navigating its features and settings can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of using PowerSaves 3DS Pokémon to backup and restore your save files.

Step 1: Create a Key

To start, you need to create a key that will allow you to correctly XOR into a decrypted save file. This might seem complicated, but it's actually quite simple. To do this, you'll need to remove the 0x9C header from the save file and then open it in PKHeX (a popular Pokémon save editor).

Step 2: Open the Save File

Once you've removed the 0x9C header, you can open the save file in PKHeX. This will allow you to view and edit your save data. To do this, simply load the saved file into PKHeX and you'll be able to access all of your Pokémon, items, and other game data.

Step 3: XOR Save1keystream.bin

Now that you've opened the save file in PKHeX, it's time to use PowerSaves 3DS Pokémon to backup your save. To do this, you'll need to XOR the save1keystream.bin file with the powersaves backup of whatever save you want to check out (make sure to rename the backup bin file for easy reference).

Step 4: Delete First 0x9C Bytes

Once you've XORed the files together, use a hex editor (such as HxD) to delete the first 0x9C bytes. This will allow you to access your save data in PowerSaves 3DS Pokémon.

Step 5: Convert BIN to Game-Readable Format

Unfortunately, the BIN file generated by PowerSaves 3DS Pokémon is not readable by the game itself. To fix this, you'll need to convert the BIN file into a format that can be read by the game. This might require using additional software or tools.

Common Issues and Solutions

As with any complex process, there are potential issues that may arise when using PowerSaves 3DS Pokémon. One common issue is that the tool recognizes different games based on their file name and Game ID, which can cause problems if you have multiple saves for the same game.

For example, I encountered an issue where PowerSaves recognized my Pokemon X & Y save as two separate titles due to a print production run error. This caused me to lose access to my cartridge and forced me to purchase a replacement.

Using PowerSaves 3DS Pokémon can seem daunting at first, but with these simple steps, you'll be able to backup and restore your save files with ease. Remember to create a key, open the save file in PKHeX, XOR the files together, delete the first 0x9C bytes, and convert the BIN file into a game-readable format.

By following these steps, you'll be able to keep your Pokémon safe and secure, ensuring that your saves are protected from data loss or corruption. Happy gaming!

How to use powersaves 3ds pokemon