Pokémon GO Field · Free forever
How Pokémon GO, Pokémon HOME, and the Mystery Box unlock Meltan
Most players hear “get Meltan from HOME” and stop there. This page is the family plain-English loop: GO → HOME → Mystery Box → Meltan → Melmetal. Free forever — same rule as the Competitive Guide.
Pokémon GO
Catch and raise Pokémon you are willing to send away.
Pokémon HOME
Transfer from GO into HOME (linked accounts).
Mystery Box
HOME grants a Mystery Box item for use back in GO.
Meltan in GO
Place the box, wait for the window, catch Meltan swarms.
Melmetal
Farm candy → evolve Melmetal for raids and Master League.
Pokémon GO and Pokémon HOME must share a linked Nintendo Account (and follow current HOME / GO linking prompts). Use the same identity you intend to keep long-term — transfers are not a casual “try it once” for competitive investments.
Tip: If GO and HOME show different trainers or regions, stop and fix linking before transferring anything you care about.
From GO, open Pokémon HOME transfer and send at least one Pokémon into HOME. Prefer junk spares or duplicates — once sent, treat that copy as living in HOME’s box system, not as a free round-trip for battle use.
Tip: Never send your only Rank-1 Great League IV, lucky trade project, or raid legend “just to test.” Use a common catch.
After a successful GO → HOME transfer (and when you are off cooldown), Pokémon HOME offers a Mystery Box. Claim it so it appears as an item you can send back to Pokémon GO.
Tip: If no box appears, you are usually still on cooldown from the last Mystery Box cycle, or the transfer did not complete.
Move the Mystery Box from HOME into Pokémon GO (HOME’s send-to-GO / item flow). Confirm it shows up in your GO item bag before walking away from Wi‑Fi.
In Pokémon GO, use the Mystery Box from your items. It becomes an active map object with a preparation timer, then a limited Meltan spawn window. Stay near the box and keep GO open enough to catch.
Tip: Plan candy and ball stock before placing — Meltan can spawn in volume. Incense is optional; the box is the main engine.
Catch as many Meltan as the window allows. Meltan candy fuels Melmetal. Melmetal is a serious Steel option for raids and uncapped Master League investment — worth the HOME loop once you understand the cooldown.
Tip: Pinap when you can; save Rare Candy decisions until you know you will finish Melmetal.
After you use a Mystery Box, you typically must wait before HOME will grant another (commonly on the order of several days — exact timing follows current HOME/GO rules and events). Transfer again only when you want the next box, not every spare Pokémon.
Tip: Event weekends sometimes shorten or stack opportunities — still verify in-game text; do not trust rumor timers.
“I need to buy HOME Deluxe to get Meltan.”
The Mystery Box loop is tied to transferring between GO and HOME, not to paying for Melmetal itself. HOME subscription tiers change storage and features — always read the current HOME offer screen.
“I can send my legend to HOME and bring the same copy straight back to GO for battles.”
Treat GO → HOME as leaving the GO battle inventory. Do not use competitive keepers as Mystery Box fuel.
“Meltan only appears in the wild like any other spawn.”
Wild Meltan is not the normal path. The reliable family method is Mystery Box (plus rare special events). If you are waiting on sidewalk spawns, you are usually on the wrong strategy.
“One box forever.”
You can repeat the loop after cooldown. Melmetal candy goals often need more than one session.
Use Melmetal with the Competitive Guide’s raid and Master League notes. When you want the card in hand, browse 3CL TCG singles.