PkX

Pkx is a file extension used to store data for a single Pokémon in the PKHeX save editor ecosystem. PKX files are designed to be portable representations of a Pokémon’s in-game data, allowing users to export, import, clone, or edit individual Pokémon outside of the official game save. The format is primarily associated with generation VI and VII editing tools, though PKHeX can handle data across multiple generations.

A PKX file encodes a comprehensive set of attributes for a Pokémon, including species, nickname, original trainer (OT) and trainer IDs, a unique PID, level, nature, gender, and shininess. It also records the held item, ability, moves (and their PP), individual values (IVs) and effort values (EVs), as well as contest stats and ribbons. Additional metadata can include the location where the Pokémon was met, the met level, ball type, form, and various flags that indicate legality, whether the Pokémon is an egg, and whether it is cloned or shiny.

Usage and legality: PKX files are used primarily with PKHeX and related tools to import or export Pokémon between games or to edit a Pokémon’s data offline. They are not official data formats published by Nintendo or The Pokémon Company, and manipulation or distribution of altered Pokémon may be restricted or prohibited in online play or by game terms of service.

History: The PKX format emerged with the rise of third-party save editors such as PKHeX in the 2010s. It has since become a de facto standard in the fan community for sharing and editing Pokémon data, though it remains unofficial and community-maintained.