You’re staring at that one patch of shaking grass, hoping for an Audino or maybe a rare Emolga, but the RNG just isn't playing nice. We’ve all been there. Whether you're playing on original Nintendo DS hardware or firing up an emulator in 2026, the grind in Unova can be brutal. Honestly, sometimes you just want to fly across the map without waiting for the HM or finally snag that Genesect event that ended a decade ago.
That is where Pokemon Black and White action replay codes come in.
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They aren't just "cheats"—for many of us, they're the only way to experience the full content of Gen 5 now that the official Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is a ghost town. But using them isn't as simple as just "copy-paste." If you mess up a hex string, you’re looking at a corrupted save or the dreaded "Bad Egg" taking up space in your PC.
Why People Still Use Action Replay in Unova
Gen 5 was special. It was the first time Pokemon really tried to tell a "serious" story, but it was also the peak of "event-only" Mythicals. You basically can't get Victini, Meloetta, or Keldeo anymore without either a DNS exploit or some heavy-duty codes.
Most people are looking for the basics: 999 Rare Candies, Infinite Master Balls, or that sweet Shiny Pokemon modifier.
But there’s a nuance here. If you’re playing on a physical Action Replay cartridge, the hardware is getting old. These things are fragile. On the flip side, if you're using an emulator like DeSmuME or MelonDS, the way you input the codes is slightly different because the software has to "inject" the code into the virtual RAM.
The Essential Codes (And What They Actually Do)
Let's look at the heavy hitters. Most of these require a "trigger" like pressing Select or L+R to activate.
Max Money (Select)
94000130 FFFB0000
0223CDCC 0098967F
D2000000 00000000
This basically sets your wallet to 9,999,999. It’s a classic. No more grinding the Elite Four just to buy some vitamins at the Shopping Mall Nine.
Rare Candy to Replace First Item (L+R)
94000130 FCFF0000
1221DB5C 00000032
D2000000 00000000
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Wait. Before you use this one, sort your bag. It’s gonna overwrite whatever is in that first slot. If that was your only Lucky Egg, it's gone. Poof.
The Wild Pokemon Modifier: The King of Codes
This is the one everybody wants but nobody seems to get right on the first try. It’s a two-step process.
- The Setup: You press a button combo to receive a specific number of items (usually Master Balls and Ultra Balls).
- The Discard: You discard items until the remaining count matches the National Pokedex ID of the Pokemon you want.
For example, if you want a Victini (Dex #494), you’d toss balls until you have exactly 494 left. It’s tedious. It’s sorta annoying. But it works. Just keep in mind that "fateful encounter" flags won't always trigger, so a hacked Meloetta might not let you access the Relic Song event in Castelia City unless the code specifically emulates the Wonder Trade data.
The Risks: Don't Let Your Save Turn into a Bad Egg
Let's be real for a second. Cheating carries risks.
I’ve seen dozens of forum posts from players who used a "Walk Through Walls" code, saved their game in the middle of a building, and then couldn't get back out. If you’re using the Walk Through Walls code (usually L+A to enable, L+B to disable), never—and I mean never—save your game while the code is active or while you are in an "out of bounds" area.
Expert Tip: Always, always back up your .sav file before trying a new code. If you're on a DS, use a tool like Checkpoint. If you're on an emulator, just copy the file to a different folder.
Then there’s the Bad Egg. This happens when the game detects data that doesn't make sense. It’s a placeholder that can’t hatch and can sometimes spread to other slots in your PC, effectively bricking your save. This often happens with the "Catch Trainer's Pokemon" codes. The game knows that Snivy shouldn't belong to a random Hiker on Route 4, and it gets cranky about it.
Hardware vs. Software: Making It Work in 2026
If you’re digging an old DS Lite out of the closet, your Action Replay might need a firmware update. Funny enough, those old USB cables are getting hard to find. Most modern players have moved to Twilight Menu++ on a modded 3DS.
Twilight Menu has a built-in cheat database. You don’t even have to type the codes; you just check a box. It’s significantly more stable than the old physical carts, which used to crash if you even breathed on the DS too hard.
On emulators, ensure your "Game ID" matches the code. A US version of Pokemon White has the ID IRAJ-4F2FDEC2. If you try to use a code meant for the European version (IRBP), it simply won't work. The game won't crash; the code just won't "hook" into the right memory address.
The Mystery Gift Exploit (The "Legal" Alternative)
Before you go full-blown hacker, you should know about the DNS Exploit.
By changing your DS connection settings to a specific Primary DNS (like 167.235.229.36), you can actually connect to fan-run servers. This lets you receive the original Mystery Gifts—Liberty Pass, Genesect, Shiny Larvitar—without typing a single line of hex code. It’s much safer for your save file and the Pokemon are considered "legit" by the game's internal checkers.
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Actionable Next Steps
Ready to mod your Unova journey? Here is how to do it safely:
- Verify your Version: Check the sticker on your cart. If it says "USA," only use US codes.
- One Code at a Time: Don't turn on "Max Money," "999 Rare Candies," and "Shiny Modifier" all at once. This is the fastest way to crash the game. Turn one on, trigger it, save, and then move to the next.
- The "Clean" Save: If you’re going for a Living Dex, try to use the DNS exploit for Mythicals first. Only use Action Replay for the things the DNS exploit can't provide, like Infinite TMs (which, thank goodness, stayed infinite in later generations).
Once you've got your items and your team sorted, make sure to disable the codes before entering the Battle Subway or attempting any local wireless trades. The game’s anti-cheat is old, but it can still get tripped up by active RAM modifiers.