4th Gen Just Got Action Replay - Could use some advice

[Glitterbomb]

I'm not usually one who would be okay with cheating, but I found a cheap used Diamond game and a cheap Action Replay and figured, why not tinker? I've always wanted certain shinies; Rapidash, Charizard, Houndoom, and Seviper looks like a living breathing techno party...

But I've heard AR can REALLY mess up your game. Hence the extra used version. However, I've also heard if you don't go crazy with the codes (I.E, making a Spiritomb with Wonderguard) everything will be fine. Is that true?

I don't even plan to use it to make ridiculously strong pokemon. If I want to make a shiny houndoom appear, for example, it'll have the same normal stats and IVs as any other I would find without the cheat. Maybe get some extra masterballs so I can farm proper natures for my legendaries easier (Azelf is so stubborn! I had him at one health and asleep and I almost ran out of dusk balls, and when I caught him he wasn't the nature I was hoping for :C).

I suppose my question is that if I use codes to make normal pokemon appear, no crazy stats, no altered IVs - literally all I would edit is their color and nature; would that destroy my game if I then traded said shinies to platinum? Cause I would like some more shinies (Got three legitimately, one from breeding :o), but if it had even the slightest chance of ruining my game I don't see it as being worth the trouble. Although, I've known people who unintentionally snagged a hacked pokemon off the GTS and nothing bad happened to their game; but it's better to be safe than sorry, seeing that I've put an obsessive amount of work into my teams and I'd hate to lose them >.>

Thanks for any help.

Edit:

Oh, also, I was wondering:

If I were to farm certain pokemon until I got one of a preferred nature, then used Pokesav with AR to alter their color only and mess with nothing else, could that be bad for the game?

 

[Kirbychu]

But I've heard AR can REALLY mess up your game. Hence the extra used version. However, I've also heard if you don't go crazy with the codes (I.E, making a Spiritomb with Wonderguard) everything will be fine. Is that true?

It's not really the amount of codes you use, it's the types of codes you use. When searching for codes be careful and try to find ones that have a good reputation, or that are from notable sites. The most common ones like the max Master Balls code on the official AR site, or the ones already on the AR are almost always safe. The thing is, anyone can make codes, so of course someone inexperienced could create one on by accident that could harm your game. You can also screw up your game if your not careful how you use your codes. I once used the walk through walls code in Pearl, and was an idiot and saved while in a wall. I couldn't move when I turned my game back on, and had to restart. ;_;

So basically, some codes are more reliable than others. Your seem to only really want the very common codes, so you should be fine. I'm not so sure about the nature editingthough , I'd test that first.

If I were to farm certain pokemon until I got one of a preferred nature, then used Pokesav with AR to alter their color only and mess with nothing else, could that be bad for the game?

I know nothing about Pokesav, sorry. With AR it just depends on the codes.

 

[Glitterbomb]

Ah, I see now. Thanks a bunch for the advice - its okay if you don't know a lot about pokesav, I was just worried about making my game unplayable. I'll be super careful, haha.

 

[professor plum]

Action Replay advice isn't really allowed here D;