2025 method to hardmod a Mariko unit?

[vgplayer54]

Good afternoon,
I have a quick question. I have a modded switch which has been banned, a non-hacked switch and a Switch 2. I am attempting to use some single-player cheats and edited game saves on the switch 1 as a starter save then transfer it to my switch 2 to play. Problem is - the hacked switch is banned, meaning I cannot transfer those game saves over to the switch 2 at all since it requires connecting to Nintendo's servers. My only option is to use the non-hacked switch which means i need to get a hardmod in it.

I haven't been following the hard mod scene since i've always used my hacked non-patched switch for these kinds of things. What is the best or easier way to hack a non-hacked mariko switch in 2025? Is it Picofly still? is there something easier? I've never soldiered anything before but I suppose I have no choice but to learn.

If you could please let me know your thoughts,
Thanks so much!

 

[slam2001]

I would never trans a save file from a banned switch to a different one thats not been banned. changes are you will get your other switch banned also.

 

[vgplayer54]

I would never trans a save file from a banned switch to a different one thats not been banned. changes are you will get your other switch banned also.

Oh really? I'm glad you told me - I read that it was safe to save the gamesave with JKSV and just move that save to the SD Card of the unbanned switch and use it in EmuNand there, somehow transfer that save to the untouched SysNAND then transfer it to the switch 2. I suppose it isn't safe after all. Thanks again!

 

[Lun4ria]

If I remember correctly as well hard modding a Mariko unit requires micro soldering skills as well since there still is no way to softmod that model

 

[Nephiel]

Oh really? I'm glad you told me - I read that it was safe to save the gamesave with JKSV and just move that save to the SD Card of the unbanned switch and use it in EmuNand there, somehow transfer that save to the untouched SysNAND then transfer it to the switch 2. I suppose it isn't safe after all. Thanks again!

Some people have successfully transferred saves from modded to stock, for single player/offline games, without a ban. Still, it's a bit risky, and the risk is much higher for online multiplayer games.

If I remember correctly as well hard modding a Mariko unit requires micro soldering skills as well since there still is no way to softmod that model

Yes, it takes soldering skills to mod a Mariko, but it's much easier than an OLED, because the eMMC is on a separate board and the DAT0 point is readily accessible.

 

[Lun4ria]

Some people have successfully transferred saves from modded to stock, for single player/offline games, without a ban. Still, it's a bit risky, and the risk is much higher for online multiplayer games.

Yes, it takes soldering skills to mod a Mariko, but it's much easier than an OLED, because the eMMC is on a separate board and the DAT0 point is readily accessible.

That is true I dont believe OP specified whether the non-hacked switch is a standard or OLED model so I assumed the original Mariko model

 

[Nephiel]

That is true I dont believe OP specified whether the non-hacked switch is a standard or OLED model so I assumed the original Mariko model

Oh, you're right, OP's could be an OLED. I read Mariko and just assumed it was a v2. My bad.

 

[vgplayer54]

Sorry for not stating - it is not an OLED. It's a normal v2 model

 

[zxr750j]

The Pico core is the one to get. It has the least amount of solder points but they are still very very very small. I have done 2 switches (patched V1's) with success but I did buy a digital microscope thing to help improve my eyesight...

 

[vgplayer54]

Thanks for the tip! Although it seems that the common concensus is that it isn't worth the risk to transfer a gamesave with JKSV to the patched mariko switch. I wouldn't want a ban, and I didn't realize this was as risky as it is.
Thanks so much to everyone that helped!

The Pico core is the one to get. It has the least amount of solder points but they are still very very very small. I have done 2 switches (patched V1's) with success but I did buy a digital microscope thing to help improve my eyesight...