How to trade in Pokemon Go
NianticPokemon Go’s trading mechanics are similar to the ones found in the mainline games, but Niantic’s mobile game has a few extra requirements. If you want a Pokemon with trade evolution requirements or want to complete your Pokedex, here’s all you need to know about how to trade in Pokemon Go.
The Pokemon franchise has some mechanics that are well-known among veteran players, and quickly learned by new ones. Trading Pokemon has been an important part of the mainline games for years, and Niantic’s mobile take on the franchise is no stranger to it.
A lot of things can happen in Pokemon trades, but the mechanic was mostly used to obtain creatures for new Pokedex entries. Some creatures can only evolve if they are traded, and some even require specific items in these trades.
If you are wondering how to trade in Pokemon Go, here’s all you need to know.
NianticHow to unlock trading in Pokemon Go
To trade in Pokemon Go, players must meet certain requirements that involve reaching a specific level, a real-life distance limit, and adding other trainers to an in-game feature.
Here are all the requirements to unlock trading in Pokemon Go:
- Players must be level 10 or more.
- You must be within 100 meters of the other trainer you’re planning to trade with.
- The other person you are trading with must be your in-game friend.
Once you’ve met all these requirements, you can begin trading in Pokemon Go.
Pokemon Go: How to trade
To trade in Pokemon Go, players must find the other trainer in their Friend List and select the “Trade” button located in the trainer profile. Trading in Pokemon Go requires Stardust, so be sure to check your remaining inventory before engaging in trades.
If you can’t find your Friend List in Pokemon Go or don’t know what to do to trade, follow these steps:
- Tap your Trainer Profile in the Map (Pokemon Go’s main screen).
- Tap the Friends tab at the top and open your Friend List.
- Select the trainer you wish to trade with and tap on the Trade Button.
- This will open the trading screen in Pokemon Go.
It is very important to note that this will let you select which Pokemon you will be trading, but its CP, HP, and other stats will change when traded. This triggers what’s called Lucky Trade and Special Trade, where resulting stats and Stardust cost will vary depending on each player’s Pokedex entries and friendship level.
Once each of you selects the desired Pokemon, both must select “Next” and confirm the trade. There is a Stardust cost to trading, so here’s how to calculate how much it will cost.
Stardust trading cost in Pokemon Go
To trade Pokemon in Pokemon Go, players must use Stardust, and each type of trade varies its cost depending on Pokedex entries and friendship level.
Here’s a rundown on all of the Stardust costs depending on which player has which Pokemon in their Pokedex and the level of friendship they have.
| Good Friend | Great Friend | Ultra Friend | Best Friend | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pokemon entries found in both Pokedex | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Legendary or Shiny Pokemon entries found in both Pokedex | 20,000 | 16,000 | 1600 | 800 |
| Pokemon entry found in one of the Pokedex | 20,000 | 16,000 | 1600 | 800 |
| Legendary or Shiny Pokemon entry found in one of the Pokedex | 1,000,000 | 800,00 | 80,000 | 40,000 |
For more Pokemon content, check out our other guides:
How to connect Pokemon Go to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet | How to heal Pokemon in Pokemon Go | How many Pokemon are there? | Best Pokemon for PvP battles in Pokemon Go | How to get revives in Pokemon Go | How to get the Master Ball in Pokemon Go | How to get different Vivillion patterns in Pokemon Go & Scarlet and Violet