Shiny Pokemon Trading Costs: Complete Stardust Guide

If you’ve ever tried to trade a rare Shiny or Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO, you’ve probably been shocked by the Stardust cost. Many trainers wonder exactly how much stardust to trade shiny Pokemon, especially when they’re trying to complete their collections or get better IVs. The truth is, trading these special creatures can cost anywhere from 800 Stardust to a whopping 1,000,000 Stardust depending on several factors.

Trading Pokemon is one of the most exciting features in Pokemon GO. It lets you exchange creatures with friends, complete your Pokedex, obtain Lucky Pokemon, and sometimes even save on power-up costs. But when it comes to Shiny and Legendary Pokemon, the trading system becomes much more complex and expensive.

Understanding the stardust trade chart is crucial for any serious Pokemon GO player. Whether you’re planning to trade a Shiny Charizard or a Legendary Mewtwo, knowing the exact cost to trade shiny Pokemon GO can help you plan your resources better and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Understanding Pokemon GO Trading Basics

Before we dive into the specific costs, let’s cover some fundamental aspects of trading in Pokemon GO. Trading isn’t as simple as just swapping Pokemon with any random player you meet. There are rules, limitations, and costs involved that every trainer should understand.

The trading feature was introduced to encourage social interaction between players. It allows you to exchange Pokemon with friends, but with several restrictions designed to maintain game balance. Regular Pokemon trades are relatively inexpensive, but special Pokemon like Shinies and Legendaries come with significantly higher costs.

Your friendship level with the trade partner dramatically affects how much stardust do you need to trade a shiny Pokemon. The game has four friendship levels: Good Friend, Great Friend, Ultra Friend, and Best Friend. As your friendship level increases, the Stardust cost for all trades decreases substantially.

Another crucial factor is whether the Pokemon being traded is already registered in the recipient’s Pokedex. If it’s a new entry, the cost increases dramatically. This is particularly important when considering how much stardust to trade a shiny that your friend doesn’t have yet.

Can You Trade Shiny and Legendary Pokemon?

Yes, you can absolutely trade both Shiny and Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO, but there are important restrictions you need to know about. These special creatures fall under what the game calls “Special Trades,” which have their own set of rules.

The most significant limitation is that you can only perform one Special Trade per day. This means if you trade a Shiny Pokemon with a friend, you won’t be able to trade another Shiny or Legendary with anyone else until the next day. However, during special events, Niantic sometimes increases this limit, allowing multiple Special Trades within a 24-hour period.

Another important consideration is trade distance. Both players need to be within 100 meters of each other to initiate any trade, including Special Trades. This proximity requirement means you can’t trade with friends who live in different cities or countries unless you use certain tools that we’ll discuss later.

If you’re trading a Shiny Pokemon that evolves through trading, such as Shiny Machoke or Shiny Haunter, the evolution will occur automatically after the trade without requiring any candy. This can be a great way to obtain evolved Shiny forms that might be difficult to find in the wild.

One permanent restriction is that once a Pokemon has been traded, it cannot be traded again. This means you need to be absolutely certain about your trades, as there’s no going back or passing the Pokemon to another player later.

How Much Stardust to Trade Shiny and Legendary Pokemon

Now let’s get to the heart of the matter: exactly how much stardust to trade shiny and legendary Pokemon. The costs vary dramatically based on your friendship level and whether the recipient already has the Pokemon in their Pokedex.

For Shiny Pokemon that both players already own, the costs are relatively manageable. At Good Friend level, it costs 20,000 Stardust. This decreases to 16,000 for Great Friends, 1,600 for Ultra Friends, and just 800 Stardust for Best Friends.

The situation changes dramatically when trading a Shiny Pokemon that the recipient doesn’t have. This is where the costs can become prohibitive for many players. At Good Friend level, trading a new Shiny Pokemon costs 1,000,000 Stardust. That’s an enormous amount that would take most players weeks or even months to accumulate through normal gameplay.

Fortunately, friendship level makes a huge difference here too. At Great Friend level, the cost drops to 800,000 Stardust. Ultra Friends pay 80,000 Stardust, and Best Friends only need 40,000 Stardust for the same trade.

Legendary Pokemon follow the exact same pricing structure as Shiny Pokemon in terms of Stardust costs. Whether you’re trading a Mewtwo, Rayquaza, or any other Legendary, the cost will be identical to trading a Shiny Pokemon at the same friendship level and Pokedex status.

This similarity in cost structure means that the stardust trade chart applies equally to both Shiny and Legendary Pokemon. Understanding this chart is essential for planning your trades and friendship-building activities.

Complete Pokemon GO Stardust Trade Cost Chart

To give you a comprehensive overview of all trading costs in Pokemon GO, here’s a complete stardust trade chart that covers all Pokemon types and friendship levels. This chart will help you understand exactly how much stardust to trade shiny, legendary, and regular Pokemon under various conditions.

For regular Pokemon that both players already have, the costs are minimal. Good Friends pay 100 Stardust, Great Friends pay 80, Ultra Friends pay 8, and Best Friends pay just 4 Stardust. These trades are essentially free for most active players.

When trading a regular Pokemon that’s new to the recipient, the costs increase significantly. Good Friends pay 20,000 Stardust, Great Friends pay 16,000, Ultra Friends pay 1,600, and Best Friends pay 800 Stardust.

As we discussed earlier, Shiny and Legendary Pokemon that both players own cost 20,000 Stardust at Good Friend level, decreasing to 800 Stardust for Best Friends. The real shock comes when trading a Shiny or Legendary that’s new to the recipient.

Trading a new Shiny or Legendary Pokemon at Good Friend level costs 1,000,000 Stardust. This decreases to 800,000 for Great Friends, 80,000 for Ultra Friends, and 40,000 for Best Friends. This dramatic reduction highlights why building friendship levels is so important before attempting expensive trades.

The stardust trade chart clearly shows that reaching Best Friend status can save you 960,000 Stardust on a single trade of a new Shiny or Legendary Pokemon. That’s an enormous saving that makes the 90-day friendship building process well worth the effort.

Strategies to Reduce Stardust Trading Costs

Now that you understand how much stardust to trade shiny and legendary Pokemon, let’s discuss practical strategies to reduce these costs. The most effective method is building friendship levels with your frequent trading partners.

Friendship levels increase through various interactions: opening gifts, trading Pokemon, battling together in gyms or raids, and participating in trainer battles. Each interaction increases your friendship points, and after accumulating enough points, you level up to the next friendship tier.

Reaching Best Friend status takes 90 days of interaction, but the Stardust savings are enormous. Instead of paying 1,000,000 Stardust for a new Shiny trade, Best Friends only pay 40,000. That’s 96% less Stardust!

Another strategy is to focus on trading Pokemon that both players already have in their Pokedex. The cost difference between trading a registered versus unregistered Pokemon is massive, especially for Shinies and Legendaries.

If you’re planning to trade a Pokemon that your friend doesn’t have, consider waiting for special events. During certain events, Niantic reduces trading costs or increases Special Trade limits. These events are perfect opportunities for expensive trades.

Some players also use Lucky Friends status to guarantee Lucky Pokemon trades. Lucky Pokemon cost half as much Stardust to power up, which can save resources in the long run, even if the initial trade cost remains the same.

How Much Stardust Do You Need to Trade a Shiny: Specific Examples

Let’s look at some specific examples to better understand how much stardust do you need to trade a shiny in common scenarios. These real-world examples will help you plan your trading strategy.

If you want to trade a Shiny Eevee with a Best Friend and they already have a Shiny Eevee in their Pokedex, the cost will be 800 Stardust. If they don’t have Shiny Eevee registered, the cost increases to 40,000 Stardust.

Trading a Shiny Legendary like Shiny Rayquaza follows the same pattern. With a Best Friend who already has it, the cost is 800 Stardust. If it’s new to them, the cost is 40,000 Stardust.

The cost to trade shiny Pokemon GO with an Ultra Friend is 1,600 Stardust if owned, or 80,000 if new. With a Great Friend, it’s 16,000 if owned or 800,000 if new. And with a Good Friend, it’s 20,000 if owned or 1,000,000 if new.

These examples clearly show why friendship level is the most important factor in determining how much stardust to trade a shiny. The difference between trading with a Good Friend versus a Best Friend is astronomical.

iMyFone AnyTo: The Solution for Stardust Farming

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Now that you understand how much stardust to trade shiny Pokemon, you might be wondering how to accumulate enough Stardust for these expensive trades. Traditional methods like catching Pokemon, hatching eggs, and battling in raids can be time-consuming and require lots of walking.

This is where iMyFone AnyTo comes in. This powerful location-changing tool lets you collect Stardust without physically moving around. It’s perfect for players who can’t go outside frequently or want to maximize their gameplay efficiency.

AnyTo works by simulating GPS movement on your device, allowing you to access PokeStops, catch Pokemon, and hatch eggs from the comfort of your home. The app version doesn’t require a computer, making it incredibly convenient for mobile users.

One of the standout features is the realistic movement simulation. You can set custom routes and speeds, making your virtual movement appear natural and avoiding detection. The precise joystick control gives you complete command over your virtual location.

The software is completely safe to use and doesn’t require jailbreaking your iOS device or rooting your Android device. It works with the latest operating systems and is specifically designed to work with location-based games like Pokemon GO.

How to Use iMyFone AnyTo for Stardust Farming

Using iMyFone AnyTo to farm Stardust is straightforward. The process varies slightly depending on whether you’re using the app version or PC version, but both methods are user-friendly.

For the app version, simply download iMyFone AnyTo from the official website onto your mobile device. Once installed, open the app and follow the setup instructions. The interface is intuitive, with clear options for teleporting to specific locations or simulating movement along routes.

If you prefer using the PC version, the process is equally simple. Connect your iPhone or Android device to your computer, launch the AnyTo software, and click “Get Started.” You’ll see a map interface where you can select your desired location or plan a route.

The teleport mode lets you instantly jump to any location in the world. This is perfect for accessing region-exclusive Pokemon or visiting areas with high Pokemon density. The multi-spot mode allows you to set a route with multiple stops, simulating natural walking patterns.

Once you’ve set your destination or route, simply click the “Move” button, and your virtual location will change accordingly. You can then open Pokemon GO and start catching Pokemon, spinning PokeStops, and hatching eggs to accumulate Stardust.

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Advanced Tips for Stardust Management

Beyond using tools like iMyFone AnyTo, there are several advanced strategies for managing your Stardust effectively. These tips will help you maximize your Stardust gains and make informed decisions about when to trade.

First, prioritize which trades are worth the Stardust cost. A trade that gives you a Pokemon with perfect IVs or one that completes your Pokedex might be worth a high Stardust cost, while other trades might not be as valuable.

Consider timing your trades with weather boosts and events. During certain weather conditions, specific Pokemon types appear more frequently, making it easier to farm Stardust by catching those Pokemon. Special events often feature increased Stardust rewards for catches, making them ideal for accumulation.

Use Star Pieces strategically. These items increase Stardust gains by 50% for 30 minutes. Activate them during periods of intense Pokemon catching, such as Community Days or when using incense with many spawns.

Focus on building friendship levels with multiple players simultaneously. This gives you more trading options and ensures you always have Best Friends available when you need to make expensive trades.

Keep track of which Pokemon your friends need and which ones you need. This planning helps you avoid surprise costs when trading and ensures both players get maximum value from each trade.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pokemon GO Trading Costs

How much Stardust to trade Mewtwo?

Trading Mewtwo follows the standard Legendary Pokemon cost structure. If both players own Mewtwo, the trade costs 800 Stardust for Best Friends, 1,600 for Ultra Friends, 16,000 for Great Friends, and 20,000 for Good Friends. If the recipient doesn’t have Mewtwo, it costs 1,000,000 Stardust at Good Friend level, decreasing to 40,000 for Best Friends.

How much Stardust to trade Rayquaza?

Rayquaza has the same trading costs as Mewtwo and other Legendary Pokemon. For players who already have it, the cost ranges from 800 Stardust (Best Friends) to 20,000 Stardust (Good Friends). For new Rayquaza, the cost ranges from 40,000 Stardust (Best Friends) to 1,000,000 Stardust (Good Friends).

How much Stardust to trade a Shiny with Best Friend and Ultra Friend?

With a Best Friend, trading a Shiny Pokemon costs 800 Stardust if already owned, or 40,000 Stardust if new to the recipient. With an Ultra Friend, the cost is 1,600 Stardust if owned, or 80,000 Stardust if new. This shows why reaching higher friendship levels is so valuable for reducing the cost to trade shiny Pokemon GO.

How much Stardust to trade a Shiny Legendary?

Shiny Legendary Pokemon follow the same cost structure as regular Shiny and Legendary Pokemon. If both players own the Shiny Legendary, it costs 800 Stardust for Best Friends and 1,600 for Ultra Friends. If it’s new to the recipient, it costs 40,000 for Best Friends, 80,000 for Ultra Friends, 800,000 for Great Friends, and 1,000,000 for Good Friends.

Can you trade Stardust in Pokemon GO?

No, Stardust cannot be traded or transferred between players in Pokemon GO. It’s a personal resource that each player accumulates individually. However, you can help friends by trading them Pokemon they need, which might save them Stardust on powering up other Pokemon.

Conclusion

Understanding how much stardust to trade shiny and legendary Pokemon is essential for any serious Pokemon GO player. The costs can be prohibitively high, especially for new Shiny or Legendary Pokemon traded with low-level friends.

The key takeaway is that friendship level dramatically affects