Pokemon GO Trading Guide: Can You Trade Items & How It Works

If you’re a Pokemon GO player, you’ve probably wondered about the trading system. Trading is one of the most exciting features in the game, letting you exchange Pokemon with friends to complete your Pokedex, get better IVs, or even score some Lucky Pokemon. But there’s a lot of confusion around how trading actually works, especially when it comes to items. Can you trade Poke Balls? What about evolution items? Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Pokemon GO trades.

Understanding Pokemon GO Trading Rules

Before you start swapping Pokemon with friends, it’s important to understand the rules. Pokemon GO trading isn’t a free-for-all – there are specific limitations and requirements you need to follow.

First off, both players need to be at least Level 10 to participate in pokemon go trading. This ensures that players have some experience with the game before they start trading. You also need to be within 100 meters (about 328 feet) of each other to complete a trade. This proximity requirement means you can’t trade with someone on the other side of the world unless you’re using special tools, which we’ll discuss later.

The friendship level between players significantly impacts trading costs. The better friends you are in the game, the less Stardust you’ll need to spend on trades. Starting from Good Friends all the way up to Best Friends, the Stardust cost decreases dramatically, especially for special trades.

Speaking of special trades, you’re limited to just one special trade per day. Special trades include Shiny Pokemon, Legendary Pokemon, or any Pokemon that isn’t already in your Pokedex. These trades also cost significantly more Stardust than regular trades.

When you complete a trade, the Pokemon’s IVs completely reroll. This means that perfect IV Pokemon might not stay perfect after being traded. However, there’s a chance the traded Pokemon could become Lucky, which has better stats and costs less Stardust to power up.

Another cool feature is the candy bonus. The farther apart the two Pokemon were originally caught, the more candy you’ll receive after the trade. This makes long-distance pokemon go trades particularly valuable for candy farming.

How to Complete Pokemon GO Trades

Now that you understand the rules, let’s walk through the actual process of completing pokemon go trades. It’s pretty straightforward once you know the steps.

Start by opening Pokemon GO and tapping on your Trainer profile in the bottom left corner. This brings up your character screen where you can see your level, achievements, and other stats.

Next, navigate to the Friends tab and select the friend you want to trade with. Make sure you’re physically within 100 meters of each other, as the game uses your actual GPS location to verify proximity for pokemon go trading.

Once you’ve selected your friend, tap on the Trade button. The game will check that you meet all the requirements – proper level, friendship status, and distance.

Now both players need to select the Pokemon they want to trade. You’ll see the Stardust cost displayed before confirming. The cost varies based on the Pokemon’s rarity and your friendship level. Special Pokemon like Shinies or Legendaries will cost much more.

After both players confirm their selections and have enough Stardust, the trade processes. The game deducts the Stardust cost and completes the exchange.

Once the trade is complete, the Pokemon’s IVs reroll, and there’s a chance it could become a Lucky Pokemon. You’ll also receive candy based on the distance between where the two Pokemon were originally caught.

It’s worth noting that some Pokemon have special trade evolution mechanics. For example, Kadabra, Machoke, Haunter, and Graveler will evolve immediately when traded, without requiring any candy. This makes pokemon go trades particularly useful for completing certain evolutions.

Can You Trade Items in Pokemon GO?

This is one of the most common questions players have about the trading system. The short answer is no, you cannot trade items directly in Pokemon GO. The trading system is exclusively designed for Pokemon exchange only.

When players ask “can you trade pokémon in pokémon go” and mean items, they’re often disappointed to learn that item trading isn’t supported. You can’t trade Poke Balls, Potions, Revives, Berries, Evolution Items, Incubators, or any other items between players.

There are several reasons why Niantic hasn’t implemented item trading. Primarily, it prevents potential abuse of the system. If players could trade items, it could lead to selling rare items for real money or creating unfair advantages. The current system encourages players to earn items through gameplay, which maintains better balance.

While you can’t trade items directly, there are indirect ways to help friends get items they need. The game does provide alternative methods for sharing resources, just not through direct pokemon go trade items.

Alternative Methods for Item Sharing

Even though direct pokemon go trade items isn’t possible, there are several creative ways to help your friends get the items they need. These methods might not be as direct as trading, but they’re effective workarounds.

Sending Gifts to Friends

The closest thing to item trading in Pokemon GO is the Gift system. When you spin PokeStops or Gyms, you can collect Gifts that contain various items. These Gifts can be sent to friends, who can then open them to receive the contents.

Each Gift contains a random selection of items, which can include Poke Balls, Berries, Stardust, and sometimes even Evolution Items or Rare Candy. While you can’t choose specific items to send, it’s a great way to help friends stock up on essential supplies.

There are some limits to the Gift system. You can send up to 100 Gifts per day, but each player can only open 30 Gifts daily. This means you’ll want to prioritize sending Gifts to friends who need items the most.

To send a Gift, simply go to your Friends list, select a friend who doesn’t have an unopened Gift from you, and tap the “Send Gift” button. Then choose from your available Gifts and send it off. It’s a simple process that can really help friends who are running low on essential items.

Coordinating Raid Battles

Raiding is another excellent way to help friends get valuable items. While you can’t directly trade the items you earn from Raids, you can coordinate with friends to ensure everyone gets good rewards from successful Raid battles.

Higher-tier Raids (5-star, Mega, and Elite Raids) offer the best rewards, including Rare Candies, Golden Razz Berries, Charged TMs, Fast TMs, and substantial amounts of Stardust. By organizing Raid groups with friends, you can help everyone earn these valuable resources.

When you participate in Raids with friends, you also get bonus Premier Balls for having friends in the Raid, which increases your chances of catching the Raid boss. Plus, trading Pokemon caught in Raids can help both players get better IVs or Lucky Pokemon.

Remote Raid Passes make it easier than ever to coordinate Raids with friends who aren’t physically nearby. You can invite up to 5 remote players to join a Raid, making it simple to help friends get access to good Raids and the valuable items that come with them.

Trading Evolution Pokemon

Although you can’t trade evolution items directly, you can trade Pokemon that require those items to evolve. This can save your friends valuable candy and evolution items.

For example, if your friend needs a Scizor but doesn’t have a Metal Coat, you can trade them a Scyther. When they receive the Scyther through trade, they can evolve it without needing the Metal Coat, saving them both the evolution item and the candy normally required.

This works for several Pokemon that require evolution items:

• Scyther to Scizor (saves Metal Coat)
• Onix to Steelix (saves Metal Coat)
• Poliwhirl to Politoed (saves King’s Rock)
• Slowpoke to Slowking (saves King’s Rock)

This method doesn’t technically involve pokemon go trade items, but it achieves a similar result by helping friends get evolved Pokemon without needing the specific evolution items.

Using iMyFone AnyTo for Item Collection

If you’re struggling to get enough items through normal gameplay, and you can’t get them through pokemon go trade items, there’s another solution that many players find helpful.

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iMyFone AnyTo is a location-changing tool that lets you visit PokeStops and Gyms worldwide without physically traveling. This can be incredibly helpful for collecting items when you can’t get out to play, or when your local area doesn’t have many PokeStops.

With AnyTo, you can teleport to locations dense with PokeStops, like popular parks, cities, or tourist attractions. You can spin these stops to collect Poke Balls, Potions, Berries, and other essential items. The tool also lets you simulate walking routes, so you can hatch eggs and earn buddy candy while you collect items.

The ability to join Raids remotely is another huge benefit. You can teleport to locations with active Raids, participate using Remote Raid Passes, and earn those valuable Raid rewards without leaving home.

For players wondering “can you trade pokémon in pokémon go” when distance is an issue, AnyTo can help by allowing you to teleport to your friend’s location to complete trades, bypassing the 100-meter distance restriction.

Advanced Trading Strategies

Once you’ve mastered the basics of pokemon go trading, there are several advanced strategies that can help you get more value from your trades.

One important strategy is planning your special trades carefully. Since you’re limited to one special trade per day, you’ll want to prioritize the most valuable trades first. If you have multiple special Pokemon to trade, coordinate with your trading partner to ensure you’re both getting the most benefit from your daily special trade.

Another strategy involves maximizing candy gains from trades. Since you get more candy for Pokemon caught farther apart, you can coordinate with friends who have Pokemon from different regions or who have traveled to different locations. This is particularly valuable for Pokemon that require a lot of candy to power up or evolve.

Lucky Pokemon are another consideration for strategic trading. The chance of getting Lucky Pokemon increases the longer a Pokemon has been in your storage. Trading older Pokemon (from 2016 or 2017) has a very high chance of resulting in Lucky Pokemon. Some players specifically seek out these older Pokemon for trades to increase their Lucky Pokemon collection.

When planning pokemon go trades, it’s also helpful to consider Pokedex completion. If you’re missing regional exclusive Pokemon, you can trade with friends who have traveled to different regions. This is often the only way to complete your Pokedex without traveling extensively yourself.

Common Trading Mistakes to Avoid

As you get more experienced with pokemon go trading, you’ll want to avoid some common mistakes that can cost you Stardust or result in disappointing trades.

One of the biggest mistakes is not checking the IVs after trade. Remember that IVs reroll completely during trades, so that perfect IV Pokemon you’re trading away might become average after the trade. Always check the new IVs before making decisions about powering up or evolving traded Pokemon.

Another common error is not considering the Stardust cost before initiating trades. Special trades, especially between low-level friends, can cost hundreds of thousands of Stardust. Make sure both players have enough Stardust before attempting expensive trades.

Some players also forget about the daily special trade limit. If you attempt a second special trade in the same day, the game won’t allow it. Plan your trading sessions accordingly to avoid disappointment.

Trading Pokemon that can’t be traded is another frustration. Remember that Shadow Pokemon cannot be traded until they’re purified, and some special event Pokemon may have trading restrictions. Always check if a Pokemon is eligible for trade before offering it.

Pokemon GO Trading FAQs

What level do you need to be to trade in Pokemon GO?

The minimum level to participate in pokemon go trades is Level 10. Both players must meet this requirement, be friends in the game, and be within the trading distance of 100 meters to complete a trade.

Can you trade Shadow Pokemon in Pokemon GO?

No, Shadow Pokemon cannot be traded in Pokemon GO. If you want to trade a Shadow Pokemon, you must purify it first, turning it into a Purified Pokemon. Purified Pokemon can be traded normally.

How do I trade Pokemon with myself?

Pokemon GO doesn’t allow self-trading within a single account. However, if you have two separate accounts on different devices, you can add them as friends and trade Pokemon between them, following all the normal trading rules.

How many trades can you do per day in Pokemon GO?

The standard trade limit is 100 trades per day in Pokemon GO. However, you’re limited to just one Special Trade per day. Special Trades include Shiny Pokemon, Legendary Pokemon, and Pokemon not yet registered in your Pokedex.

Can you trade Poke Balls in Pokemon GO?

No, you cannot trade Poke Balls or any other items in Pokemon GO. The trading system is exclusively for Pokemon exchange. However, you can help friends get Poke Balls by sending them Gifts, which may contain Poke Balls among other items.

Are there any Pokemon that can’t be traded?

Yes, some Pokemon cannot be traded. Mythical Pokemon (like Mew, Celebi, Jirachi) typically cannot be traded. Shadow Pokemon cannot be traded until purified. Some event Pokemon with special moves may also have trading restrictions.

Why do traded Pokemon have different CP?

When Pokemon are traded, their IVs (Individual Values) are completely rerolled. Since CP is calculated based on IVs, level, and species base stats, the CP will often change after a trade. The new CP range is shown before you confirm the trade.

What are Lucky Pokemon and how do I get them?

Lucky Pokemon are special Pokemon that require 50% less Stardust to power up. They have a minimum IV of 12/12/12. Lucky Pokemon can occur randomly during any trade, but the chance increases if you trade older Pokemon (especially from 2016-2017).

Maximizing Your Trading Experience

To get the most out of pokemon go trading, there are several practices you can adopt that will enhance your experience and results.

Building strong friendships is crucial for efficient trading. The higher your friendship level, the less Stardust trades cost. Focus on increasing friendship levels with players you trade with regularly by exchanging Gifts, battling together in Gyms and Raids, and completing trades.

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Keeping a well-organized Pokemon storage will make trading much smoother. Tag or favorite Pokemon you’re willing to trade, and keep track of which Pokemon your friends are looking for. Many players use naming conventions or tags to identify trade candidates.

Participating in community events, both in-game and in local communities, can greatly expand your trading opportunities. Community Days, GO Fest, and other events often feature increased trading ranges or reduced Stardust costs, making them ideal times for bulk trading.

When considering “can you trade pokémon in pokémon go” for specific benefits, remember that trading is about more than just completing your Pokedex. It’s also a way to get better IVs, Lucky Pokemon, candy bonuses, and help friends with their collection goals.

The Future of Pokemon GO Trading

While we can’t predict exactly what changes Niantic might make to the trading system, there are some features players have been requesting for years that might eventually be implemented.

Many players hope for increased trade distances, especially for Best Friends. Some have suggested that Ultra and Best Friends should be able to trade from much farther apart, or possibly even remotely. This would make it much easier for players who have friends in different cities or countries.

The ability to trade items directly is another frequently requested feature. While Niantic has been resistant to this idea, possibly to prevent real-money trading of rare items, some players remain hopeful that a limited item trading system might be introduced someday.

Another potential improvement could be