InPokémon GO,Trainers can get certain Pokémon to evolve by Trading them with other Trainers. Trade has always been a cornerstone of thePokémonfranchise, with a few species of Pokémon only evolving when Traded to other players. However, Trading and Trade Evolutions work slightly differently inPokémon GO,and there are key differences that all Trainers should be aware of.

Evolving Pokémon inPokémon GOusually involves spending Candy, a resource earned by catching Pokémon of the same species or in the same evolutionary line. However, there are also a few Pokemon that evolve in different ways. Some requireextra-rare Evolution Itemsto evolve, while others can evolve through Trade.There are currently ten Pokémon that can evolve through Trade inPokémon GO.

Pokemon GO Regional Exclusive Pokemon Including Farfetch’d, Corsola, Tropius, Pachirisu, Sawk, Flabebe And Oricorio On Blurred Kanto Artwork

Pokémon GO: All Regional Exclusives & Where To Find Them

In Pokémon GO, some Pokémon are region-exclusive to certain regions, countries and even biomes. To catch them, Trainers will need to travel the world.

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Pokémon GO Official Art Featuring Player Trading Pokemon On Smartphone

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Gigalith

Evolves from Boldore

Trainers should be aware of one important difference: Pokémon with Trade Evolutions inPokémon GOdoesn’t evolve automatically when Traded like in the mainlinePokémongames.Instead, Trading only reduces the Candy cost of evolving to zero.

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Gourgeist

Evolves from Pumpkaboo

Once any of these Pokémon has been Traded to another Trainer, the cost of evolving it into its next form is reduced to zero.According to thePokémon GO Wiki, this also works if Trainers trade earlier forms of the Pokémon. For example, if a Trainer trades a Machop, the receiving player can still evolve Machoke into its final form Machamp without spending Candy.

Trainers should note that all ten Pokémon with Trade Evolutions can still be evolved without Trading by using Candy (usually 100 or 200 Candy, depending on the species).As such, trading isn’t essential; it is a free alternative to Candy Evolution for socially-minded trainers.

However, before Trainers Trade any Pokémon, it’s worth being aware of some important caveats and restrictions on Trading inPokémon GO. In most mainlinePokémongames, Trainers could trade almost any Pokémon to their friends for free without any restrictions, but Trading inPokémon GOworks very differently.

Pokémon GO Trade Evolutions Explained

An In-Depth Explainer On How Trading Works In Pokémon GO

There are several aspects of Trading inPokémon GOthat Trainers should be aware ofdistance limits, level requirements, random stat and IV changes, and Trading costs.

Trainers must be friends and within 100 meters of each other in real life in order to Trade. Global Trading isn’t a feature, so Trading is an entirely local gameplay mechanic requiring both Trainers to be relatively close. Both Trainers must also be Trainer Level 10 or higher.

There are also other restrictions on trading.Crucially, Pokémon that have already been Traded cannot be Traded again.

The process of Trading also randomly alters the Pokémon’s stats.Stats randomized by the Trading process include Combat Power (CP) and HP and Individual Values (IVs) such as Attack, Defense, and Stamina. As such, Trainers aiming to send Traded Pokémon into battle need to be aware that their stats can shift up or down.

IVs are randomized by the Trading process and can land anywhere between 1 and 15. However, the Friendship Level of the two Trainers involve in the trade will affect the end value.Higher Friendship Levels result in a higher minimum IV value.

1 - 15

2 - 15

3 - 15

5 - 15

Lucky Friend

12-15

Friendship Level increases based on how many days players have registered each other as friends and interacted with each other, such as by sending Gifts or battling.Reaching Best Friend level requires players to have been friends for at least 90 days with consistent daily interactions. Lucky Friend status is only obtainable at random once Trainers are Best Friends, with a roughly 1% chance for this to happen each day.

Finally, Trading also costs Stardust. The amount varies depending on the Friendship Level of the two Trainers involved in the Trade. Costs will also be higher if one Trainer hasn’t already registered the Pokémon in their Pokédex. Trading Legendary, Mythical, orShiny Pokémon inPokémon GOcosts even more Stardust.

800 Stardust

40,000 Stardust

If Trainers are Trading a Pokémon that isn’t registered in either Pokédex, this is considered a Special Trade.Special Trades can only take place once a day.

As such, when it comes to Trade Evolution, Trainers should be aware of how the Trading mechanic works inPokémon GO.For the best possible end result from trading, trainers should aim to build up their friendship level to the maximum possible level before trading any Pokémon.

As mentioned above, Trade Evolutions are also optional inPokémon GO. Trainers who Trade Pokémon to evolve them mainly benefit from not having to spend Candy but still have to spend Stardust and dedicate time to building Friendship Levels. None of the Trade Evolutions inPokémon GOare exclusive, so it’s up to Trainers to decide how they want to evolve these Pokémon.