Is Lucky Pokémon a Special Trade in Pokémon GO?
The short answer is: No, a Lucky Pokémon trade is not considered a special trade in Pokémon GO. While they are certainly desirable and involve a unique mechanic, they operate under different rules than special trades. The primary distinction lies in the daily limitations. You can engage in multiple Lucky trades daily, while you are limited to only one special trade per day. However, the lines can blur when a Lucky trade also involves a special trade eligible Pokemon. Let’s delve deeper into why this is the case and explore the intricacies of Lucky Pokémon and special trades.
Understanding Lucky Pokémon
What Are Lucky Pokémon?
A Lucky Pokémon is a variant that appears during a trade between two players in Pokémon GO. These Pokemon are distinguished by a unique visual effect – a shimmery aura surrounding them – and come with a key benefit: they require only half the amount of Stardust to power up. This makes them incredibly valuable for trainers looking to optimize their battle teams.
How Do You Get Lucky Pokémon?
The process of obtaining a Lucky Pokémon is essentially random, with a few conditions that boost your chances. Initially, when you make a trade, there is a small chance that the Pokemon you receive will become Lucky. The likelihood of this event occurring is significantly influenced by how long you have possessed the Pokémon you’re trading. The longer you’ve kept the Pokémon, the higher the probability it will become Lucky in the trade.
The Role of Time
- Less than One Year: Pokémon held for less than one year have a base 5% chance of becoming Lucky.
- One Year or More: Pokémon kept for a year or more have their chances doubled to 10% of being Lucky when traded.
Lucky Friends
The most reliable way to secure a Lucky Pokémon is through Lucky Friend status. Once you’ve reached the Best Friends level with another trainer, there’s a chance you’ll become Lucky Friends when interacting. Once that happens, your next trade is guaranteed to result in both Pokemon becoming Lucky. This guaranteed outcome is a major advantage for those looking to reliably acquire Lucky Pokémon. These interactions can include trading, opening gifts, battling in raids or gyms, or trainer battles.
Special Trades Defined
What Constitutes a Special Trade?
Special Trades are a specific category of trades that are governed by stricter rules. The following Pokémon are considered part of Special Trades:
- Pokémon not already in your Pokédex: Trading for a Pokémon you don’t yet own will count towards your one special trade daily limit.
- Legendary Pokémon: Any trade involving a Legendary Pokémon is a special trade.
- Shiny Pokémon: Trading a Shiny Pokémon will also count as a special trade.
- Unown Forms: Trading any form of Unown, will count as a special trade.
Daily Limit
The critical factor here is the one special trade per day limit. This restriction means that if you trade a Shiny or Legendary Pokemon, or even a Pokemon you don’t own, you’ve reached your special trade allowance for the day, regardless of if it resulted in a Lucky trade.
Why Lucky Trades Aren’t Special Trades
The confusion arises because Lucky Pokémon and special trades can intersect. A trade could involve a Legendary or Shiny Pokémon, making it a special trade, but also have a chance to turn the traded Pokemon into a Lucky Pokemon. However, the ‘Lucky’ status itself doesn’t make a trade “special.” Here’s why:
- No Daily Limit Restriction: The primary difference is that the Lucky designation alone does not restrict the number of times you can do it per day. You can have multiple Lucky trades as long as the Pokemon involved aren’t considered a special trade by being, Legendary, Shiny, Unown or a Pokemon not already in your pokedex.
- Probability-Based: The process of a Pokémon becoming Lucky is based on chance, except in the Lucky Friend scenario. Special Trades, however, are based on the type of Pokemon involved.
- No Additional Restrictions: Lucky Pokémon don’t bring any additional limitations beyond their potential overlap with a special trade.
FAQ: Lucky Pokémon and Special Trades
1. Can a Pokémon be both Lucky and Shiny?
Yes, absolutely! A Pokémon can be both Shiny and Lucky. This makes them incredibly rare and highly sought after. Trading a Shiny Pokémon is a special trade, but it can still become a Lucky Pokémon.
2. Are Lucky Pokémon always 3 stars?
No, not always. Lucky Pokémon have a guaranteed IV floor of 12/12/12, which translates to the very end of two-star rating. A rating of 82% or higher, achieved with IVs of 13/12/12 or more, will result in a three-star rating.
3. Do Lucky Trades guarantee better IVs?
Lucky Trades guarantee a minimum of 12/12/12 IVs for all stats. It’s not guaranteed to be an increase in stats but will always be within the 12-15 range. It is entirely possible to get a perfect 15/15/15 or a bottom 12/12/12 as the outcome of a lucky trade.
4. Can you get more than one Lucky trade per day?
Yes, you can have multiple Lucky trades in a day, as long as they do not involve a special trade. The only time you can’t is if the trade was a Special Trade, due to the special trade daily limit.
5. Does a Lucky trade make both Pokémon Lucky?
Yes, when you are Lucky Friends with another player, both Pokémon traded will become Lucky.
6. What happens if you lucky trade a 100% IV Pokémon?
The IVs of a traded Pokemon are always recalculated. Trading a 100% IV Pokemon does not guarantee you will get a 100% IV Pokemon in return, it can go down to as low as 12/12/12. Never trade your 100% IV Pokemon.
7. What is the benefit of having a Lucky Pokémon?
Lucky Pokémon require only half the amount of Stardust to power up, and they have a shimmery appearance in the Pokedex. They also are guaranteed to have decent IVs.
8. How do you guarantee a Lucky Trade?
You can only guarantee a Lucky Trade by achieving Lucky Friend status with another player. This is done by reaching the Best Friends level and then interacting daily, such as trading, gift opening, and battling in raids or gyms, to receive the Lucky Friend Status.
9. Is Ditto considered a special trade?
No, Ditto is not considered a special trade. Although you can trade for it, it does not count toward quests that require you to “catch” a Ditto.
10. Can a 2-star Pokemon become a 3-star?
Yes, by using the purify function on a Shadow Pokemon, it will have its IVs increased by 2 for each stat. This has the potential to increase the Pokemon from a 2-star to a 3-star.
11. What is the best Legendary Pokemon for a Lucky trade?
Lugia is considered a safe bet for making a Lucky trade due to its usefulness in various areas of Pokémon GO, such as the GO Battle League in the Master League.
12. What are the odds of getting a 100% IV Lucky Pokemon?
The odds are very low. While Lucky Pokemon have a minimum IV floor of 12, to get 100% (15/15/15), it is still low given that trades reroll all stats.
13. Does having a Lucky Pokemon reduce the Stardust cost?
Yes, this is a core benefit of a Lucky Pokemon. They require half the Stardust to power up.
14. How do I trigger a Lucky Trade with my Best Friend?
Once you have a Best Friend, you have a chance to become Lucky Friends through interactions such as trading, opening gifts, battling together in raids or gyms, and challenging each other in trainer battles. This is not guaranteed each day so it is important to interact daily with the goal of a Lucky Friend status.
15. Is Unown a Special Trade?
Yes, any trade that involves an Unown Pokemon is considered a special trade.
Conclusion
In summary, while Lucky Pokémon trades are highly desirable for their cost-saving benefits and decent IV guarantees, they are not classified as special trades. The key is to understand that special trades are about the type of Pokemon and they are subjected to a daily restriction of one, while Lucky Trades occur due to luck or Lucky Friend status and do not have such restrictions. You can have multiple Lucky Trades, provided they don’t involve Legendary, Shiny, Unown or a Pokemon you don’t own, and those trades can occur every day. By knowing the rules of both, you can trade more strategically.