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How Much Does It Cost to Trade a Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO?

The Stardust cost to trade a Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO is variable, but it can range from 20,000 to 1,000,000 Stardust. The exact cost depends on two primary factors: your friendship level with the trading partner and whether the recipient already has that particular Legendary Pokémon registered in their Pokédex. Trading Legendaries is considered a Special Trade, and it’s important to understand all the factors to make informed decisions before initiating the trade.

Understanding the Stardust Cost

The Stardust cost is influenced by the following:

Friendship Level: The higher your friendship level with the player you’re trading with, the lower the Stardust cost. Friendship levels range from Good Friend to Best Friend, each offering a significant reduction.
Pokédex Registration: If the receiving player already has the Legendary Pokémon registered in their Pokédex, the Stardust cost is significantly reduced. If the Pokémon is unregistered, the cost is much higher.

Stardust Cost Breakdown

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the Stardust costs based on friendship level and Pokédex registration:

Good Friends (1 Heart):
- Unregistered Legendary: 1,000,000 Stardust
- Registered Legendary: 20,000 Stardust
Great Friends (2 Hearts):
- Unregistered Legendary: 800,000 Stardust
- Registered Legendary: 16,000 Stardust
Ultra Friends (3 Hearts):
- Unregistered Legendary: 80,000 Stardust
- Registered Legendary: 1,600 Stardust
Best Friends (4 Hearts):
- Unregistered Legendary: 40,000 Stardust
- Registered Legendary: 800 Stardust

The Importance of Friendship Level

As you can see, the difference in Stardust cost between being a Good Friend and a Best Friend is substantial, especially for unregistered Legendaries. Working to increase your friendship level before attempting a trade is often worth the effort. You can increase friendship by:

Sending and opening gifts daily.
Participating in raids together.
Battling in gyms together.
Trading Pokémon (even non-Legendary ones).

The Special Trade Mechanic

Trading Legendary Pokémon falls under the umbrella of Special Trades. Here are some crucial aspects of Special Trades:

Daily Limit: You are limited to one Special Trade per day, unless special events temporarily change this limit.
Friendship Requirement: You must be at least Good Friends with the player to conduct a Special Trade.
Stardust Cost: As detailed above, the Stardust cost is variable and depends on the factors we’ve discussed.

Special Trades also include trading Shiny Pokémon and Pokémon that the receiving player doesn’t have in their Pokédex. This ensures that players can’t easily obtain rare or powerful Pokémon without investing time and resources.

Why Trade Legendary Pokémon?

Despite the high Stardust cost, there are several reasons why players engage in trading Legendary Pokémon:

Improved IVs: Trading can result in Lucky Pokémon, which have better Individual Values (IVs) and require less Stardust to power up. Every trade has a chance of resulting in a Lucky Pokémon.
Completing the Pokédex: If a player is missing a particular Legendary Pokémon, trading is a viable way to fill that gap in their collection.
Candies: Trading Pokémon earns you candies for that species, which can be useful for powering up and evolving other Pokémon.
Duplicate Management: Players often trade away extra Legendary Pokémon to obtain ones with better stats or to help friends.

Stardust Management Tips

Given the high Stardust costs associated with Legendary trades, efficient Stardust management is crucial. Here are some tips:

Catch Everything: Make it a habit to catch as many Pokémon as possible, even common ones. Every catch adds to your Stardust reserves.
Star Pieces: Use Star Pieces during events that offer bonus Stardust. Star Pieces increase the amount of Stardust you earn for a limited time.
Complete Research Tasks: Many research tasks offer Stardust rewards. Prioritize these tasks to boost your Stardust income.
Gym Battles and Raids: Participating in gym battles and raids also yields Stardust.
Optimize Catching: Learn which Pokémon give the most stardust per catch. Sometimes focusing on specific pokemon during spotlight hours with catch bonuses can be very beneficial.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about trading Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO:

1. What is a Special Trade in Pokémon GO?

A Special Trade involves trading Legendary Pokémon, Shiny Pokémon, or Pokémon that the receiving player doesn’t already have in their Pokédex.

2. How many Special Trades can I do per day?

You are generally limited to one Special Trade per day, unless there are special events that temporarily increase this limit.

3. What is the minimum friendship level required to trade Legendaries?

You must be at least Good Friends with the player you are trading with to conduct a Special Trade involving Legendary Pokémon.

4. How can I increase my friendship level in Pokémon GO?

You can increase your friendship level by sending and opening gifts daily, participating in raids together, battling in gyms together, and trading Pokémon.

5. How much Stardust does it cost to trade an unregistered Legendary Pokémon?

The Stardust cost for trading an unregistered Legendary Pokémon ranges from 40,000 to 1,000,000, depending on your friendship level with the trading partner.

6. How much Stardust does it cost to trade a registered Legendary Pokémon?

The Stardust cost for trading a registered Legendary Pokémon ranges from 800 to 20,000, depending on your friendship level with the trading partner.

7. What is a Lucky Pokémon?

A Lucky Pokémon has improved IVs and requires less Stardust to power up. It is obtained randomly through trading.

8. Can Shadow Pokémon be traded in Pokémon GO?

No, Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded in Pokémon GO.

9. What are some tips for managing Stardust effectively?

To manage Stardust effectively, catch as many Pokémon as possible, use Star Pieces during events, complete research tasks, and participate in gym battles and raids.

10. Is it worth trading Legendary Pokémon?

Trading Legendary Pokémon can be worthwhile for improving IVs, completing the Pokédex, earning candies, and managing duplicate Pokémon.

11. Can I trade multiple of the same legendary pokemon in one day?

Yes, if the other player doesnt already have the legendary. Otherwise, you are only able to trade one special trade a day, which trading a legendary is.

12. Does community day help reduce the cost to trade legendaries?

No, Community Day bonuses rarely affect the base stardust cost of trading Legendaries. However, Community Days with Stardust bonuses can help you accumulate the necessary Stardust for trading in general.

13. Can I trade a Legendary Pokémon with someone who is not in my local area?

No, Trading in Pokémon GO requires you to be physically close to the player you are trading with. There is a limited radius within which trades can occur.

14. What happens if I don’t have enough Stardust to complete a Legendary trade?

If you don’t have enough Stardust, you won’t be able to initiate the trade. You’ll need to accumulate more Stardust before attempting the trade again.

15. Is there a way to get a guaranteed Lucky Pokémon through trading?

There is no guaranteed way to get a Lucky Pokémon through trading, but trading Pokémon that have been in storage for a long time increases the chances of them becoming Lucky.

Conclusion

Trading Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO involves careful consideration of Stardust costs, friendship levels, and the special trade mechanic. By understanding these factors and managing your resources effectively, you can make informed decisions and enhance your Pokémon GO experience. Furthermore, you can gain invaluable insights into the world of game-based learning and educational games by visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Learning about how games are developed and used in education can provide a deeper appreciation for the mechanics and strategies involved in games like Pokémon GO.

Trading legendary pokemon can seem daunting, but it becomes easier with time and proper resource management. Good luck, trainers!

How much does it cost to trade a legendary Pokemon go?