Can Lucky Friends Go Away in Pokémon GO? A Trainer’s Guide
Yes, Lucky Friends in Pokémon GO are not permanent. Your Lucky Friend status disappears immediately after you complete a trade with them. However, don’t despair! You can always try to become Lucky Friends again by interacting with that Best Friend daily. Think of it as a temporary boost to your friendship, ensuring a guaranteed Lucky Pokémon for both of you.
Understanding Lucky Friends and Lucky Pokémon
Let’s dive deeper into what it means to have a Lucky Friend and how it impacts your Pokémon GO experience. Being Lucky Friends offers a significant advantage: a guaranteed Lucky Trade. When you trade with a Lucky Friend, both players receive Lucky Pokémon. These Pokémon have several benefits:
- Higher IV Floor: Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV (Individual Value) of 12/12/12, making them stronger and more competitive.
- Reduced Stardust Cost: Powering up Lucky Pokémon requires significantly less Stardust, making them easier and more affordable to train.
The Mechanics of Becoming Lucky Friends
The journey to becoming Lucky Friends involves a bit of luck (pun intended!). Here’s the breakdown:
- Reach Best Friend Status: You must first achieve Best Friend status with another player. This requires reaching the maximum friendship level through daily interactions such as sending gifts, participating in raids together, battling in gyms, and trading Pokémon.
- Daily Interaction: Once you’re Best Friends, each day you interact with them, there’s a small chance (approximately 1%) you’ll become Lucky Friends. This interaction can be anything that increases friendship, like opening a gift, raiding together, or battling together.
- The Notification: If you become Lucky Friends, you’ll receive a notification in the game, and your friend’s profile will display a sparkling effect, confirming your Lucky Friend status.
The Post-Trade Reset
After completing a Lucky Trade, your Lucky Friend status is reset. You revert to being regular Best Friends. To become Lucky Friends again, you need to continue interacting daily, hoping for that 1% chance to trigger.
Strategic Trading
Because the Lucky Friend status is temporary, it’s essential to plan your trades strategically. Consider trading Pokémon with high CP (Combat Power) but low IVs, Pokémon you need for your Pokédex, or rare and valuable Pokémon that would benefit from becoming Lucky. Remember, both you and your Lucky Friend will receive Lucky Pokémon, so choose wisely!
Games Learning Society, a valuable resource for those interested in the educational aspects of gaming, provides a broader perspective on how games like Pokémon GO engage players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Lucky Friends
Here are some frequently asked questions related to Lucky Friends to further enhance your understanding:
1. How rare is becoming Lucky Friends in Pokémon GO?
The chance of becoming Lucky Friends with a Best Friend is approximately 1% each day you interact. While this might seem low, consistent daily interactions increase your odds over time.
2. Can you have multiple Lucky Friends at once?
Yes, it’s possible to have multiple Lucky Friends simultaneously. Each Best Friend has an independent chance of becoming Lucky each day.
3. Does the Lucky Friend status expire if you don’t trade right away?
No, the Lucky Friend status doesn’t expire. You remain Lucky Friends until you complete a trade. Feel free to wait for the perfect Pokémon to trade.
4. Can you become Lucky Friends with the same person more than once?
Yes, you can become Lucky Friends with the same person multiple times. However, you cannot become Lucky Friends with the same person on the same day.
5. Are Lucky Pokémon always three stars?
Not always, but they are more likely to be. Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV of 12/12/12. This means they are guaranteed to be at least a strong 2-star Pokémon, and anything 82% or higher (13/12/12+) will be a 3-star.
6. Does evolving a Lucky Pokémon remove the Lucky status?
No, evolving a Lucky Pokémon does not remove the Lucky status. The evolved form will also be a Lucky Pokémon.
7. What is the best strategy for increasing my chances of becoming Lucky Friends?
Consistent daily interaction with your Best Friends is key. Send gifts, open gifts, participate in raids and gym battles together, and trade Pokémon to maximize your chances.
8. Does trading a Shiny Pokémon guarantee it will become Lucky with a Lucky Friend?
Trading a Shiny Pokémon with a Lucky Friend does not guarantee a Lucky Pokémon, but if you trade with a Lucky Friend, both Pokémon involved in the trade will become Lucky, regardless of whether they are Shiny or not.
9. How much Stardust does it cost to trade a Legendary Pokémon with a Lucky Friend?
The cost of trading Legendary Pokémon is significantly reduced when trading with a Lucky Friend. With high friendship levels, the Stardust cost can be as low as 20,000 Stardust, provided the recipient has the Legendary registered in their Pokédex.
10. Is there a “Lucky Friends glitch” in Pokémon GO?
Historically, there have been reports of glitches where the Lucky status persists after one trade, but these are rare and usually quickly addressed by Niantic. Always assume the Lucky status will be cleared after a trade.
11. Can you trade a Lucky Pokémon back to the original owner?
No, Pokémon GO trades are permanent. Once a Pokémon is traded, it cannot be traded back.
12. Are 0-star Pokémon worth trading to try and get a Lucky Pokémon?
Yes, trading 0-star Pokémon can be a viable strategy, especially if you are trying to improve their IVs and potentially get a Lucky Pokémon with a higher stat floor.
13. Do Lucky Pokémon remain Lucky forever?
Yes, Lucky Pokémon remain Lucky forever. Their status does not change, regardless of how many times you power them up or evolve them.
14. What happens when you reach Best Friend status in Pokémon GO?
When you achieve Best Friend status, you unlock various benefits, including a Battle Boost, extra Premier Balls in raids, and the chance to become Lucky Friends.
15. Is there a limit to how many Best Friends you can have in Pokémon GO?
Yes, there is a limit to the number of friends you can have in Pokémon GO, which includes Best Friends. The current limit is 400 friends.
Understanding the nuances of Lucky Friends and Lucky Pokémon can significantly enhance your Pokémon GO experience. Utilize this knowledge to optimize your trades, build a stronger team, and enjoy the game to its fullest potential. Remember to stay informed about the latest game updates and community insights for a well-rounded gaming journey.