Can Pokemon Trade Back? Untangling the Rules of Pokemon Trading
The short answer: No, Pokemon cannot be traded back in most Pokemon games, including Pokemon GO. Once a trade is completed, that Pokemon is permanently with its new owner, with no official mechanism to reverse or undo the exchange. This one-way system is a fundamental aspect of the Pokemon trading experience, designed to prevent abuse and maintain balance within the game.
Understanding the Nuances of Pokemon Trading
Trading Pokemon has always been a cornerstone of the Pokemon franchise, fostering social interaction and enabling players to complete their Pokedexes. However, the rules surrounding trading can be complex, varying slightly across different games. Let’s delve into the reasons behind the trade limitations and the intricacies of how trading works.
Why the One-Way Trade System?
The decision to make trades irreversible isn’t arbitrary. It stems from a few key factors:
- Preventing Exploitation: Imagine a scenario where players could repeatedly trade Pokemon back and forth, potentially manipulating stats or farming resources. The one-way system minimizes the risk of such exploitation. The developers actively try to stop players “re-rolling a Pokémon’s stats through trade” over and over.
- Maintaining Scarcity: Certain Pokemon, like Legendary or Shiny Pokemon, are highly sought after. Allowing players to easily trade and retrieve these Pokemon could dilute their value and diminish the excitement of obtaining them.
- Encouraging Commitment: Trading is intended to be a significant decision. By making trades permanent, the game encourages players to carefully consider their choices and build lasting connections with the Pokemon they acquire. This also promotes a sense of ownership and responsibility.
- Technical Limitations: In earlier games, the technical infrastructure may have made implementing a two-way trade system more complex. While this is less of a concern in modern games, the tradition of one-way trades has persisted.
Pokemon GO: A Unique Trading Landscape
Pokemon GO has its own specific rules governing trades, further reinforcing the principle that Pokemon cannot be traded back.
- One-Time Trade Rule: A Pokemon that has been traded once can never be traded again. This is a hard and fast rule.
- Special Trade Restrictions: Certain Pokemon, such as Mythical Pokemon (like Mew or Celebi) are entirely untradeable. This ensures that these rare and powerful creatures remain exclusive.
- Friendship Levels: Trading in Pokemon GO requires a certain level of friendship between the players involved. Higher friendship levels unlock additional benefits, such as reduced Stardust costs for trades involving rare Pokemon. You only need to be friendship level one with a friend to initiate a trade, which will only take one day.
- Proximity Requirement: To trade in Pokemon GO, players must be physically close to each other (around 100m). This encourages real-world interaction and prevents remote trading exploits.
- Lucky Pokemon: Trading can result in a “Lucky” Pokemon, which requires less Stardust to power up. This adds an element of chance and excitement to the trading process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pokemon Trading
1. Can I get my Pokemon back if I accidentally traded it?
Unfortunately, no. Once a trade is completed in most Pokemon games, including Pokemon GO, there is no official way to reverse the trade and retrieve your Pokemon. Always double-check the Pokemon you’re offering before confirming the trade.
2. Are there any exceptions to the “no trade back” rule?
Generally, no. There might be rare instances in unofficial or hacked versions of games where modifications allow for trade reversals, but these are not supported by the official game developers and are highly discouraged.
3. What happens if I trade a Pokemon and then realize it was a mistake?
Regrettably, you’ll have to accept the consequences of the trade. The Pokemon now belongs to the other player. This reinforces the importance of careful consideration before trading.
4. Can a traded Pokemon be traded to someone else?
No. In Pokemon GO, a Pokemon that has already been traded once cannot be traded again. This rule is in place to prevent abuse and manipulation of Pokemon stats.
5. Do traded Pokemon obey me in battle?
In some Pokemon games, traded Pokemon may disobey you if your trainer level or badge count is insufficient. For example, after level 10, your traded pokemon will disobey you. You’ll need the second badge to have level 30 and below traded pokemon to obey you. However, Pokemon you caught yourself will always obey.
6. How do I cancel a trade before it’s completed?
The process varies by game. In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, you can usually cancel a trade by going back into the trading menu or disconnecting from the internet before confirming the final trade.
7. What is a “Lucky” Pokemon, and how do I get one?
Lucky Pokemon are more likely to be strong opponents in battle, require less Stardust to power up, and appear with a shimmery effect in the Pokédex and on the Pokémon’s Summary page. Lucky Pokemon are obtained by trading Pokemon with friends, with each trade having a small chance to result in a Lucky Pokemon.
8. Are certain Pokemon untradeable?
Yes. In Pokemon GO, Mythical Pokemon like Mew, Celebi, Darkrai, Deoxys, Diancie, Genesect, Hoopa, Jirachi, and Keldeo cannot be traded. Also, Shadow Pokemon, Eggs, current Buddies, Pokemon currently defending a Gym, Pokemon that are fainted, and Pokemon that have already been traded cannot be traded.
9. Why can’t I trade Shiny Pokemon sometimes?
Trading shiny Pokemon can be expensive in terms of Stardust, especially if one of the trainers doesn’t already have that shiny Pokemon registered in their Pokedex. If one of you don’t have the shiny form it’s going to cost both of you 80,000 stardust at Ultra Friends.
10. What are the requirements for trading in Pokemon GO?
You need to be Pokemon GO Friends with the person you are trading with, have a Trainer Level of 10 or above, and be within close physical proximity (around 100m).
11. How do friendship levels affect trading in Pokemon GO?
Higher friendship levels reduce the Stardust cost of trading, especially for rare or new Pokemon. Good friends can be achieved after a day of friendship. If players want to trade for Pokemon they haven’t caught yet, they’ll need to be on the second level of friendship, great friends.
12. Can I trade Pokemon from older games to newer games?
Generally, you can’t directly trade Pokemon across multiple generations of games. You usually need to use a transfer service like Pokemon Bank or Pokemon HOME to move Pokemon between compatible games.
13. Why do the CP and HP of a Pokemon change after trading?
The CP and HP of a Pokemon change after trading to prevent players from manipulating stats through repeated trades. Though HP and CP of a Pokemon when traded changes, other aspects – such as size and moves – do not.
14. What is a “guaranteed Lucky Trade” and how does it work?
All July-Aug 2016 Pokémon are guaranteed Lucky if the sender has been in fewer than 10 trades (as sender or recipient) where at least one party was guaranteed.
15. What is the lucky trade limit?
The Trainer sending the guaranteed Lucky Pokémon must have been involved in fewer than 15 trades (as either a sender or recipient) where at least one party was guaranteed.
The Social and Educational Aspects of Trading
While the gameplay mechanics of Pokemon trading are important, the social and educational aspects are equally significant. Trading encourages players to communicate, negotiate, and collaborate, fostering valuable social skills. As the Games Learning Society highlights, games can be powerful tools for learning and development. The act of trading requires understanding game mechanics, resource management, and strategic decision-making. Furthermore, the rules and limitations of trading teach players about consequences, fairness, and the importance of respecting agreements. You can explore more about game-based learning on the GamesLearningSociety.org website.
In conclusion, while you cannot trade Pokemon back once a trade is completed, understanding the rules and nuances of trading enhances the overall Pokemon experience and promotes valuable skills.