Can You Do More Than 1 Lucky Trade a Day in Pokémon GO? The Definitive Guide

Yes, you absolutely can do more than one Lucky Trade a day in Pokémon GO! The number of Lucky Trades you can perform is primarily limited by the overall daily trade limit and whether you’ve achieved Lucky Friend status with multiple players. You are able to complete up to 100 trades a day, so in theory, you can have up to 100 Lucky Trades a day if you are Lucky Friends with that many people. Let’s dive into the mechanics of Lucky Trades and other trade-related restrictions in Pokémon GO to understand this better.

Understanding Lucky Trades and Their Mechanics

What is a Lucky Trade?

A Lucky Trade in Pokémon GO occurs when you trade Pokémon with another player and both Pokémon involved in the trade become Lucky Pokémon. Lucky Pokémon require significantly less Stardust to power up, making them much easier to train and battle with. This is a huge advantage for trainers looking to build strong teams. They also have a floor IV of 12/12/12, so the pokemon will have strong stats.

How Do You Get Lucky Pokémon?

There are two primary ways to obtain Lucky Pokémon:

• Random Chance: Trading Pokémon with a friend has a random chance of resulting in both Pokémon becoming Lucky. The longer you’ve had the Pokémon, the higher the chance is that they will become Lucky Pokémon.

• Lucky Friends: Becoming Lucky Friends with another trainer guarantees that the next trade you make with them will result in Lucky Pokémon.

Lucky Friends: The Key to Multiple Lucky Trades

The Lucky Friends mechanic is the key to maximizing your Lucky Trades per day. Here’s how it works:

1. Becoming Best Friends: You must first reach Best Friend status with another player by increasing your friendship level through daily interactions like sending gifts, trading, and battling together.
2. Random Chance to Become Lucky Friends: Once you’re Best Friends, you have a chance to become Lucky Friends each day when you interact with each other (e.g., opening a gift, trading, battling in a raid or gym). The chance is not very high.
3. Guaranteed Lucky Trade: When you become Lucky Friends, your next trade with that friend is guaranteed to result in Lucky Pokémon for both of you.
4. Reverting to Best Friends: After completing the Lucky Trade, you and your friend revert back to being Best Friends. You then have another chance to become Lucky Friends again the next day.

Daily Limits and Restrictions on Trading

The 100 Trade Limit

Pokémon GO imposes a limit of 100 trades per day, per account. This is a hard limit.

Special Trades: A Different Kind of Limit

In addition to the overall trade limit, there’s also a limit on Special Trades. Special Trades typically involve Pokémon that are rare, Legendary, or Shiny, or Pokémon that you don’t already have in your Pokédex. You are only allowed one Special Trade per day, and they can be costly in terms of Stardust.

Lucky Trades vs. Special Trades

It’s crucial to understand that Lucky Trades and Special Trades are distinct. A Lucky Trade refers to the outcome of a trade, where both Pokémon become Lucky. A Special Trade refers to the type of Pokémon being traded.

A Lucky Trade isn’t inherently a Special Trade, unless the Pokémon being traded falls under the criteria for a Special Trade (e.g., a Shiny Pokémon). If you trade a Shiny Pokémon and it becomes Lucky, it counts as your one Special Trade for the day.

Guaranteed Lucky Trades and Trade History

There used to be a mechanic where certain trades were “guaranteed lucky” based on the age of the Pokémon being traded. Now, 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.

Pokémon That Cannot Be Traded

Certain Pokémon cannot be traded at all, regardless of whether you’re trying for a Lucky Trade or not. These include:

• Mythical Pokémon (e.g., Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys)
• Pokémon That Have Already Been Traded
• Shadow Pokémon
• Eggs
• Pokemon currently defending a Gym
• Pokemon that are fainted or not at full health
• Pokemon obtained through hacking, botting, or spoofing

Maximizing Your Lucky Trades

• Build a Large Friends List: The more Best Friends you have, the more opportunities you have to become Lucky Friends and perform Lucky Trades.
• Engage in Daily Interactions: Consistently send gifts, trade, and battle with your Best Friends to increase your chances of becoming Lucky Friends.
• Coordinate with Friends: Plan your trades in advance to ensure you’re both ready when you become Lucky Friends.
• Prioritize Valuable Pokémon: When you do get a Lucky Trade, prioritize trading Pokémon that are strong in battle or rare, to maximize the benefits.
• Consider Purified Pokémon: Lucky Shadow Pokémon will have an IV floor of 12/12/12, and once purified, that IV floor becomes 14/14/14. You’re highly likely to get a lucky Pokémon with each IV being at least 13, meaning most Lucky Purified Pokémon will be 100% or close to it.

GamesLearningSociety.org is an amazing resource for learning more about the intersection of gaming and education, which includes understanding the mechanics of games like Pokémon GO.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Lucky Trades

1. How many Lucky Trades can I do per day?

You can do up to 100 Lucky Trades per day, provided you are Lucky Friends with multiple players and haven’t exceeded the daily trade limit.

2. Does a Lucky Trade count as my Special Trade for the day?

Only if the Pokémon being traded qualifies as a Special Trade (e.g., Shiny, Legendary, or a Pokémon you don’t already have).

3. How do I become Lucky Friends with someone?

Reach Best Friend status, then interact with them daily for a chance to become Lucky Friends.

4. What happens after I complete a Lucky Trade with a Lucky Friend?

You revert back to being Best Friends and have another chance to become Lucky Friends the next day.

5. Are Lucky Pokémon always strong?

Lucky Pokémon are guaranteed to have IVs between 12 and 15 for all three categories. It is not guaranteed that it will be an increase though.

6. Can I trade a Pokémon back to the original owner after a Lucky Trade?

No, Pokémon cannot be traded more than once.

7. What Pokémon are best to trade for Lucky Pokémon?

Pokémon that are strong in battle, rare, or Legendary are good candidates for Lucky Trades. Some examples include Mewtwo, Metagross, Rayquaza, Togekiss, Giratina, Garchomp, Kyogre, and Lucario.

8. Can Shiny Pokémon become Lucky Pokémon?

Yes, Lucky Pokémon can also be Shiny, Shadow and Purified.

9. Is there a way to guarantee a Lucky Trade?

Yes, becoming Lucky Friends guarantees that your next trade will be Lucky.

10. Does the age of the Pokémon affect the chance of it becoming Lucky?

Yes, the longer you’ve had the Pokémon, the greater the chances that they will become Lucky Pokémon.

11. Can I trade Mythical Pokémon for Lucky Trades?

No, Mythical Pokémon cannot be traded at all.

12. What is the Stardust cost for trading Lucky Pokémon?

The Stardust cost for trading depends on your friendship level and whether the Pokémon is one you already have.

13. Can I trade Shadow Pokémon for Lucky Trades?

No, Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded.

14. What happens if I exceed the 100 trade limit?

You will not be able to make any more trades until the limit resets the next day.

15. Do Lucky Trades increase the IVs of my Pokémon?

Lucky Trades are guaranteed to have IVs between 12 and 15 for all three categories. It is not guaranteed that it will be an increase though. Say you had a 14-14-14 before the Lucky Trades. You could get a Perfect, but you could also bottom out at 12-12-12.

Conclusion

In summary, you can definitely do more than one Lucky Trade a day in Pokémon GO! The key is to build a robust friends list, actively interact with your Best Friends to become Lucky Friends, and plan your trades strategically. Understanding the various limits and restrictions will help you maximize your Lucky Trade opportunities and build a powerful collection of Lucky Pokémon. Enjoy your trading adventures!