Can You Give Pokémon Away? A Comprehensive Guide to Pokémon Trading and Transfers
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The short answer is no, you cannot simply “give away” Pokémon in the traditional sense in Pokémon GO or most other Pokémon games. The primary mechanic for transferring Pokémon between players is trading. This means a one-for-one exchange is required; you give a Pokémon, and you receive one in return. There are some exceptions using other “Pokémon” family ecosystem such as the Pokémon Home, but the other player will require an account and will receive the Pokémon in there. It’s not a direct gift.
Understanding the Trading System
The trading system is designed to encourage interaction and collaboration between players. It allows you to help friends complete their Pokédex, obtain Lucky Pokémon, or even acquire specific Pokémon for battling. However, the trading system comes with some limitations and nuances that are important to understand.
Navigating the Trading Screen in Pokémon GO
Initiating a trade in Pokémon GO is a straightforward process:
- Access your Trainer Profile: In Map View, tap on your Trainer Profile at the bottom-left of the screen.
- Open your Friend List: Tap the Friends tab at the top of the screen to access your list of in-game friends.
- Select the Trainer: Tap on the Trainer you wish to trade Pokémon with.
- Enter the Trading Screen: Tap on the Trade button to enter the trading screen. Note: You must be within a certain physical proximity to the other player to initiate a trade.
Restrictions on Trading
Several restrictions apply to Pokémon trading to prevent abuse and maintain the game’s integrity:
- Trade Distance: You must be physically near the person you want to trade with. Remote trading is not allowed in most situations.
- Trainer Level: You must be at least Level 10 to be able to trade.
- Special Pokémon: Certain Mythical Pokémon (like Mew, Celebi, Darkrai, Deoxys, Diancie, Genesect) and Pokémon that have been traded previously cannot be traded again.
- Shadow Pokémon: Shadow Pokémon cannot be traded.
- Pokémon State: Pokémon that are fainted, not at full health, or currently defending a Gym cannot be traded.
- Buddy Status: You’re unable to transfer multiple Shiny Pokémon, Lucky Pokémon, or Buddy Pokémon with whom you’ve reached Good Buddy status or above at a time.
- Hacked/Spoofed Pokémon: Pokémon obtained through illegitimate means (hacking, botting, or spoofing) cannot be traded.
The Significance of Stardust Cost
Trading isn’t free; it costs Stardust. The amount of Stardust required depends on several factors:
- Friendship Level: Higher friendship levels between trainers reduce the Stardust cost. There are four levels of friendship: Good Friend, Great Friend, Ultra Friend, and Best Friend.
- Pokédex Entry: Trading a Pokémon that one trainer doesn’t have in their Pokédex costs more Stardust.
- Shiny and Legendary Pokémon: Trading Shiny or Legendary Pokémon drastically increases the Stardust cost, especially if one trainer doesn’t already own that Pokémon.
What About Pokémon HOME?
While Pokémon GO restricts direct gifting, Pokémon HOME offers some flexibility. Pokémon HOME is a cloud-based service that allows you to manage your Pokémon collection across different Pokémon games. However, you cannot directly give a Pokemon in “Pokémon Go” to someone using “Pokémon Home.” Each player would have to have an account and transfer it individually, which is not an indirect gifting as it requires a lot of steps and not really user-friendly in that sense.
Purifying Shadow Pokémon
Another relevant aspect is the purification of Shadow Pokémon. While it’s not directly related to giving away Pokémon, the decision to purify a Shadow Pokémon impacts its value. Purifying improves a Shadow Pokémon’s appraisal and reduces the Stardust and Candy required to power it up. It also changes the move “Frustration” to “Return.” Whether or not to purify is a complex decision, as Shadow Pokémon receive a damage boost, but purified Pokémon benefit from lower costs and improved IVs.
Additional Considerations
- Traded Pokémon and Obedience: Traded Pokémon might not obey your commands in the main series games until you’ve earned enough Gym Badges. This adds a layer of challenge to using traded Pokémon.
- Lucky Pokémon: Trading has a chance to result in Lucky Pokémon, which require less Stardust to power up and have guaranteed high IVs. This is a major incentive for trading.
- Impulse Trading: Be careful when trading. Once a Pokémon is traded, it cannot be traded back. Think before you swap!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I trade a Pokémon back to the person I got it from?
No, traded Pokémon cannot be traded back. This is a permanent decision.
2. What Pokémon cannot be traded at all?
Mythical Pokémon (like Mew, Celebi, Darkrai, Deoxys, Diancie, Genesect), Shadow Pokémon, and Pokémon that have already been traded once cannot be traded again. Eggs also cannot be traded.
3. Why is trading Shiny Pokémon so expensive?
Trading Shiny Pokémon is expensive because they are rare. The Stardust cost increases significantly, especially if one player doesn’t already have the Shiny in their Pokédex.
4. Can I trade with someone who is far away from me?
In Pokémon GO, you typically need to be physically close to the person you are trading with. There are exceptions during special events when Niantic may temporarily increase the trade distance.
5. What is the point of trading in Pokémon GO?
Trading helps you complete your Pokédex, obtain Lucky Pokémon, acquire Pokémon with better stats, and strengthen your friendships with other players. It also enables you to receive specific Pokémon that might be difficult to find in your local area.
6. How does friendship level affect trading?
Higher friendship levels reduce the Stardust cost for trading and increase the chances of receiving a Lucky Pokémon.
7. Can I trade a Pokémon that is my current buddy?
You cannot trade a Pokémon that is your current buddy. You’ll need to remove it as your buddy first. Also, you can not trade Pokémon that are “Good Buddy” status or higher.
8. Will a traded Pokémon obey me?
In the main series games, traded Pokémon may not obey you if your trainer level is too low. You need to earn Gym Badges to gain their trust.
9. Should I purify Shadow Pokémon before trading?
You cannot trade Shadow Pokémon, so purification is irrelevant to trading. The decision to purify depends on whether you value the damage boost of Shadow Pokémon or the improved stats and lower costs of purified Pokémon.
10. What happens if I trade a Pokémon with a held item?
In Pokémon GO, Pokémon do not hold items. In other Pokémon games where held items exist, the item typically returns to the trainer who traded the Pokémon.
11. Can I trade Pokémon with myself?
While not directly supported in Pokémon GO, you can use Pokémon HOME to transfer Pokémon between different accounts you own, provided you have access to both accounts. In other series, you can use the GTS to trade with yourself.
12. What are Lucky Pokémon, and how do I get them?
Lucky Pokémon require less Stardust to power up and have guaranteed high IVs. They are obtained randomly through trading. Higher friendship levels increase your chances of receiving a Lucky Pokémon.
13. Can I give someone Poké Balls or other items?
You cannot directly give Poké Balls or other items to another player. However, you can send gifts to friends, which may contain Poké Balls and other useful items.
14. How do I get Mew in Pokémon GO?
You can catch Mew by completing the Special Research “A Mythical Discovery.” This is a multi-step questline given by Professor Willow.
15. Is it better to have a 0-star Shadow Pokémon or a purified Pokémon?
It depends. A 0-star Shadow Pokémon can still be powerful due to the damage boost, especially if it has good Attacks and CP. Purifying it will improve its IVs, but it will lose the Shadow bonus. Evaluate its stats and your battle needs to determine the best course of action.
The study of these kinds of game mechanics can also be further explored through the work done by the Games Learning Society. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.
By understanding these rules and restrictions, you can effectively utilize the trading system in Pokémon GO to enhance your gameplay experience and strengthen your connections with other trainers.