Decoding the Trade: Do Appraisals Change in Pokémon GO?

Yes, appraisals absolutely change when you trade Pokémon in Pokémon GO. This is a fundamental mechanic designed to prevent players from simply trading perfect IV (Individual Value) Pokémon to each other. Upon trading, a Pokémon’s IVs are rerolled, and consequently, its appraisal, based on those new IVs, will also change. Let’s delve into the specifics of how this works and what it means for your trading strategies.

Understanding Pokémon GO’s Appraisal System

Before exploring the impact of trading, it’s crucial to understand the appraisal system itself. Team Leaders (Candela, Blanche, and Spark) provide appraisals to give you insight into a Pokémon’s potential. They offer a combination of text cues and a star rating system (from 0 to 3 stars, with a possible red stamp indicating perfection) to convey a Pokémon’s IVs. These IVs, ranging from 0 to 15 for Attack, Defense, and HP, directly influence a Pokémon’s overall stats and performance in battle.

The appraisal system is your in-game tool to gauge the quality of your Pokémon and determine which ones are worth investing resources into. A Pokémon with high IVs will generally outperform one with low IVs, even at the same CP (Combat Power).

The Mechanics of Trading and IV Rerolls

When you trade a Pokémon, its IVs are not preserved. Instead, the game generates new IVs within a specific range. This range is influenced by the friendship level between the trading players. The higher the friendship level, the narrower and higher the IV range becomes. Here’s a breakdown:

• Good Friends: The lowest IVs are possible.
• Great Friends: A slightly higher minimum IV is guaranteed.
• Ultra Friends: The minimum IV increases further.
• Best Friends: The highest minimum IV is guaranteed among all the friendship levels.

Lucky Pokémon, which have a higher chance of occurring through trading, are guaranteed to have a minimum IV of 12/12/12. This significantly increases the likelihood of receiving a 3-star Pokémon.

Seeing the Potential Change

Before confirming a trade, Pokémon GO displays a potential CP range that the Pokémon might have after the trade. This range is determined by the possible IV combinations the Pokémon could receive, allowing you to get an estimate of how the Pokémon’s stats could change. A higher CP range means that the recipient Pokémon potentially has a better IV, and a lower CP range indicates a decrease in IV.

Why This System Exists

The IV rerolling mechanic is implemented to maintain game balance. Without it, players could easily obtain perfect or near-perfect Pokémon simply by trading with each other. This would diminish the importance of catching Pokémon in the wild and potentially undermine the entire gameplay loop. This system also helps make the game more accessible, ensuring that even if you don’t have access to 100% IV Pokémon in your area, you could potentially get good IVs by trading.

Strategic Implications of Trading

Knowing that appraisals change upon trading impacts how you should approach trading:

• Never trade perfect IV Pokémon. The risk of losing that 100% IV rating is simply too high.
• Trade Pokémon with mediocre IVs. These Pokémon have the most potential to improve through trading.
• Focus on Lucky Pokémon. These Pokémon have a guaranteed minimum IV, making them more likely to be viable for battling.
• Maximize friendship levels. Higher friendship levels increase the chances of receiving Pokémon with better IVs.
• Consider filling the Pokedex: Trading is excellent for collecting new Pokémon to fill in the gaps in your Pokédex.

Trading isn’t only about getting better IVs; it’s also a great way to acquire Pokémon that are rare in your local area or to get Lucky Pokémon. The GamesLearningSociety.org is a good place to understand the complex strategy behind successful games.

FAQs: Your Trading Questions Answered

1. Do Pokémon levels stay the same through a trade?

Yes, Pokémon levels generally stay the same through a trade, with one exception: If the recipient trainer is at a lower level than what the Pokemon is level, it will be downgraded to their level +2.

2. What happens if you trade a 100% IV Pokémon?

You will lose the 100% IV rating. The Pokémon’s IVs will be rerolled, and it is highly unlikely it will remain perfect after the trade.

3. Do Pokémon appraisals change after evolution or powering up?

No, evolving or powering up a Pokémon will not change its underlying IVs or its corresponding appraisal. However, purifying a Shadow Pokémon will increase their appraisal because it gives a +2 bonus to all IVs.

4. Are Lucky Pokémon always 3 stars?

No, but they have a high chance of being 3 stars. Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV of 12/12/12. Anything 82% or higher (13/12/12+) will be 3 stars.

5. Is it worth keeping 0-star Pokémon?

It depends. A 0-star Pokémon is not good for competitive battling. But if the Pokemon is a Shiny Pokemon with a rare cosmetic appeal, it is worth keeping.

6. Is a 2-star Pokémon good?

A 2-star Pokémon can be usable, particularly if you’re early in the game, but it’s generally not ideal for high-level raids or PvP. Focus on Pokémon with 3 stars for better performance.

7. What is a perfect 3-star Pokémon?

A perfect 3-star Pokémon (also known as a “4*”) has 100% perfect IVs – 15/15/15 for Attack, Defense, and HP. It’s indicated by three red bars and a red stamp in the appraisal.

8. Should I keep Pokémon with high CP or appraisal?

Prioritize appraisal over CP. A Pokémon with high CP but low IVs will eventually be outperformed by a Pokémon with lower CP but high IVs.

9. Should I purify Shadow Pokémon?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon can make it stronger, but it also removes the Shadow bonus. Whether to purify or not depends on the specific Pokémon and your goals. Purifying a Shadow Pokémon will improve its appraisal.

10. Should I appraise my Pokémon before I evolve them?

Yes, always appraise your Pokémon before evolving them. This helps you determine which Pokémon are worth investing resources into.

11. Can I trade shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO?

Yes, you can trade shiny Pokémon. However, trading shiny and legendary Pokémon can be more expensive in terms of Stardust.

12. What does “3* 4*” mean in Pokémon GO?

“3*” refers to a Pokémon with a 3-star appraisal (around 80-99% IVs). “4*” (or “hundo”) refers to a perfect 3-star Pokémon with a red stamp (100% IVs).

13. Should you evolve a 4-star Pokémon?

Absolutely! Evolving a 4-star Pokémon is highly recommended. These Pokémon have the highest potential stats and will perform exceptionally well in battles.

14. Are 4-star Pokémon stronger?

Yes, 4-star Pokémon are the strongest versions of their species due to their perfect IVs.

15. Are shiny Pokémon stronger?

No, shiny Pokémon are not inherently stronger than their non-shiny counterparts. Their strength depends solely on their IVs, CP, and moveset.

The Final Verdict

Trading in Pokémon GO adds a layer of complexity and strategy to the game. While it’s impossible to guarantee perfect IVs through trading, understanding the mechanics of IV rerolls and leveraging friendship levels and Lucky Pokémon can significantly increase your chances of acquiring powerful and viable Pokémon for your battles.