Do Lucky Trades Expire in Pokémon GO? Everything You Need to Know
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No, Lucky Trades themselves do not expire in Pokémon GO. Once you and a Best Friend achieve the Lucky Friend status, that status remains active until you complete a trade together. The traded Pokémon will then become Lucky Pokémon, and your Lucky Friend status will be consumed. You can then begin the process of trying to become Lucky Friends again with that player. It’s important to strategize your trades to maximize the benefit of this special status!
Understanding Lucky Friends and Lucky Pokémon
Before diving into the details, let’s clarify what Lucky Friends and Lucky Pokémon are. Lucky Friends are Best Friends who have a guaranteed Lucky Trade. This means that the Pokémon traded between them will become Lucky Pokémon. Lucky Pokémon have higher minimum Individual Values (IVs) and require less Stardust to power up, making them valuable assets in battles and raids.
How to Become Lucky Friends
Becoming Lucky Friends is a random occurrence that happens when you interact with your Best Friends. Each day, when you interact with a Best Friend (by opening a gift, battling together in a raid or gym, or engaging in Trainer Battles), there’s a chance you’ll become Lucky Friends. A notification will appear in the game to confirm that you’ve achieved this status.
The Benefits of Lucky Pokémon
Lucky Pokémon offer significant advantages:
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Higher IVs: They are guaranteed to have IVs between 12 and 15 for all three stats (Attack, Defense, and HP). This increases the likelihood of getting a strong Pokémon.
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Reduced Stardust Cost: Powering up Lucky Pokémon requires 50% less Stardust, which is a significant saving, especially for Pokémon with high power-up costs.
Maximizing Your Lucky Trades
Because the Lucky Friend status only lasts until the next trade, it’s essential to plan your trades carefully. Consider trading for rare, powerful, or shiny Pokémon to make the most of the guaranteed Lucky status. Coordination with your Lucky Friend is key to ensuring both players benefit from the trade.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Lucky Trades
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to help you further understand Lucky Trades in Pokémon GO:
1. How long does the Lucky Friend status last?
The Lucky Friend status lasts until you complete a trade with that friend. Sending or receiving gifts, participating in raids, or engaging in Trainer Battles will not remove the Lucky Friend status. It remains active until you trade.
2. Can I have multiple Lucky Friends at the same time?
Yes, it is possible to have more than one Lucky Friend active simultaneously. This means you can strategize multiple Lucky Trades with different friends.
3. How often can I become Lucky Friends with the same player?
You can become Lucky Friends with the same player multiple times. After completing a trade, the Lucky Friend status is cleared, and you can attempt to become Lucky Friends again through daily interactions.
4. Is there a limit to how many trades I can do per day?
Yes, there is a limit of 100 trades per account per day. This includes both regular and Lucky Trades.
5. Are Lucky Trades considered Special Trades?
No, Lucky Trades are not automatically considered Special Trades. Special Trades are reserved for certain Pokémon, such as Legendary, Shiny, or Pokémon not already in your Pokédex. However, a Lucky Trade can also be a Special Trade if the Pokémon being traded meets the criteria for a Special Trade. You are limited to one Special Trade per day.
6. Do Lucky Pokémon stay Lucky when traded again?
No, when you trade a Lucky Pokémon, it will not remain Lucky for the receiver. The Lucky status is a one-time benefit granted during the initial trade that triggers the Lucky Friend status.
7. Which Pokémon are best to trade when Lucky Friends?
Popular choices for Lucky Trades include powerful Legendary Pokémon like Mewtwo, Rayquaza, and Kyogre, as well as strong meta-relevant Pokémon like Metagross, Togekiss, and Garchomp. The goal is to acquire Pokémon that are strong in raids, gyms, or PvP battles with improved IVs and reduced Stardust costs.
8. Do Lucky Trades guarantee perfect IVs?
No, Lucky Trades do not guarantee perfect IVs (15/15/15). However, they do guarantee that the Pokémon will have IVs between 12 and 15 for each stat (Attack, Defense, and HP). This significantly increases the chances of getting a Pokémon with high IVs.
9. What is the minimum IV for Lucky Pokémon?
The minimum IVs for Lucky Pokémon are 12/12/12. This means that Lucky Pokémon are guaranteed to be in the top 20% of Pokémon by default.
10. What happens if I Lucky Trade a 100% IV Pokémon?
Trading a 100% IV Pokémon is generally not recommended. The IVs will be re-rolled during the trade, and there is no guarantee that the Pokémon will remain a perfect 100% IV Pokémon. You risk losing the perfect IVs.
11. Can purified Pokémon become Lucky?
Yes, purified Pokémon can become Lucky. Lucky Shadow Pokémon will have an IV floor of 12/12/12 before purification, and once purified, that IV floor becomes 14/14/14. This makes it highly likely to get a strong or even perfect IV Pokémon.
12. What increases my chances of becoming Lucky Friends?
There is no guaranteed method to increase your chances of becoming Lucky Friends. The occurrence is random. However, daily interactions with your Best Friends (opening gifts, battling together, etc.) are essential for the chance to become Lucky Friends.
13. How rare is it to become Lucky Friends?
The exact probability of becoming Lucky Friends is not officially disclosed by Niantic, but anecdotal evidence and community research suggest it’s around a 5% chance each day you interact with a Best Friend.
14. Does the age of the Pokémon affect the chances of a Lucky Trade?
While it’s not directly related to the Lucky Friend status, trading Pokémon caught in 2016 or 2017 has a higher chance of becoming Lucky, regardless of the Lucky Friend status. This is a separate mechanic from the Lucky Friend system.
15. Can I remove a Lucky Friend?
You cannot directly “remove” a Lucky Friend. The status automatically disappears once you complete a trade. If you do not want to trade with a specific Lucky Friend, simply avoid trading with them. The Lucky Friend status will persist indefinitely until a trade occurs.
Conclusion
Lucky Trades are a valuable feature in Pokémon GO, offering a great way to obtain powerful Pokémon with improved IVs and reduced power-up costs. Understanding the mechanics of Lucky Friends and Lucky Pokémon is essential for maximizing the benefits of this system. Remember, the Lucky Friend status doesn’t expire until you trade, so plan strategically and make the most of your opportunities! For more insights into gaming and learning, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.