How Long Does It Really Take to Become Lucky Friends in Pokémon GO?
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So, you’re chasing that elusive Lucky Friends status in Pokémon GO? You’re dreaming of guaranteed Lucky Pokémon with those sweet IV floors? The big question on everyone’s mind is: How long will it actually take? The short answer is: It’s largely based on chance, but on average, expect it to take over 3 months after reaching Best Friends. Keep in mind you can attempt to trigger this only once per day. Now, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details to understand the odds and strategies to (slightly) improve your luck!
Understanding the Lucky Friends Mechanic
The Lucky Friends mechanic is a fantastic feature in Pokémon GO that guarantees a Lucky Trade with a chosen friend. This means that the next trade you complete with that friend will result in both Pokémon becoming Lucky Pokémon, boasting a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12. Reaching this status relies heavily on chance and consistent interaction with your Best Friends.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Prerequisite: Best Friends: You must first reach the Best Friends level with another trainer before you can become Lucky Friends.
- Daily Interaction: After hitting Best Friends, each daily interaction that would normally increase your Friendship Level has a small chance (approximately 1.9%) of triggering Lucky Friends.
- Qualifying Interactions: These interactions include:
- Opening a Gift: Receiving a gift from your friend and opening it.
- Sending a Gift: Sending a gift to your friend.
- Participating in Raids Together: Battling together in raids.
- Battling in Gyms Together: Fighting alongside each other in gyms.
- Engaging in Trainer Battles: Battling each other in PvP combat.
- Trading Pokémon: While trading can trigger Lucky Friends, remember it’s still only one chance per day.
- Post-Trade Reset: Once you complete a trade as Lucky Friends, you revert to being simply Best Friends, and the process starts anew.
Why It Can Feel So Random
The reason it feels like it takes forever is due to the low probability. With an estimated 1.9% chance of triggering the Lucky Friends bonus with each daily interaction, you could theoretically become Lucky Friends on your first try after reaching Best Friends. On the other hand, you could go months without any luck. The average waiting time is indeed over 3 months, underscoring the importance of patience and consistent daily interactions.
It’s also important to remember the one-interaction-per-day rule. Even if you raid together, battle in a gym, and exchange gifts on the same day, only the first interaction has a chance to trigger Lucky Friends.
Is There a Way to Speed Up the Process?
Unfortunately, there’s no magic trick to guarantee becoming Lucky Friends faster. The core of the mechanic relies on that element of chance. However, you can maximize your chances by:
- Consistent Daily Interactions: The more consistently you interact with your Best Friends, the more opportunities you have for that 1.9% chance to trigger. Make a habit of opening and sending gifts daily.
- Coordinating Raids and Battles: Schedule raids or trainer battles with your Best Friends to ensure you have a daily qualifying interaction.
While these strategies won’t guarantee faster results, they do increase your chances over time.
Maximizing Your Lucky Trade Value
Once you do become Lucky Friends, it’s crucial to make the most of your guaranteed Lucky Trade. Consider these factors:
- Pokémon IVs: Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12. However, aiming for Pokémon with even higher potential IVs maximizes the benefit of the trade.
- Rare or Powerful Pokémon: Prioritize trading rare, legendary, or Pokémon with high CP or PvP relevance. This ensures you are getting maximum value. Some Pokémon that are popularly used in Lucky Trades are Mewtwo, Metagross, and Rayquaza.
- Pokémon You Need: Fill gaps in your Pokédex or obtain powerful versions of Pokémon you actively use in raids, gyms, or PvP.
- Communicate With Your Friend: Coordinate with your Lucky Friend beforehand to decide which Pokémon you will each trade to ensure both of you benefit from the trade.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How often can I attempt to become Lucky Friends with someone?
You can only attempt to trigger the Lucky Friends bonus once per day with each Best Friend. It’s the first interaction of the day that counts.
2. What happens after I complete a Lucky Trade?
After you complete the Lucky Trade, you and your friend revert back to being Best Friends. You’ll need to start interacting daily again to try and trigger Lucky Friends once more.
3. Can I be Lucky Friends with multiple people at the same time?
Yes, you can be Lucky Friends with multiple trainers simultaneously.
4. Is there a limit to how many Lucky Trades I can do in a day?
You can only do one special trade a day, and Lucky Trades count as special trades. Since Lucky Friends are guaranteed Lucky Trades, you are still limited to one a day.
5. Do Lucky Eggs affect the chances of becoming Lucky Friends?
No, Lucky Eggs only double XP gained. They do not affect the probability of triggering the Lucky Friends status.
6. What are the IVs of Lucky Pokémon?
Lucky Pokémon have a guaranteed minimum IV floor of 12/12/12. This means their individual stats for Attack, Defense, and HP will each be at least 12 out of 15. This places them at the low end of the three-star rating but they can have better stats too.
7. How does Trainer Level affect Lucky Trades?
Trainer level doesn’t affect the chances of getting a Lucky Trade, but it will impact the Pokémon’s maximum CP and the stardust costs to power up after the trade.
8. Can trading trigger Lucky Friends?
Yes, trading a Pokemon can trigger the Lucky Friends status. It is important to remember that only the first interaction of the day can trigger Lucky Friends, and it’s only about a 1.9% chance.
9. Are Lucky Friends permanent?
No, Lucky Friends status is not permanent. It lasts until you complete a trade, after which you return to being Best Friends.
10. Is there a cooldown for Lucky Friends?
No, there is no cooldown for Lucky Friends. You remain Lucky Friends until you complete a trade.
11. What is the best Pokemon to Lucky Trade?
Prioritize rare or powerful Pokémon you need for raids, gyms, or PvP. Popular choices include Mewtwo, Metagross, Rayquaza, Togekiss, and Garchomp.
12. What is the chance of becoming Lucky Friends?
Chances of an interaction resulting in a “lucky friend bonus” are around 1.90%
13. How can I increase my friendship level faster?
You can improve your Friendship Level with a friend in several ways: sending Gifts, participating in Raids and Gym battles together, engaging in Trainer Battles, and trading Pokémon.
14. How many lucky trades can I do in my lifetime?
There is no limit to the number of lucky trades you can do in your lifetime, however only one special trade (such as Lucky Friends) can be done each day.
15. How many guaranteed Lucky trades are there?
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 Bottom Line
Becoming Lucky Friends in Pokémon GO relies heavily on chance and persistent daily interaction with your Best Friends. While it can feel frustratingly slow, understanding the mechanics and maximizing your daily interactions is key. Remember to coordinate with your Lucky Friends when the opportunity arises to ensure you both benefit from the guaranteed Lucky Trade!
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