How Many Lucky Trades Can You Get in Pokémon GO a Day?
The short answer is: potentially, all 100 trades you’re allowed per day could theoretically be Lucky Trades. However, the probability of this occurring naturally is incredibly low. While there’s no hard limit on the number of Lucky Trades, you’re primarily constrained by the daily trade limit and the inherent randomness of the Lucky Trade mechanic, unless you’re exploiting certain mechanics, like Lucky Friends. Understanding the nuances of Lucky Trades is crucial for maximizing your chances and optimizing your Pokémon GO experience.
Understanding the Basics of Lucky Trades
Before diving into the daily potential, let’s recap what makes a trade “Lucky”. A Lucky Trade results in both traded Pokémon becoming Lucky, which guarantees them a higher IV floor (12/12/12) and requires significantly less Stardust to power up. This makes Lucky Pokémon highly desirable for competitive battling and raids.
The base rate for a trade to become Lucky is around 5%, but this rate can be boosted by several factors, most notably the age of the Pokémon being traded. A Pokémon caught years ago has a much higher chance of becoming Lucky than one caught recently. There’s also a mechanic for Guaranteed Lucky Trades for players who haven’t had many Lucky Trades in the past.
Factors Influencing Lucky Trades
Several elements influence your ability to accumulate Lucky Trades, including:
- Friendship Level: Higher Friendship Levels increase your chances of becoming Lucky Friends, a guaranteed Lucky Trade opportunity.
- Pokémon Age: Older Pokémon have a higher likelihood of triggering a Lucky Trade.
- Guaranteed Luckies: Accounts have a certain number of guaranteed Lucky Trades, often around 15.
- Daily Trade Limit: Capped at 100 trades per day.
Maximizing Your Lucky Trades
While true randomness is always a factor, you can employ strategies to improve your odds:
- Prioritize Older Pokémon: Always trade your oldest Pokémon, especially those from 2016 and 2017 if you still have them. The older the Pokemon, the higher the chance to get a lucky.
- Reach Best Friend Status: Focus on building Best Friend relationships to trigger the Lucky Friend mechanic. This allows for guaranteed Lucky Trades!
- Coordinate with Friends: Communicate with your trading partners to ensure you both trade Pokémon that will maximize your chances of a Lucky outcome.
- Strategic Trading: Don’t trade away perfect IV Pokémon; instead, focus on Pokémon with decent stats that would benefit from the Lucky Trade IV floor.
- Consider Guaranteed Luckies: If you’re newer to trading or haven’t done many, consider trading your most valuable Pokémon to ensure those guaranteed Luckies count.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Lucky Trades
1. How many trades can I do in Pokémon GO per day?
You can perform a maximum of 100 trades per day. This limit directly affects the maximum potential number of Lucky Trades you could theoretically achieve.
2. What is a “Lucky Friend” in Pokémon GO?
A Lucky Friend is a Best Friend with whom your next trade is guaranteed to result in both Pokémon becoming Lucky. You can only become Lucky Friends with someone once per day.
3. How do I become Lucky Friends with someone?
Once you reach Best Friend status with another trainer, you have a chance to become Lucky Friends each day when you interact with them (e.g., opening a gift, battling together). There’s no guaranteed method, but consistent interaction increases your odds.
4. Do Lucky Trades give better IVs?
Yes, Lucky Trades guarantee an IV floor of 12/12/12. This means all three IV categories (Attack, Defense, HP) will be between 12 and 15. This is a huge advantage.
5. Can a Shiny Pokémon become Lucky?
Yes! A Pokémon can be both Shiny and Lucky. This is one of the most sought-after outcomes in trading.
6. What Pokémon are best to trade for Lucky Trades?
Pokémon like Mewtwo, Metagross, Rayquaza, and other powerful Legendaries and Pseudo-Legendaries are excellent candidates for Lucky Trades, as they benefit greatly from the improved IV floor and reduced Stardust cost.
7. What is the base percentage chance of a Lucky Trade?
The base percentage chance of a Lucky Trade is approximately 5%. This can increase depending on the age of the Pokémon being traded.
8. What is the maximum chance of a Lucky Trade?
The maximum chance of a Lucky Trade is capped at around 20%, which is often achieved when both Pokémon being traded are at least one year old.
9. Can I trade a Lucky Pokémon more than once?
No, Pokémon GO does not allow trading a Pokémon more than once. Once a Pokémon has been traded, it cannot be traded again.
10. Do Lucky Trades count as Special Trades?
No, Lucky Trades are not considered special trades. However, if you’re trading a Shiny or Legendary Pokémon, that is a Special Trade, and you’re limited to one Special Trade per day. A trade can be both Lucky and Special.
11. Can Shadow Pokémon be Lucky?
Yes, Shadow Pokémon can be Lucky. If you purify a Lucky Shadow Pokémon, the IV floor increases to 14/14/14.
12. Is it worth evolving a Lucky Pokémon?
Absolutely! Evolving a Lucky Pokémon retains the “Lucky” status. The evolved form will still require less Stardust to power up.
13. 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 you risk losing the perfect IVs. It’s better to trade Pokémon with lower IVs that could benefit from the Lucky Trade IV floor.
14. Are Lucky Pokémon always 3 stars?
Not necessarily. Lucky Pokémon will have at least 12 in each stat, which can fall into the 2-star category. To be a 3-star, they need at least 82% IVs (13/12/12+). If your Pokémon has three stars and a red stamp, it means that it has 100% perfect IVs.
15. How can I learn more about the mechanics of games and learning?
Explore the research and resources available at the Games Learning Society website. You can find more information at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Conclusion: Chasing the Lucky Rainbow
While achieving 100 Lucky Trades in a single day is statistically improbable, understanding the mechanics and employing smart trading strategies can significantly improve your chances. Prioritize building Best Friend relationships, trading older Pokémon, and coordinating with your trading partners to maximize your Lucky outcomes and build a powerful team of Lucky Pokémon. Happy trading!