How Rare is Getting Lucky Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
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The rarity of obtaining Lucky Pokémon in Pokémon GO depends on the method used. Randomly, when trading Pokémon, there’s a base 5% chance that the Pokémon will become Lucky. However, this percentage increases based on how long the Pokémon has been in a Trainer’s collection, with older Pokémon having a higher chance. Trading with a Lucky Friend guarantees a Lucky Pokémon. Understanding these mechanics is key to maximizing your chances of acquiring these valuable creatures.
Understanding the Odds: Unveiling Lucky Pokémon Rarity
The quest for Lucky Pokémon is a significant aspect of the Pokémon GO experience. It provides tangible benefits, like reduced Stardust costs for powering up and guaranteed high IVs (Individual Values), making them valuable assets for both casual players and competitive battlers. However, the randomness involved can make acquiring them feel elusive. Let’s break down the probabilities involved in obtaining these coveted Pokémon.
The Base Chance: Random Trades
The foundation of Lucky Pokémon acquisition lies in random trades. Every time you trade a Pokémon with a friend, there’s a base 5% chance that both Pokémon involved in the trade will become Lucky. This is the starting point, and it applies regardless of the age of the Pokémon being traded. This is a pretty low chance, so you can expect to go through a lot of trades before obtaining your first Lucky.
The Age Factor: A Boon for Collectors
The most intriguing aspect of Lucky Pokémon acquisition is the age bonus. The longer a Pokémon has been stored in your Pokémon storage, the higher the probability it has of becoming Lucky when traded.
Here’s a breakdown of the approximate probabilities, based on the original article:
- Less than one year: 5% chance
- One year: 10% chance
- Two years: 15% chance
- Three years: 20% chance
These percentages are estimates, and the exact figures are not officially released by Niantic. But the trend is clear: hoarding those old Pokémon can significantly increase your chances.
The Guaranteed Route: Lucky Friends
Arguably the most reliable method for obtaining Lucky Pokémon is through the Lucky Friends mechanic. Once you reach Best Friend status with another player, interacting with them daily (e.g., opening gifts, battling together) gives you roughly a 1.1% chance to become Lucky Friends. When you are Lucky Friends, your next trade with that friend will guarantee that both Pokémon become Lucky. After the trade, your Lucky Friend status is consumed, and you’ll need to repeat the daily interaction process for another chance to become Lucky Friends again.
Guaranteed Luckies
Every account has a counter for Guaranteed Luckies. This used to be 10, but is now 15. It does not include Lucky Friend trades, or random lucky trades, but some of your seemingly-random luckies may have been guaranteed without you realizing.
Maximizing Your Lucky Pokémon Gains
Given the varying probabilities, here’s how to strategically approach the hunt for Lucky Pokémon:
- Conserve Old Pokémon: Resist the urge to transfer older Pokémon, especially those from past events or Community Days. These are your best candidates for increasing the probability of a Lucky trade.
- Trade Regularly: Consistent trading, even with Pokémon that aren’t particularly valuable, increases your overall chances of triggering the random 5% (or higher) Lucky trade.
- Prioritize Best Friends: Work towards achieving Best Friend status with active players. This unlocks the Lucky Friends mechanic, providing a reliable source of guaranteed Lucky Pokémon.
- Coordinate Lucky Friend Trades: Communicate with your Lucky Friends to plan trades that benefit both of you. Focus on trading Pokémon with high potential IVs or those that are meta-relevant.
- Understand the IV Floor: Remember that Lucky Pokémon have a minimum IV floor of 12/12/12. This means that every Lucky Pokémon will have decent stats, making them worthwhile investments.
- Stay updated: Follow communities such as GamesLearningSociety.org to know what research is going on in the games learning industry.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Lucky Pokémon
1. Are Lucky Pokémon worth it?
Yes! Lucky Pokémon are highly valuable because they require less Stardust to power up, making them more accessible for competitive use. Also, the guaranteed high IVs ensure they have strong potential in battles.
2. Are Lucky Trades always 3-star?
Not always, but they’re likely to be! Lucky Pokémon have an IV floor of 12/12/12, which means they will always be at least a high 2-star Pokémon. Anything 82% or higher (13/12/12+) will be 3-star.
3. Can you get a 100 IV Lucky Pokémon from a trade?
Yes, you can! While the IVs are re-rolled during the trade, there’s a chance to get a perfect 100% IV Pokémon. The odds of this are approximately 1 in 64.
4. Does Lucky Friends status expire?
No, your Lucky Friends status does not expire until you complete a trade with that friend. Once the trade is done, you return to being regular Best Friends and must try again for the Lucky Friends status.
5. Can a Pokémon be both Lucky and Shiny?
Yes, a Pokémon can be both Lucky and Shiny! This combination is incredibly rare and highly sought after by collectors.
6. Is Lucky Pokémon status permanent?
The Lucky Pokémon status itself is permanent once the Pokémon is traded. However, the Lucky Friends status that guarantees the Lucky trade is cleared after the trade is complete.
7. What are some of the best Pokémon to get Lucky?
Some of the best Pokémon to obtain as Lucky include Mewtwo, Metagross, Rayquaza, Togekiss, Giratina (Altered & Origin Forme), Garchomp, Kyogre, and Lucario. These are powerful Pokémon with great utility in raids and battles.
8. How do you become Lucky Friends?
Once you are Best Friends with someone, you have a small chance (around 1.1%) each day when you interact with them (e.g., opening gifts, battling) to become Lucky Friends.
9. Can you get Lucky Friends status twice a day?
No, you can only get Lucky Friends status once per day with the same player.
10. How many Lucky Pokémon can you have?
There is no limit to how many Lucky Pokémon you can have. However, every account has a counter for Guaranteed Luckies.
11. What’s the difference between a Lucky Pokémon and a regular Pokémon?
Lucky Pokémon require less Stardust to power up and have a guaranteed IV floor of 12/12/12. Regular Pokémon do not have these benefits.
12. Can you transfer Lucky Pokémon?
You can transfer Lucky Pokémon, but you cannot transfer multiple Shiny Pokémon, Lucky Pokémon, or Buddy Pokémon with whom you’ve reached Good Buddy status or above at a time.
13. How do you increase your chances of getting Lucky Friends?
The best way is to interact with your Best Friends every day by sending gifts, battling together, and participating in raids. This gives you a daily chance to trigger the Lucky Friends status.
14. What do you do if you become Lucky Friends with someone?
Coordinate with your Lucky Friend to plan a trade that benefits both of you. Trade Pokémon that have high potential IVs or are valuable for battles and raids.
15. Can you change a Pokémon’s star rating?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to increase or change a Pokemon’s IVs once it’s been caught, and thus, it’s star rating.
In Conclusion
Obtaining Lucky Pokémon in Pokémon GO is a blend of chance and strategy. While the initial probability may seem low, understanding the age bonus and leveraging the Lucky Friends mechanic can significantly increase your chances. By combining these methods, you can build a collection of powerful and cost-effective Pokémon, ready to take on any challenge.
Link to Games Learning Society: Games Learning Society