Evolving Lucky Pokémon: What You Need to Know

So, you’ve snagged yourself a Lucky Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Congratulations! These shimmering creatures are a boon for trainers, saving you precious Stardust. But what happens when that Lucky Pokémon is ready to evolve? Does it retain its luck? The short answer is: Yes. Evolving a Lucky Pokémon will result in an evolved Lucky Pokémon. The Lucky status is maintained through evolution, meaning you’ll still enjoy the Stardust savings on your evolved form. Now, let’s dive into the details and explore everything you need to know about evolving these fortunate finds.

Benefits of Evolving Lucky Pokémon

Evolving a Lucky Pokémon combines the inherent advantages of both mechanics. Here’s a breakdown of the key benefits:

• Stardust Efficiency: Lucky Pokémon require 50% less Stardust to power up. This benefit persists after evolution. This is the major advantage. This allows you to level up a powerful Pokémon much more affordably than a non-Lucky one.
• Higher CP Potential: Because they are cheaper to power up, you can reach a higher Combat Power (CP) much faster and more economically. This is critical for raiding, battling in Gyms, and participating in PvP battles in the GO Battle League.
• Stronger Battlers: A Lucky Pokémon with good IVs (Individual Values) that evolves retains its chance to be a strong contender in battles. Remember that Lucky Pokémon have a floor of 12/12/12 for IVs, making them inherently decent.
• Collection Value: Lucky Pokémon have a unique shimmering visual effect in your Pokédex and on their summary screen, adding to their collectibility. Evolving a Lucky Pokémon simply expands your collection of these rare finds.

In essence, evolving a Lucky Pokémon is always a good idea, as it amplifies the advantages of both mechanics.

FAQs About Lucky Pokémon and Evolution

Let’s address some common questions about Lucky Pokémon and evolution to ensure you’re fully informed.

1. Are Lucky Pokémon More Rare Than Shiny Pokémon?

This is a difficult question, as rarity is subjective and depends on various factors, including event availability and individual luck. However, traditionally, Shiny Pokémon were considered incredibly rare. Nowadays, some events increase Shiny rates, slightly diminishing their rarity.

Based on some Reddit threads, a lucky Pokémon can be rarer than finding a Shiny in Pokémon White 2. That said, given the changes to the rate that players see shinies now in the GO environment, it depends on the circumstances. Some people may feel Shiny is rarer, but others may see it differently.

2. Are Lucky Pokémon Always 3 Stars?

Not necessarily, but they are more likely to be. Lucky Pokémon have an IV floor of 12/12/12. Since anything with an IV percentage of 82% or higher (13/12/12+) will be 3 stars, most Lucky Pokémon will fall into this category. However, they aren’t guaranteed to be perfect.

3. Do Lucky Trades Give Better IVs?

Yes. Lucky Trades guarantee that the IVs for each stat (Attack, Defense, HP) will be between 12 and 15. This is a significant improvement over regular trades, which have a much wider range of possible IVs. While you aren’t guaranteed a perfect Pokémon, you are guaranteed a decent one.

4. Should I Use a Lucky Egg When Evolving Lucky Pokémon?

A Lucky Egg doubles the XP you earn for 30 minutes. While it doesn’t directly affect the evolution of a Lucky Pokémon, it does provide a significant XP boost if you’re evolving multiple Pokémon at once. If you have several evolutions lined up, activating a Lucky Egg is a worthwhile strategy for maximizing your XP gain. But, of course, this is a general suggestion, and not specific to evolving Lucky Pokemon.

5. Is It OK to Transfer Lucky Pokémon?

Generally, no. Lucky Pokémon are valuable because of the Stardust savings and guaranteed minimum IVs. Transferring them would be a waste of a potentially strong Pokémon. The only exception might be if you have multiple identical Lucky Pokémon and need to free up storage space.

6. How Rare Are Lucky Pokémon?

The base chance of a Pokémon becoming Lucky when traded depends on how long the Pokémon has been in your storage.

• Less than one year: 5% chance.
• One year or more: 10% chance.

These are base rates, and Niantic can (and sometimes does) adjust these rates during special events.

7. Can Purified Pokémon Be Lucky?

Yes! In fact, some players believe that trading a purified Pokémon increases your chances of a Lucky outcome. Furthermore, when a Purified Pokémon does become Lucky, you’re highly likely to get high IVs. This makes Lucky Purified Pokémon incredibly valuable.

8. Can Shiny Pokémon Be Lucky?

Absolutely! A Pokémon can be both Shiny and Lucky, making it an exceptionally rare and desirable creature. Imagine the bragging rights!

9. How Many Lucky Pokémon Can You Get Per Day?

There is no limit on the number of Lucky Pokémon you can obtain in a single day. Your chances are limited by how many trades you can perform, and the odds of each trade resulting in a Lucky Pokémon. Keep in mind that there’s been fan speculation that some limits might have been in place, but such speculation has never been officially confirmed.

10. Can a Pokémon Be Both Shiny and Lucky?

As mentioned before, yes! This is the holy grail for many Pokémon GO players. A Shiny Lucky Pokémon represents the ultimate combination of rarity and utility.

11. How Do You Increase Lucky Pokémon Odds?

The primary factor that influences your chances of a Lucky Trade is the age of the Pokémon being traded. The older the Pokémon, the higher the chance of it becoming Lucky.

12. How Long Does Lucky Friends Status Last?

Your Lucky Friends status only lasts for a single trade. After you complete a trade with a Lucky Friend, the status is cleared. You can then try to become Lucky Friends again by interacting with that friend (opening gifts, battling together, etc.) each day for another chance.

13. What Is a Perfect 3 Star Pokémon?

A perfect 3-star Pokémon has maximum IVs in all three categories (Attack, Defense, and HP): 15/15/15. This represents the absolute best possible stats for that Pokémon. This means that it has 100% perfect IVs and will have a red stamp.

14. How Often Can You Get Lucky Friends?

Once you are Best Friends with someone in Pokémon GO, you have one chance per day to become Lucky Friends. This chance occurs when you interact with that friend in one of the following ways:

• Trading Pokémon
• Opening a Gift from each other
• Teaming up in raids and Gym battles
• Challenging each other to a Trainer Battle

15. Why Do People Want Lucky Pokémon?

The primary reason people want Lucky Pokémon is the Stardust savings when powering them up. Additionally, Lucky Pokémon are guaranteed to have decent IVs, making them potentially strong battlers. The combination of lower Stardust costs and decent stats makes Lucky Pokémon highly desirable for building a competitive team. They are more likely to be strong opponents in battle and appear with a shimmery effect in the Pokédex and on the Pokémon’s Summary page.

Maximizing Your Lucky Pokémon Strategy

Here are a few tips to make the most of your Lucky Pokémon encounters:

• Prioritize Older Pokémon for Trades: When trading with friends, prioritize trading Pokémon that have been in your storage for a long time. This significantly increases the chance of them becoming Lucky.
• Focus on Pokémon You Plan to Use: Don’t waste trades on common Pokémon that you don’t intend to use in battles. Focus on trading for Pokémon that are strong in raids, Gyms, or PvP.
• Take Advantage of Lucky Friends: Coordinate Lucky Trades with your Best Friends to ensure you both receive valuable Lucky Pokémon. Communication is key!
• Be Patient: Finding Lucky Pokémon can take time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a Lucky trade right away. Keep trading, and eventually, your luck will turn.
• Consider Purified Pokémon: Trading purified Pokémon may increase your chances of getting a lucky.

Conclusion

Evolving a Lucky Pokémon is a smart move for any Pokémon GO player. You retain the Stardust savings, and your evolved Pokémon will be a valuable addition to your team. By understanding the mechanics and utilizing effective strategies, you can maximize the benefits of Lucky Pokémon and build a powerful and efficient collection.

Remember to stay informed about the latest Pokémon GO updates and events, as Niantic often introduces new features and bonuses that can impact your Lucky Pokémon hunting.

Want to learn more about the intersection of games and learning? Check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for valuable insights and research in the field.