Why can’t a Pokémon be traded again?
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A Pokémon cannot be traded again because once it is traded, its HP and CP change, and to prevent players from “re-rolling a Pokémon’s stats through trade” over and over, the game does not allow it to be traded back or to someone else. This trade limitation is a key feature of the Pokémon GO game, ensuring that every trade is set in stone and cannot be undone or reversed.
Understanding Pokémon Trades
To delve deeper into the specifics of Pokémon trades and understand why certain limitations are in place, let’s explore some frequently asked questions about the topic.
Related FAQs
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Q: Why can’t some Pokémon be transferred in Pokémon GO? A: You’re unable to transfer multiple Shiny Pokémon, Lucky Pokémon, or Buddy Pokémon with whom you’ve reached Good Buddy status or above at a time, and certain Legendary and some Mythical Pokémon (e.g., Mew, Celebi) are not able to be selected for transfer.
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Q: Can you trade a Pokémon back? A: No, traded Pokémon cannot be traded back, making every trade a permanent decision.
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Q: Can you trade Legendary Pokémon in GO? A: Yes, Legendaries can be traded, which is helpful for completing the Pokédex, especially for those hard-to-find Legendary Pokémon.
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Q: Why can Pokémon only be traded once? A: It’s due to the HP and CP changing feature, designed to stop players from “re-rolling a Pokémon’s stats through trade” repeatedly.
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Q: Can a 2-star Pokémon become a 3-star? A: Yes, purified Pokémon will have better Appraisal and receive 2 points towards all their IVs, potentially bringing a 2-star Shadow Pokémon to a 3-star if it’s purified.
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Q: Why can’t you trade Legendary Pokémon? A: Legendary trades require extra restrictions because they’re designated as special trades, and there are specific Pokémon that are classified as special trade-exclusives, including Pokémon not already in your Pokédex.
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Q: What Mythical Pokémon cannot be traded? A: Certain Mythical Pokémon (like Mew) and Pokémon that have previously been traded once before cannot be traded.
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Q: How to get 1 million Stardust in Pokémon GO? A: By saving Audino encounters and waiting for a Community Day with a 3x Catch Stardust bonus, you can earn up to 1,000,000 Stardust.
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Q: Why can’t I trade Shinies? A: Trading Shinies is possible but costs more Stardust if the recipient doesn’t have the shiny form, and it’s because normal and shinies are different Pokédex entries.
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Q: Is it worth keeping 0-star Pokémon? A: If you don’t have another Pokémon of the same species, it might be worth holding onto the 0-star until it can be replaced by one with a better Appraisal.
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Q: How rare are 0-star Pokémon? A: 0% Pokémon are even rarer than 100% Pokémon, since the former can never come from raids, eggs, research tasks, or trades.
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Q: Is there a 4-star Pokémon? A: Yes, if a Pokémon’s IVs are maxed, the orange bar becomes red, and such a Pokémon is classified as a 4-star Pokémon.
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Q: Should you purify Shadow Pokémon? A: Yes, purifying a Shadow Pokémon improves its appraisal and reduces the amount of Stardust and Candy required for it to Power Up, Evolve, or learn a new attack.
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Q: Why can’t you trade Shadow Pokémon? A: Since July 2019, Niantic’s trading rules have banned the exchange of Shadow-type creatures in any trade due to players exploiting the feature.
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Q: Can Deoxys be traded? A: No, you cannot trade Mythical Pokémon at all in Pokémon GO, and Deoxys is a Mythical Pokémon.