Why Does Pokémon GO Say I Need More Stardust to Trade?
The message “You need more Stardust” during a Pokémon GO trade boils down to a few key factors that determine the Stardust cost. Essentially, the game is telling you that the trade you’re attempting exceeds the amount of Stardust you currently possess. This cost is influenced by your friendship level with the other trainer, whether either of you already owns the Pokémon being traded (especially Legendary and Shiny Pokémon), and if the trade is considered a Special Trade. Understanding these mechanics will help you plan your trades effectively and avoid the dreaded “Not enough Stardust” notification.
Understanding Stardust Trade Costs
Several elements contribute to the Stardust requirement for each trade. Let’s break them down:
Friendship Level
Your friendship level with the trainer you’re trading with is the most significant factor. Higher friendship levels drastically reduce the Stardust cost. The levels and associated base costs are:
- Good Friend: Highest Cost (Used as a Base in Many Examples)
- Great Friend: Reduced Cost
- Ultra Friend: Significantly Reduced Cost
- Best Friend: Lowest Cost
Pokédex Ownership
Whether or not you (or the other trainer) already have the Pokémon registered in your Pokédex greatly impacts the Stardust cost. Trading a Pokémon that one or both trainers don’t have is far more expensive, especially for Legendary and Shiny Pokémon.
Standard vs. Special Trades
Pokémon GO differentiates between Standard and Special Trades. Special Trades include trading Legendary Pokémon, Shiny Pokémon, Pokémon not already in your Pokédex, or certain event-exclusive Pokémon. These trades inherently cost more Stardust and are limited to one per day (unless Niantic makes exceptions during special events).
Pokemon Trade Classifications
Standard trades are generally less expensive and include common Pokémon that both players already own.
Stardust Costs in Action
To illustrate, let’s look at some hypothetical scenarios:
- Scenario 1: Standard Trade, Both Own the Pokémon. Trading a common Pokémon like Pidgey, both trainers already own it. The Stardust cost would be low, especially if both are Best Friends.
- Scenario 2: Special Trade, Neither Owns the Pokémon. Trading a Shiny Charizard that neither trainer possesses. This trade would be very expensive, potentially costing up to 1,000,000 Stardust at the Good Friend level. The cost would decrease significantly with higher friendship levels.
- Scenario 3: Special Trade, One Owns the Pokémon. Trading a Legendary Pokémon (like Mewtwo) that one trainer has but the other doesn’t. This would still be expensive, though slightly less so than if neither had it.
Optimizing Your Trades
Here are a few tips to manage Stardust costs effectively:
- Increase Friendship Levels: Focus on increasing your friendship level with frequent trading partners to unlock significant Stardust discounts. Send gifts daily, participate in raids together, and battle each other in trainer battles.
- Plan Special Trades: Coordinate with friends to ensure you’re at the highest possible friendship level before attempting expensive Special Trades.
- Catch, Catch, Catch: Accumulate Stardust by catching as many Pokémon as possible. Take advantage of Stardust bonus events and use Star Pieces to further boost your earnings.
- Prioritize Needs: Consider whether the trade is truly necessary. If you can acquire the Pokémon through other means (raids, research tasks, wild encounters), it might be more Stardust-efficient.
Earning More Stardust
If you’re consistently running low on Stardust, consider these strategies to bolster your supply:
- Catch Pokémon: Every catch grants Stardust. Use items such as Star Pieces to boost the amount earned.
- Complete Research Tasks: Many research tasks reward Stardust upon completion.
- Participate in Raids: Raids offer Stardust rewards, especially for higher-tier raids.
- Battle in the Go Battle League: Competing in the Go Battle League provides Stardust rewards, even if you don’t win every battle.
- Hatch Eggs: Hatching Pokémon Eggs also grants Stardust, with higher-distance eggs typically yielding more.
- Claim Daily Free Box: Regularly claim the daily free box in the shop for potential bonus Stardust.
Trading in Pokémon GO is a strategic endeavor. Understanding the Stardust costs associated with different trade scenarios and focusing on building friendships will allow you to trade effectively and efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What Pokémon cannot be traded in Pokémon GO?
Certain Pokémon are ineligible for trading:
- Mythical Pokémon (e.g., Mew, Celebi, Darkrai)
- Pokémon that have been traded previously
- Shadow Pokémon
- Pokémon currently set as your buddy
- Pokémon defending a gym
- Pokémon that are fainted or not at full health
- Eggs
- Pokémon obtained through illegitimate means (hacking, spoofing)
2. Can Shiny Pokémon be traded?
Yes, Shiny Pokémon can be traded, but they are considered Special Trades. The Stardust cost depends on whether you both have the Shiny in your Pokédex and your friendship level.
3. How much Stardust do I need to trade a Shiny someone doesn’t have?
Trading a Shiny Pokémon that the other player doesn’t have can be very expensive. The cost can reach up to 1,000,000 Stardust for Good Friends. It decreases to 800,000 for Great Friends, 80,000 for Ultra Friends, and 40,000 for Best Friends.
4. What is the daily trade limit in Pokémon GO?
You are generally limited to 100 trades per day, but note that you can only do one Special Trade per day (with some event exceptions).
5. How does friendship level affect the Stardust cost?
Higher friendship levels drastically reduce the Stardust cost for trades. Building your friendship level with the person you are trading with before a costly trade can save you significant Stardust.
6. Why can’t I trade some of my Pokémon?
Besides the restricted Pokémon listed above, if a Pokémon has already been traded once, it cannot be traded again.
7. What happens if you trade a perfect IV Pokémon?
The Individual Values (IVs) of a Pokémon are re-rolled during a trade, meaning a perfect IV Pokémon will not remain perfect after being traded. Never trade perfect IV Pokémon if you intend to keep them perfect.
8. Can you trade purified Pokémon?
Yes, you can trade Purified Pokémon. However, trading a Purified Pokémon still counts as your Special Trade for the day, especially if it’s also Shiny or a Legendary Pokémon.
9. What is a Lucky Pokémon, and can Shiny Pokémon be Lucky?
A Lucky Pokémon has higher IVs and requires less Stardust to power up. They have a shimmering effect in your Pokédex and on the Pokémon‘s summary page. Yes, Shiny Pokémon can also be Lucky.
10. How do I get more Stardust quickly?
Efficient ways to farm Stardust include:
- Catching every Pokémon you encounter
- Completing research tasks
- Participating in raids and Go Battle League
- Hatching eggs
- Opening gifts from friends daily
- Using Star Pieces to boost your gains
11. Are regional Pokémon trade-locked?
Some Pokémon are region-locked. If you are unable to trade a certain Pokémon to a user, it may be because you are in a different region than where that Pokémon is native to. Completing the storyline of that region will unlock the Pokémon.
12. Is Ditto a Legendary Pokémon?
No, Ditto is not a Legendary Pokémon, but it is a unique Pokémon capable of transforming into other Pokémon.
13. Can you spoof trades in Pokémon GO?
Spoofing trades (bypassing distance restrictions) is against Pokémon GO’s terms of service and can result in account penalties. Using third-party GPS spoofing apps is not recommended.
14. What happens if I don’t have enough Stardust?
If you don’t have enough Stardust to complete the trade, you simply won’t be able to initiate it. You’ll need to earn more Stardust through the methods described above or wait until your friendship level increases to lower the cost.
15. Where can I learn more about the concepts behind gaming?
If you’re interested in learning more about the theories and concepts behind gaming and its impact on society, check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. GamesLearningSociety.org is a wonderful resource!