'Pokémon GO' Trading: Bigger Perks Are Reserved for Higher Friendship Levels

After waiting for two years, “Pokémon GO” Trainers are now finally allowed to trade Pokémon with other players. However, the mobile game’s trading system is tied to the new Friends List feature of the games. And the higher Friendship level a player achieves, the better the perks they get when swapping items and characters.

To be clear, trading can only be initiated between Trainers who have added each other to their respective Friends Lists. But it is important to note that the actual trading will commence only if two friends are within short distance. So even if both friends are online, the trading will not push through if they are far from one another.

Now, trading will cost some stardust. According to reports, the most basic trade requires only 100 stardust for Regular Pokémon as well as Regional Pokémon. But the amount goes significantly higher — starting at 20,000 to be exact — when swapping a Legendary or a Shiny Pokémon.

But all prices decrease once two “Pokémon GO” friends achieve higher Friendship levels: 20 percent down for Great Friends, 92 percent for Ultra Friends, and 96 percent for Best Friends. To recap, Good Friend status is achieved on the first day, Great Friend after seven days, Ultra Friend after 30 days, and Best Friend after 90 days.

Aside from trading discounts, higher Friendship levels also bring more perks when carrying out other activities. In Damage Bonuses, Good Friends earn 3 percent more, Great Friends get 5 percent more, Ultra Friends with 7 percent more, and Best Friends receive 10 percent more. The same principle applies to One Time XP Rewards. In the same Friendship level order, Trainers get 3,000 XP, 10,000 XP, 50,0000 XP, and 100,000 XP.

Before participating in trades, keep in mind that Trainers can refuse a trade invite if they think the Pokémon they are about to receive is not worth it. And, more importantly, players cannot swap a Pokémon that they acquired via a previous trade.