Trade
 | This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: More Generation V, VII, and VIII info |
Atrade (Japanese:交換exchange), also known as aLink Trade (Japanese:通信交換Link Exchange), is a process in which aPokémon Trainer sends one of theirPokémon to another Trainer in exchange for one of the other Trainer's Pokémon.
In the core series games
In everycore series Pokémon game exceptPokémon Legends: Arceus, trading is necessary to collect all theavailable Pokémon. Theversion-exclusive Pokémon are those that are found in other related games. In addition, some Pokémonevolve when traded. Some of these Pokémon need to beholding a specificEvolution item in order to evolve.
Starting fromGeneration II,items can be held by Pokémon, allowing indirect trading of holdable items. However, in Generation IV, theGriseous Orb cannot be traded, as it will automatically be put back in the Bag when a player with Origin Forme Giratina in their party enters the Union Room or Wi-Fi Room.Mail may also be held to send a message.
In most games, there is a single animation used for all trades. Certain games however have alternate animations used in specific circumstances:
- In Generation III, the animation differs depending on whether the games are connected with theGame Link Cable or theWireless Adapter
- In Generation V only, in-game trades with NPCs use a different animation.
- In Generation VI, trades done via the 3DS infrared communication use a red background instead of the usual blue one.
UntilPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, all trading animations in thecore series games used the standardPoké Ball, regardless of the types of Balls the traded Pokémon were actually caught in. This is corrected in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, in which trade animations show the correct Poké Ball the Pokémon was caught in.
Results of trading
Benefits
Trading is necessary in order to collect every Pokémon in thePokédex, as some Pokémoncan only be found in certain versions. For example, becauseMeowth cannot be found inRed, the player must trade with someone who has obtained one from Blue, in which Meowth is readily found in the wild. Some Pokémon onlyevolve after being traded.
Traded Pokémon gain 1.5× the normalexperience after aPokémon battle. Pokémon traded from a game in another language will gain 1.7× experience.
Trading may also be used to transfer limited and rare items in games fromGeneration II onward, such asMaster Balls orSoul Dews, from one game to another bygiving a Pokémon an item.
InGeneration VI, Trainers receivePoké Miles for every trade made with another player. InGeneration VII, Trainers may receiveFestival Coins instead.
Drawbacks
A Pokémon with anoriginal Trainer different from its current Trainer is referred to as anoutsider Pokémon, and will only obey a Trainer with the sufficient number ofGym Badges orStamps. Thefriendship of a Pokémon is set to itsbase friendship when it is traded from one game to another, unless returned to its original Trainer inGeneration VI or later. In addition, a traded Pokémon's nickname cannot be changed by anyone but the original Trainer, even if it hasn't been given a nickname (however, in Gen VIII, outsider Pokémon without nicknames can be nicknamed).
Traded Pokémon are identified by the Pokémon'sOriginal Trainer name and a five- or six-digitID Number. Starting inGeneration III, even if two games have the same name and ID number, each Trainer also has asecret ID number. The odds of two Trainers having the same secret ID numbers is 1/65536 or approximately 0.002%, making it extremely unlikely that an outsider Pokémon will be treated as a regular Pokémon on a different cartridge.
While beneficial in their own right,trade Evolutions cannot be canceled manually, requiring Pokémon that evolve when traded without a specific held item to hold anEverstone in order to stay in their current form. InGeneration IV and onwards, however, the Everstone fails to prevent a tradedKadabra from evolving intoAlakazam.
Trading process
Generations I-IV
The actual trading interface remained largely the same throughout the series' first four generations: Each player selects one Pokémon from their party to offer for trade; once decided, they can review thestats (and, when applicable,Ability oritem) of the other Pokémon before confirming or cancelling the trade. The player may perform multiple trades in a row.
It is not possible to trade Pokémon stored in thePC in these generations, so they must be placed in the party prior to speaking with the receptionist at a Pokémon Center.
Generation IV'sGlobal Trade System utilized a separate trading process, in which players deposited one Pokémon at a time (requesting another Pokémon in exchange) and other players searched and traded for them at their leisure. Once traded, the original player received the Pokémon upon logging in to the GTS. If the Pokémon was not traded, the original player was able to cancel the offer by withdrawing their Pokémon from the GTS. Due to the Wi-Fi shutdown, this feature is no longer officially supported as of May 20, 2014.
Generation V
Players can now offer and trade Pokémon from either their current party or directly from their PC's storage system.
There is a new trade system exclusive to these games calledNegotiation Trade (Japanese:ネゴシエーション交換Negotiation Exchange), in which each player may select up to three Pokémon to offer the other player. Once decided, they may review the offered Pokémon (checking stats, Ability, etc.) and confirm one to be traded. Players may trade several Pokémon in a row if desired. A set of four emoticons (Smile Mark, Saddened Mark, Heart Mark, Surprise Mark) also allows for limited communication between players. Negotiation Trades are used in theUnion Room, but notinfrared trades (which only allow players to offer one Pokémon at a time).
Players registered on each other'sPal Pad can communicate with live voice chat during the trade. In addition to showing the Pokémon on offer, the top screen also includes an abstract glimpse of the other player's Pokémon collection in the form of PC boxes with individual Pokémon represented by theirPokédex color.
The GTS, in addition to the deposit/search-based system introduced in Generation IV, receives a second trading mode ("GTS Negotiations") allowing two players to connect and trade Pokémon using this system. Like Generation IV, Generation V's GTS was shut down in 2014.
Generation VI
Trading functions (including the GTS) are no longer a service of Pokémon Centers, but are instead accessible at any time through thePlayer Search System on theNintendo 3DS's lower screen.
The trading process has been streamlined since Generation V, with each player showing only one Pokémon at a time (instead of three) before being prompted to make an offer. Chat emoticons have been removed, but voice chat is still available when the player trades with someone on their 3DS's Friends List.
The GTS has also been updated, now allowing the player to enter the species name of any Pokémon using a "What Pokémon?" option in the Pokémon selection list. This allows players to trade for Pokémon that they have not seen in the game.
A third trading method, calledWonder Trade, is introduced this generation: when performing a Wonder Trade, the player selects one of their Pokémon and it is immediately traded with another player using Wonder Trade, with no further confirmation or any communication between players, meaning that the Pokémon the player receives in exchange for theirs is a complete surprise.
Generation VII
The PSS has been replaced and split between theQuick Link andFestival Plaza options in themenu. Quick Link allows for players to locally trade Pokémon, while the Festival Plaza allows for trading through the Internet. The GTS and Wonder Trade are usable while in the Festival Plaza.
The GTS is similar to its Generation VI counterpart, though filtering has been adjusted and searching for a Pokémon by letter will now show that Pokémon's icon next to its name.
Limitations on trading
Trading between game generations
Pokémon can be traded betweenGeneration I andGeneration II games using theTime Capsule feature. For compatibility purposes, the Pokémon to be traded from the Generation II game must bea species that existed in Generation I and cannot have anymoves introduced in Generation II. TheTime Capsule exploit can be used to trick the game into tradingGeneration II Pokémon back toGeneration I as well, but they will becomeglitch Pokémon likeMissingNo.. Additionally, thetrade Evolution learnset oversight can also be used to trade a Pokémon with a Generation II move back to a Generation I game, though it will become aglitch move. This is the only instance in the series in which players can directly trade Pokémon using games in different generations (Pokémon HOME allows trading Pokémon last used in different generations, but only within HOME itself).
It is not officially possible to trade between Generation II andGeneration III games.
Starting inGeneration IV, Pokémon from previous generations can betransferred to newer generations (and fromGeneration IX back toGeneration VIII) through a variety of methods, though none of them involve trading.
Inter-language trading
Generation I and II
In the Generation I and II core series games, Western language games (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish) can all trade with each other without issue. Attempting to trade between Japanese and non-Japanese Generation I and II core series games causes corruption of both save files.[1]
The Korean versions of Pokémon Gold and Silver can successfully trade with Western language Generation I and II games (but not Japanese games). However, due thecharacter encoding differences,Hangul characters (i.e. in the names of traded Pokémon and their Original Trainers) will become garbled on Western language games, possibly including control characters which may have unexpected effects. However, unlike attempting to trade between Western and Japanese games, save data is not corrupted. Conversely, attempting to trade between Japanese and Korean games will corrupt both games' save files.
In the Virtual Console releases of the Generation I and II games, different language Western Virtual Console games can communicate; however, Japanese, Korean, and Western games cannot connect to each other at all. In the Korean Virtual Console release of Pokémon Gold and Silver, this effectively makes theTime Capsule andDiploma inaccessible barring glitches.
In these games, a Pokémon is determined to benicknamed if its name does not match its species name. As a result, if an unnicknamed Pokémon is traded to a game in a different language where the Pokémon's species has a different name, its name will be treated as nickname. For example, in an English Generation I or II game, a foreignPichu named "PICHU" will evolve into aPikachu nicknamed "PIKACHU", but a foreignCharmander named "SALAMECHE" will retain the name "SALAMECHE" after evolving into aCharmeleon as if it were a nickname. Because these games do not tracklanguage of origin, if a traded Pokémon from Generation I or II is sent to thePokémon Bank via thePoké Transporter, its language of origin is determined based on the game from which the Pokémon is transferred, not the game from which it originally came.
Generation III
In the Generation III core series games, trading became possible between all versions of the games.
In Japanese, Pokémon and Trainer names have a 5 character limit, in contrast to the 10 character limit in Western language games. If a Pokémon whose name or Original Trainer is longer than 5 characters is traded to a Japanese game, in the Japanese game it will only display the first 5 characters.
InGeneration III (except in v1.0 of EnglishPokémon Ruby and Sapphire), if a Pokémon originates from a different language to the current game, when it evolves its name will not be changed, with the old name treated as a nickname; thus, if aPichu named "PICHU" from an Italian game is evolved in an English game, when it evolves it will be aPikachu nicknamed "PICHU". In v1.0 of English Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, like in the Generation I and II games, if a Pokémon's current name is the same as its species name in the language of the game in which it was evolved, it will be treated as non-nicknamed, so its species name will change upon Evolution.
Generation IV
In the Generation IV core series games, with the advent of worldwide online trading viaNintendo Wi-Fi Connection, trading between different languages is better supported. All languages except Korean can freely trade with each other without issue.
Due to Pokémon Korea and Nintendo of Korea debuting after the initial release of Generation IV, no non-Korean Generation IV games supportHangul characters. This prevents Korean language games from trading with Generation IV games in other languages. However, Korean language games can migrate Pokémon from Generation III games of any language.
If an unnicknamed Pokémon evolves, its name is changed to the name of its species after Evolution in its current game's language (regardless of itslanguage of origin). In these games, there is a separate flag to indicate whether a Pokémon is nicknamed.
Pokémon from foreign-language games unlockforeign Pokédex entries if traded to a game of a different language. InPokémon Diamond and Pearl, foreign Pokédex entries can only be obtained for 14 specific Pokémon; inPokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, andPlatinum, foreign Pokédex entries can be unlocked for all Pokémon.
Generation V onwards
Starting in Generation V, Pokémon can be traded between all games, regardless of language.
From Generation IV to VII, if an unnicknamed Pokémon evolves or a Pokémon hatches without being given a nickname, its name becomes the name of its species in its current game's language (regardless of itslanguage of origin). For example, a FrenchBulbasaur without a nickname that evolves in an English-language game will evolve into anIvysaur named "Ivysaur", but will still be flagged as a French-language Pokémon and will unlock the corresponding foreign Pokédex entries for Ivysaur andVenusaur as it evolves.
In Generation VIII onwards, if an unnicknamed Pokémon evolves, its name will change to that of the evolved form in itslanguage of origin. For example, a French Bulbasaur without a nickname that evolves in an English-language game will evolve into an Ivysaur named "Herbizarre".
Hardware requirements
Trading requires two game consoles and two Pokémon games of compatible generations. Nintendo's intention is that players trade with friends, although some serious players purchase multiple consoles.
Prior toFireRed and LeafGreen, trading required aGame Link Cable.FireRed, LeafGreen, andEmerald can trade using aGBA Wireless Adapter or a Game Link Cable. FromGeneration IV onwards, trading uses wireless communication and does not require additional hardware beyond two consoles. Although the Nintendo DS supportsGeneration III games, it cannot be used to trade between those games as the DS lacks hardware support for the Game Link Cable.
TheNintendo Switch allows multiple users to use a single console, and the Switch version ofPokémon HOME allows one user to access all save files on the console. Therefore, Pokémon can be moved between save files on the same Switch without trading.
Pokémon that cannot be traded
Mid-generation additions
Starting with Generation IV, mid-generation releases started including new moves, items, forms, or even species of Pokémon. Since, prior to Generation VIII, they were impossible to trade to games that predate them, additional limitations have been put in place for them specifically. Most can be circumvented by altering the Pokémon's moveset, held item and/or form, and with the exception of theSpiky-eared Pichu-related limitation, all of them have been lifted in their respective following Generations:
In Generation IV or V, new forms or items cannot be traded at all, even between games that support them. They include:
- Introduced inPokémon Platinum:
- NewRotom andShaymin forms, the Pokémon automatically revert to their original forms before they can be traded.
- The Origin FormeGiratina must regain its Altered Forme by unequipping theGriseous Orb before it can be traded.
- Introduced inPokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver:
- TheSpiky-eared Pichu. Since it cannot change forms, it cannot be traded at all.
- Introduced inPokémon Black 2 and White 2:
- Theforces of nature cannot be traded while in their Therian Formes, they must be returned to their Incarnate Formes by using theReveal Glass.
- Resolute FormKeldeo must revert to its Ordinary Form by forgettingSecret Sword before it can be traded.
In Generation VI and VII (3DS games only), Pokémon with new moves, as well as new forms, items, and species can be freely traded between games that support them, but not to those that predate them:
- Introduced inPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, cannot be traded toPokémon X and Y:
- Pokémon holding newMega Stones orColored orbs.
- TheCosplay Pikachu.
- While it can be traded toPokémon X and Y, UnboundHoopa will automatically revert to its Confined form.
- Pokémon cannot be traded to X and Y while knowing any ofPrecipice Blades,Origin Pulse,Dragon Ascent orHyperspace Fury.
- Introduced inPokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, cannot be traded toPokémon Sun and Moon:
- New species introduced in the games:Poipole,Naganadel,Stakataka,Blacephalon, andZeraora.
- Partner Cap Pikachu, Rockruff withOwn Tempo (which the game considers to be a new form) and Dusk Form Lycanroc.
- Pokémon cannot be traded to Sun and Moon while knowing any ofMind Blown,Plasma Fists orPhoton Geyser
Starting withPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, main series games no longer support direct trades between games that aren't paired releases, rendering this matter moot.
DLC packs forPokémon Sword and Shield andPokémon Scarlet and Violet that introduce new moves, items, forms, and species, also come with free compatibility updates that are installed regardless of the purchase of said DLC, avoiding this issue completely.
Other cases
Pokémon with certainGift Ribbons (such as theClassic Ribbon) cannot be traded over the GTS or through Wonder Trade.
Due to requiring special handling by the game, fused Pokémon cannot be traded. These are Black and WhiteKyurem, Dawn Wings and Dusk ManeNecrozma and Ice Rider and Shadow RiderCalyrex.
Due to being tied to a significant number of game mechanics in their respective games,partner Pokémon inPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! and the befriendedKoraidonS/MiraidonV inPokémon Scarlet and Violet cannot be traded. In both cases, the game offers means to catch additional specimens of the same species to which the restriction does not apply. Also, inPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the currently selectedwalking Pokémon cannot be traded until it is deselected.
Requirements for trading
Generation I
Theplayer cannot trade Pokémon before getting aPokédex fromProfessor Oak atPallet Town.
Generation II
The player cannot trade Pokémon before transporting theMystery Egg toProfessor Elm. TheTime Capsule cannot be used until the player has metBill atEcruteak City'sPokémon Center, and waiting until the next day when setup is completed.
Generation III
In order for the player to be able to trade from Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald to Pokémon Colosseum or Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness; they need at least two (non-Egg) Pokémon in their party. To be able to trade from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen to Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, the player needs to helpCelio upgrade thePokémon Network Center to Link Level 2.
Ruby and Sapphire
The player cannot trade Pokémon before getting aPokédex fromProfessor Birch atLittleroot Town. To trade with another game, the player must have at least two Pokémon in the party. Trading with FireRed, LeafGreen, or Emerald will automatically activate the National Pokédex.
FireRed and LeafGreen
The player cannot trade Pokémon before getting aPokédex from Professor Oak at Pallet Town. The player must have at least two Pokémon in the party in order to trade with another game.
In a departure from the main series' tradition, additional limitations on trades were put in place, which cannot be lifted before completing the game at least once:
- At the beginning of the game, trades are only possible with other copies of FireRed and LeafGreen. In addition, trades involving Eggs or Pokémon not in the Kanto Pokédex are blocked. Pokémon thatevolve into aGeneration II Pokémon by trading will stop evolving.
- Obtaining the National Pokédex unblocks trades for Pokémon and Eggs outside of the Regional Pokédex.
- Bringing theRuby andSapphire Key Items to completeCelio'sNetwork Machine allows trades with Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald versions, as well as withPokémon Colosseum andPokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.
Emerald
The player cannot trade Pokémon before getting aPokédex fromProfessor Birch atLittleroot Town. To trade with another game, the player must have at least two Pokémon in the party.
Restrictions similar to those in FireRed and LeafGreen also apply to this version:
- At the beginning of the game, trades are only possible with other copies of Emerald, as well asColosseum, Ruby and Sapphire. In addition to that, trades that involve Eggs or Pokémon that aren't in the Hoenn Pokédex are blocked unless Colosseum is trading non-Hoenn Dex Pokémon to Emerald.
- Obtaining the National Pokédex unblocks trades for Pokémon outside of the Regional Pokédex, as well as Eggs, and allows trading with FireRed and LeafGreen, as well as withPokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.
Generation IV
Diamond, Pearl, andPlatinum
The player cannot trade Pokémon before getting aPokédex fromProfessor Rowan atSandgem Town. Also, to trade with another game, the player has to have at least two Pokémon in the party. It is possible to obtain a non-regional Pokémon when trading Pokémon from another Generation IV gamewithout having acquired the National Pokédex. In Platinum, the player is now able to press B to select the "CANCEL" button.
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Similar to Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, trading cannot occur until the player has obtained their Pokédex fromProfessor Oak atMr. Pokémon's house. The player must have at least two Pokémon in the party in order to trade with another game; but no additional prerequisite is needed to trade with the Sinnoh games: this can be done at the very beginning of the game.
Generation V
Black and White
The player cannot trade Pokémon until they have obtained theTrio Badge from theStriaton Gym and completed theC-Gear sub-quest forFennel. This prevents the player from trading for a Pokémon that knowsCut in order to access the blocked-off section ofDreamyard early, asHM usage is not restricted byBadge ownership in Unova.
The player is also prevented from trading party Pokémon that know anyHM move via Infrared Connection, most likely to prevent trading away a Pokémon whose HM move is needed in a certain area. An example of this would be trading away any Pokémon in the party who know Fly or Surf while on a patch of land surrounded by water.
Black 2 and White 2
Similar to Black and White, the player cannot trade Pokémon until they have received theBasic Badge from theAspertia Gym and have received the C-Gear fromBianca. There is no prerequisite to trade with Black and White.
Generation VI
X and Y
The player may trade Pokémon as soon as they have at least two Pokémon in their party, which is the minimum requirement for conducting a trade with another game.
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The player must wait until they have obtained thePlayNav fromWally after helping him catch a Pokémon. The player must have two Pokémon in their party to trade.
Generation VII
Sun and Moon andUltra Sun and Ultra Moon
The player must wait to trade Pokémon until they gain the Quick Link option in theirmenu upon their first visit to aPokémon Center, which will allow them to trade with someone nearby. In order to trade over the Internet (GTS, Wonder Trade, or Link Trade), the player must useFestival Plaza, which is unlocked at the same time. The player may require at least two Pokémon in their party to trade with another game.
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
The game's multiplayer features, including trades, are unlocked by deliveringProfessor Oak hisParcel and receivingRazz Berries from him. Trading with another game requires having at least two Pokémon in the party and/or the Pokémon Box,Partner Pokémon andwalking Pokémon do not count and cannot be traded.
Generation VIII
Sword and Shield
The game's multiplayer features, includingY-Comm, are unlocked once the player obtains aDynamax Band fromProfessor Magnolia onRoute 2.
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
The player cannot trade Pokémon before getting a Pokédex fromProfessor Rowan atSandgem Town. Also, the player has to have at least two Pokémon in the party and/or the PC in order to trade with another game.
Legends: Arceus
The game's online features, including trades, are unlocked after completingMission 4: "Getting to Work on Research Tasks".
Pokémon that evolve when traded
- Main article:Trade Evolution
Several Pokémon evolve when traded. Most of the Pokémon that evolve when traded can only do so while holding a specificEvolution item.
In the side series games
Pokémon Stadium series
The games in thePokémon Stadium series can connect to thecore series games via theTransfer Pak. In theJapanese Pokémon Stadium, the trade feature is found at themain menu. InPokémon Stadium andStadium 2, there is a trade machine in thePokémon Lab.
The Japanese Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium are compatible with theGeneration I core series games.Pokémon Stadium 2 is compatible with both Generation I andII core series games.
Pokémon Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness
InPokémon Colosseum andXD: Gale of Darkness, the player can trade Pokémon with theGeneration III core series games afterEviceColo orGreevilXD has been defeated. It is not possible to directly trade between Colosseum and XD.
In the core series games, there is no data forShadow Pokémon orShadow moves, nor the ability topurify these Pokémon. Only after a Shadow Pokémon is purified (changed back into normal) in its original game, it can be traded to the core series games.
Pokémon Colosseum and XD are unable to receivePokémon Eggs, or any Pokémon holding aMail item or anEnigma Berry.
My Pokémon Ranch
InMy Pokémon Ranch, Hayley will only offer to trade with the player after they have completed a wanted request, and will only trade specific Pokémon and only if she has already brought one of them to the Ranch.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
Trading items
In thePokémon Mystery Dungeon series, items can be traded through a link cableR/wireless communication from themain menu.
Trade Evolutions
- Main article:Trade Evolution → Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, thetrade Evolutions (such asMachoke evolving intoMachamp) are triggered by:
- Using the
Link Cable by itself.RBTDSGtI - Using the Link Cable with other available items that may be needed (such as the
Metal Coat).RBTDS - No requirement.SMD
Evolution Crystals.RTDX
Pokémon GO
- Main article:Trade (GO)
InPokémon GO, players are able to trade with registeredFriends. Trading Pokémon yieldsCandy for the traded Pokémon, but also require a certain amount ofStardust for each trade.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
InPokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, the player cantrade (Japanese:トレードtrade) with friends they have registered in the Social Hub. Trading was unlocked in version 1.1.0. A player can only have one active trade offer at a time; if the player is in a trade, they cannot send or receive trade offers.
Trading consumes 1 Trade Stamina (Japanese: トレードパワーTrade Power) from both trade partners. The player can have a maximum of 5 Trade Stamina. Trade Stamina can be restored naturally, with 24 hours corresponding to 1 Trade Stamina restored. It can also be done with Trade Hourglasses (Japanese: トレード砂時計Trade Sunadokei, transl.Trade Hourglass) or Poké gold. Trading also consumesShinedust, depending on the card's rarity. It used to consumeTrade Tokens until July 30, 2025.
and: Free- : 1200 units of Shinedust or 120 Trade Tokens
- : 5000 units of Shinedust or 500 Trade Tokens
: 4000 units of Shinedust or 400 Trade Tokens
Cards of the following rarities could not be traded until October 30, 2025:
- : 25000 units of Shinedust
: 10000 units of Shinedust- : 30000 units of Shinedust
,
, and promo cards cannot be traded.
The traded cards must have the same rarity. If a card hasflair, it can only be traded for a card with flair. Unlike obtaining flair, it is possible for a player to trade a card even if they only have one or two copies of it.
Before October 30, 2025, cards from the most recentexpansion could not be traded until the next expansion is released. After that date (which corresponds with the release ofMega Rising), new cards can be traded as soon as the set comes out, with no delay.
To trade a card, the player chooses a tradable card from their collection and sends a trade offer for that card. A 48-hour timer starts. During that time, the card is removed from the My Cards section of the app, and the other partner may send a card to be traded. Once both parties accept the trade, the cards are sent over. If no trade agreement is reached once the timer runs out, the cards and items are returned.
The player can block receiving trade offers in the settings. Even if they are blocking, they can still send offers themselves. The game also keeps a history of the last 30 trades conducted by the player over the past 90 days.
In animation
Despite it being one of the key aspects of the games, trading is exceptionally rare in theanimated series. Only a few trades have been shown taking place, and only seven of them thus far have been significant. Many of them take place in episodes featuring theMagikarp salesman. Rather than simply exchanging Pokémon, most trades are carried out by placingPoké Balls into a specializedtrading machine, with a monitor that displays silhouettes of the two Pokémon as they pass each other.
The trade machine used in the animated series has seemingly been adapted into the game canon, withProfessor Oak's Laboratory in bothPokémon Stadium andPokémon Stadium 2 having this type of machine for trades. In the same way, when Game Link Cables were finally able to accept the data of two Pokémon being sent at once (rather than one at a time as inGenerationsI andII), the Pokémon are shown passing each other in the link space.
List of trades in the animated series
| First Trainer's Pokémon | Second Trainer's Pokémon | Episode traded | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ash'sButterfree |  | AGentleman'sRaticate | Battle Aboard the St. Anne | Traded back the same episode. |
 | Jessie'sLickitung |  | Benny'sWobbuffet | Tricks of the Trade | |
 | James'sVictreebel |  | TheMagikarp salesman'sWeepinbell | Here's Lookin' at You, Elekid | Both released the same episode. |
 | A Trainer’sMunchlax |  | A Trainer’sPonyta | Throwing the Track Switch | |
 | Ash'sAipom |  | Dawn'sBuizel | ||
 | Bianca'sShelmet |  | Professor Juniper'sKarrablast | Evolution Exchange Excitement! | Evolved intoAccelgor andEscavalier respectively. |
 | Jessie'sPumpkaboo |  | Count Pumpka'sMawile | A Festival Trade! A Festival Farewell? | Pumpkaboo evolves intoGourgeist. The trade is reversed the same episode. |
 | AGentleman'sFarfetch'd |  | A girl'sSpearow | Trade, Borrow, and Steal! | |
 | Goh'ssecond Pinsir |  | Kricketina Kylie'sHeracross | ||
In the manga
| This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Trades in other mangas |
Pokémon Adventures
Like the animated series,Pokémon Adventures does not contain many trades despite being a major part of the games. Most are not shown to need a machine to complete them. Simply hand-exchanging Pokémon can count as a trade, though it is also possible to trade by placingPokédexes opposite each other.
List of trades in Pokémon Adventures
In the TCG
The following is a list of cards relating totrades.
| Related cards Cards listed with ablue background are only legal to use in the currentExpanded format. Cards listed with agreen background are legal to use in both the currentStandard andExpanded formats. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card | Type | English Expansion | Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion | Rarity | # |
| Pokémon Trader | T | Base Set |  | 77/102 | Expansion Pack | | |
| Base Set 2 | | 106/130 | |||||
| Legendary Collection | | 103/110 | |||||
| Trade Please! | T | Unnumbered Promotional cards | |||||
| Deck Exchange | T | Expansion Sheet 3 | |||||
| Bill's PC | T | Expansion Sheet 3 | |||||
Trivia
- Satoshi Tajiri created Pokémon around the core concept of trading.[2]
In other languages
Trade
| Link Trade
| Negotiation Trade
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References
Related articles
- Transfer
- Trade machine
- In-game trade
- Global Trade System
- Episodes in which a main character trades away a Pokémon
| Aspects ofPokémon training |
|---|
