A lucky trade in Pokémon GO results in both traded Pokémon becoming "Lucky," featuring a unique background, minimum 12/12/12 IVs, and 50% reduced stardust power-up costs. These occur randomly (approx. 5% chance), via "Lucky Friends" status, or by trading Pokémon from 2018 or older, which guarantees the result if the limit (up to 35-45) isn't reached.
The only way that you know a trade will be lucky ahead of time is 1) If it's a guaranteed lucky trade from age OR 2) You and a friend are lucky friends. That ensures your next trade with them will be lucky.
When traded, both Pokémon always either remain normal, or become lucky. There is a way to guarantee a Lucky Pokémon and that is by doing a trade with a Lucky Friend, which is a special upgrade to a Best Friend that has about a 1.1% chance of happening when you interact with them for the first time each day.
1 Guaranteed Lucky Trade in Pokemon GO (2026 Update)
As of 2026, Niantic limits guaranteed lucky trades to 25 per player. The system works as follows: If you trade a Pokemon caught before December 31, 2018, and your guaranteed Lucky counter is under 25, the trade is 100% guaranteed to result in a Lucky Pokemon.
Beginning with this event, if you trade a Pokémon that has been in a Trainer's Pokémon storage since 2020, it is guaranteed to become a Lucky Pokémon until the limit is reached! This change is permanent.
HOW TO GET EASY 100% IV's IN POKEMON GO (TRADING EXPLAINED)
Will 2019 Pokémon be lucky?
"if you trade a Pokémon that has been in a Trainer's Pokémon storage since 2019, it is guaranteed to become a Lucky Pokémon until the limit is reached!"
As far as I know, if person A hit the cap and person B didn't, if person B sent out a 2020 or earlier Pokemon, it would become lucky, but it will also increase the guaranteed lucky trades used for both.
To mitigate the influence of the "lucky streak" myth, focus on developing and refining trading strategies. This includes rigorous market analysis, risk management, and continuous learning. A well-crafted strategy not only improves the odds of success but also instills confidence in your trading journey.
Yes, 2017 Legendary Pokemon can be guaranteed Lucky when traded in Pokemon GO. As of 2026, if at least one Pokemon in the trade was caught before 2019, the trade has a guaranteed chance to be Lucky, provided the trainer has not exceeded the new 35 Lucky Trade limit (previously 25).
Can you get a lucky trade without being best friends?
https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/6- pokemon-go/faq/1485-lucky-friends/ You can get random lucky trades before best friends but not random lucky friends. Ryan Rhino Boddison right, I said random lucky friends. It looks like someone used their lucky trinket on you.
Absolutely! PokemonGO tracks your in-game movement through your device's GPS. GPS spoofing apps like iAnyGo can help you trick the game into believing you are moving even when you're stationary.
Can a 2 star Pokémon become a 3 star in Pokemon Go?
It is not possible to change Pokemon's IVs at this time and it would seem unlikely to change in the near future. The one exception to this is trading, when the Pokemon's IVs reroll. Some Pokemon do in fact just plain suck, due to bad stats or moves. Dunsparce.
How rare is it for a lucky trade to occur randomly?
The odds of getting a lucky pokemon from ones that's been caught and traded within this year is 1 in 20 or 5%. For every year difference, add 5% more to the odds, with a cap effectively at 20%. So trading a 2022 mon and 2023 mon (1 yr difference) has a 10% chance of going lucky.
Mythical Pokémon (like Mew) and Pokémon that have previously been traded once before cannot be traded. Trainers that log in using Niantic Kids or Pokémon Trainer Central may need to enable social features in the Niantic Kids Parent Portal or Pokémon Trainer Central website.
Almost all shadow Pokemonare better than regular Pokemon. Regardless of IV. The IVs contribute around 6-7.5% to the total Pokemon's effect. The shadow attack boost is always +20% and for raid relevant pokemon, more attack is always helpful.
Just so you're not recieving any false information—you are guaranteed a lucky trade for any Pokémon that's traded with a date of 2019 or earlier (2016, 2017, 2018). The trade only succeeds as lucky if you have less than 35 lucky traded Pokemon for that year.
