How trading and friendship work in Pokémon GO
By Matt, MattSimplified
7 min read
You can trade with anyone on your friends list who's trainer level 10 or higher, in person within about 100 metres. The higher your friendship level, the less Stardust special trades cost, and Best Friends can become Lucky Friends for a guaranteed Lucky trade. Since December 2025 there's a new Forever Friends level that unlocks Remote Trades at any distance.
What you need
Both of you need to be trainer level 10 or higher and on each other's friends list.
Normal trades happen in person, within about 100 metres. Remote Trades are the exception, for Forever Friends.
Most trades cost 100 Stardust. Special trades cost a lot more, unless you're good friends.
How to trade
- Open your friend's profile
Tap your avatar, go to Friends and pick the friend standing next to you.
- Tap Trade and pick a Pokémon
Choose what you're sending. The game shows the Stardust cost before you confirm.
- Both confirm
You each check the other's Pokémon and confirm. Every traded Pokémon gets new IVs, so it can come out better or worse.
Trading something new?If the Pokémon isn't in your friend's Pokédex yet, or it's Shiny or Legendary, it's a special trade. Those cost more Stardust and you only get one a day.
Friendship levels and what they give you
Every level up also gives you XP, and the bonuses help in raids when you battle together.
| Level | Days | Raid attack bonus | Extra Premier Balls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friend | 1 | 3% | 0 |
| Great Friend | 7 | 5% | 1 |
| Ultra Friend | 30 | 7% | 2 |
| Best Friend | 90 | 10% | 4 |
| Forever Friend | 180 | 12% | Not confirmed |
You earn one friendship point per friend per day by trading, sending gifts, raiding or battling together, plus extra from weekly friend challenges. Forever Friends needs 90 more points after Best Friends. The friend limit is now 650.
How much Stardust a trade costs
Regular trades are always 100 Stardust. Special trades are where friendship really pays off.
| Friendship | Already registered | New to their Pokédex | Shiny or Legendary, new |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 100 | 20,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Great | 100 | 16,000 | 800,000 |
| Ultra | 100 | 1,600 | 80,000 |
| Best | 100 | 800 | 40,000 |
A Shiny or Legendary your friend already has costs the same as the middle column. Community Days usually halve trade Stardust and add an extra special trade, until 9pm local time.
Lucky Trades and Lucky Friends
A Lucky Pokémon has at least 12/12/12 IVs and costs half the Stardust to power up, which makes Lucky trades the best place to put a Pokémon you plan to max.
Best Friends and Forever Friends get a once-a-day chance to become Lucky Friends when you interact. Your next trade is then guaranteed Lucky. Trainers level 70 and up get better odds.
Any trade can come out Lucky, and older Pokémon seem to have better odds. Those odds come from players, not official numbers.
Forever Friends and Remote Trades
Reach Forever Friends and you unlock a Remote Trade with that friend, at any distance. Every 90 friendship points after that earns another one, but you can only bank one per friend at a time.
Tag the Pokémon you're happy to trade with the Remote Trade tag. Your friend picks up to three as a wish list, you offer one, and you both confirm.
You can't remote trade Pokémon caught in the last 30 days, anything already traded, Shadows, Mythicals, your buddy, or anything Mega Evolved or fused.
Friendship Friday
This season, Fridays boost in-person trades.
- Up to 2 extra special trades
- 20% less Stardust per trade
- Better Lucky Trade odds
- 2 guaranteed Candy XL from trades, if you're trainer level 31 or higher
Remote raid invites
You can invite any friend to a raid you're in, whatever your friendship level. A raid lobby can have up to 10 remote players, and Great Friends or higher can also join a friend's raid straight from the friends list.
Add more friends who raid. More friends means more invites, and every raid together builds friendship for the next trade.
Simple strategies that work
It's the easiest friendship point. Open them too, they give items and XP.
A new Shiny Legendary costs 1,000,000 Stardust at Good Friend but just 40,000 at Best Friend.
Half price Stardust and an extra special trade make it the cheapest day to trade.
Pokémon caught 100 km apart give 3 extra Candy and a guaranteed Candy XL.
Trading and friends FAQ
How far away can you trade in Pokémon GO?
About 100 metres for normal trades. Forever Friends can use Remote Trades at any distance.
What friendship level do you need to trade?
Any friend can do normal trades. Special trades need Good Friend or higher, and Remote Trades need Forever Friends.
How many special trades can you do a day?
One, with extras on some events, Community Days and Friendship Fridays.
What is a Forever Friend?
A friendship level above Best Friend, added in December 2025. It takes 180 friendship points and unlocks Remote Trades.
How do you become Lucky Friends?
Best Friends or higher have a once-a-day chance to become Lucky Friends when you interact. Your next trade is guaranteed Lucky.
What does a Lucky Pokémon do?
It has at least 12/12/12 IVs and costs half the Stardust to power up.
How many friends can you have?
Up to 650.
More new and returning player guides
Every guide lives in the new and returning player guide.
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