How Much Stardust Do You Need to Trade Shiny Pokémon?

In Pokémon GO, trading is vital to completing your Pokédex, especially when hunting for Shiny Pokémon. 

But you might wonder how much Stardust a Shiny trade requires. Brace yourself – it can rocket to an eye-popping 1,000,000 Stardust.

However, there's no need to panic! We provide a detailed Stardust cost breakdown for various trading scenarios and share efficient tips and strategies to reduce your expenses significantly, even to 800 Stardust. Are you prepared to elevate your trading game? Let's get started!

How Much Does it Cost to Trade A Shiny Pokémon?

The amount of Stardust needed for trading Shiny Pokémon changes dramatically based on two key factors: whether the Shiny Pokémon is already in both players' Pokédex and the friendship level between the two trainers.

Here's a breakdown of the costs:

Practical Example

Imagine you want to trade a Shiny Pokémon that your friend doesn't have in his Pokédex, and you both are Ultra Friends. The trade will require 80,000 Stardust from each of you.

If the Pokémon is already in both your Pokédexes, the cost drops to just 1,600 Stardust each.

Q&A

Q: Why do both players pay the exact Stardust cost in Shiny Pokémon trades?

A: The requirement for both players to pay the exact Stardust cost in a Shiny Pokémon trade is a strategic game design choice. This rule prevents players from easily transferring Shiny Pokémon to new accounts without incurring a significant cost. By implementing this, the game maintains a balance and fairness in the trading system, ensuring that acquiring Shiny Pokémon remains a rewarding challenge for all players.

What Are the Requirements for Trading Pokémon in Pokémon GO?

Understanding the Basics:

To start trading Pokémon in Pokémon GO, you need to meet specific criteria:

• Player Level: You need to be at least level 10.

• Friendship: Establish a friendship with the trainer you wish to trade with.

• Proximity: Ensure you and your trading partner are within 100 meters of each other.

Once these conditions are satisfied, choose a friend and the Pokémon you want to trade. Before confirming the trade, you'll see the Pokémon you'll receive in return and the required Stardust cost.

Additional Trading Insights:

Candy Bonus: Trading Pokémon gives both trainers extra candy, with a higher reward if the two Pokémon were caught far away from one another.

CP and HP Changes: After a trade, the CP (Combat Power) and HP (Health Points) of the Pokémon may increase or decrease. This variation is less significant at higher Friendship levels.

One-Time Trade Rule: You can't trade a Pokémon more than once.

Restrictions on Mythical Pokémon: Mythical Pokémon, like Mew, cannot be traded.

Special Trades: Some trades are classified as special and have specific Stardust costs and limitations on the number of trades.

Lucky Pokémon Chance: Both trainers have a chance of receiving a Lucky Pokémon, which requires less Stardust to power up.

How to Trade Shiny Pokémon More Quickly?

Since a Shiny Pokémon trade is Categorized as a Special trade, you can only complete one transaction a day. But, you can enable yourself to trade daily by ensuring you always have enough Stardust. Use the methods below to conserve and gain more Stardust:

1. Raise your friendship level

With every rise in your Friendship level, the Stardust cost goes down. This means you can conserve your Stardust by leveling up your friendship. For example, when trading a Pokémon not in your Pokedex, the price reduces from 1,000,000 Stardust for Good friends to 40,000 for best friends. Thus, it makes sense to increase your friendship level first.

You can raise your friendship by:

• Raiding together.

• Sending and opening gifts.

• Trading Pokémon.

• Battling each other.

• Battling in the gym together.

You can only level up your friendship once per day. Inspect your fellow trainer's portrait on the friend screen to check if you have already leveled up on a particular day. If there's a thin, light blue circle around your friend's circle, your friendship has been increased that day.

2. Get More Stardust

There are several effective ways to increase your Stardust reserves:

Catching Pokémon: This is the simplest method to earn Stardust. Catching a Pokémon typically grants at least 100 Stardust. The amount increases depending on the Pokémon's evolution stage - 300 Stardust for middle-evolution and 500 Stardust for final-evolution Pokémon.

Weather Boost Bonus: Pokémon boosted by the current weather conditions provide an extra 25 Stardust upon capture.

High-Value Pokémon: Certain Pokémon, like Audino, are inherently more valuable, offering up to 2,100 Stardust when caught.

Hatching Eggs: Hatching Pokémon from eggs is another effective way to gain Stardust.

Opening Gifts: Receiving gifts from friends can also yield Stardust.

Participating in PvP Battles: Engaging in player-versus-player battles rewards Stardust.

Raid Rewards: Completing raids often results in Stardust bonuses.

What's Trade Evolution In Pokémon Go?

Trade evolution is a feature that allows players to evolve Pokémon by trading them. While transforming a Pokémon costs Candy, a specific group of creatures can evolve into their 3rd and 4th generation form by trading them. This enables trainers to add the new Pokémon to their Pokedex quickly.

Creatures that can evolve by trading are:

Once you trade any of the above Pokémon, the Candy cost for evolving it reduces to zero. However, if you don't have fellow trainers you can deal with, you can still use Candy to evolve these Pokémon. Also, Pokémon that transform via a combination of items and Candy don't get the trade evolution discount.

What's Special Trading in Pokémon GO?

There are two types of trading on Pokémon Go: Standard trading, which is available to players of level 10 and above, and Special trading. This type is only available to pairs of Great or Best friend friendship level trainers. Special trades include trading Legendary and Shiny Pokémon.

There are two key differences between a Standard and a Special trade. These are:

• You can only complete one special trade a day, while you can make more than 100 standard ones.

• The Stardust cost varies.

If you are trading a legendary or shiny Pokémon you own, the price is the same as exchanging a Standard Pokémon you don't own. But, if you don't have the shiny or legendary creature you are about to trade for, the Stardust cost shoots up massively.

How Much Does it Cost to Power Up Pokémon?

Powering up Pokémon is a mechanic that enables trainers to increase a creature's Combat Power (CP) using Candy and Stardust.

In turn, this increases the Pokémon's HP, attack, and defense making it easier to win Battle and Raids. The amount of Candy and Stardust you need to power up Pokémon increases as you level up the Pokémon.

Candy and Stardust run out fast when powering up, so you should only power up the strongest and most essential Pokémon.

Each time you Power up a creature, it gains half a level, but its level cannot surpass your trainer level, and a Pokémon caps at 40.

Also, Lucky Pokémon needs less Stardust and Candy to power up.

Conclusion

The clout and prestige that comes with collecting shiny Pokémon is part of Pokémon Go's thrill, so you should try to gain as many as possible. These dazzling creatures may not have enhanced stats or IVs, but their rarity and distinct colors make them true gems. 

Learning the Stardust cost of each trade will also help you make more informed Shiny Pokémon deals. Remember to get the most from every amount you spend. Hope you get many of these dazzling Pokémon. Happy trading!