Trading is Finally Coming to Pokémon GO

Niantic announced three new features coming to Pokémon GO. These include adding friends, gift giving, and the most requested feature of all, trading.

Niantic announced today that trading is finally coming to Pokémon GO, along with a few other features as well.

Add Friends

The friend feature will let you add your friends to a list keep track of what they’ve been up to in Pokémon GO. Adding a friend is simple; you will exchange Trainer Codes, enter your friend’s code, and then send them a request. If your friend accepts the invite, they will appear in your Friends List. Adding friends will be available later this week.

Gift Giving

Gift giving is a feature that’s not new to the world of Pokémon. This started back during Pokémon Gold and Silver. To give a gift, you first have to get one. To get a gift, all you have to do is spin a Photo Disc at a PokéStop or Gym. Once you receive this gift, you can then send it to someone on your Friends List.

Gifts will contain a postcard showing where you received it and other helpful items. Special surprises can also be found in gifts. These surprises could contain Eggs that, when hatched, will contain an Alolan form of a Pokémon that was once originally discovered in Kanto. Sending gifts will also increase your Friendship level. If you battle in a gym or raid with your friend, you can earn attack bonuses to gain an edge. You can increase your Friendship Level once per day

Trading

Trading only works, if you’re friends with the other trainer, and are Trainer Level of 10 or higher. Completed trades will earn you candy, and that bonus can increase if the Pokémon traded were caught in locations far apart from each other. All trades are powered by Stardust, and some trades will require more Stardust than others.

Pokémon such as Legendary, Shiny, or ones not found in your PokéDex will require a Special Trade to complete. Special trades can occur once per day, and with someone on your Friends List who is considered a Best or Great Friend. Special Trades will require a lot of stardust, so save up and trade wisely. Trading is also a great way to increase your Friendship Level as well.

Niantic hasn’t announced when Trading is coming, but here’s to hoping it arrives before the end of summer.

Now that these features are finally coming to Pokémon GO, it will be easier for those players who don’t have a lot of time to play to complete their PokéDex and gain some friends in the process. It’s nice to see Niantic take charge and include more ways to play in Pokémon GO.