Pokemon Trading finally arrives on Pokemon Go, along with the new Friend system and Gifts!!!

Pokemon Go has finally released its Trading features. However for now, its only available to Players of level 30 and above. Niantic has promise that they will be gradually rolling out the feature for the others levels also.

The Trading system is launched along with a new Friends system, which offers new social features.

Pokemon Go Friends:

Pokemon Friends will act as link to Pokemon Trading and Gifts. It not only opens up the social aspect even further but also rewards the Players with a number of bonuses.

It allows the players to –

1. Trade Pokemon (obviously!!)

2. Send and receive Gifts including the new 7 KM eggs.

3. Get additional raid and attack bonuses, Trading discounts.

4. Track your friends progress.

When you are high enough Trainer Level, you can start adding Friends by going into your Trainer screen and selecting Friends in the upper right corner. Next, Choose “Add Friend”. Each Trainer has a unique Trainer code which can be shared with friends. Input  your Friends Trainer code in the “Add Friend” and then send a friend request. Once the friend request is accepted, they appear on the Friends list.

After adding your friends, you will be able to achieve one of the four Friendship Levels shown below.

Friendship Level	No. Of Days to unlock	Bonuses
Good Friend	1	Ability to trade, send or receive Gifts and Pokemon(except Mytical).
Great Friend	7	Small Stardust discount on Trading Small Gym and Raid Attack bonus +1 Raid capture balls
Ultra Friend	30	Medium Stardust discount on Trading Medium Gym and Raid Attack bonus +2 Raid capture balls
Best Friend	90	Large Stardust discount on Trading Large Gym and Raid Attack bonus +4 Raid capture balls

Now the next question rises, how to increase your friendship level?

Well, Friendship Level can e increased by two ways –

1. Sending Gifts

2. Doing Raid and Gym battles together.

Note that you can progress your Friendship once per day. Once you have performed one of the above activities, then you have to wait until the next day to progress further.

To see your exact progress, Go to your Friend in your Friend Feed, tap on their avatar, and then click on the Hearts.

The current limit on the maximum number of friends you can add is 200, but Niantic has stated that the number will grow and players will not have to pay for additional space like they did for Pokemon or Bag storage.

Pokemon Go Trading:

Pokemon Go Trading can only be possible with those Players in your friends list. Also you have to be near to the other player (i.e.) within 100 meters. All trades will make use of Stardust for trading. The amount of Stardust depends on your friendship level. The Stardust cost will be same for both the Players.

Also while trading, if both Pokemons are far apart,which is denoted by the distance in the Trading screen, you have a chance to get candy bonuses.

While Trading, the system shows the possible range of CP and HP that the Pokemon will achieve after it is traded. That’s right, Pokemon’s which are traded have their CP and HP reset. They will receive new random IV’s. The range of the HP and CP decreased as your friendship levels increase.

There is also another type of Special Trade, which you can use to trade Legendary, Shiny and Pokemon that are not yet registered in your Pokedex. However, the Special Trade is limited to only one per day.

Pokemon Go Gifts:

The new Gifts are obtained from PokeStops. These Gifts have a postcard attached to them, which shows an image of the PokeStop from which the Gift was obtained. The Gifts can be given to your friends. Gifts usually contain rare items like Hyper Portions, Revives etc... Although you will not be able to receive Raid items or Research exclusive items.

Also, Gifts will give you a chance to obtain the new 7KM eggs, which hatches into an exclusive Alolan Pokemon.

The various Alolan Pokemon that you can hatch so far are Vulpix, Sandshrew, Grimer, and Meowth.

Did I miss anything? If I did please feel free to share your opinions below in the comments section.

Until next time,

Yours Truly,

CasualGamer