Pokemon Go Update: Trading, Friends, Gifts, Trainer Codes Coming This Week

Pokemon Go just continues to get better with Niantic’s announcement today that the ability to add friends in the mobile game will go live by the end of the week in a fresh update, and that includes the long-awaited ability to trade Pokemon. This update is a lot to unpack aside from adding friends.

Yes, the mainstay trading feature of the core Pokemon games makes its way into the spin-off two years later. Normally we’d complain that it took so long, but we’re going with the “better late than never” approach, as we knew it was coming since launch.

So, how does it work? Well, starting off, Nintendo is Nintendo and players use a six-character “Trainer Code”, which works just like Nintendo’s usual Friend Codes on Switch and 3DS. Once you’re added, you start out as acquaintances prior to adding each other. In order to jump up tiers, players have to interact with each other through raid battles and attacking gyms together. They can also gain friendship meter to the tier by trading or giving presents to each other.

The tiers are Good Friend, Great Friend, Ultra Friend, and Best Friend. The better you are friends with someone, the better your bonuses are when you work together on things like raids. The example given in the release shows that “Great Friends” can earn an Attack bonus when raiding or gym battling together. What players get as a bonus is shown in the friendship menu, which can be seen below, depending on the tier.

Good Friend

Trade: All Pokemon except Mythical (No discount)

Gym Battle: None

Raid Battle: None

Great Friend

Trade: Stardust discount (Level One)

Gym Battle: Attack Bonus (Level One)

Raid Battle: Raid Bonus +1 Ball

Ultra Friend

Trade: Stardust discount (Level Two)

Gym Battle: Attack Bonus (Level Two)

Raid Battle: Raid Bonus +2 Balls

Best Friend

Trade: Stardust discount (Level Three)

Gym Battle: Attack Bonus (Level Three)

Raid Battle: Raid Bonus +4 Balls

Another feature being added for this update is gifting to friends. So, hitting up Pokestops or Gyms usually give players items like Pokeballs or berries, but they’re adding “Gifts” as well. These can’t be opened by yourself and can only be gifted to a friend. Once sent, they can be opened and can include helpful items, as well as a postcard saying where the gift was found originally. A new 7 KM egg can show up in the present, which can include the Alolan forms of Kanto pokemon like Vulpix or Sandshrew.

Trading gets pretty deep as well, finally giving trainers a way to use their Stardust that has built up for the past two years. First off, players have to be within 100 meters of the person they want to trade with and both of them have to be at least Level 10 or higher. Then, say players want to trade that Squirtle for a Pikachu, they offer the trade and some Stardust is used to accomplish the process.

For trades involving legendary Pokemon, Shiny Pokemon, or even Pokemon not currently already in your Pokedex, the amount of Stardust needed is going to be a lot more, but numbers may vary on different circumstances. Though, in any case, the higher the friend level, the less Stardust is needed to complete the transaction. Special Trades (as they’re called) can only happen once per day with a Great or Best Friend and use a lot more Stardust in any case.

While the trading and friendship is implemented, fans still want to know when they can battle each other out in the field or if this is going to even be implemented. 

For more news about the revealed information on the Global Challenge Events going on this year, check out the details here. If you’re determined to get the elusive Mew in Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee!, players have the option to utilize Pokemon Go as well with these instructions.