Pokemon GO Finally Adds Its Most Requested Feature, But There is a Huge Catch

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Players have been requesting this for years, and Niantic has finally added remote trading to Pokémon GO! The feature launched with a recent update, but it’s not quite ready to use yet. There are a few restrictions that some players might find annoying.

During the pandemic, Pokémon GO allowed trading with people far away, but the new Remote Trading feature is different. It lets you trade with anyone, anywhere in the world. Before you can make your first trade this way, though, you’ll need to complete a few steps.

Pokemon GO Adds New Forever Friends Status

To trade Pokémon remotely in Pokémon GO, you and your friend first need to reach a new, higher friendship level called “Forever Friends.” Previously, the highest level, “Best Friends,” required earning 90 friendship points. Now, reaching “Forever Friends” takes 180 friendship points total. This means it will take 180 days to become “Forever Friends” with someone you’ve just added as a friend.

Great news for Pokémon GO players! The game now features weekly challenges where groups of four can earn 7 extra friendship points by completing tasks together. Our first challenge was to catch a total of 500 Pokémon as a group, with no individual catch limits – meaning one person could have completed it alone and everyone would still get the bonus friendship points.

How Remote Trading Works in Pokemon GO

After becoming Forever Friends with someone in Pokémon GO, you’ve completed the hardest part, but some limitations still apply. To trade Pokémon, you’ll need to tag the ones you’re willing to trade with a special “Remote Trade” marker. This lets your Forever Friend know which Pokémon you’re open to trading if they make a good offer. Then, you can check their tagged Pokémon to see if anything interests you.

Either player can back out of a Remote Trade at any time, and the process will restart. If you and your friend have another way to communicate, you can coordinate to make sure the trade goes through. Otherwise, you might just check each other’s Pokémon and decide if you both want to swap.

You can make a Lucky Trade using Pokemon GO’s new Remote Trading feature!

Remote Trading in Pokémon GO can be a bit complicated, but that’s not unusual for the game. Becoming ‘Forever Friends’ with someone takes time, but the biggest issue for many players is the 30-day waiting period after catching a Pokémon before you can trade it. You can’t just catch a Pokémon and immediately trade it to your friend.

Pokemon GO Trading Restrictions

Remote Trading follows the same rules as regular trading. This means there’s a Stardust cost that varies depending on the Pokémon – it’s higher for Legendary or Shiny Pokémon. Also, you can only trade Pokémon that both players have already registered in their Pokédex. If you’re new to trading, here’s what you can’t trade:

  • Mythical Pokemon
  • Shadow Pokemon
  • Previously traded Pokemon
  • Pokemon defending Gyms or Power Spots
  • Your Pokemon Buddy
  • Pokemon currently in their Mega Evolution
  • Fused Pokemon
  • Crowned Sword Zacian
  • Crowned Shield Zamazenta
  • Pokemon placed at a Pokemon Playgrounds

Even if you don’t use the remote trading feature, the new “Forever Friend” status in Pokémon GO is a great update. Building friendship with a Forever Friend earns you XP and unlocks more remote trades. The recent announcement suggests these trades will require a new item or currency, though details are still unclear. We don’t yet know if both players need this item to trade remotely, or how often you’ll receive it, but we should find out more as players start becoming Forever Friends.

My Take on Pokemon GO Remote Trading

It’s fantastic that Pokémon GO now lets players trade remotely, but the current system isn’t quite what fans hoped for when they originally requested the feature. While there are safeguards to prevent unfair trades, it feels overly complicated. Still, it’s a welcome first step for a feature many thought would never be added to the game.

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2025-12-09 10:04