Pokémon Go has a lot to offer in terms of gameplay mechanics. Of course, the core element of its gameplay revolves around the part where players catch Pokémon in the wild and use them as either part of their collection or in combat against other trainers.
But when discussing other trainers, it’s not always about competition. Pokémon Go also allows players to do other activities that can form friendships and bonds with one another. These come in the form of raids and trades trainers can do with fellow Pokémon collectors. You might come across a player who was fortunate enough to capture an elusive Shiny Pokémon, and they might be willing to trade you. However, the costs for trading Pokémon is high, even more so for Shiny Pokémon. There is a certain amount both sides need to pay, and it all comes down to spending Stardust, the mobile game’s primary currency.
How much Stardust does it cost to trade shiny Pokémon?
The amount of Stardust it costs to trade a Shiny Pokémon with another player in Pokémon Go varies. It comes down to the level of your friendship with the other player. If you have a higher friendship with them, then there’s a good chance it’ll be pretty cheap. However, even if you reach the Best Friend level with the other player, trading a Pokémon can be costly if you have never registered that Pokémon in your Pokédex.
We have a full breakdown of the Stardust requirements, and both players must offer this amount to complete the exchange. Because this is for Shiny Pokémon, the costs will be incredibly high if you have never registered them to your Pokédex. You can register them to your Pokédex by catching them at least once, but that can be incredibly difficult due to how elusive these Pokémon are in the wild and in events while playing Pokémon Go.
This is the amount of Stardust you need to offer to trade a Shiny Pokémon to another player in Pokémon Go.
| Friendship Level | Trading cost when the Pokémon is registered on both players’ Pokédex | Trading cost when the Pokémon isn’t registered on a player’s Pokédex |
|---|---|---|
| Good | 20,000 Stardust | 1,000,000 Stardust |
| Great | 16,000 Stardust | 800,000 Stardust |
| Ultra | 1,600 Stardust | 80,000 Stardust |
| Best | 800 Stardust | 40,000 Stardust |
These same Stardust costs reflect the amount of Stardust you have to use if you want to trade a Legendary Pokémon. Between the two, Legendary Pokémon are easier to catch given how often they’re featured in five-star raid rotations and events. Shiny Pokémon have an exceptionally low chance of spawning outside of specific events, such as Community Days.
If you truly want to trade a Legendary or Shiny Pokémon with another Pokémon Go player, we highly recommend reaching an Ultra or Best Friend level of friendship with them. The costs substantially decrease when you get these levels, especially if you do not have the Pokémon registered to your Pokédex. Trading a Pokémon, you don’t have registered is always costly in Pokémon Go, but for Legendary and Shiny Pokémon, it’s high if you’re only Good or Great friends.
Becoming an Ultra or Best friend with another player takes weeks of exchanging gifts or fighting alongside each other in raids. You can also trade Pokémon you have registered to increase your Friendship with them or battle in gyms and battle each other. Spending time and playing the mobile game with another player is the best way to do this, and you’ll want to do it daily to reach Ultra and Best Friends with them quickly.
