Introduction:

Pokémon trading has been a highly anticipated feature in the Pokémon GO game, offering trainers a way to connect with friends, expand their collections, and potentially obtain powerful Pokémon. However, as with any in-game mechanic, trading comes with its own set of rules and limitations that can sometimes leave players scratching their heads. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Pokémon trading, exploring its benefits, quirks, and the reasoning behind certain limitations.

The Benefits of Pokémon Trading:

1. Candy and Lucky Chances: One of the primary benefits of trading is the opportunity to receive extra candy for the traded Pokémon. Additionally, trading Pokémon has a chance to result in lucky Pokémon, which require less stardust to power up and have higher minimum IV values.
2. Free Evolution: Trading certain Pokémon, like Gastly/Haunter and Abra/Kadabra, can lead to a unique advantage. If you have one of these Pokémon from a trade, you can evolve it into Gengar or Alakazam for free, instead of spending 100 candy, making it easier to fill your Pokédex.

The Quirks of Pokémon Trading:

1. Trading Mechanics: Pokémon trading rerolls the stats of the traded Pokémon, which can sometimes be frustrating if you had a high IV (Individual Value) Pokémon. The rerolled stats can range from a floor of 1/1/1, 2/2/2, 3/3/3, or 5/5/5, depending on your friendship level. Lucky trades have a floor of 12/12/12 IVs.
2. Trading Back: One of the more perplexing limitations of Pokémon trading is that you cannot trade a Pokémon back to its original owner. This means that if you trade a Pokémon to a friend, you won’t be able to receive it back in return. This limitation also applies to Pokémon you obtain from trades, as they receive an IV reroll and are considered different Pokémon.
3. Preventing IV Manipulation: The inability to trade a Pokémon back to its original owner and the IV reroll mechanic may have been implemented to prevent players from manipulating IVs by continuously trading with one another. This limitation helps maintain the integrity of the game’s balance.
4. Possible Measures Against Reselling: Another potential reason behind these trading limitations is to discourage the selling of Pokémon between players. If players could trade back their Pokémon after selling them to others, it could lead to an exploitative market within the game.

Conclusion:

Pokémon trading in Pokémon GO offers both exciting opportunities and peculiar limitations. While it allows players to obtain candy, lucky Pokémon, and even free evolutions for certain traded Pokémon, it comes with quirks like IV rerolls and the inability to trade back Pokémon to their original owners. These limitations may seem frustrating at times, but they serve important purposes, such as maintaining the game’s balance and preventing potential abuses of the trading system.

In the end, understanding these mechanics and limitations can help trainers make informed decisions when it comes to trading Pokémon. Whether you’re seeking to complete your Pokédex or strengthen your team, trading remains a valuable tool for expanding your Pokémon collection and connecting with fellow trainers.