How Much Stardust To Trade Pokemon Go

Stardust is the sparkly currency in Pokémon Go that you earn just by playing. You get it from catching Pokémon, hatching eggs, feeding berries in gyms, and plenty of other little activities. But unlike coins in your pocket, stardust has a very specific job: it powers up Pokémon and pays for trades.

If you've ever tapped "Trade" and then gasped at the stardust number, you're not alone. The cost can be as low as a few grains or as high as a million. The good news? It's not random. It all comes down to friendship level and whether the Pokémon is special.

Regular Trades: Cheap and Cheerful

A regular trade is when you and your friend both already have that Pokémon registered in your Pokédex. Think of common catches like Pidgey, Rattata, or a basic Eevee. These trades are the bargain bin of stardust costs.

With a Good Friend, a regular trade costs 100 stardust. That's like finding a quarter in your couch cushions. With a Great Friend, it drops to 80 stardust.

An Ultra Friend pays just 40 stardust. And a Best Friend? Only 8 stardust. Yes, eight. That's practically free. You could trade a whole box of common Pokémon and barely make a dent.

Special Trades: The Fancy Stuff

Special trades are the ones that make your heart beat faster. They include shiny Pokémon, legendaries, mythicals, and any Pokémon you don't already have registered. These trades come with a much bigger price tag.

If You Already Have It

Let's say you and your friend both have a shiny Charmander registered. You want to swap one for a better IV. That's a special trade, but the cost is friendlier than you might fear.

With a Good Friend, it's 20,000 stardust. A Great Friend brings it to 16,000. An Ultra Friend pays 8,000. And a Best Friend? Just 800 stardust.

If You Don't Have It

Now imagine your friend has a Mewtwo and you've never caught one. You're both excited. Then you see the stardust cost, and your excitement takes a little nap.

With a Good Friend, an unregistered special trade costs a whopping 1,000,000 stardust. A Great Friend lowers it to 800,000. An Ultra Friend makes it 80,000. And a Best Friend brings it down to 40,000 stardust.

Pokemon Go Trading Stardust Cost Chart

That's still a lot, but it's the difference between buying a used car and buying a really nice dinner. Friendship is powerful.

Friendship Saves You a Fortune

You level up friendship by sending gifts, battling together, raiding, and trading. It takes time, but the payoff is huge. A Best Friend can save you 960,000 stardust on a single unregistered legendary trade.

That's not a typo. Nine hundred sixty thousand. Suddenly, all those daily gifts feel like a smart investment.

A Real-Life Stardust Budget

Think of 1,000,000 stardust as saving for a house down payment. It's a massive goal that takes months of dedicated catching. Now picture 40,000 stardust as a fun weekend getaway. Still pricey, but doable.

800 stardust is a fancy coffee. 8 stardust is a penny you'd walk past on the sidewalk. That's the power of a Best Friend trade.

The One Special Trade Rule

You can only do one special trade per day unless a special event says otherwise. So make it count. Don't waste it on a shiny you both already have if you're saving up for a legendary.

Plan your special trades like you'd plan a vacation. Pick the Pokémon you really want. Then wait until your friendship is high enough to avoid stardust sticker shock.

How Much Stardust to Trade a Shiny/Legendary Pokémon GO?

How to Avoid Stardust Sticker Shock

Before you promise a trade, check your friendship level. If you don't have the Pokémon registered, wait until you're Best Friends. That one step can save you hundreds of thousands of stardust.

Do regular trades with Best Friends to keep costs tiny. Save your special trades for the Pokémon that truly matter. And pop a Star Piece when you're catching a lot of Pokémon to boost your stardust pile.

Why This Matters for Your Daily Pokémon Walk

Stardust doesn't grow on trees. Well, it kind of does if you catch a lot of grass types, but you get the idea. Every trade you make is a trade-off. Spend too much on a fancy trade, and you won't have enough to power up your favorite Snorlax.

So before you trade, check two things. First, your friendship level. Second, whether the Pokémon is already in your Pokédex. That quick check can save you a mountain of sparkles.

Quick Tips Before You Hit Trade

You can only do one special trade per day, so choose wisely. Also, don't forget that trading can give you candy and a chance at a lucky Pokémon. Lucky Friends are a nice bonus, but the stardust rules still apply.

If you're low on stardust, focus on catching everything you see. Feed berries at gyms. Open your research rewards. Even a short walk around the block can add up.

And if you're dreaming of a legendary trade, start sending gifts today. Your future Best Friend might be the reason you finally get that shiny Rayquaza without going broke.

So there you have it. Regular trades are cheap, special trades are pricey, and friendship is the ultimate coupon. Now go forth, trade smart, and may your stardust pile grow ever higher.