Pokémon GO Guide: How Much Stardust to Trade Shiny in 2025
Trading Pokémon in Pokémon GO is both exciting and crucial for completing your Pokédex, especially when chasing rare Shiny Pokémon. But how much Stardust to trade Shiny Pokémon? For an unregistered Shiny, the cost can skyrocket to a staggering 1,000,000 Stardust!
This guide shows you how much Stardust do you need to trade a Shiny, how to get more stardust, and how to trade Shiny Pokémon without walking!
Contents
How Much Stardust to Trade A Shiny Pokémon
Trading Shiny Pokémon falls under Special Trades, just like exchanging Legendary Pokémon. These trades come with higher Stardust costs and daily limits. The Stardust cost for trading a Shiny Pokémon depends on two key factors:
Friendship Level: The higher your friendship level with another trainer, the less Stardust is required for trading.
Pokédex Registration: Trading brand-new Pokémon comes at a premium, making it far more costly than swapping ones you already have.
So, how much Stardust does it take to trade a Shiny? Here’s a breakdown of Stardust costs for Pokémon GO Special Trades, depending on your friendship level and whether the Pokémon is registered in the Pokédex:
| Friendship Level | Days to Reach | Discount | Not in Pokédex | Already in Pokédex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friend | 1 day | 0% | 1,000,000 Stardust | 20,000 Stardust |
| Great Friend | 7 days | 20% | 800,000 Stardust | 16,000 Stardust |
| Ultra Friend | 30 days | 92% | 80,000 Stardust | 1,600 Stardust |
| Best Friend | 90 days | 96% | 40,000 Stardust | 800 Stardust |
Facts About Trading A Shiny
- 1. You’re limited to one Special Trade per day.
- 2. You need to be within 100m from the person you’re trading with.
- 3. You'll need to reach at least LV. 10 to start a trade.
LocSpoof GPS Location Changer
Want to do a remote trade with your friend without leaving home? With iRocket LocSpoof, you can bypass distance restrictions and trade Pokémon with friends anywhere in the world. No need to travel—just set your location to match your friend's, initiate the trade, and expand your collection effortlessly!
Stardust Cost for Trading Regular Pokémon
When trading a Pokémon that's neither shiny nor Legendary, the Stardust cost can start as low as 4 Stardust. However, this cost varies based on your friendship level with the other player. The stronger your bond, the less Stardust you'll need to part with.
| Friendship Level | Days to Reach | Discount | Regular Pokémon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friend | 1 day | 0 | 100 Stardust |
| Great Friend | 7 days | 20% | 80 Stardust |
| Ultra Friend | 30 days | 92% | 8 Stardust |
| Best Friend | 90 days | 96% | 4 Stardust |
TOP 5 Fast Ways to Get Stardust in Pokémon GO
1 Catch Pokémon Relentlessly (Especially with Bonuses)
Every time you catch one, you get some Stardust. Also, events sometimes give bonus Stardust. And Star Pieces! Those items increase Stardust gains by 50% for 30 minutes. So using those during catching sprees would help.
- Base Reward:
- 100–300 Stardust per catch (more for evolved/weather-boosted Pokémon).
- Maximize Gains:
- Use a Star Piece (+50% Stardust for 30 minutes).
- Play during 2× or 3× Stardust events (e.g., Community Days, Spotlight Hours).
- Target first catch of the day (bonus Stardust).
2 Hatch Eggs (Focus on High-Distance Eggs)
Different eggs give different amounts. The longer the distance required to hatch the egg, the more Stardust you get. So maybe focusing on hatching 10km eggs would be better.
- Rewards:
- 10km Eggs: Up to 3,200 Stardust.
- 12km Eggs: Up to 6,400 Stardust.
- Pro Tips:
- Use Super Incubators to hatch eggs faster.
- Activate a Star Piece before hatching multiple eggs for a massive boost.
- Pair with Adventure Sync to hatch eggs by walking (even when the app is closed).
No Pokémon nearby? And a 10-km walk is too much for you? With LocSpoof, you can teleport to the best Pokémon GO locations, find rare spawns, and hatch eggs without walking—all with just one click!
3 Battle Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders
Defeating Team GO Rocket grunts and leaders gives Stardust. Also, completing raids gives some Stardust. If you know how to get more raid passes, this will be a great source.
- Rewards:
- Grunts: 500 Stardust per win.
- Leaders (Sierra, Cliff, Arlo): 1,000 Stardust per win.
- Giovanni: 5,000 Stardust.
- Strategy:
- Use Rocket Radars to farm Leaders.
- Battle Grunts at PokéStops or Balloons (spawn every 6 hours).
4 Play the Go Battle League (GBL)
Winning battles there gives Stardust. Even if you lose, you get some at the end of each set.
- Rewards:
- Earn Stardust for every win (scales with rank).
- End-of-set rewards: Up to 4,400 Stardust per set (5 battles).
- Pro Tip:
- Play all 5 sets daily for up to 22,000+ Stardust (with higher ranks and Star Pieces).
5 Complete Field Research Tasks
Some field research tasks reward Stardust. Also, special research tasks might give larger amounts, but those are usually one-time.
- Best Tasks for Stardust:
- “Catch 5 Pokémon”: 500–1,000 Stardust.
- “Win a Raid”: 500–1,000 Stardust.
- “Power Up Pokémon 5 Times”: 1,000 Stardust.
- Pro Tip:
- Stack tasks and claim them all at once while a Star Piece is active.
How to Trade in Pokémon GO Long Distance
Trading Pokémon can feel like a logistical nightmare when you realize both players need to be in the same spot to make it happen. It’s a real buzzkill if your trading buddy lives halfway across the globe. But here’s where things get interesting: with a location spoofing tool like iRocket LocSpoof, you can change your GPS location and trade with anyone, no matter where they are.
With LocSpoof, you can:
- Hatch eggs in Pokémon GO without walking to get more Stardust.
- Find PokéStops with the built-in PoGo map and spin those that are miles away.
- Use Pokémon GO joystick, Teleport Mode, and Multi-Spot Mode to spoof Pokémon GO without being detected.
- Avoid soft bans in Pokémon GO with the Pokémon GO cooldown timer feature.
- Change your iOS or Android device location with 1 click.
1274721 users have downloaded
Change Location on iOS Step by Step
Step 1 Install iRocket LocSpoof on your iOS device and complete the setup.
Step 2 Choose your desired mode to fake location.
Step 3 Click "Move" and your location will be modified in a second.
Change Location on Android Step by Step
Step 1 Download and install iRocket LocSpoof on your Android device.
Step 2 Open Teleport Mode from the right sidebar or switch the bottom tab to your preferred Move Mode
Step 3 Pick a spot on the map, tap Move, and you're all set!
FAQs About Pokémon GO Shiny Trade Cost
1 How do you trade Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
Trading Shiny Pokémon follows the same process as regular trades but with a few extra considerations:
- 1. Meet the Trainer Requirements – Both players must be at least Level 10 and be Friends in the game.
- 2. Be Nearby – You must be within 100 meters (328 feet) of the other Trainer.
- 3. Open the Trade Menu – Tap on your Trainer profile > Friends > Select the friend you want to trade with > Tap "Trade."
- 4. Select the Shiny Pokémon – Choose the Shiny Pokémon you want to trade from your collection.
- 5. Check Stardust Cost – Trading Shiny Pokémon costs more Stardust than regular ones.
- 6. Confirm the Trade – Both players must accept the trade. The traded Pokémon’s IVs (stats) will change, and you’ll receive a Pokémon in return.
- 7. Complete the Trade – Once accepted, the trade is finalized, and the Pokémon appears in your collection.
2 How much stardust to trade Lugia?
If Lugia is new to the recipient:
- Good Friend – 1,000,000 Stardust
- Great Friend – 800,000 Stardust
- Ultra Friend – 80,000 Stardust
- Best Friend – 40,000 Stardust
If Lugia is already in the recipient's Pokédex:
- Good Friend – 20,000 Stardust
- Great Friend – 16,000 Stardust
- Ultra Friend – 1,600 Stardust
- Best Friend – 800 Stardust
3 Do shinies stay shiny when traded?
Yes. Shiny Pokémon remain shiny after being traded. However, their Level, IVs, HP and CP will change after the trade, so they may end up with better or worse stats than before.
Final Words
Trading Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Go can be costly, but you can lower the expense by increasing the friendship level with your trading partners. The best way to save Stardust is by trading with Best Friends, as it offers the lowest cost. Now that you know how much Stardust to trade Shiny, and If your friend is far away, iRocket LocSpoof lets you change your location and trade from anywhere. By using these strategies, you can trade more effectively, conserve Stardust, and expand your Pokémon collection with ease!
- No rooting, no jailbreaking.
- Mock location on iOS/Android with one click.
- With multiple modes to choose from, including Joystick Mode and Two-Spot Mode.
- Works with most LBS apps and games, including WhatsApp, Tinder, Pokémon GO, and Monster Hunter Now.
Sophia Singh is a software editor who specializes in location changing products. She has over a decade of experience in the tech industry and has a strong passion for the technology.
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