A trade is a process in which a Pokémon trainer sends one of his or her Pokémon to another trainer in exchange for one of the other trainer's Pokémon.

A trainer can trade with any person, him or herself or with trainers in the games. All a trainer needs to trade is two compatible game cartridges, two of the system it is on (Game Boys/Game Boy Colors for Generations I and II, Game Boy Advances for Generation III and DSes for Generation IV), a link cable for connecting the two systems (or a GBA Wireless Adaptor for trades between FireRed, LeafGreen and Pokémon Emerald) and at least one Pokémon. In Generation IV, Pokémon can also be traded via the Global Trade Station in Jubilife City.

Trading is important to getting all the Pokémon in the Pokédex, since there are some Pokémon that are not available in each version and some Pokémon that only evolve after being traded.

Trading also gives Pokémon an advantage in growth. A traded Pokémon gains boosted experience after a Pokémon battle, which allows a traded Pokémon to level up faster. Pokémon traded from outside of one's own country will gain even more experience.

Pokémon which evolve when traded

Many of these Pokémon also require an evolution-inducing held item to be attached for their evolution to trigger by trade.

• Poliwhirl → Politoed (if King's Rock is attached)
• Kadabra → Alakazam
• Machoke → Machamp
• Graveler → Golem
• Slowpoke → Slowking (if King's Rock is attached)
• Haunter → Gengar
• Onix → Steelix (if Metal Coat is attached)
• Rhydon → Rhyperior (if Protector is attached)
• Seadra → Kingdra (if Dragon Scale is attached)
• Scyther → Scizor (if Metal Coat is attached)
• Electabuzz → Electivire (if Electrizer is attached)
• Magmar → Magmortar (if Magmarizer is attached)
• Porygon → Porygon2 (if Up-Grade is attached)
• Porygon2 → Porygon-Z (if Dubious Disc is attached)
• Dusclops → Dusknoir (if Reaper Cloth is attached)
• Clamperl → Huntail (if Deepseatooth is attached)
• Clamperl → Gorebyss (if Deepseascale is attached)

List of in-game trades

There are a variety of trades that can be made with trainers within the game. These are usually for Pokémon that are difficult to obtain, a rarity at the point the trainer is reachable, or for Pokémon that can only be obtained through trading. All Pokémon received from an in-game trade will be at the same level as the Pokémon sent.

This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.

Generation I

Generation II

• Onix exchanged for a Bellsprout at Violet City
• Machop exchanged for a Drowzee at Goldenrod City (Gold and Silver only)
• Machop exchanged for a Abra at Goldenrod City (Crystal only)
• Voltorb exchanged for a Krabby at Olivine City
• Dodrio exchanged for a Dragonair at Blackthorn City
• Magneton exchanged for a Dugtrio at Power Plant (Crystal only)
• Aerodactyl exchanged for a Chansey at Route 14
• Xatu exchanged for a Haunter at Pewter City

Generation III

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

• Makuhita exchanged for a Slakoth in Rustboro City (Ruby and Sapphire only)
• Skitty exchanged for a Pikachu in Fortree City (Ruby and Sapphire only)
• Corsola exchanged for a Bellossom in Pacifidlog Town (Ruby and Sapphire only)
• Seedot exchanged for a Ralts in Rustboro City (Emerald only)
• Plusle exchanged for a Volbeat in Fortree City (Emerald only)
• Horsea exchanged for a Bagon in Pacifidlog Town (Emerald only)
• Meowth exchanged for a Skitty in Battle Frontier (Emerald only)

FireRed and LeafGreen

• Mr. Mime exchanged for an Abra at Route 2
• Nidoran♀ exchanged for a Nidoran♂ at Route 5 (FireRed only)
• Nidoran♂ exchanged for a Nidoran♀ at Route 5 (LeafGreen only)
• Jynx exchanged for a Poliwhirl at Cerulean City
• Farfetch'd exchanged for a Spearow at Vermillion City
• Nidorina exchanged for a Nidorino at Route 11 (FireRed only)
• Nidorino exchanged for a Nidorina at Route 11 (LeafGreen only)
• Lickitung exchanged for a Golduck at Cycling Road (FireRed only)
• Lickitung exchanged for a Slowbro at Cycling Road (LeafGreen only)
• Tangela exchanged for a Venonat at Cinnabar Island
• Electrode exchanged for a Raichu at Cinnabar Island
• Seel exchanged for a Ponyta at Cinnabar Island

Colosseum & XD Gale of Darkness

• Elekid exchanged for a purified Togepi at Outskirt Stand

Generation IV

• Chatot exchanged for a Buizel in Eterna City
• Haunter holding an Everstone exchanged for a Medicham in Snowpoint City
• Magikarp holding a Lum Berry exchanged for a Finneon on Route 226
• Machop exchanged for a Abra in Oreburgh City

Trades in other canon

In the anime

Despite it being one of the key aspects of the games, trading is unusually rare in the anime. Only a few trades have taken place, and only one of them thus far has been truly significant. Fans have often speculated about the reason for this.

• In Battle Aboard the St. Anne, Ash traded his Butterfree for a Gentleman's Raticate. He wasn't happy with the trade, however, so he traded it back by the end of the episode.
• In Tricks of the Trade, Jessie unintentionally traded her Lickitung for Benny's Wobbuffet.