Can You Trade With Friends in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet? Answered

Trading has been a staple of the mainline Pokemon games since the days of linking two GameBoys together with a link cable. Even then exclusive Pokemon were a concept, so you had a reason to talk to other Pokemon trainers and swap pocket monsters you didn’t have. While trading has been a long tradition, it’s never guaranteed and understandable if you’re worried about whether or not you can trade with friends in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Trading With Friends in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Yes, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will allow you to trade Pokemon with your friends. If you have a few buddies or someone you befriended online, you can start trading with them through the Poké Portal.

Once you’ve gained access to the Poké Portal, two options will be available: Link Trades and Surprise Trades, in addition to accessing other gameplay features coming to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet like Tera Raid Battles.

Link Trading is the traditional way of trading Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet—it’s just you and one other person. If you have Pokemon to trade for something specific, Link Trading is the way to go.

Surprise Trading is, well, a surprise! Pick a Pokemon, send them out into the world, and see what you get in return. It isn’t a new concept; in fact, Surprise Trading was first introduced in Pokemon X and Y, then dubbed “Wonder Trading.”

There you have it: not only can you trade with friends in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it comes in two different forms. For more on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, don’t miss out on the latest Paldean Pokemon reveal, as well as the newest TCG card set.

Featured Image Source: The Pokemon Company