Pokémon Go's big new feature is here: Remote Trades

Niantic rolling out Forever Friends update, which enables long-distance Pokémon trades

A feature that Pokémon Go players have been pleading with Niantic to add for years is finally coming. Remote trading of Pokémon is being added to Pokémon Go this week as part of an update to Friendship levels, which will soon include a new tier called Forever Friends.

Currently, trading Pokémon with other players in Pokémon Go requires that players be in close proximity to each other. But the addition of Forever Friends will let players around the world trade with trainers far and wide, which will finally allow certain Pokémon Go enthusiasts — let's say, me, for example — to finally fill the Hawlucha- or Oricorio (Pa'u Style)-shaped holes in their Pokédex. Naturally, there will be restrictions on what players can trade and how often, but the rules seem pretty much in line with how Niantic already handles special trades in Pokémon Go.

To enable remote trades, players will first have to reach Forever Friend status with another player. That's a tier higher than the current maximum Friendship level, Best Friend. Once players do reach that Friendship milestone, the game will ask them to use a special Remote Trade tag to mark the Pokémon they're willing to trade with a Forever Friend. Players will then be able to see eligible Pokémon their Forever Friend(s) are also willing to trade.

Here's how Niantic explains the remote trading process:

To kick off a Remote Trade, each Trainer takes turns selecting up to three of their friend’s tagged Pokémon that they would be happy to receive. These “wish lists” are sent to the other Trainer. Each Trainer selects one of the requested Pokémon to offer to the other. Both Trainers then review the final offerings and have the chance to confirm or cancel. Throughout the Remote Trade process, either Trainer has the option to decline the current request and start the process over.

Remote trades will be repeatable with the same Forever Friend multiple times, once the two have earned enough Friendship Points again, Niantic explains. Friendship Points are earned by battling against, trading with, and sending Gifts to friends. Players can earn one Friendship Point per person per day, but can also earn additional points by completing weekly challenges together. Weekly challenges allow players to team up with up to three other trainers from their friend list to take on a group challenge each week. Rewards include XP and additional friendship points.

And yes, players that are Lucky Friends will send and receive lucky Pokémon through remote trading. Additionally, remote trades don't count as special trades, regardless of the Pokémon traded.

Speaking of trading restrictions...

What Pokémon are excluded in Remote Trades?

The following Pokémon cannot be included in a remote trade, according to Niantic:

• Pokémon caught in the last 30 days
• Previously traded Pokémon
• Shadow Pokémon
• Mythical Pokémon
• Pokémon defending Gyms or Power Spots
• Pokémon currently set as your buddy
• Actively Mega-Evolved Pokémon
• Fused Pokémon
• Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta
• Pokémon placed at Pokémon Playgrounds

In more good news for Pokémon Go players who want to start their Pokémon import/export empire, Niantic is increasing the maximum number of friends that players can have. The max will increase from 450 to 650 over the next several weeks in increments of 50.

So start taking inventory of your most coveted tradeable Pokémon, players. You're about to get a lot of requests from friends, so trade wisely.