Trade

A trade occurs when two trainers exchange Pokémon. Trades can be conducted either with a trade machine (player to player) or using traders (player to NPC). Trading causes happiness to be reset to 70, but no other aspects of the traded Pokémon are affected. Traded Pokémon gain x1.5 boosted experience.

Evolution

A good amount of Pokémon only evolve when traded. These Pokémon can be evolved in single player through the use of a Linking Cord, although Machamp, Golem, Gengar, Steelix and Gigalith can be obtained from traders, as they may potentially offer them or their pre-evolutions.

• Kadabra→Alakazam
• Machoke→Machamp
• Graveler→Golem
• Haunter→Gengar
• Boldore→Gigalith
• Gurdurr→Conkeldurr
• Phantump→Trevenant
• Pumpkaboo→Gourgeist

Some evolutions require that the Pokémon be traded for a specific Pokémon to evolve.

• Karrablast→Escavalier (Shelmet)
• Shelmet→Accelgor (Karrablast)

Some evolutions also require that the Pokémon is holding a specific held item.

• Poliwhirl→Politoed (King's Rock)
• Slowpoke→Slowking (King's Rock)
• Onix→Steelix (Metal Coat)
• Rhydon→Rhyperior (Protector)
• Seadra→Kingdra (Dragon Scale)
• Scyther→Scizor (Metal Coat)
• Electabuzz→Electivire (Electirizer)
• Magmar→Magmortar (Magmarizer)
• Porygon→Porygon2 (Up-Grade)
• Porygon2→Porygon-Z (Dubious Disc)
• Clamperl→Huntail (Deep Sea Tooth)
• Clamperl→Gorebyss (Deep Sea Scale)
• Dusclops→Dusknoir (Reaper Cloth)
• Spritzee→Aromatisse (Sachet)
• Swirlix→Slurpuff (Whipped Dream)