Top 6 Best and Worst In-Game Trades in Pokémon

Trading has been a big part of Pokémon from the very start, but you can't always find a partner to trade with so luckily we got a few pre-programed trades in the games over the years. Some of them were fantastic! But others saw some pretty big scams, so let's see which ones might be considered the best or worst.

[Keiranhalycon]

In Pokémon X/Y, trading a Luvdisc for a Steelix. Practically a gift Pokémon, since you can fish right outside with an Old Rod for 100% catch rate for Luvdisc

[TK]

Imagine if Mindy actually trades a Haunter without the Everstone gimmick or a Gengar in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, it might becomes one of the biggest plot twists

[daniel]

I'd give an honorable mention to the Machop that you can trade for right before Whitney - especially because its gender means Miltank's Attract will be useless. I've heard so many people complain about how frustrating Whitney's Miltank is, but I got that Machop as a kid and as a result never understood why people thought it was such a difficult fight!

[thecriticalghost]

Gyarados for magikarp is one of the best trades, IV's in attack, adamant Nature and boosted exp, it's literally trading gyarados for a way better gyarados

[Logans_Login]

I think we all know a certain Mindy will be on this list

[KaiserWilhelm]

I was really happy when Galar just gave you a bunch of wild trade Pokemon just running around in the wild area. Oh hello, Gengar, Steelix, and Machamp, logistically, I shouldn't be able to find any of you in the wild, but I'm not looking a gift-horse in the mouth.

[atStuartN]

It’s always infuriated me that I couldn’t get a Golem unless *magically* I found someone to trade with. I ended up buying a second system for cheap, just so I could trade with myself for it.

[UltimaRomance]

Honestly, when it came to the Gyarados for Carpe Diem the Magikarp, it was somewhat worth it if you wanted a competitive Gyarados. All trades in gen 6 has at least 1 perfect IV and its usually their best stat. So that Magikarp had perfect IV in Attack

[AN-invt]

Also, for the Dragonair trade:

In the gen 4, Rhydon can evolve into Rhyperior, a good pokemon. Yet, they still chose Dodrio for the trade. That just felt like a kick in the face

[davidciszewski]

The magikarp trade in x and y was adamant with 3 perfect IVs far as I know.

[cooperross]

Interesting fact: I owned the strategy guide for Diamond and Pearl, and it specifically mentioned the Mindy trade. Except, the way it phrased it was something like "You might be worried that the Haunter will evolve into Gengar, but it's actually holding an Everstone, so you get a Haunter, and a free Everstone!" It framed the whole thing as an entirely positive experience.

[breedernick]

The best ones for me are the other version exclusive in game trade. Specifically the petilil-cottonee trade for me since I used the traded cottonee on my team.

[dummy_professional]

An alternative name for the best trades in every Pokémon game, would be "how we robbed the NPC through trades in every Pokémon game". ;-)

[hitmonchampion]

I very fondly remember the Haunter for Alolan Graveler trade. I was not disappointed at all. That Golem was on my team the rest of the way trough. And I didn’t even mind his nickname. I wouldn’t have gotten a Gengar anytime soon, so this was a very good deal for me.

[macwelch]

I imagine it’s quite the hassle looking for someone to trade your Pokémon with in order to make them evolve

[dhavalpatil]

Half of the in game trades should be the pokemon that evolve by trading.

[shytendeakatamanoir]

One trade that can literally be the worst is that trainer in Sinnoh that want your Finneon for a foreign Magikarp on route 226.
Now, it's already pretty iffy (both are common enough, but Magikarp become arguably better), but there's a catch.
See, the trade happens on an island, and Finneon may be your only Pokemon with Surf in your team, making you basically trapped here for a more or less huge amount of time.

[Kev.in]

Also a very good trade on x and y:
When you beat the league Shauna trades you the starter pokémon that is weak to yours for any pokemon which is just amazing imo

[Jordanator]

Medicham for Haunter with a bloody everstone is number 1 worst calling it now

[garchompelago]

I checked my box in Pokemon Sword. I cant believe that Thumper the Steelix is still with me for 8 years now.