On July 23, 2018, Niantic announced via iOS patch notes and the website that Pokemon will now have the ability to turn into a "Lucky Pokemon" once traded.
Here's what we know so far:
- A Lucky Pokemon when received cost only half the amount of Stardust to power up
- Pokemon who have been sitting in storage longer are more likely to become lucky
- "Whether or not being in storage causes Pokémon to become Lucky Pokémon remains a mystery, but be sure to stay posted for more results from the professor’s research."
- When two Pokemon are being traded, either neither or both will become Lucky.
- Traded Pokemon's Lucky IVs are 10 HP / 10 Atk / 10 Def or above
- !! This has since been updated to 12 HP / 12 Atk / 12 Def
Also, Gifts will now also contain Stardust and you will receive XP for sending a Gift.
See below for full announcement.
Full Announcement
Lucky Pokémon Are Ready for a New Adventure!
Trainers,
Professor Willow has made an important new discovery about Pokémon! His findings suggest that Pokémon can take on a new trait when they are traded. The trait’s origin is a mystery, and you can experience it soon in Pokémon GO!
According to his research, there is a chance that Pokémon, when traded, can become sparkly Lucky Pokémon. It seems that Lucky Pokémon require less Stardust to power up, which means they can reach a higher CP much faster than other Pokémon. Plus, a Lucky Pokémon can be detected by the Pokédex, so you can keep track of them!
The longer the Pokémon spends inside a Trainer’s Pokémon storage, the higher the chance of them becoming Lucky Pokémon when they are traded. Whether or not being in storage causes Pokémon to become Lucky Pokémon remains a mystery, but be sure to stay posted for more results from the professor’s research.
With the discovery of Lucky Pokémon, Gifts also can include special new surprises. Trainers who send Gifts to friends will now receive XP for doing so and Gifts also have a chance of containing Stardust!
It’s time to begin a new journey with Lucky Pokémon! Share a photo of your new find with #LuckyPokemon on your preferred social media channels. Stay safe, and happy exploring!
—The Pokémon GO team
