For the entire life of Pokémon RPGs, the ability to trade Pokémon with a friend has been a central mechanic. Even when the only way to swap was to physically connect two Game Boys with a connecting cable, swapping has always been the only way to evolve Pokémon like Haunter and Kadabra. However, Pokémon Legends: Arceus promises to shake up the franchise in a significant way. Will trading still be part of the game?
The most recent 13-minute Gameplay Trailer gave players the first confirmation that, in fact, Pokémon Legends: Arceus will allow players to trade Pokémon with friends. If previous Pokémon games for Switch are any indication, trading in Arceus will almost certainly require an internet connection and a Nintendo Online account. Despite the importance of resources in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it appears that items will not be tradable.
Instead of going to a Pokémon Center, players will be able to trade Pokémon with friends by heading to the Trading Post in Jubilife Village, which is the game's central city. It is currently unknown whether or not Arceus will have Pokémon that have evolved only through trades, but we do know that Hisui's region will eventually become Sinnoh, which has such types of Pokémon.
