The first time I saw the soft glow and little bounces certain Pokémon did in their boxes while trading, I automatically assumed they were nothing more than fun visual effects 😂.
Well, I soon found out these animation features actually serve a useful purpose. Let’s take a deeper look into the reason why some Pokémon bounce and how this effect can help you make the most out of your trades.
What Are The Rules Of Trading Pokémon?
There are plenty of do’s and don’ts you must keep in mind while trading Pokémon, which can be confusing, especially to new traders.
If you’re one of them, check out the table below to get a comprehensive breakdown of all the rules you need to know:
|
Trading Partners |
Any player that is your Friend and has at least passed level 10. |
|
Eligible Pokémon |
All Pokémon except Shadow Pokémon, Mythical Pokémon (except Meltan and Melmetal), Slashed or illegitimate Pokémon, your current Buddy Pokémon, Pokémon received in a previous trade, and Pokémon in poor health. |
|
Number of Trades |
Each trader can make up to 100 trades per day. |
|
Special Trades |
This can occur in-game if you or your partner is receiving an unregistered Pokémon, Legendary Pokémon, Purified Pokémon, Shiny Pokémon or Ultra Beast. Only one Special Trade is allowed per day, and it must be with a Good Friend. You must also have enough Stardust. |
Why Do Certain Pokémon Glow When Trading?
It is believed that Pokémon glow white 🌟 and bounce while trading to signify that the person you are trading with hasn’t caught it yet.
Also, alternate or unregistered forms of Pokémon, which your partner does not have, behave the same way.
For example, if they have Combat Breed and not Blaze Breed, the Blaze Breed Pokémon will glow and bounce, although they are both Paldean Tauros.
These effects hint at the Pokémon your trading partner needs in their Pokedex, which can be great leverage during a trade-off.
While this theory behind Pokémon’s’ faint glow and bounce is the most common, it is glitchy because only five boxed Pokémon can be highlighted at a given time.
This means some uncaught Pokémon don’t glow and bounce as they should, while others do. Further, cross-game exclusives do not light up oftentimes, so it is safe to say that this feature is not always available or accurate 🙁.
Can You Still Trade A Pokémon If They Are Bouncing And Glowing?
Definitely! You can trade Pokémon while they are bouncing and glowing, which is what any seasoned Pokémon player 💪 would encourage you to do.
Since it is widely theorized that a Pokémon becomes animated as a sign that the other trader does not have it in their collection, the feature acts as a helpful pointer to which trade would be most advantageous and valuable (especially if you don’t mind losing that Pokémon).
With this nifty feature being a new instruction in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, it seems to only be available for Pokémon trading in this version.
To say I am a die-hard fan is the least way to describe my love for Pokémon. I have grown up playing and studying everything there is to know about the game and anything related to it, giving me more than 18 years of as a player. I also have more than 10 years of experience in the gaming industry, creating content on different technology and gaming products. Now, with my experience, I want to share my passion and knowledge of Pokémon with all the other enthusiasts out there to help them learn and grow as they continue to explore this world filled with endless adventure and possibilities. You can read more about me on the about us page.