Remote Trading Stays Locked Until Forever Friends
Remote trading is not available from the start. Niantic ties it to the highest friendship tier in the game. You must reach Forever Friends, which requires 180 friendship points with a single trainer, before the option to trade across distance appears in the trade screen (Niantic Help Center, 2026).
There is a second, lower gate that confuses many players. After the global launch of Remote Trade on December 11, 2025, the ability to initiate a remote trade became visible at 5 friendship points, but the trade will only complete if both players are Forever Friends. Reaching 5 points lets you see the button. Reaching 180 points lets you use it (Pokemon GO Hub, 2025).
How Friendship Points Actually Add Up
You earn 1 friendship point per day from a single interaction: opening a gift, sending a gift, raiding together, battling together, or trading. At that rate, Forever Friends takes about 180 days of consistent daily contact. Weekly Friendship Challenges and party play shorten the path, but the base math is one point per day, one friend at a time (Niantic Help Center, 2026).
The 5 point visibility gate is a trap for new players. You can tap the remote trade button within your first week of friendship and watch it fail every time. The game never tells you the real requirement is 180 points. Plan your remote trades around the 180 day mark, not the button appearing.
Why Niantic Locked Remote Trade Behind the Top Tier
Remote trading removes the need to be physically close. Opening it to low-tier friends would let players complete regional Pokedex entries and move rare Pokemon around the world without ever meeting. By requiring Forever Friends, Niantic forces a long, consistent relationship before distance stops mattering (Eurogamer, 2025).
This also protects local trading culture. Players who meet in person still get the cheapest trades. Remote trades cost more and stay rare, which keeps the in person bonus meaningful (Polygon, 2026).
What You Can and Cannot Send Remotely
Once unlocked, remote trades follow the same block list as local trades. You cannot trade Pokemon caught in the last 30 days, Pokemon already traded once, Shadow Pokemon, Mythical Pokemon, Pokemon defending a gym, your current buddy, or a Pokemon mid Mega Evolution (Niantic Help Center, 2026).
Remote trades are not Special Trades by default. They use the standard trade cost unless the Pokemon itself is a legendary, shiny, or other Special Trade category. Lucky Friends status still applies and clears after the trade, exactly like a local one (Pokemon GO Hub, 2025).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many friendship points do I need for remote trade?
180 points to reach Forever Friends. The button appears at 5 points but will not complete until both players hit Forever Friends (Niantic Help Center, 2026).
Can I remote trade with a Best Friend?
No. Best Friends is 160 points. Remote trade requires the next tier up, Forever Friends at 180 points (Niantic Help Center, 2026).
Does distance matter for remote trade cost?
Yes. The further apart the two players are, the more Stardust the trade costs, up to the remote maximum. Being in the same room does not change the remote label once the trade is started remotely (Polygon, 2026).
Can I remote trade a legendary?
Only as a Special Trade, and only one Special Trade per day per friend, just like local play. The remote unlock does not raise the Special Trade limit (Niantic Help Center, 2026).
Final Thought
Remote trade is a reward for patience, not a shortcut. The 180 point wall means you earn it after roughly half a year of daily contact, and the 5 point button that shows up early only adds frustration if you do not know the real rule. Build one or two Forever Friends slowly, keep your gifts moving, and the remote option will be there when a regional or a lucky trade actually needs it.