Pokemon Scarlet & Violet players who want to complete their Pokedex will have to do a lot of trading in order to do so. Thankfully, there are lots of resourceful people out there who have put together networks of trade codes for trading version-exclusive Pokemon.
Link Codes existed in previous Pokemon games, allowing players to battle and trade with friends, but Game Freak expanding the number of characters in them made it easier than ever to set up specific trades in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. With eight characters to work with, players can simply input the Paldean Pokedex number for the Pokemon they have and the Pokemon they want to trade for.
The only trick is that standardized trades for specific Pokemon have been adopted by players, including legendaries, every Paradox Pokemon, and regular Pokemon. This means that players will need to know what Pokemon they need to bring in order to swap for a specific Pokemon.
Trade Codes for Version Exclusives
The Link Codes used to trade Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s version exclusives have players trade what are effectively equivalent in either game. This might be in terms of their in-game location, their typing, how they evolve, or their number of stages.
For example, one of those standard trades is Armarouge for Ceruledge. Armarouge is the Charcadet evolution that is exclusive to Pokemon Scarlet, while Ceruledge is Pokemon Violet’s version-exclusive evolution. Similarly, Iron Treads is the Quaking Earth Titan in Pokemon Violet, while Great Tusk fills that role in Pokemon Scarlet. These two Paradox Pokemon are the standard swap.
Here is the full list of Link Codes for trading version exclusives:
Link Code | Scarlet | Violet |
|---|---|---|
0166-0167 | Armarouge | Ceruledge |
0319-0320 | Stonjourner | Eiscue |
0313-0314 | Oranguru | Passimian |
0223-0223 | Fire Tauros | Water Tauros |
0227-0140 | Stunky/Skuntank | Gulpin/Swalot |
0143-0114 | Drifloon/Drifblim | Misdreavus/Mismagius |
0337-0339 | Skrelp/Dragalge | Clauncher/Clawitzer |
0316-0276 | Larvitar/Pupitar/Tyranitar | Bagon/Shelgon/Salamence |
0370-0305 | Deino/Zweilous/Hydreigon | Dreepy/Drakloak/Dragapult |
0376-0382 | Great Tusk | Iron Treads |
0377-0383 | Scream Tail | Iron Bundle |
0378-0384 | Brute Bonnet | Iron Hands |
0379-0385 | Flutter Mane | Iron Jugulis |
0380-0386 | Slither Wing | Iron Moth |
0381-0387 | Sandy Shocks | Iron Thorns |
0397-0398 | Roaring Moon | Iron Valiant |
0399-0400 | Koraidon | Miraidon |
Players should note that these trades will involve random people logging onto the same trade code at random. It’s possible two Scarlet players and two Violet players may come together. This may result in players being unable to obtain the desired Pokemon from the trade partner they are matched with. If this happens, simply leave the trade, input the same trade code, and try again.
For trading legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon specifically, players should expect that these trades will be permanent. While players can arrange for trade-backs or “touch trades” with friends outside the game, there’s no way to communicate this with random players met via link code.
It’s possible that they will leave immediately after completing the trade. The best way to complete the Pokedex without losing the legendary Pokemon is to find a trade partner on social media (or IRL) that is willing to agree to those conditions.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are available now on Nintendo Switch.