[2026 January] Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go: How to Get & Use It!

by Jerry Cook Updated on 2026-01-06 18:10:08 / Update for Pokemon iOS

Behold trainers! The Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go has returned yet again with this month’s Go Pass! With it, you’ll be able to do Lucky Trades and get Lucky Pokémons.

However, if this is your first time, you may wonder how to use Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go. If so, don’t worry. In this guide article, we tell you all you need to know about how to get Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go and use it to do Lucky Trade in the game. Let’s get started!

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Part 1. What Is Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go? Permanent or One-Time Use?

The Lucky Trinket adds a strategic twist to player interactions. Let’s explore its unique mechanics, usage, and how it differs from traditional items.

1 How Does Lucky Trinket Work?

lucky trinket pokemon go

When you apply a Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go to a friend, you instantly promote both of you to Lucky Friends for your next trade, provided you are already Great Friends with each other.

This is valuable because of:

  • Guaranteed Lucky Pokémon : The Pokémon traded will be marked as Lucky, which significantly cuts the cost in Stardust to power them up and gives them a higher minimum IV floor.
  • No Random Chance : Unlike regular lucky trades (which require you to get lucky friend status with your Best Friends via random interactions), the trinket takes out the randomness and lets you choose exactly when and with whom to get a Lucky Trade in Pokémon Go.
  • High Shiny Probability : While Lucky Trades doesn’t directly improve shiny odds, they often go hand-in-hand with trading rare Pokémon like Shinies or Legendaries.

2 Is Lucky Trinket Permanent in Pokémon Go?

For trainers asking, “Is Lucky Trinket Permanent in Pokémon Go?” The answer is NO.

The item is temporary and must be used within a limited window tied to the Go Pass event. It only works once per Trinket, and once used, it disappears from your item bag.

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The Lucky Trinket Pokémon Go time limit is until Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. local time .

3 Lucky Trinket vs. Previous Lucky Features in Pokémon Go

To help you better understand how the Lucky Trinket fits into the game's existing mechanics, the following table compares it with other "Lucky" features based on how they work, the level of player control, and their specific benefits:

  • Feature
  • How It Works
  • Duration / Use
  • Main Benefit
  • Lucky Trinket
  • Instantly turns a chosen friend into a Lucky Friend
  • One-time use with a time limit
  • Guaranteed Lucky Trade, better IVs, low Stardust cost
  • Lucky Friends
  • Randomly triggered after interactions with a Best Friend
  • One guaranteed Lucky Trade
  • Guaranteed Lucky Trade
  • Lucky Pokémon
  • Result of a Lucky Trade
  • Permanent Pokémon status
  • Higher IV floor, cheaper power-ups
  • Lucky Eggs
  • Activated item that boosts XP
  • 30 minutes
  • Double XP gains
  • Lucky Trades
  • Trading with Lucky Friends or via Lucky Trinket
  • One Lucky Pokémon per trade
  • Better IV Pokémon, Stardust savings

Player control levels vary across features: the Lucky Trinket offers High control through instant friend selection, while Lucky Eggs provide Medium control via manual activation.

Conversely, Lucky Friends and Lucky Trades offer Low control due to their reliance on random triggers. Finally, players have No control over Lucky Pokémon, as they are strictly the result of a completed trade.

Part 2. How to Get the Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go?

The Lucky Trinket is a premium item available only through the Go Pass Deluxe. It can’t be found in PokéStops, the wild, or research, and is used to help get Lucky Pokémon. Here’s the step-by-step path on how to get Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go and how to use Lucky Trinket to get Lucky Pokémons!

Way 1. Buy the GO Pass Deluxe

First, you need to purchase the GO Pass Deluxe for this month, which is January 2026. This is a paid version of the free Go Pass and costs $7.99 USD (or local equivalent).

Getting it gives you access to extra rewards, like the Lucky Trinket Pokémon Go item, and faster progression compared to the free Go Pass.

Way 2. Earn GO Points

After purchasing the Go Pass Deluxe, start completing the daily and weekly Pass tasks to earn Go Points.

You earn points from simple activities like catching Pokémon, spinning PokéStops, hatching eggs, and participating in raids. As you collect points, your rank increases, and you unlock better rewards.

Way 3. Milestone Completions

As you rank up in the pass, you’ll reach milestones where rewards unlock. Because of its rarity and utility, the Lucky Trinket Pokémon Go item will be at a high rank, usually near the end of the track.

When you reach that rank and claim the reward, the trinket will appear in your items bag.

Way 4. Friends and Trading

Once you have your Lucky Trinket, make sure you are Great Friends or better with a player you want to use it on. Select that friend from your Friends list and activate the trinket to become Lucky Friends instantly.

This sets you up for a Lucky Trade in Pokémon Go, a special trade where both Pokémon become Lucky after trading!

Way 5. Special Event Rewards

Keep an eye on the in-game news for Special Events. Niantic occasionally includes Lucky Trinkets or the points needed to reach them as limited-time rewards for participating in major seasonal celebrations or global events.

Part 3. Strategy and Tips: How to Use the Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go

Once you have your Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go, the next step is learning how to use Lucky Trinket optimally.

How To Use Lucky Trinket [Step-By-Step]

Using a Lucky Trinket is the most reliable way to ensure your next trade results in a Lucky Pokémon. Follow these simple steps to activate it during your trade:

  • Open Pokémon Go and go to your Friends list.
  • Pick a friend you want to trade with whom you’re Great Friends or above.
  • Tap on their trainer profile and choose Trade.
  • When the trade screen loads, select Use Lucky Trinket.
  • Confirm the trade. Both Pokémon will become Lucky after the trade.

When Is the Best Time to Use a Lucky Trinket?

While a Lucky Trinket guarantees a Lucky Pokémon at any time, using it strategically can help you save resources and maximize your rewards. To get the most out of this rare item, consider the following optimal scenarios:

Use During Lucky Trade Events

Some events increase trade limits, reduce Stardust cost, increase XP gains, or make it easier to get great Pokémon from trades. Using the Lucky Trinket during these times gives extra value.

Use During High-Friendship Levels

Higher friendship status does not change the Pokémon’s stats or rewards when traded. The Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go simply forces the next trade to result in a Lucky Pokémon. So use the Lucky Trinket on whichever friend you want to guarantee a Lucky trade with a valuable Pokémon.

Pair with Lucky Eggs

lucky trinket and lucky eggs pokemon go

Using Lucky Eggs while trading in Pokémon Go is NOT recommended because trading does not reward XP. The two items operate in completely separate reward systems, so activating them together doesn’t provide any synergy.

What Pokémon Is Best to Use Lucky Trinket On?

Maximize Your Lucky Trinket A Lucky Trinket guarantees a Lucky Trade, bypassing RNG for high IVs and half-price power-ups. To help you choose, we’ve ranked the best targets into five tiers—from meta-titans to rare collectibles.

Top Legendary Pokémon for Lucky Trinket Trades

Legendary Pokémon like Rayquaza, Kyogre, and Groudon are the undisputed kings of the meta. Since these Pokémon require massive amounts of XL Candy and Stardust to reach Level 50, the "Lucky" status is a game-changer.

Using a Trinket on a Primal or Mega-capable Legendary ensures that your strongest attackers have high stats while saving you hundreds of thousands of Stardust.

Rare and Hard-to-Obtain Pokémon

Some Pokémon, such as Larvesta, Frigibax, or certain Mythicals and event-exclusive forms, have extremely low hatch or encounter rates.

When you finally find someone to trade these rarities with, using a Lucky Trinket removes the risk of receiving a low-IV version of a Pokémon you might not see again for months.

High-IV Pokémon for Maximizing IVs

For those hunting a 100% IV (Hundo), the Lucky Trinket is the ultimate tool. It narrows the IV floor to 12/12/12, significantly boosting your odds of a perfect result compared to regular trades.

This is crucial for the Master League, where a maxed-out Attack stat determines who moves first in tied situations (CMP).

Meta-Relevant Pokémon for Raids or Trainer Battles

Focus on meta-defining "workhorses" like Metagross, Mewtwo, or Terrakion. These are essential for high-level raids and battles. Using a Lucky Trinket here helps you build a full team of elite attackers much faster and at a fraction of the usual cost.

Rare Shinies / Regionals (Ultra Beasts)

Since these trades are often a one-time opportunity, a Lucky Trinket ensures your rare Shiny or Ultra Beast (like Kartana or Xurkitree) becomes a powerful combatant rather than just a trophy.

It guarantees elite stats for Pokémon that already boast some of the highest DPS in the game.

Part 4. Safely Find Powerful Pokémon in Pokémon Go - No Walking Needed

Completing Go Pass: January 2026 tasks for Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go will have you go out and catch Pokémons. While you are at it, you might as well catch Pokémons that are stronger and beneficial for your team lineup.

But how do you safely find powerful Pokémons in Pokémon Go? The answer is: With PoGoskill!

PoGoskill is a Pokémon Go location spoofer app, it can successfully trick the AR game into thinking that you’re walking somewhere else when you’re just playing while sitting on your couch! The built-in joystick mode can simulate your virtual movements naturally, and you can also adjust your walking speeds to your liking.

Key Features include:

  • 1-Click Teleport : With just a tap, you can teleport to any location with high-spawn Pokémon hotspots.

  • Auto Catch Pokémons : Having difficulty catching Pokémons? PoGoskill can catch it for you with great accuracy!

  • No Jail Breaking : You don’t need to root or jailbreak your device in order to use PoGoskill.

How to Use:

Free Download
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Free Download
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  • Step 1Click on the Download button above and install PoGoskill.

    install PoGoskill
  • Step 2Connect your device and choose “Game Mode”.

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  • Step 3Find a high IV Pokémon hotspot on the PoGo map, then hit "Start to Modify" and move around to find and catch rare and powerful Pokémons in Pokémon Go!

    how to use pogoskill to change location

FAQs about Lucky Trinket Pokémon Go

Can You Get a Lucky Trade Without Being Best Friends?

Yes, you certainly can. By using a Lucky Trinket, you only need to reach the Great Friend level with another trainer to trigger a guaranteed Lucky Trade, completely bypassing the usual long-term Best Friend requirement for this feature.

How Long Do You Have to Use Lucky Trinket?

For the specific January 2026 Go Pass event, the Lucky Trinket remains valid until Sunday, February 8, at 11:59 p.m. local time. Please ensure you use your remaining stock before this deadline, as the item will expire.

How To Activate Lucky Trade in Pokémon Go?

To activate this feature, simply initiate a standard trade with an eligible friend. Within the trading interface, manually select the "Use Lucky Trinket" option before confirming the exchange to ensure that both Pokémon become Lucky upon arrival.

Do Both People Need to Use a Lucky Trinket?

No, only one player is required to spend their Lucky Trinket for the trade. Once activated by either trainer, both participants will receive a Lucky Pokémon, making it a great way to save resources while helping out a friend.

What Friendship Level to Use Lucky Trinket?

To utilize the Lucky Trinket, you and your trading partner must have achieved at least the Great Friend status. This level is typically reached after interacting together for seven days.

Which Pokémon Cannot Be Traded?

Please note that you cannot trade any Mythical Pokémon, any Pokémon that has already been traded once before, or those currently assigned as Gym defenders.

Final Thoughts

To wrap it all up, the Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go is one of the best items for trainers who want more control over their Lucky Trades and stronger Pokémon. When used at the right time and on the right Pokémon, it can save Stardust, boost IVs, and strengthen your team fast.

In case your friend lives far away, like in another city or country, then use PoGoskill Location Changer to instantly teleport to their location and use the trinket to do the Lucky Trade in Pokémon Go.

PoGoskill

The Best GPS Location Spoofer

  • 1-Click to change GPS location without jailbreak
  • Joystick to simulate GPS movement, customize routes
  • Import/Export GPX file to create your own routes.
  • 1-Click to change GPS location without jailbreak
  • Works well with all Location-Based Social App and AR Games.
Jerry Cook

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With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Jerry Cook has helped over 10,000 gamers conquer their gaming challenges. His expertise in resolving gaming problems is unparalleled.