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

Part 1. Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go: How Does It Work & How to Get.

As an exclusive GO Pass Deluxe perk, the Lucky Trinket offers a major strategic edge by bypassing RNG to instantly trigger Lucky Trades. This effectively redefines how you collect Lucky Pokémon. Below, we’ll break down its unique features and the steps to earn it this season.

1 How Does Lucky Trinket Work?

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 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:

• Way 1. Buy the GO Pass Deluxe:
  You must buy the $7.99 GO Pass Deluxe for January 2026 to unlock extra rewards like the Lucky Trinket and earn progress faster.
• Way 2. Earn GO Points:
  After buying the GO Pass Deluxe, complete daily and weekly tasks like catching Pokémon or joining raids to earn points, raise your rank, and unlock better rewards.
• Way 3. Milestone Completions:
  As you level up the pass, you’ll unlock rewards at milestones, with the rare Lucky Trinket appearing near the end and added to your bag once claimed.
• Way 4. Friends and Trading:
  After getting the Lucky Trinket, use it on a Great or higher Friend to instantly become Lucky Friends and unlock a guaranteed Lucky Trade.
• Way 5. Special Event Rewards:
  Watch the in-game news for events, as Niantic sometimes offers Lucky Trinkets or bonus points as limited-time rewards during major celebrations.

Part 2. Is Lucky Trinket Permanent or One-Time Use in Pokémon Go?

In this section, you’ll find a clear answer to whether the Lucky Trinket in Pokémon Go is permanent or one‑time use, how long it actually remains valid, and what happens to it after activation.

Is Lucky Trinket Permanent in Pokémon Go?

Lucky Trinket is not permanent in Pokémon GO. It is a one‑time‑use, time‑limited item that gives you a single guaranteed Lucky Trade with one friend, then its effect ends.

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

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:

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 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?

The Lucky Trinket guarantees you a Lucky Pokémon anytime. When to use lucky trinket in Pokémon GO? Using it strategically can help you save resources and maximize rewards. To make the most of this rare item, consider the following best scenarios:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Pair with Lucky Eggs

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 (Mega), Groudon (Primal), Kyogre (Primal), Necrozma (especially fused forms), Kyurem, Origin Giratina, Dialga (Roar of Time), Palkia (Spacial Rend).
• Using a Trinket on a Primal or Mega-capable Legendary saves huge amounts of Stardust while ensuring top-tier stats for your strongest attackers.

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

• High-IV Pokémon like Kyurem, Dialga, Palkia, Zacian, Xerneas, Ho‑Oh, Yveltal, Landorus, Melmetal.
• 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.
• Use the Trinket if you have the XL candy or plan to build them for Master League; good IVs plus cheap powering are huge advantages.

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)

• A Lucky Trinket makes rare one-time trades like Shiny or Ultra Beasts powerful fighters by guaranteeing elite stats for top-DPS Pokémon.
• Shiny Rayquaza, Groudon, Kyurem, Necrozma, Galarian birds, or other event‑locked shinies you and a friend can mirror‑trade.

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 PoGoskill Location Changer

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

  

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

  

• 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!

  

FAQs about Lucky Trinket Pokémon Go

Why didn't my Lucky Trinket work in Pokemon Go trade?

The most common reasons a Lucky Trinket seems to “not work” are timing or setup issues, not a true bug. Here are the main things to check:

• You didn’t actually use the Trinket on that friend
• You traded before the Lucky Friend status appeared
• You weren’t eligible with that friend
• The Lucky Trinket expired
• You used it correctly—but traded with the wrong person or account
• Actual glitch (rare but possible)

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.

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