Trading is an essential component of any Pokémon game, and that includes both Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Getting unique Pokémon through trades is one of the best parts about these games, but there’s not much of a point in it if your traded Pokémon refuses to obey you. Keep reading to find out how obedience works for traded Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet!
How Does Obedience Work for Traded Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
Obedience works the same way for traded Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet that it does in any other Pokémon game. Traded Pokémon will only listen to you if you have enough Gym Badges to match their level; if you don’t have any Gym Badges and you were traded a level 50 Pokémon, that Pokémon isn’t going to listen to you until you’re at least halfway through Victory Road.
If you don’t have any Gym Badges yet (or you only have a few) and a player trades you a really strong Pokémon, chances are, that Pokémon will refuse to obey any of your orders. This is also true for any over-leveled Pokémon that you catch in the wild; in general, strong Pokémon (not just traded ones) hate listening to weak trainers, so the only way to get your beefy Pokémon to obey you is by collecting Gym Badges.
Related: When are you able to trade in pokemon Scarlet and Violet?
With every Gym Badge that you collect in these games, you’ll be able to force even stronger Pokémon to obey you, regardless of whether or not they were traded. For example, without any Gym Badges, only Pokémon level 20 and under will obey you; if your Pokémon is over level 20, it will consistently refuse to listen until you get your hands on your first Gym Badge.
As long as you keep getting Gym Badges as you’re leveling up your Pokémon, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about your Pokémon disobeying orders, even if they were traded to you. If you want to learn more about how trading works in these games, check out Gamer Journalist’s guides on Surprise Trading and In-Game Trades in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet!
