How to Trade Pokemon on MelonDS: A Step-By-Step Guide

Do you want to evolve your Pokemon through trading? Learn how to trade Pokemon on MelonDS with our quick and easy guide.

MelonDS is a very popular DS emulator thanks to its accuracy and features.

With this software, you can go back in time and re-experience the classic Nintendo DS Pokemon games such as Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver and Pokemon Diamond and Pearl.

Trading is an integral feature in Pokemon games, especially for those who want to complete their Pokedex. 

Some Pokemon species can only evolve through trade evolution. So if you want to get a Kadabra or Gengar legitimately, you need to trade Pokemon on your emulator.

You may want to trade with a friend or use the Global Trade System to get a new Pokemon.

In this guide, I’ll teach you how to trade Pokemon using MelonDS on any DS Pokemon game, both locally and online. So let’s dive right in.

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Things You’ll Need for Trading

Before learning how to trade Pokemon on MelonDS, here’s a checklist to ensure that everything works properly and smoothly:

• Latest version of MelonDS (currently 0.9.5)
• ROMs of the Pokemon games to be used.
• Controls properly setup

For online trading:

• Firmware and BIOS files: Can often be dumped legally from your physical Nintendo DS system. Make sure you use reliable sources to avoid potential legal issues when obtaining them. You can learn how to get DS bios online.
• A stable internet connection.

How to Trade Pokemon on MelonDS Locally

If you just want to get a Pokemon to evolve through trade evolution, the easiest solution is to trade locally or trade with yourself using MelonDS. 

Here’s how you do it.

1. Configure MelonDS Settings

Launch the latest version (0.9.5) of MelonDS and go to Config on the menu bar.

Then, make sure that the Limit Framerate and Audio Sync options are turned off. Both options are located at the bottom. 

After that, go to Wifi Settings and tick Indirect mode, then click OK. Launch your first Pokemon DS ROM here.

2. Start a Second MelonDS Window

Next, go to System in the menu bar and select Multiplayer, then click on Launch new instance. This will create a second MelonDS window, which will be labeled as MelonDS 2. 

Make sure this window has the same settings as the first one, then launch your second Pokemon DS ROM. You can also use the same game and save files if you want to trade with yourself.

I’ve experienced issues in the second MelonDS where the controls aren’t working. To fix this, simply remap the controls on the second window.

3. Trade Your Pokemon

When both windows are running the Pokemon ROMs properly, follow these steps on both. First, go to a Pokemon center and go up to the second floor. 

Talk to the second lady and she will let you enter the Union Room, where you can trade with trainers. 

Talk to yourself (the other trainer will have a different avatar in the room) and start the trade.

After you are done trading, save the game and go out of the union room. You can now close the second window.

Congratulations! You have just traded Pokemon on MelonDS locally!

How to Trade Pokemon on MelonDS Online

1. Find DS BIOS

First, you need to import your BIOS to MelonDS. It requires three files, including BIOS 9, BIOS 7, and DS firmware—all of which can be extracted from your physical DS. 

After getting your BIOS files into your computer, go to Emu settings on the menu bar of MelonDS and import each file one by one.

Click OK when you are done.

2. Setup MelonDS Wifi Connection

After that, your settings should be the same as when trading locally. Then launch your Pokemon game. 

You may need to import your save file again here or reconfigure your controls. Once your game is loaded, go to Nintendo WFC Settings on the Main Menu.

Then, press Erase Settings on all connections. After that, go to Connection 1 and click on Search for an Access Point. It will always show melon AP as the default option, so click on it.

Doing this will enable the WiFi connection for your MelonDS emulator.

3. Setup DNS

However, because Nintendo servers are already down, we need to do one more step. 

Click on Connection 1 and scroll down its settings till you find Auto-Obtain DNS. Set this to NO, and edit the Primary DNS.

Set your Primary DNS to the one I use: 178.62.43.212. Then, all you have to do is save these settings.

4. Start Trading

Now go to any Pokemon Center and go up to the second floor. 

Talk to the lady on the right, then select Global Trade System or GTS. This will take you to a room where you can find all GTS trades available. 

You can also deposit a Pokemon you want to trade. You and your friend can deposit the Pokemon in the GTS to trade, or you could just exchange save files and trade locally.

Conclusion

Now you know how to trade Pokemon on MelonDS. If you want an easy and fast solution, all you have to do is trade locally. It’s quick, easy, and you can do it infinitely. 

Meanwhile, if you want to check out trades from players all over the world, you can take it a step further and use the Global Trade System through WFC. No promises on the number of players available, though.

If you have any questions or have any trouble doing trades, you can comment them down below and we’ll be sure to get back to you.