Pokémon TCG Pocket to Revamp Trading System: Changes Coming Soon

The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally unveiled major improvements to the game's much-criticized trading function, which has been a source of frustration since its launch. While the proposed changes sound promising, their implementation is slated for the fall, leaving players to wait for months.

In a detailed post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the upcoming changes:

Removal of Trade Tokens

• Trade Tokens will be phased out, eliminating the need for players to sacrifice cards to acquire the currency needed for trading.
• Trading for cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require shinedust. This resource is earned automatically when opening booster packs containing cards already registered in your Card Dex.
• Shinedust is also used to obtain flair, and the developers are considering increasing the amount available to accommodate its new role in trading.
• This update should enable more frequent card trading. Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust upon the removal of the item.
• No changes will be made to the trading of one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards.

Additional Updates in Development

• A new feature will allow players to share cards they're interested in trading through the in-game trading function.

The current trading system relies on Trade Tokens, which are notoriously difficult to acquire and require players to discard valuable cards. For example, trading a single ex Pokémon card necessitates sacrificing five other ex cards to gather enough tokens, making the process highly discouraging.

The new system, utilizing shinedust, promises to be more player-friendly. Shinedust is already used in the game for purchasing flairs and is earned from duplicates, events, and other means. This should result in a more accessible trading currency, especially since the developers are exploring ways to increase shinedust availability.

While it's crucial to maintain some trading cost to prevent system abuse—such as creating multiple accounts to trade rare cards to a main account—the trade token system has been excessively costly.

The addition of a feature to share desired trade cards will significantly improve the trading experience. Currently, without a way to communicate trade preferences within the game, players must rely on external communication or guesswork, leading to minimal trading activity with strangers.

The community has responded positively to these proposed changes, though there's disappointment over the irretrievable loss of rare cards already sacrificed for trade tokens. Converting existing tokens to shinedust offers some relief, but the cards themselves are gone.

The major drawback is the timeline for these changes, with implementation not expected until the fall. This delay may cause trading to stagnate further, as players are unlikely to continue using the current system knowing a better alternative is on the horizon. Several expansions may come and go before the trading aspect of "Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket" truly flourishes.

In the meantime, players are advised to hold onto their shinedust in anticipation of the upcoming improvements.