Pokémon TCG Pocket Announces Upcoming Changes to Trading System

The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally shared specific details on the major improvements coming to the game's much-criticized trading function, which has been a source of frustration since its launch. These improvements sound promising, but players will have to wait a while before they see them in action.

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

Removal of Trade Tokens

• Trade tokens will be completely eliminated, and players will no longer need to exchange cards to obtain the currency required for trading.
• Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require shinedust.
• Shinedust will be automatically earned when you open a booster pack and obtain a card that is already registered in your Card Dex.
• Since shinedust is also required to obtain flair, the developers are considering increasing the amount offered to accommodate its use in trading.
• This change should allow for more trading opportunities than before the update.
• Existing trade tokens can be converted to shinedust once they are removed from the game.
• No changes are planned for how one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards are traded.

Additional Updates in Development

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

The biggest change is the removal of Trade Tokens, the current currency used for trading. Trade Tokens were introduced specifically for trading purposes and have been widely criticized. To trade even a single ex Pokémon card, players had to sacrifice five other ex cards to accumulate enough tokens. This system discouraged many from using the trading feature, despite occasional bonus token opportunities.

The proposed system using shinedust is a significant improvement. Shinedust, already in the game for purchasing "flairs" (animations that make cards sparkle during matches), is earned automatically from duplicate cards and through various events. Players likely have surplus shinedust, and the developers are exploring ways to increase its availability to facilitate trading.

It's crucial for TCG Pocket to maintain some cost to trading to prevent players from exploiting the system by creating multiple accounts, opening numerous packs, and transferring rares to their main accounts. The trade token system was simply too costly for most players.

Another major change is the ability to share cards of interest for trading. Currently, there's no way to communicate what cards you want in exchange, leading to guesswork and minimal trading with strangers. This new feature will allow for more informed and reasonable trade offers, enhancing the trading experience.

The community has responded positively to these changes, although there's a significant drawback: players have already discarded many rare cards to gather trade tokens, and those cards are irretrievably lost. While existing trade tokens will convert to shinedust, the loss of rare cards remains a concern.

However, there's a catch: these changes won't be implemented until the fall of this year. This extended timeline means trading may come to a standstill, as players are unlikely to sacrifice their rare cards knowing a better system is on the horizon. Several more expansions will likely be released before the trading aspect of "Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket" truly flourishes.

So, hang onto that shinedust!