The most anticipated update of Pokémon TCG Pocket has finally arrived. The success of this portable version of the Pokémon trading card game is no longer in doubt, but it was still missing an essential feature: trading. Repeated events and new thematic boosters would not have been enough to keep the hype going for much longer. Players want to complete their collections and only trading allows them to achieve this goal more easily and quickly. If you are still missing Pokémon to build the most powerful decks, it is now possible to make arrangements with your friends.
The developers had promised the deployment of trading during the month of January 2025 and it is now done. The update has been available since this Wednesday, January 29 at 7 a.m. If trading is not yet activated on your application, remember to launch the update manually from the AppStore or the Play Store. Trading is finally here, but it's not all about celebration. As expected, trading will be extremely limited and much less practical than physical cards.
Too restrictive
The developers have warned us several times: for now, trading only concerns a portion of the cards, before the selection is gradually expanded. Genetic Power and Mythic Island cards are eligible, up to a certain rarity. Beyond a rarity of 1 star, cards cannot be traded. Bad news if you own more than one copy of full art, alternate, or immersive cards. Also, only cards of equal rarity can be traded (this also includes applied deco effects).
In order to motivate players to open more boosters, limiting trades to past expansions is not surprising. Current meta cards (as well as promo cards) can only be obtained at the source and not through the generosity of other trainers. In fact, only players on your friends list can be selected for a trade. No Pokémon search system inspired by the GTS of the classic games is implemented. However, the other rules are even more frustrating. In addition to an hourglass system designed to limit the number of daily trades, a second resource that is very difficult to harvest is also mandatory.
Trainers must spend trade tokens to use this feature. Rarity 1 and 2 cards do not require any tokens. Rarity 3 Holographic Cards require 120 tokens, Rarity 4 Ex Cards require 500 tokens, and 1-star rarity Alternate Cards require 400 tokens. This new currency is unavailable in the microtransaction shop – to avoid monetizing trades –and ultimately involves sacrificing cards.
From the collection tab, players can get rid of their excess cards to obtain tokens according to the following exchange rate:
- Rarity 3 card: 25 tokens
- Rarity 4 card: 125 tokens
- 1-star rarity card: 100 tokens
- 2-star rarity card: 300 tokens
- Card 3-star rarity (immersive): 300 tokens
- 1 Crown rarity card (gold): 1500 tokens
Suffice to say that you'll have to throw away a good part of the collection to hope to exchange even one ex card with a friend. These restrictions are already a source of debate within the gaming community, but the developers promise to be “listening to the community with a view to studying possible adjustments”. And you, which cards will you try to exchange to complete the first two sets available?
0 Comments