The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally unveiled significant enhancements to the game's trading system, which has been a source of frustration for players since its inception. These upcoming changes promise substantial improvements, although their implementation is slated for the distant future.
In a recent post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers detailed the forthcoming updates:
Removal of Trade Tokens
- Trade tokens are set to be phased out entirely. Players will no longer need to sacrifice cards to acquire the currency needed for trading.
- Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarities will now require shinedust instead.
- Shinedust will be earned automatically upon opening a booster pack if the card obtained is already registered in your Card Dex. Given that shinedust is currently used to obtain flairs, the developers are considering increasing the amount provided, as it will now also be essential for trading.
- This change aims to enable more frequent card trading than was possible before the update.
- Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust once the tokens are removed from the game.
- The method of trading one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards remains unchanged.
Additional Updates in Development
- A new feature will allow players to share cards they are interested in trading within the in-game trading system.
The elimination of trade tokens is a pivotal change. These tokens were introduced specifically for trading purposes but have been largely criticized. Previously, to trade one ex Pokémon card with a friend, players had to discard five other ex cards to gather enough trade tokens. This system discouraged many from engaging in trades.
The proposed shinedust system offers a more appealing alternative. Shinedust, already used in-game to purchase flairs—animations that enhance cards during matches—is earned automatically from duplicate cards, as well as through events and other means. Players who aren't heavily invested in flairs likely have a surplus of shinedust, and the developers plan to increase its availability to facilitate trading.
It's crucial for TCG Pocket to maintain some trading cost to prevent exploitation, such as creating multiple accounts to farm rare cards. The current trade token system, however, was excessively costly, deterring most players.
The ability to share desired trade cards will also revolutionize the trading experience. Currently, without an in-game way to communicate trade interests, players are left guessing, resulting in minimal trading activity with strangers. The new feature will encourage more informed and reasonable trade offers, revitalizing the trading system.
The community has responded positively to these proposed changes. However, there's a significant downside: players have already sacrificed numerous rare cards to accumulate trade tokens, and those cards are irretrievably lost. Converting existing trade tokens to shinedust offers little consolation for the cards already discarded.
Moreover, the wait for these improvements is frustratingly long. The developers have indicated that the changes won't be implemented until fall, leaving players stuck with the current flawed system. This delay is likely to cause trading to stagnate, as players will be reluctant to use rare cards with a better system on the horizon. Several more 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 new trading system.
