Pokémon TCG Pocket to Overhaul Controversial Trading System Soon

The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally unveiled significant enhancements to the game's much-criticized trading system, which has been a source of frustration for players since its inception. While the proposed changes sound promising, their implementation is slated for the distant future.

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

Removal of Trade Tokens

• Trade tokens will be completely phased out, eliminating the need to sacrifice cards to acquire trading currency.
• Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarities will now require shinedust.
• Shinedust will be automatically earned when you open a booster pack and obtain a card already registered in your Card Dex.
• Given that shinedust is also used to acquire flairs, the developers are considering increasing its availability to support trading activities.
• This change is expected to facilitate more trades than the current system allows.
• Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust once the feature is removed.
• The trading mechanism for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards remains unchanged.

Additional Updates in Development

• A new feature will enable players to share cards they are interested in trading within the in-game trading system.

The current trade token system has been widely criticized for its cumbersome nature. To trade even a single ex Pokémon card, players must discard multiple other ex cards to accumulate enough trade tokens, a process that discourages many from engaging in trades. The introduction of shinedust as the new trading currency is a welcome change. Shinedust, already in use for purchasing flairs, is earned from duplicate cards and various in-game events. Most players likely have a surplus of shinedust, and the developers are exploring ways to increase its availability to ensure smooth trading experiences.

It's crucial for TCG Pocket to maintain some trading cost to prevent exploitation through the creation of multiple accounts for farming rare cards. The trade token system, however, was excessively costly and deterred regular players from participating.

Another significant update is the ability to share desired trading cards in-game. Currently, without this feature, players have to rely on external communication to specify trade preferences, making the process inefficient and leading to fewer trades with strangers. The new feature will allow players to indicate what they are looking for, fostering more meaningful and effective trades.

The community has responded positively to these announced changes, although there's a notable downside: players who have already sacrificed rare cards to gather trade tokens will not recover those losses, despite the conversion of existing tokens to shinedust.

The major issue, however, is the timeline for these updates. The developers have indicated that these changes won't be implemented until the fall, leaving players to endure the current system for several more months. This delay is likely to result in a significant slowdown in trading activity, as players may be reluctant to use the existing system with a better alternative on the horizon.

In the meantime, players are advised to save their shinedust for the upcoming changes.