Pokémon TCG Pocket to Revamp Controversial Trading System

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 since its launch. These improvements sound promising, but players will need to exercise patience as implementation is slated for the future.

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

Removal of Trade Tokens

• Trade tokens will be entirely phased out, eliminating the need for players to sacrifice cards to acquire trading currency.
• Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require shinedust.
• Shinedust will be automatically earned when opening a booster pack and obtaining a card already registered in your Card Dex.
• Given that shinedust is also used to obtain flair, the developers are considering increasing the amount available to accommodate its new role in trading.
• This change is expected to facilitate more frequent trading than the current system allows.
• Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust upon removal from the game.
• Trading mechanics for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards will remain unchanged.

Additional Updates in Development

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

The current trading system, which relies on trade tokens, has been widely criticized. To trade even a single ex Pokémon card, players must discard multiple other ex cards to accumulate enough tokens, a process that discourages trading. The new system, utilizing shinedust, promises a more user-friendly experience. Shinedust, already used for purchasing flairs, is earned through duplicate cards and various in-game events, making it more accessible than trade tokens.

Implementing a cost for trading is crucial to prevent exploitation, such as creating multiple accounts to trade rare cards to a main account. The trade token system, however, was excessively costly, deterring many players from engaging in trades.

The forthcoming feature allowing players to share desired trade cards will significantly enhance the trading experience. Currently, there's no in-game method to communicate trade preferences, leading to guesswork and limited trading with strangers. This new feature will enable more targeted and effective trading.

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

However, the implementation timeline poses a challenge. The blog post indicates that these changes won't be rolled out until the fall, leaving players to endure the current system for several more months. This delay may cause trading activity to stagnate as players await the improved system.

In the meantime, players are advised to conserve their shinedust in anticipation of the new trading system.