Pokémon TCG Pocket Announces Upcoming Changes to 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 the game's launch. These improvements promise to be a game-changer, but players will need to exercise patience as the rollout is scheduled for later this year.

In a detailed post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the forthcoming changes, which we've summarized below:

Removal of Trade Tokens

• Trade Tokens Eliminated: The current trading currency, Trade Tokens, will be phased out entirely. Players will no longer need to sacrifice cards to acquire this currency for trading.
• Introduction of Shinedust: Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require shinedust. This currency is automatically earned when you open a booster pack and obtain a card already registered in your Card Dex.
• Shinedust Increase: Since shinedust is also used to obtain flairs, the developers plan to increase its availability to facilitate smoother trading.
• Conversion of Existing Tokens: Any Trade Tokens currently held by players will be converted to shinedust upon the removal of the item.
• No Changes for Lower Rarity Cards: The trading mechanism for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards remains unchanged.

Additional Updates in Development

• Card Sharing Feature: A new feature will allow players to share cards they are interested in trading via the in-game trading function, enhancing the trading experience by enabling clearer communication of trade interests.

The current Trade Token system has been a significant barrier to trading. To trade one ex Pokémon card, players had to discard five other ex cards to gather enough Trade Tokens, making the process cumbersome and discouraging. The new system using shinedust promises to be more user-friendly, as shinedust is already earned through duplicate cards and other in-game activities.

Implementing some cost to trading remains crucial to prevent exploitation, such as creating multiple accounts to transfer rare cards to a main account. Shinedust strikes a better balance, allowing for thoughtful trading without the excessive costs associated with Trade Tokens.

The upcoming feature to share desired trade cards will significantly improve the trading experience. Currently, players can list cards for trade but have no way to specify what they want in return, leading to ineffective trading with strangers. This new feature will facilitate more targeted and successful trades.

The community has responded positively to these announcements, though there's a notable concern about the cards already sacrificed to obtain Trade Tokens, as these cannot be recovered despite the conversion of tokens to shinedust.

However, the implementation of these changes is slated for the fall of this year, meaning players will have to endure the current system for several more months. This delay might lead to a slowdown in trading activity, as players hold off on using the existing system in anticipation of the improved one.

In the meantime, players are advised to save their shinedust for the upcoming trading revolution in Pokémon TCG Pocket.