The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have recently shared significant updates about the much-criticized trading system, which has been a major point of contention since the game's launch. These updates promise substantial improvements, although players will need to wait a while before they see them in action.
In a detailed post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the following changes:
Removal of Trade Tokens
- Trade tokens will be completely removed, eliminating the need for players to sacrifice cards to acquire trading currency.
- Trading for cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require shinedust. This resource is automatically earned when you open booster packs and obtain duplicates of cards already registered in your Card Dex.
- Shinedust is currently used for obtaining flair, but the developers are considering increasing the amount of shinedust available to accommodate its new role in trading.
- This change should enable players to trade more cards than before. Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust when the update rolls out.
- Trading for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards will remain unchanged.
Additional Updates in Development
- A new feature will allow players to share cards they are interested in trading, enhancing the in-game trading experience.
The current trade token system has been widely criticized for its cumbersome nature. To trade a single ex Pokémon card, players must "vaporize" five other ex cards to earn enough trade tokens, a process that discourages trading. While alternative methods to earn bonus trade tokens have been introduced, the system remains largely unappealing.
The new system using shinedust is a significant improvement. Shinedust is already part of the game, primarily used for purchasing flairs—animations that enhance cards during matches. Players accumulate shinedust automatically from duplicate cards and through various in-game events. The developers plan to increase shinedust availability to facilitate smoother trading.
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 overly restrictive. The upcoming changes aim to strike a better balance.
The ability to share desired trade cards will revolutionize trading dynamics. Currently, players can list cards for trade but have no way to communicate their desired trades within the game, leading to guesswork and low engagement. The new feature will allow players to make informed and reasonable offers, revitalizing the trading community.
While the community has responded positively to these announcements, there are concerns. Players who have already sacrificed rare cards to amass trade tokens will not recover their lost cards, even though their tokens will convert to shinedust. Additionally, the implementation of these changes is slated for the fall, meaning players must endure the current system for months. This delay may cause trading to stagnate further as players hold off on using the current system in anticipation of the new one.
In summary, while the proposed updates to Pokémon TCG Pocket's trading system are promising, the wait until their implementation could dampen player engagement in the interim. Players are advised to save their shinedust for when the new trading system goes live.
