The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally shed light on significant improvements coming to the game's much-criticized trading function, which has been a source of frustration for players since its launch. While the announced changes sound promising, players will have to wait until the fall for these updates to take effect.
In a detailed post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the upcoming changes:
Removal of Trade Tokens
- Trade tokens will be completely phased out. 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 rarity will now require shinedust.
- Shinedust will be automatically earned when opening a booster pack if you obtain a card that is already registered in your Card Dex.
- Since shinedust is also used to obtain flair, the developers are considering increasing the amount offered to accommodate its new role in trading.
- This change is expected to allow for more frequent trading opportunities.
- Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust upon removal from the game.
- There will be no changes to the trading system for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards.
Additional Updates in Development
- A new feature will enable players to share cards they’re interested in trading for via the in-game trading function.
The current trade token system has been a significant barrier to trading. Players have had to destroy multiple high-value cards just to acquire enough tokens for a single trade, making the process cumbersome and discouraging. The new system, utilizing shinedust, promises a more user-friendly approach. Shinedust, already used for purchasing flairs, is earned automatically from duplicate cards and through various in-game events. This should make trading more accessible, as most players likely have a surplus of shinedust.
Implementing a cost for trading remains essential to prevent exploitation, such as creating multiple accounts to funnel 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 is poised to revolutionize the trading experience. Currently, there's no in-game way to communicate trade preferences, forcing players to rely on external communication or guesswork. This new feature will facilitate more targeted and efficient trades, encouraging broader community engagement.
The community has responded positively to these planned updates, though there's a significant concern about the cards already sacrificed under the old system. While existing trade tokens will convert to shinedust, the lost cards cannot be recovered.
The major downside is the lengthy wait until these changes are implemented, with the developers targeting a fall release. This delay could result in a near standstill in trading activity, as players may be reluctant to use the current system knowing a better solution is on the horizon. As new expansions are released, the anticipation for an effective trading system in Pokémon TCG Pocket continues to grow.
In the meantime, players are advised to hold onto their shinedust in preparation for the upcoming changes.
