Pokémon TCG Pocket to Revamp Trading System

The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have recently shared detailed updates on the significant improvements coming to the game's much-criticized trading system, which has been a source of frustration for players since its launch. While the proposed changes are promising, their implementation is slated for the fall, leaving players in a holding pattern.

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

Removal of Trade Tokens

• Trade Tokens Elimination: Trade tokens will be entirely phased out. Players will no longer need to sacrifice cards to acquire the currency required for trading.
• Introduction of Shinedust for Trading: Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require shinedust. This currency is automatically earned when players open booster packs and receive duplicate cards already registered in their Card Dex.
• Shinedust Allocation: Since shinedust is also used for obtaining flair, the developers are considering increasing the amount available to players to facilitate trading. This change should allow for more frequent card trades compared to the current system.
• Conversion of Existing Trade Tokens: Players' current trade tokens will be converted into shinedust once the item is removed from the game.
• No Changes for Lower Rarity Cards: The trading of one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards will remain unchanged.

Additional Updates in Development

• Card Sharing Feature: A new feature will enable players to share cards they're interested in trading through the in-game trading function.

The current trade token system, which requires players to discard multiple rare cards to obtain enough tokens to trade even a single card, has been widely criticized. The new system using shinedust, which players accumulate through duplicate cards and other in-game activities, promises to be more player-friendly and less wasteful.

However, implementing a cost to trading remains essential to prevent abuse of the system, such as creating multiple accounts to funnel rare cards to a main account. The trade token system's high cost discouraged many from engaging with it, and the shift to shinedust should make trading more accessible and enjoyable.

The addition of a card sharing feature is another significant improvement. Currently, players can list cards for trade but have no way to indicate what they're looking for in return without external communication. This new feature will streamline the process, making it easier for players to make and accept reasonable trade offers.

Community feedback on these proposed changes has been largely positive, although there is a notable downside: players who have already disposed of rare cards to gather trade tokens will not recover those lost cards, despite the conversion of their 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, which means that trading may come to a standstill in the interim. With the current system being so unpopular, many players may choose to wait rather than continue using it, especially with several more expansions expected before the new system goes live.

In the meantime, players are advised to save their shinedust in anticipation of the upcoming changes to the trading system in Pokémon TCG Pocket.