Pokémon TCG Pocket's Space Time Smackdown Expansion: A Deep Dive
Pokémon TCG Pocket has launched its latest major update, introducing the Space Time Smackdown expansion, themed around Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. This expansion, available in Dialga and Palkia themed booster packs, boasts 207 cards—a smaller count than Genetic Apex's 286, but with a higher percentage of rare cards (52 alternate art Star and Crown rarity cards compared to Genetic Apex's 60). Excluding alternate art cards, the core set contains 155 cards, including 10 powerful ex Pokémon: Yanmega, Infernape, Palkia, Pacharisu, Mismagius, Gallade, Weavile, Darkrai, Dialga, and Lickilicky. Every Pokémon type except Dragon is represented by a new ex Pokémon, with Darkness receiving two.
Alternate Art 'Secret' Cards Showcase
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A significant addition is the introduction of Pokémon Tool cards: Giant Cape (+20 HP), Rocky Helmet (deals 20 HP damage when the active Pokémon takes damage), and Lum Berry (removes status conditions).
New Battles and Meta Shifts
Space Time Smackdown introduces new Solo Battles across Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert tiers, featuring Pokémon like Dialga ex, Palkia ex, Togekiss, and others. The multiplayer meta is expected to shift significantly. Infernape ex's high damage output, Palkia ex's area-of-effect attack, and Weavile ex's conditional damage boost are notable additions. Steel-type decks are particularly enhanced with the inclusion of Dialga ex.
Missions and Rewards: A Familiar Structure
New missions, similar to previous iterations, reward players with Pack Hourglasses, Wonder Hourglasses, Emblem Tickets, and more. The absence of Trading Tokens is noteworthy, although a celebratory gift of 500 Tokens was provided. New shop items include Dialga and Palkia album covers, a Lovely Hearts backdrop, and a Cynthia-themed Poké Gold bundle.
The Trading Controversy
The recent trading update remains controversial. The required Trade Tokens, obtained by selling cards, are considered excessively restrictive by many players, requiring a significant investment of rarer cards to facilitate even a single trade of a valuable card. The community's negative response to this system has been widespread. The cost to trade higher rarity cards is particularly burdensome, requiring the sale of multiple high-value cards to acquire enough tokens for a single trade. This has led to criticism of the system's design and its impact on player interaction.
