The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally shared detailed plans to overhaul the game's widely criticized trading system, which has been a source of frustration for players since its launch. While the proposed changes sound promising, the wait for their implementation is expected to be lengthy.
In a recent post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the upcoming changes:
Removal of Trade Tokens
- Trade tokens will be completely phased out, eliminating the need for players to sacrifice cards to acquire trading currency.
- Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require shinedust.
- Shinedust will be automatically earned when players open a booster pack and obtain a card already registered in their Card Dex.
- Since shinedust is also used to obtain flair, the developers are considering increasing its availability to support trading as well.
- This update should enable players to trade more cards than previously possible.
- Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust upon removal from the game.
- There will be no changes to the trading process for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards.
Additional Updates in Development
- A new feature will allow players to share cards they are interested in trading via the in-game trading function.
The current trade token system has been particularly burdensome, requiring players to "vaporize" multiple cards just to gather enough tokens for a single trade. For example, trading one ex Pokémon card for another necessitates sacrificing five other ex cards. Although alternative methods to earn trade tokens have been introduced, the system remains discouraging.
The proposed shinedust system is a significant improvement. Shinedust, already used to purchase flairs for cards, is earned automatically from duplicate cards and can be obtained through events. Most players likely have a surplus of shinedust, and the developers plan to increase its availability to facilitate trading.
Implementing a cost for trading is essential to prevent exploitation, such as creating multiple accounts to accumulate and trade rare cards. However, the trade token system was excessively costly, deterring many players.
Another crucial update is the ability for players to share desired trade cards. Currently, there's no way to communicate trade preferences in-game, leaving players to guess or rely on external communication. This new feature should encourage more trading activity by allowing players to make informed and reasonable trade offers.
The community has responded positively to these changes, though there's a significant downside: many players have already sacrificed rare cards to obtain trade tokens, and those cards are irretrievably lost. Converting existing trade tokens to shinedust offers some consolation, but it doesn't restore the lost cards.
Unfortunately, these improvements won't be implemented until the fall of this year. In the interim, trading is likely to stagnate further, as players are reluctant to use the current system knowing a better alternative is on the horizon. Several expansions may come and go before the "trading" in "Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket" truly flourishes.
In the meantime, players are advised to save their shinedust for when the new system is in place.
