The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally unveiled significant enhancements to the game's much-criticized trading system, which has been a source of frustration for players since its inception. While the announced improvements are promising, the implementation timeline extends frustratingly into the future.
In a recent post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the upcoming changes, which we detail below:
Removal of Trade Tokens
- Trade Tokens Eliminated: The existing requirement to exchange cards for trade tokens will be removed. Players will no longer need these tokens to conduct trades.
- 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 you open a booster pack and receive a card already in your Card Dex.
- Shinedust Availability: Since shinedust is also used for obtaining flair, the developers are considering increasing its availability to support trading activities. This change should facilitate more frequent trading.
- Conversion of Existing Trade Tokens: Any trade tokens currently held by players will be converted to shinedust upon the removal of the item.
- No Change for Lower Rarity Cards: The trading of one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards will remain unchanged.
Additional Updates in Development
- Enhanced Trading Interface: A new feature will allow players to share cards they are interested in trading, improving the in-game trading function.
The current trade token system has been widely criticized. To trade even a single ex Pokémon card, players must sacrifice five other ex cards to acquire enough trade tokens, a process that discourages trading altogether. The new system using shinedust, which players earn from duplicate cards and other in-game activities, promises to be more user-friendly and less punitive.
While some form of trading cost is necessary to prevent system abuse, the trade token system was excessively costly. The shift to shinedust should make trading more accessible and encourage more player engagement.
The ability to share desired trade cards will also significantly enhance the trading experience. Currently, players can list cards for trade but have no way to communicate their desired trades within the game, leading to ineffective trading with strangers. The new feature will allow for more targeted and meaningful trade offers.
The community has responded positively to these proposed changes, though there is a notable downside: players who have already sacrificed rare cards to accumulate trade tokens will not recover those cards, despite the conversion of tokens to shinedust.
However, the wait for these improvements is substantial. The developers have indicated that these changes won't be implemented until the fall of this year. In the interim, trading activity may stagnate as players hold off on using the current system in anticipation of the new one. Several more expansions may come and go before the trading aspect of Pokémon TCG Pocket truly flourishes.
In the meantime, players are advised to save their shinedust for the upcoming changes.
