The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally unveiled significant enhancements to the game's trading system, which has been a source of frustration for players since its launch. These proposed changes are promising, but their implementation is slated for the distant future.
In a recent post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the upcoming updates:
Removal of Trade Tokens
Trade tokens will be entirely eliminated, removing the need for players to sacrifice cards to acquire trading currency. Instead, trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarities will require shinedust. This currency is automatically earned when you open a booster pack and receive a card already in your Card Dex. Given that shinedust is also used for obtaining flair, the developers plan to increase its availability to facilitate trading. This adjustment is expected to enable more frequent trading compared to the current system. Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust upon their removal. The trading mechanics for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards will remain unchanged.
Additional Updates in Development
A new feature is in the works that will allow players to share cards they are interested in trading via the in-game trading function. This is a major overhaul from the current system, which relies on the now-abolished trade tokens. These tokens were essential for trading but could only be obtained by discarding other cards, making the process cumbersome and discouraging.
The new system using shinedust is much more user-friendly. Shinedust, already used for purchasing flairs, is earned from duplicate cards and various in-game events. Most players likely have a surplus of shinedust, and the developers are exploring ways to increase its availability to ensure smooth trading.
It's crucial for TCG Pocket to maintain some trading cost to prevent exploitation through multiple account creation and card farming. The trade token system was simply too costly for the average player.Another significant update is the introduction of a feature allowing players to share cards they are interested in trading. Currently, there's no way to communicate desired trades in-game, making trading with strangers nearly impossible. The new system will facilitate more targeted and reasonable trade offers.
The community has responded positively to these changes, although there's a notable downside: many players have already discarded rare cards to accumulate trade tokens, which cannot be recovered despite the conversion to shinedust. Additionally, the implementation timeline extends into the fall of this year, meaning trading might stagnate until then. Players will need to wait through several more expansions before the trading aspect of "Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket" fully realizes its potential.
In the meantime, it's wise to save your shinedust!
