The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally unveiled significant enhancements to the game's much-criticized trading system, which has been a major point of frustration since its launch. These upcoming changes sound promising, although their implementation will take considerable time.
In a recent post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the following changes:
Removal of Trade Tokens
- Trade Token Elimination: Trade tokens will be entirely phased out, eliminating the need for players to sacrifice cards to acquire trading currency.
- Shinedust for Trading: Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarities will now require shinedust.
- Shinedust Acquisition: Shinedust is automatically earned when you open a booster pack and obtain a card already registered in your Card Dex. Given its use for both trading and flair, the developers are considering increasing the amount of shinedust available.
- Trade Token Conversion: Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust upon their removal from the game.
- No Change for Lower Rarities: Trading of one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards will remain unchanged.
Additional Updates in Development
- Trade Interest Sharing: A new feature will enable players to share cards they are interested in trading for via the in-game trading function.
The current trade token system has been widely criticized for its inefficiency and high cost. To trade a single ex Pokémon card, players previously had to sacrifice multiple other ex cards just to obtain enough trade tokens. This process deterred many from engaging in trades altogether.
The new system, utilizing shinedust, appears to be a significant improvement. Shinedust is already part of the game, used to purchase flairs—animations that enhance card visuals during matches. It is accumulated automatically from duplicate cards and through various in-game events. This change should make trading more accessible, especially since many players likely have surplus shinedust. The developers are also exploring ways to increase shinedust availability to facilitate more trades.
While some form of trading cost is necessary to prevent exploitation through multiple account creation and card trading, the trade token system was excessively burdensome. The shift to shinedust should balance this need while being more player-friendly.
Another crucial update is the ability for players to share their trading interests within the game. Currently, players can list cards for trade but cannot specify what they want in return without external communication. This lack of clarity has made trading with strangers impractical. The new feature should encourage more trading by allowing players to make informed offers.
The community has responded positively to these proposed changes, but there are notable concerns. Players who have already sacrificed rare cards to accumulate trade tokens will not recover those cards, despite the conversion of tokens to shinedust. Additionally, the implementation timeline is a significant drawback; these changes are not expected until the fall, leaving the current, flawed system in place for months. This delay may cause trading activity to stagnate further as players await the improved system.
In summary, while the announced changes to Pokémon TCG Pocket's trading system are a step in the right direction, the wait for their rollout could hinder the game's trading dynamics in the interim. Players are encouraged to conserve their shinedust in anticipation of these updates.
