The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have recently shared exciting details about significant enhancements to the game's trading system, which has been a source of frustration for players since its launch. These upcoming changes promise to revolutionize the way trading works, although their implementation is slated for the fall, which means a lengthy wait for the community.
In a detailed post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the following changes:
Removal of Trade Tokens
- Trade Tokens Elimination: The current trading currency, Trade Tokens, will be entirely phased out. Players will no longer need to sacrifice their cards to acquire these tokens.
- Introduction of Shinedust for Trading: Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarities will now require shinedust instead of trade tokens. Shinedust is earned automatically when you open a booster pack and receive a card already registered in your Card Dex.
- Shinedust Allocation: Since shinedust is also used to obtain flair, the developers are considering increasing the amount players receive to accommodate its new role in trading. This adjustment should enable more frequent and accessible trading.
- Conversion of Existing Tokens: Any trade tokens players currently possess will be converted to shinedust upon the removal of the token system.
- No Changes for Lower Rarity Cards: Trading one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards will remain unchanged.
Additional Updates in Development
- Sharing Trade Interests: A new feature will allow players to share cards they are interested in trading for, enhancing the in-game trading experience.
The current trade token system has been widely criticized for its cumbersome nature. To trade a single ex Pokémon card, players must discard five other ex cards to gather enough tokens, a process that discourages trading altogether. The new system using shinedust, which players already earn from duplicates and events, is a significant improvement. It's less punitive and more aligned with the game's existing mechanics.
While some form of trading cost is necessary to prevent exploitation, such as creating multiple accounts to farm rare cards, the trade token system was excessively costly. The shift to shinedust should make trading more feasible for the average player.
The ability to share desired trade cards will also be a game-changer. Currently, players can list cards for trade but have no way to communicate their desired trades within the game, leading to a lack of engagement with the trading system. This new feature will facilitate more meaningful and targeted trades.
The community's response to these proposed changes has been overwhelmingly positive, though there's a significant downside: players who have already sacrificed rare cards to accumulate trade tokens will not recover those cards, even though their tokens will convert to shinedust.
The major drawback, however, is the timeline for these updates. With implementation not expected until the fall, trading activity may stagnate as players hold off on using the current system in anticipation of the new one. This could mean several more expansions before the trading aspect of Pokémon TCG Pocket truly flourishes.
In the meantime, players are advised to save their shinedust in preparation for the new trading system.
