The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have announced significant improvements to the game's trading system, which has been a source of frustration for players since its launch. These upcoming changes aim to enhance the trading experience, although they won't be implemented until the fall of this year.
Removal of Trade Tokens
Trade tokens will be completely removed, eliminating the need to sacrifice cards to acquire trading currency. Instead, trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will require shinedust. This currency is automatically earned when you open a booster pack and obtain a card already registered in your Card Dex. Since shinedust is also used to obtain flair, the developers are considering increasing the amount available to support trading activities. This change should enable players to trade more cards than before. Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust once the update goes live. Trading of one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards will remain unchanged.
Additional Updates in Development
A new feature will allow players to share cards they're interested in trading for through the in-game trading function. This update is particularly exciting because it will address the current system's major flaw: the lack of communication about desired trades. Currently, players can list cards for trade but have no way to specify what they're looking for in return, making trading with strangers challenging. The new system will enable players to make informed offers, revitalizing the trading community.
The current trade token system has been a significant barrier to trading. Players had to discard valuable cards to obtain enough tokens to trade, making the process costly and discouraging. The new shinedust system is more player-friendly, as shinedust is earned automatically from duplicate cards and other in-game activities. This should make trading more accessible and less punishing.
However, the transition to the new system isn't without its downsides. Many players have already sacrificed rare cards to accumulate trade tokens, and while these tokens will convert to shinedust, the lost cards cannot be recovered. Additionally, the long wait until the fall for these changes to take effect is likely to cause trading activity to stagnate in the interim, as players won't want to continue using the flawed current system.
Overall, the community's response to these planned changes has been positive, with players hopeful that the new system will make trading a more enjoyable and integral part of the Pokémon TCG Pocket experience. Until then, players are advised to save their shinedust and look forward to a more robust trading system in the future.
