Pokémon TCG Pocket Announces Upcoming Changes to Trading System

The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have unveiled significant improvements to the game's much-criticized trading system, which has been problematic since its launch. These upcoming enhancements sound promising, though implementation will take some time.

In a detailed post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the forthcoming changes:

Removal of Trade Tokens

• Trade Tokens will be completely removed. Players will no longer need to sacrifice cards to acquire trading currency.
• Trading high-rarity cards (three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star) will now require shinedust.
• Shinedust will be earned automatically when opening booster packs and obtaining duplicate cards already registered in your Card Dex.
• Shinedust, currently used for card flairs, will see an increase in availability to support trading needs.
• Existing Trade Tokens will be converted to shinedust upon removal from the game.
• No changes for trading one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards.

Additional Updates in Development

• A new feature will allow players to share cards they're interested in trading, enhancing the in-game trading function.

The current trade token system, designed specifically for trading, has been widely criticized. Players must destroy multiple cards to gain enough tokens for a single trade, making the process inefficient and discouraging. The proposed shinedust system, already in use for card flairs, should be more user-friendly. Shinedust is earned through duplicate cards and various in-game events, and the developers plan to increase its availability to facilitate smoother trading.

While some form of trading cost is necessary to prevent exploitation, the trade token system was overly restrictive. The new system aims to strike a better balance, encouraging thoughtful trading without being prohibitive.

The ability to share desired trade cards will revolutionize the trading experience. Currently, players can list cards for trade but have no way to communicate their desired trades in-game, leading to ineffective trading with strangers. This new feature will enable more targeted and successful trades.

The Pokémon TCG Pocket community has responded positively to these announcements. However, there's a significant downside: players who have already sacrificed rare cards for trade tokens won't get those cards back, though their existing tokens will convert to shinedust.

A major concern is the timeline for these changes. The developers have indicated that these updates won't be implemented until the fall, meaning players will have to endure the current system for months. This could lead to a halt in trading activities as players await the more efficient system.

In summary, while the proposed changes to Pokémon TCG Pocket's trading system are a step in the right direction, the wait for their implementation might impact the game's trading dynamics in the interim. Players are advised to save their shinedust in anticipation of the new system.