The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have recently announced 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 trading experience, although players will need to wait until the fall of this year for their implementation.
Removal of Trade Tokens
The current trading system, which relies on trade tokens, will be overhauled. Trade tokens, which players previously had to obtain by sacrificing cards, will be completely phased out. In their place, a new currency called shinedust will be used for trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity. Shinedust is automatically earned when players open booster packs and receive cards already registered in their Card Dex. Given that shinedust is also used to purchase flairs, the developers are planning to increase the amount of shinedust available to players to accommodate its new role in trading. This change should enable players to engage in more trades than before. Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust once the update goes live. The trading method 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 their desired trade cards directly through the in-game trading function. This improvement is crucial as it will enable clearer communication about trade interests, making the system more user-friendly and encouraging more trading activity.
The trade token system has been widely criticized for its cumbersome nature. To trade a single ex Pokémon card, players needed to discard multiple other ex cards to accumulate enough tokens, a process that many found prohibitive. The introduction of shinedust as the new trading currency is a welcome change, especially since it is already earned passively and can be accumulated without sacrificing valuable cards. This should make trading more accessible and less costly for the average player.
While the new system is designed to prevent abuse, such as creating multiple accounts to farm and trade rare cards, it maintains a necessary cost to ensure thoughtful trading. The ability to share desired trade cards will also enhance the system's functionality, allowing players to make informed and reasonable offers rather than guessing what others might want.
The community has responded positively to these announced changes, though there is a significant concern about the cards already lost to the old system. Despite the conversion of existing trade tokens to shinedust, those rare cards are irretrievable.
However, the long wait until these improvements are implemented poses another challenge. With the current system being so unappealing, trading activity may stagnate further until the fall update. Players will need to be patient, and in the meantime, saving shinedust will be a wise strategy.
In summary, the upcoming changes to Pokémon TCG Pocket's trading system are a step in the right direction, promising a more enjoyable and efficient trading experience. However, the wait until these changes take effect could dampen the enthusiasm of eager players.
