Trading is coming to Pokemon TCG Pocket. We’ve known it’s been planned for a while now, thanks to the greyed-out button on the social tab, and players are eagerly anticipating completing their collections by swapping with other players. I’ve got just three regular cards to go before I’ve completed Genetic Apex and I’m loathe to spend pack points on anything other than alt arts, so trading could be a gamechanger.
Anyone got a Gloom, Exeggcutor ex, or Gyarados?
But I’m not convinced trading will be the answer to all our problems. I’ll get into the reasons why in just a few sentences’ time, but the predatory nature of every other mechanic in this game gives me pause. Here’s how I anticipate Pokemon TCG Pocket will implement trading. Don’t shoot me, I’m only the Pokemon player.
Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Inevitable Trading Restrictions
Trading will be restricted heavily when it becomes available. I don’t expect this to be a system like Pokemon Trading Card Game Online (now called Live, but I don’t know if its trading system has remained the same), where you can just put up whatever cards you have and request anything else in return.
I fully expect Pokemon TCG Pocket to only allow trading of cards of the same rarity. There won’t be a way to put up 16 Psyduck and ask for an immersive rare Mewtwo ex from a generous patron. You’ll need to offer an ex card to ask for an ex card in return. This way, the game doesn’t lose out and you still need to pull an ex card in order to trade it for another one. But as a player, it kinda sucks as there’s no way to upcycle your duplicates.
Duplicate Trading
As well as needing to match the rarity of the card you’re requesting, I assume you’ll only be able to trade duplicates. Much like the current flair system, you’ll need a minimum of three cards in order to offer one up for trade.
For my army of Psyduck, that’s not a problem. I should be able to trade for a Gloom and Gyarados without issue, but getting my hands on the two-star rarity alt art Gengar ex I’ve spent too long pulling Mewtwo for will be a lot more difficult. I’ve already transferred three full art Diglett for fancy currency, so getting one-stars hasn’t been a problem so far, but any higher? It’ll be a nightmare.
I want that Legendary bird icon, but what are my chances of two alt art birds? Literally zero if I keep pulling Mewtwo for Gengar, though if I manage to get the alt art Articuno I might switch to Charizard. But even with trading, I’ll struggle to get my hands on my favourite cards.
Old Sets
Trading is coming at the end of January, which is coincidentally when the next set is rumoured to launch. Or is it? Is it coincidence, I mean, not is it launching. We don’t know either for sure, but I think there’s reasoning behind this schedule.
I think trading, when it’s released next year, will be limited to Genetic Apex. Pokemon TCG Pocket knows players will spend big on the new set, and it doesn’t want you completing its next set without parting with your cash. This may be good news for those of us who still haven’t finished the set, but it’ll be bittersweet when we’re seeing exciting new cards from the new set.
This combination of drawbacks gives me pause when it comes to Pokemon TCG Pocket’s most requested feature. When you consider that the game might add another currency to proceedings as well, suddenly it feels like trading could be a bigger disappointment for fans than the most recent Wonder Pick event.
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