Pokémon TCG Pocket's reviled trading system is finally getting a much-needed overhaul, promising significant improvements, though the wait will be lengthy. Developers recently detailed upcoming changes on the Pokémon community forums:
Farewell to Trade Tokens
The despised Trade Tokens are being eliminated. Trading three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity cards will now require Shinedust. Shinedust is automatically earned when opening booster packs containing cards already in your Card Dex. Since Shinedust is also used for flair, developers plan to increase its acquisition rate. This change should significantly increase trading volume. Existing Trade Tokens will be converted to Shinedust upon removal. Trading of one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards remains unchanged.
More Improvements on the Horizon
A new feature will let players specify desired trade cards within the in-game trading function. This addresses the current system's biggest flaw: the cumbersome and inefficient Trade Token system. Trading previously required discarding cards to acquire tokens, creating a significant barrier to trading, especially for valuable cards.
The new Shinedust system offers a more streamlined approach. Shinedust, already used for card flairs, is passively earned from duplicate cards. Additional Shinedust is obtainable through events and other means. While a cost is necessary to prevent exploitation (creating multiple accounts to farm cards for trading), the Shinedust system is far more player-friendly than the previous method.
The addition of a feature to specify desired trade cards will dramatically improve trading efficiency. Currently, players can only list cards for trade without indicating their desired cards in return, hindering trades, especially with strangers.
The community's response to these changes has been largely positive. However, a significant drawback remains: players who discarded valuable cards to obtain Trade Tokens cannot recover those cards. While tokens will convert to Shinedust, the lost cards are irreplaceable.
Furthermore, these improvements won't be implemented until the fall. Until then, trading is likely to remain stagnant, given the current system's unattractiveness. The game may see several expansions before trading truly flourishes. For now, hold onto that Shinedust!
