The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally shared specific details on major improvements coming to the game's heavily criticized trading system, which has been a disaster since launch. While the proposed changes sound genuinely excellent, players face a long wait for their implementation.
In a post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the upcoming adjustments. We've listed their key points below as written:
Removal of Trade Tokens
Trade tokens will be completely phased out. Players will no longer need to sacrifice cards to obtain the currency required for trades.Instead, trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require Shinedust.
Shinedust will be automatically earned when you open a booster pack and receive a card already registered in your Card Dex. Since Shinedust is also currently used to obtain card flair, we are exploring ways to increase its availability to accommodate this new trading requirement. Overall, this update should enable you to trade more cards than the previous system allowed.
Any Trade Tokens you currently possess will be converted to Shinedust when the item is removed from the game.
The trading process for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards remains unchanged.
Additional Updates in Development
A new feature is in development that will allow you to share cards you are seeking via the in-game trading function.The most significant change is the removal of the current trading currency: Trade Tokens. These tokens, introduced specifically for trading, have been a frustrating mechanic. While mandatory for any trade, they could only be acquired by effectively destroying cards from your own collection.
We've covered this in detail previously, but the short version is: under the current system, trading one ex Pokémon for a friend's ex Pokémon requires both players to first discard five other ex cards to generate enough Trade Tokens. Despite some bonus token opportunities since launch, the system has remained prohibitively costly for most players wanting to trade.
The new system, in theory, is a substantial improvement. Shinedust is an existing in-game currency, currently used to purchase cosmetic "flairs" for cards. You accumulate Shinedust automatically from duplicate cards, with additional sources from events and other activities. Many players who aren't focused on flairs likely have a stockpile already. The developers have stated they are investigating ways to increase Shinedust yields to further facilitate trading.
It's worth noting that imposing *some* cost on trading is important for TCG Pocket's health. Without it, players could exploit the system by creating multiple accounts, claiming the generous starter packs, and funneling all rare cards to a main account repeatedly. A cost encourages thoughtful trading—the issue was that the Trade Token cost was far too high for the average player.
Another major listed change will significantly improve the experience: a feature to share cards you want in a trade. Currently, you can list a card for trade, but there's no in-game method to indicate what you desire in return unless you coordinate externally with friends. For strangers, it's purely guesswork, which has discouraged most from attempting trades. Allowing players to signal their wants should lead to more reasonable offers and actual system use.
The community response to these announcements has been largely positive. However, a significant drawback remains: many players have already sacrificed numerous rare cards to accumulate Trade Tokens, and those cards are permanently lost. While existing tokens will convert to Shinedust, the original cards are gone for good.
There's another issue: a lengthy implementation timeline. The blog post indicates these changes are not scheduled until fall of this year. In the interim, trading activity will likely stagnate further, as players avoid the costly current system knowing a better one is coming. We may see several more card expansions before the "Trading" in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket becomes a fully functional feature.
Start saving that Shinedust!
