The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has just rolled out its latest major update, introducing the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl-themed expansion, Space Time Smackdown, marking its first full set since the game's launch. This new set is available in two themed booster packs, one featuring Dialga and the other Palkia, and boasts a total of 207 cards. While this is less than the 286 cards in the previous Genetic Apex set, Space Time Smackdown packs a punch with 52 alternate art, Star, and Crown rarity cards, giving players a higher percentage of rare pieces to collect.
Every Alternate Art 'Secret' Card in Pokémon TCG Pocket: Space Time Smackdown
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Space Time Smackdown's official card count stands at 155, as alternate arts are not included in the total collection number. This set introduces 10 ex Pokémon: Yanmega, Infernape, Palkia, Pacharisu, Mismagius, Gallade, Weavile, Darkrai, Dialga, and Lickilicky, ensuring that every Pokémon type, except Dragon, gets a new ex Pokémon, with the Darkness type receiving two.
A significant addition to this set is the introduction of Pokémon Tool cards, which enhance the active Pokémon's abilities in battle. The new set includes three such tools: Giant Cape, which boosts the Pokémon by an extra 20 Hit Points; Rocky Helmet, which inflicts 20 HP damage to the opponent's Pokémon when the active trainer takes damage; and Lum Berry, which removes conditions like Poison from the Pokémon.
Battles
With the release of Space Time Smackdown, new Solo Battles have been added to Pokémon TCG Pocket. Players can now engage in eight new Intermediate tier battles, nine Advanced tier battles, and eight Expert tier battles. These battles feature Pokémon introduced in the set, such as Dialga ex and Palkia ex, alongside others like Togekiss, Bastiodon, Glacion, Magmortar, Magnezone, Rampardos, and Tortrerra.
In multiplayer, while it's early to predict meta shifts, several cards from Space Time Smackdown show great potential. Infernape ex, for instance, can deliver 140 damage for just two Fire Energy, albeit discarding them upon impact. Palkia ex, reminiscent of Mewtwo ex, deals 150 damage for four Energy and damages benched Pokémon. Weavile ex offers a potent attack with just one Energy, dealing 30 damage or 70 if the defending Pokémon is already damaged. Steel type decks are poised for a boost with the inclusion of Dialga ex and other supporting cards.
Missions and Rewards
Alongside Space Time Smackdown, new missions have been added to Pokémon TCG Pocket. These missions follow familiar structures, such as collecting signature cards to unlock rental decks and completing the entire set to earn Dialga and Palkia icons. Museum missions have also returned, rewarding players for collecting 1 Star and full art 2 Star cards. The secret mission, "Champion of the Sinnoh Region," requires collecting the full art Cynthia card along with 1 Star cards of her key Pokémon: Gastrodon, Lucario, Spiritomb, and Garchomp.
Rewards from missions include Pack Hourglasses, Wonder Hourglasses, and Emblem Tickets for the shop, though notably, no Trading Tokens are awarded. Creatures Inc. did, however, celebrate the trading feature's addition by giving players a free 500 Trading Tokens. New items in the shop include Dialga and Palkia album covers, the Lovely Hearts backdrop, and a new Poké Gold bundle focused on Cynthia.
Trading
Despite the excitement around Space Time Smackdown, Creatures Inc. has remained silent on the recent controversial trading update. The update introduced Trade Tokens, which are necessary for trading cards at 3 Diamonds or higher. Trading a 3 Diamond card requires 120 Trade Tokens, a 1 Star card requires 400, and a 4 Diamond card (an ex Pokémon) requires 500. These tokens can only be obtained by "selling" cards from a player's collection, with varying token values based on card rarity.
This system has sparked significant backlash from the community, with many players describing it as "hilariously toxic" and a "monumental failure." They argue that the trading feature, intended to foster community engagement, has instead become a cumbersome and frustrating process. Despite the controversy, Creatures Inc. has yet to address these concerns publicly.
