Goodbye cards, hello Rainbow Dust: the long-awaited change in Pokémon TCG Pocket

Starting July 30, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket will receive one of the most highly anticipated updates by the community. With the arrival of the Marine and Celestial Saber expansion, focused on Pokémon from the Johto region, a complete overhaul of the card trading system will also be implemented, a feature that has been heavily criticized since the game's launch.

This expansion will bring more than 200 new cards, featuring Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Ho-Oh, and Lugia as the main stars. However, the modification of the trading system promises to be the real essential change that will redefine the player experience.

Farewell to trade tokens: Iris Dust arrives

One of the central points of the update will be the removal of trade tokens, which have been considered an obstacle to progress within the game. In their place, users will need to use Iris Dust to trade cards with a rarity of three diamonds, four diamonds, or one star.

In addition, the new system no longer requires players to lose cards in order to trade them, which represents a significant improvement in terms of accessibility and strategy for all players.

Another addition is that, if a person receives a card that is already registered, they will receive double the Iris Dust as compensation. Meanwhile, the old tokens can be converted into hourglasses (to open packs) or more Iris Dust, depending on what each player needs.

More personalized trades and optimized search

Users will be able to set up to 20 desired cards on their profile and choose three featured cards within that list, which will increase the chances of finding suitable trades. This more flexible system will allow players to better manage their collections and progress more efficiently.

Although for now the changes apply to certain rarities, the community expects that future updates will also allow the trading of more exclusive and rare cards, further expanding the scope of gameplay and collection.

A direct response to initial criticism

Since its launch, the trading system in Pokémon TCG Pocket has been one of the most criticized elements. The imposition of difficult conditions to complete trades and the mandatory use of tokens caused frustration among users. Now, DeNA is fulfilling its promise to redesign this key mechanic, aiming for a fairer and more entertaining experience.

The update will arrive alongside an expansion that celebrates the classic Pokémon of the second generation, which represents an ideal combination of nostalgia, new content, and functional improvements.