Pokémon TCG Pocket to Revamp Trading System: Changes Coming Soon

The developers of *Pokémon TCG Pocket* have finally provided concrete details regarding significant improvements to the game’s much-maligned trading system—a feature that has been frustratingly broken since launch. While the updates sound promising, they won’t arrive until later this year, meaning players will have to endure the current flawed system for several more months.

What's Changing with Trading in Pokémon TCG Pocket?

In a recent post on the official Pokémon community forums, the development team outlined key changes aimed at streamlining the trading experience. Here's what’s coming:

Removal of Trade Tokens

Trade Tokens, the current currency used for trading, are being completely removed from the game. This means players will no longer be required to sacrifice cards just to trade them—a major pain point since launch.

Instead, trading three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity cards will now require Shinedust. This currency is already in the game and is currently used to purchase flairs—special visual effects for cards during matches. Going forward, players will earn Shinedust automatically when opening booster packs that contain duplicates of cards already registered in their Card Dex.

Since Shinedust will also be used for trading, the developers are looking into increasing the amount players receive to ensure smoother transactions. Any remaining Trade Tokens in player accounts will be converted to Shinedust once the change goes live.

There will be no changes to how one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards are traded.

New Feature: Share Cards You're Looking to Trade For

One of the most anticipated additions is a new functionality that allows players to share which cards they’re interested in trading for directly through the in-game interface. This should make it easier to find mutually beneficial trades without needing to coordinate outside the game via text or social media.

Why These Changes Matter

The original Trade Token system was widely criticized for being overly restrictive and inefficient. To trade even a single card, players had to destroy multiple others to generate enough tokens—an unsustainable and frustrating process.

The new system replaces Trade Tokens with Shinedust, a currency that players accumulate naturally over time. Most players likely already have large quantities of Shinedust sitting unused, making it a far more accessible and logical choice for trading costs.

While there is value in maintaining some kind of cost to prevent abuse—like players exploiting early-game free packs across multiple accounts—the current system went too far. The updated model aims to strike a healthier balance between accessibility and fairness.

Community Reaction and Concerns

Initial reactions from the community have been largely positive. Players appreciate the transparency and direction of the upcoming changes. However, there are lingering concerns:

• Lost Cards: Many players have already sacrificed rare cards to gather Trade Tokens. Unfortunately, those losses are irreversible.
• Delayed Rollout: The update isn't expected until fall 2025, leaving many to avoid trading altogether until then.

Final Thoughts

With these changes, *Pokémon TCG Pocket* is taking a meaningful step toward fixing one of its biggest weaknesses. While the wait is long, the future looks brighter for in-game trading. In the meantime, the best advice is simple: hold onto your Shinedust and stay patient—it might soon become your most valuable trading resource.