Since its official launch in late 2024, Pokémon TCG Pocket has taken the world by storm. The virtual card game offers a simple yet highly addictive mechanic centered around opening booster packs, making it another massive success for the Pokémon franchise.
However, like many recent Pokémon games, Pokémon TCG Pocket has not been free from controversy. While criticism has been directed at the card-opening system and the competitive gameplay, the biggest issue arose from a feature that fans had been requesting since launch: card trading.
The Controversy Behind the Trading System
In January 2025, Pokémon TCG Pocket introduced the long-awaited card trading feature—an essential mechanic for any successful physical card game. Given its significance, fans expected a well-balanced and fair system.
Unfortunately, the developers failed to properly adapt card trading, as it required two major resources:
- Energy, which replenished over time.
- Trade Tokens, which were obtained by sacrificing high-value cards.
For example, obtaining a 1-star unique card required the player to discard four cards of the same category. This frustrating requirement sparked backlash within the Pokémon TCG Pocket community.
Pokémon TCG Pocket Adjusts Its Trading System
Following the widespread dissatisfaction, Pokémon TCG Pocket has announced significant trading system changes set to take effect in autumn 2025.
Key Updates to the Trading System:
- Trade Tokens Will Be Removed – Players will no longer need to sacrifice valuable cards to initiate trades.
- Iris Dust Becomes the Main Currency – Only Iris Dust will be required to exchange 3-4 Diamond and 1-Star cards.
- New Ways to Earn Iris Dust – Additional methods to collect Iris Dust will be introduced.
- Pre-Exchange Listing Feature – A new function will allow players to share trade offers in advance to facilitate seamless trading.
Source: Pokémon TCG Pocket
These changes mark a significant step forward in addressing player concerns and improving the Pokémon TCG Pocket experience.