The developers of Pokémon TCG Pocket have finally unveiled significant improvements to the game's much-criticized trading system, which has been problematic since its launch. While the announced changes are promising, their implementation will take considerable time.

In a recent post on the Pokémon community forums, the developers outlined the forthcoming updates:

Removal of Trade Tokens

• Trade tokens will be entirely eliminated, and players will no longer need to sacrifice cards to acquire the currency needed for trading.
• Trading cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will now require shinedust.
• Shinedust will be automatically earned when opening a booster pack and obtaining a card already registered in your Card Dex.
• Given that shinedust is also used to obtain flair, the developers are considering increasing the amount available to accommodate its use in trading.
• This change should enable players to trade more cards than before the update.
• Existing trade tokens will be converted to shinedust once they are removed from the game.
• There are no changes to the trading mechanics for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards.

Additional Updates in Development

• A new feature will allow players to share cards they're interested in trading through the in-game trading function.

The current trading system relies on trade tokens, which have been a major source of frustration. To trade even a single ex Pokémon card, players must discard five other ex cards to accumulate enough tokens. This cumbersome process has deterred many from using the trading feature.

The new system introduces shinedust, an existing in-game currency used for purchasing flairs. Players automatically earn shinedust from duplicate cards and other in-game activities. This change aims to make trading more accessible, as most players likely have surplus shinedust. The developers are exploring ways to increase the availability of shinedust to ensure smooth trading.

Implementing a cost for trading is crucial to prevent players from exploiting the system by creating multiple accounts to trade high-value cards to their main accounts. The trade token system was excessively costly, but shinedust offers a more balanced solution.

Another significant update is the ability to share desired trade cards, which should enhance the trading experience. Currently, players can list cards for trade but cannot specify what they want in return, making it difficult to trade with strangers. This new feature will allow for more targeted and effective trades.

The community has responded positively to these changes, though there's a significant downside: players who have already discarded rare cards to obtain trade tokens cannot recover them. While existing tokens will convert to shinedust, the lost cards are irreplaceable.

However, players will need to wait until the fall of this year for these updates to take effect. Until then, trading may come to a standstill as players are reluctant to use the current system, knowing a better solution is on the horizon. Several more expansions may be released before the trading system in Pokémon TCG Pocket truly flourishes.

In the meantime, it's advisable to save your shinedust!