If you've been a fan of Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, you'll be thrilled to hear that the developers have finally addressed the long-standing issues with its trading system—a feature that has been nothing short of frustrating since the game launched. Although the improvements sound promising, they won’t be rolling out anytime soon.

In a recent post on the Pokémon community forums, the development team outlined the key changes coming to the trading function. Below is a summary of the planned updates:

Removal of Trade Tokens

One of the most significant changes involves the elimination of trade tokens entirely. Players will no longer need to sacrifice valuable cards to earn the currency required for trading. Instead, three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity cards will now require shinedust. When you open a booster pack, shinedust will automatically accrue if you receive a card that’s already registered in your Card Dex. Shinedust is already in use for purchasing card flairs, which are visual effects that enhance cards during matches. The developers plan to increase the amount of shinedust available to ensure smooth trading. Existing trade tokens can be converted into shinedust when the update rolls out. No changes are being made to how one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards are traded.

Additional Improvements

Another exciting addition will allow players to specify the cards they wish to trade for directly within the in-game trading interface. At present, while you can list cards for trade, there’s no way to communicate what you’re hoping to receive. This often leads to confusion and disinterest among players, especially when trying to trade with strangers. By enabling users to indicate desired trades, the system becomes far more intuitive and encourages participation.

Why the Change Matters

While imposing a cost on trading is essential to prevent abuse (such as creating multiple accounts to exploit the system), the current trade token system is excessively cumbersome. Under the new model, shinedust—a currency players already accumulate naturally—will streamline the process, making it easier and more appealing for everyone involved.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the positive feedback from the community, there’s a catch: players who have already discarded rare cards to acquire trade tokens won’t recover those losses. Even though trade tokens will convert to shinedust, the lost cards are gone for good. Additionally, the rollout is scheduled for later this year, meaning trading may come to a standstill until the updates are live. For now, players are advised to hold onto their shinedust and keep an eye out for future developments.

Stay tuned as we approach the fall release, when these much-needed changes will hopefully breathe new life into Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket’s trading mechanics.