New updates for the Pokemon TCG Pocket game are coming soon in late January! There is a new expansion set and the Trade feature is to launch.
This post is long. Take what you want from this.
Topics
- Trade Feature Launch on Jan 28, 2025
- Space-Time Smackdown Set In Pokemon TCG Pocket
- Dialga ex
- Palkia ex
- Lucario
- Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup
- Pachirisu ex
- Cynthia
- Gible & Cresselia
- Leafeon & Honchkrow
- Closing Notes
Trade Feature Launch on January 28, 2025
The Trade Feature in Pokemon TCG Pocket launches on January 28, 2025. There will be two new in game currencies. These are trade hourglasses and trade tokens. You can only trade cards with the rarity amount of 1-4 ◆ and 1★ of the same rarity.
Trading will allow players to complete their collections (for bragging rights, showing off or for Youtube content). You won't be able to trade immersive rare cards like Mewtwo ex (the one with an animation).
Space-Time Smackdown Set
The new A2 expansion set in Pokemon TCG Pocket is called Space-Time Smackdown. They skip the Johto region and the Hoenn Region and go right into Sinnoh. The two main Pokemon are Dialga and Palkia. Over the two booster packs there are 140 cards featuring Sinnoh region Pokemon and characters.
In this expansion Pokemon Tool cards are introduced. This is based on the existence of Pachirisu ex (see below).
Dialga ex
Metal Pokemon so far have not seen much competitive play and there were not many. With the release of Dialga ex maybe we see more Metal Pokemon in online battles. Metallic Turbo requires two Metal Energy to do 30 damage plus one Metal Energy acceleration to any one of your Benched Pokemon. Maybe this Dialga goes well with Melmetal or another Dialga ex.
Heavy Impact requires two Metal Energy and two Colourless Energy to do 100 damage. Dialga does seem somewhat underpowered but the first attack provides good energy acceleration.
Palkia ex
Palkia ex is another big Basic Water attacker. Misty decks will love this attacker.
For one Water Energy you can use Slash to hit for 30 damage.
The second attack of Dimensional Storm is a big attack. For 3 Water Energy and one Colourless Energy you do 150 damage to the Active opponent Pokemon and do 20 damage to each of your opponent's Benched Pokemon. In theory you can get a multi prize turn and end the game. the drawback is discard 3 Water Energy from Palkia ex. It would be best to use Dimensional Storm as a finishing attack. Doing 150 damage does one hit knockout most Pokemon except for something like Charizard ex or Pidgeot ex.
Lucario
I think this Lucario card is good. The art is nice as well as its playability potential. It has 100 HP, two retreat cost and Psychic weakness. The two retreat is a slight drawback but the ability is good. Fighting Coach allows Fighting Pokemon do 20 more damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon. I think this ability does stack. Having two Lucarios in play allows for 40 more damage from Fighting Pokemon.
This Mythical Island Primeape goes from 50 damage to either 70 damage from 1 Lucario or 90 damage if two Lucarios are in play. All from one Fighting Energy.
Marshadow doing extra damage makes it an even more dangerous attacker with its Revenge attack.
Lucario itself is a decent attacker. Two Fighting Energy for 40 damage plus 20 from its own ability equals 60 damage. Have another Lucario in play then Submarine Blow does 80 damage. The existence of this Lucario will increase the playability and popularity of Fighting decks. It is too good to ignore.
Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup
Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup are the starter Pokemon for the Sinnoh region. The best one of the three is Chimchar. One Fire Energy to do 20 damage is pretty good in the early game. Their final evolutions are unknown at the time of writing.
Pachirisu ex
I did not expect Pachirisu to be a Pokemon ex but here it is. The HP is unknown. It has one retreat cost and an unknown Weakness (probably Fighting type).
This Pachirisu has one attack only. For two Lightning Energy it does 40 base damage. Do another 40 damage if this Pachirisu ex has a Pokemon Tool attached to it. The existence of this attack confirms that Pokemon Tools are coming to the game. Information about any Pokemon tools and their effects are unknown at the time of writing.
Pachirisu ex could be an alternate attacker to Pikachu ex. Pikachu ex requires a full bench for a maximum of 90 damage while Pachirisu ex depends on Tools. Both need two Lightning Energy for their attacks.
Cynthia Supporter Card
Cynthia is a popular Champion character in the Pokemon games and anime shows. As a Supporter card she increases the attacks of Garchomp and Togekiss by a whopping 50 damage to your opponent's Pokemon. Adding 50 damage is huge but you do need Garchomp or Togekiss which are both Stage 2 Pokemon. Getting Stage 2 Pokemon is not that easy in this game. The balance of this Supporter card is okay.
Garchomp and Togekiss cards are unknown.
Gible & Cresselia
Gible is the Basic Pokemon version needed for the Gachomp evolution line. Gnaw's damage is unknown for 1 Colourless Energy.
Cresselia in the picture has 110 HP, an unknown Weakness (probably Dark) and unknown retreat cost. For two Psychic Energy you do 50 damage and heal 20 damage. I think this may see some play in Gardevoir themed decks. Let's see.
Leafeon & Honchkrow
Leafeon is the Grass evolution of Eevee. It has 90 HP, unknown weakness and an unknown retreat cost. For one Grass Energy and one Colourless Energy the Leafy Cyclone attack does 90 damage. The drawback is that Leafeon cannot attack during your next turn. Ninety damage for two Energy is quite good for a single Prize Pokemon. Will it see play? I dunno at this time.
Honchkrow is the evolved form of Murkrow. It has 100 HP, two retreat cost and an unknown Weakness. The Skill Dive attack does 50 damage to 1 of your opponent's ????. Is it Benched Pokemon or any Pokemon of the opponent's? My prediction is the Energy cost for the attack is one Dark Energy and one Colourless Energy. Also I think it would be Benched Pokemon.
Closing Notes
These updates look to be exciting and keeps the mobile game fresh. The metagame will be different with the new cars from the A2 Space-Time Smackdown set.
People who get discouraged by scalpers and low availability of the physical Pokemon TCG cards since Surging Sparks and Prismatic Evolutions may strongly consider just playing TCG Pocket. In the digital game the cards are always available. It is cheaper to play TCG Pocket versus the physical TCG.
I need trading as soon as possible to complete my genetic Apex packs. I still have many of them left. Excited for the new packs as well.
Trading will definitely help everyone complete sets. This new expansion will change the metagame as well as get people collecting again.