Pokémon Pocket: The New Way to Collect Pokémon

Because of the success of mobile games like Pokémon Go, Pokémon UNITE, and Pokémon Quest, the Pokémon Company decided to bring us a new approach for the TCG. Featuring new cards, a new game style, and a new way to collect, they announced the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, which is set for release on October 30th this year. Currently, in New Zealand, it is available as a closed beta experience.

A fair comparison of what Pokémon TCG Pocket is to the original TCG would be the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG equivalent, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links: they're both part of the same franchise, both are collectible and feature matches, but the mobile version is simpler and focuses more on collecting. It is also very different from the traditional TCG, which is mirrored in Pokémon TCG Live. These two will coexist alongside Pokémon TCG Pocket as mobile titles.

Check out below everything we know about this new experience!

As it features new visual effects when you open packs, this game promises to attract, in particular, anyone who collects special arts, or simply adores classics. A few special cards, like Mewtwo EX, Charizard EX, and Pikachu EX, were announced, alongside their new, exclusive versions.

Another question we already know the answer to is that we'll be able to open two booster packs per day through the game by completing quests, which is a familiar mechanic from Pokémon TCG Live. In that game, for instance, daily quests progress your battle pass. Other highlights are specific quests for collectors, like acquiring a whole set or all the cards featuring a specific Pokémon.

Furthermore, another key detail is that you will be able to swap cards with another player in the game, which is great if you want to complete an entire expansion set. This game will also be fully available in multiple languages, and the first set already has a name: Genetic Apex, which includes a total of 221 cards.

In this game, battles are simpler: you'll only use 20 cards in your deck, and the Prize cards system from the original game is gone. Each time you knock out an enemy Pokémon, you'll get a point (Pokémon EX give you two points), and whoever gets 3 points first wins.

Another interesting detail is your energies. In this case, they'll be added to your hand automatically at the beginning of the turn, so you won't need to add any of them to your deck beforehand. Your Pokémon's HP will also be represented by a green bar that gets smaller as it takes damage.

These mechanics are very in tune with a mobile game style, and, on average, matches will last around 10 minutes, so you'll be able to play while at school or work. Another important detail is the main goal of the game: this title isn't supposed to be competitive and/or promote any special events, so, to this day, no ranked queue has been announced. Furthermore, you can challenge your friends to casual matches.

There's also a single-player mode, in which you can complete challenges with different difficulties and progress on your reward track.

Inspired by Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links and Marvel SNAP, this game includes unique visual effects that are only possible in virtual platforms. It is all done in 3D, and this new rarity of exclusive cards, called "immersive cards", is similar to variants we've seen before, like Illustration Rares, or Full Arts.

Each pack includes 5 cards, and the game includes 8 rarity levels, from the most basic cards to gold cards. Furthermore, you are encouraged to open several packs, as you can evolve any cards you get to their foil version by combining their copies.

You can also organize your cards to your liking through customizable folders: you can have one folder for each set, one for cards you want to swap, and another for your favorites. The sky is the limit.

The Pokémon Company implemented a few intentional locks to make sure players who spend more money don't overcome Free-to-play players too drastically. You can buy gold bars and customizable items, and these gold bars can let you open packs faster. However, the best way to get more packs is by getting the Premium Pass, which gives you 3 packs a day instead of 2, besides new quests.

So far, the pass costs 10 dollars.

This game will apparently bring interesting new features for collectors who also want to enjoy their hobby through their phone. We're still not sure how much time and/or money we'll need to invest to complete a set, and that may be one of the main factors that will determine whether this game is successful or not.

Pokémon Pocket seems like an exciting alternative - in particular for players who, because of work or other arrangements, can't play the physical TCG that often, but enjoy collecting.

What did you think of this game? Will you play it? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!