For avid players of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, the significance of Hourglasses cannot be overstated. While players might begin their journey with an abundance of these invaluable tokens, the initial supply decreases swiftly once they advance beyond the tutorial stage.
To gain a competitive edge and participate in events that earn coveted golden symbols, it is crucial to prioritize opening as many packs as possible. While having a single EX card is beneficial, securing a second copy enhances your deck’s reliability and overall competitiveness.
This guide is designed to equip you with strategies to maximize your Hourglass collection and optimize their usage for gameplay success.
Understanding the Types of Hourglasses
Pack Hourglasses
Pack Hourglasses are among the most vital resources in Pokémon TCG Pocket. New players will soon discover that they are limited to acquiring just two free packs daily, as indicated by a 12-hour timer.
However, using Pack Hourglasses can expedite this process; each hourglass reduces the timer by one hour, allowing you to circumvent the standard waiting period, a common feature in Gacha-style games.
Wonder Hourglasses
Another essential game mechanic facilitating access to desired cards is the Wonder Pick feature. Here, players can view packs opened by others globally and select one, enjoying a 1/5 chance of obtaining the card of their choice.
Similar to Pack Hourglasses, Wonder Hourglasses can hasten the regeneration of wonder stamina, enabling you to make more selections. Personally, I’ve enjoyed considerable success in acquiring EX cards through this mechanic. While it might be disheartening to lose over 30 wonder stamina for a common card like Pidgey, the 1/5 odds provide a compelling opportunity.
Event Hourglasses
Event Hourglasses, while not as crucial as the previous types, are specifically used during special events, such as the ongoing Blastoise Event.
These hourglasses create additional chances to participate in events and earn special promo cards.
Kickstarting Your Journey
To begin your TCG Pocket adventure on a strong note, focus on completing Solo battles. Even if you lack a robust deck to exploit type weaknesses, you can utilize rental decks to effortlessly tackle these missions.
These Solo battles do not require any in-game currency, so you can retry them until you achieve victory. Here are the battle types you can engage in:
- Beginner Battles
- Intermediate Battles
- Advanced Battles
- Expert Battles
By fulfilling all these challenges—potentially within the first day if you’re dedicated—you can earn more than 100 Pack Hourglasses to utilize in your deck building. Moreover, each battle also has related missions, such as winning with a particular type or achieving ten wins, which reward you with shop tickets that can be valuable later.
The Daily Incentive
Daily bonuses are a popular element in card collection games, and TCG Pocket follows suit. Every day, players can receive a free item pack from the shop, including a shop ticket and a Wonder Hourglass. While these items may seem modest, they add up significantly over time.
Complete daily missions by claiming your free packs or making a Wonder Pick. By achieving one of each, you will effectively finish three missions and earn 4 Pack Hourglasses. Though it may appear minimal, these benefits accumulate quickly.
It’s wise to amass a substantial number of Hourglasses before new cards are introduced, enabling you to leverage your advantage during online battles.
Utilizing the Shop
As previously highlighted, you’ll eventually collect numerous shop tickets from dailies and Solo battles. These tickets can be exchanged, as anticipated, for additional Hourglasses.
The first ten batches of six Pack Hourglasses are offered at a reduced price of only 12 tickets, so seize these offers promptly. Afterward, the ticket cost rises to 18, with a limit of purchasing ten batches, resetting at the start of every month.
A highly effective method for accumulating tickets is to engage in battles and perform Wonder Picks. Send friend requests to everyone, and for every thank-you response, you earn a ticket—with a cap of five per day.
Be sure to spend your shop tickets wisely on duplicates of supporter cards to strengthen your decks.
Maximizing Leveling Up
Leveling up grants you 12 Pack and 12 Wonder Hourglasses with each milestone. Early in the game, you’ll find yourself leveling up quickly, but progression slows significantly as you reach the 20s.
Thus, relying exclusively on leveling for Pack Hourglasses is not a sustainable long-term strategy. The primary method for earning XP revolves around opening packs, each netting you 25 XP. Once your packs are depleted, alternatives become scarce.
Alternatively, players may participate in online battles for a chance to earn 15 XP per victory. However, as experience requirements escalate to 500+ XP per level, this method also becomes sluggish.
Capitalizing on Events and Occasions
Participating in online battles during events such as the Mythical Island Battle Event can be particularly lucrative. Simply engaging in ten battles during this event earns you an impressive 24 Pack Hourglasses.
Nearly every event that occurs—including the previously noted Blastoise Drop Event—serves as an excellent opportunity to gather various types of Hourglasses and snag promotional cards. Additional events include New Year’s festivities and special Booster Pack Celebrations.
Exploring Themed Collections
One delightful feature that may be overlooked in Pokémon TCG Pocket is Themed Collections. These collections reward players for simply gathering cards that originate from pack openings.
By completing collections of certain card types—such as capturing all bug-themed cards in the Mythical Island expansion—you can receive numerous Wonder Hourglasses and shop tickets.
Additionally, secret missions unlock the potential for extra rewards, even including rare cards like Mew!
Unlocking Premium Missions and Poke Gold
If you seek an enhanced gameplay experience and additional Hourglasses, consider investing in a Premium subscription. This option provides special promo cards and new missions that further yield more Pack and Wonder Hourglasses.
Moreover, subscribers gain access to exclusive shop tickets for acquiring unique card-customizing accessories. If you’re more inclined to spend money, consider buying Poke Gold from the Cash Shop to procure packs directly. However, rest assured that Pokémon TCG Pocket is designed to remain accessible without requiring real cash outlay; the in-game resources are quite generous.
I’ve managed to build multiple competitive decks with minimal spending. The key to success lies in daily logins—even if it’s for just a few minutes. Engaging in daily missions and participating in events will effectively provide you with all the Hourglasses you require.
Leave a Reply