Ultimate Pocket Guide to Pokémon TCG Trading

The long-awaited feature has finally launched in Pokemon TCG Pocket: card trading! However, engaging in trades is not as unrestricted as players might expect, echoing the fundamental changes from earlier versions like the Pokemon TCG Online. This guide will offer crucial insights and tips for navigating the trading system effectively.

Your Essential Guide to Trading in Pokemon TCG Pocket

Before diving into trades within Pokemon TCG Pocket, there are some important details to consider. First and foremost, cards with a 2-diamond rarity or lower require Trade Stamina to trade. This operates similarly to Pack Stamina and Wonder Stamina, gradually replenishing over time.

For trading higher-tier cards, namely those with a 3-diamond rarity or above—including 4-diamond rarity (ex cards) and 1-star rarity (full art cards)—you will need both Trade Stamina and Trade Tokens. Trade Tokens are a new form of currency in the game, obtained by exchanging duplicate high-rarity cards for flair or tokens themselves.

It’s also significant to note that cards with a 2-star rarity or higher cannot be traded at present. If you own extra duplicates of these cards, consider utilizing them for Trade Tokens or replacing full-art cards that you don’t intend to use or trade further.

Two screenshots from Pokemon TCG Pocket are shown: the left explains 'about Trade Tokens' while the right is an example of how to exchange cards for Trade Tokens — Trade Tokens are essential for trading cards of 3-diamond rarity or higher.| Image credit: The Pokemon Company/VG247

Acquiring Trade Tokens in Pokemon TCG Pocket

To obtain Trade Tokens, navigate to your ‘My Cards’ section and select a high-rarity card with available duplicates. From here, tap on ‘Obtain Items’, which will present you with options to trade the card for Flair, Trade Tokens, or, in the case of particularly rare cards, a Premium Token.

If you’re targeting trades with cards of 3-diamond rarity or higher, focus on trading your non-essential duplicates for Trade Tokens, ensuring they’re not cards you might want to keep for future trades.

Here are the Trade Token requirements based on card rarity:

2-diamond rarity and lower: 1 Trade Stamina
3-diamond rarity: 1 Trade Stamina, 120 Trade Tokens
4-diamond rarity: 1 Trade Stamina, 500 Trade Tokens
1-star rarity: 1 Trade Stamina, 400 Trade Tokens

Multiple screenshots of the trading process in Pokemon TCG Pocket are shown — Image credit: The Pokemon Company/VG247

Executing Trades in Pokemon TCG Pocket

Now that you’re familiar with trading protocols and how to earn Trade Tokens, it’s time to enjoy the trading experience! To initiate a trade:

Add your trading partner as a friend in the game.
Select a friend to trade with and pick one card to send—your friend has two days to respond.
Once your friend makes a trade offer, a notification will appear. Review the card they’ve offered and confirm by clicking OK if you accept the trade.

Upon reaching an agreement, the trade will take place, complete with a unique animation to commemorate the exchange.

For further insight into Pokemon TCG Pocket, explore our article on the rarest cards in the game and discover valuable deck recommendations that could potentially elevate your gameplay.

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