Players of Pokémon TCG criticize the game's trading system

Pokémon TCG was one of the surprises of 2024, bringing to light the happiness of Pokémon card collectors, and with that a trading system was expected that could make the game even more dynamic, however, the long-awaited system did not please the players, who are criticizing the game a lot.

Negotiations require players to use valuable resources and meet a long list of restrictions in order to acquire cards they do not yet possess.

"Let's be realistic, the game does NOT want you to trade cards" , is the title of a topic on reddit Pokémon TCG Pocket , which is full of complaints, memes and total disbelief about how the trade was implemented.

In general, trading is limited to players on your friends list, and only one trade can be conducted at a time. Currently, only cards of rarity One, Two, Three or Four Diamonds can be offered for trade, along with the One Star rarity. (To be clear: you cannot trade Two or Three Star rarities or a Crown rarity.)

In addition, trading is subject to additional rules. First, you can only trade cards of the same rarity - which means that a trade for a One Diamond rarity card means you will have to offer another One Diamond rarity card in exchange, limiting the selection of cards that can be offered for trade with each other.

Next, you will need to use Trade Stamina , which recharges over time or can be boosted using Trade Hourglasses . Furthermore, if you trade cards of a Three Diamond rarity or higher, you will also need to spend Trade Tokens , another consumable that can be earned in the game. Three Diamond rarity cards require 120 Tokens , One Star cards require 400 Tokens , while Four Diamond cards require 500 Trade Tokens .

Want some more rules? Then go ahead. Cards with Flair can only be traded for cards with Flair . And you can only trade cards from the game's Genetic Apex and Mythical Island boosters. Promotional cards cannot be traded.

Trade Tokens can be acquired by discarding other cards, but fans have complained about the amount of cards needed to gather enough Tokens . For example, you will receive 100 Trade Tokens for discarding a One Star card, but it will cost 400 Trade Tokens in total to trade for another One Star card.

Obviously, these rules have discouraged many players who thought they could go around trading cards, trying to complete collections or get other cosmetics within the game from some repeated cards.

Unfortunately, this is the reality we are in and I hope that the criticisms will change this nefarious system.