This weekend brought us a release date for Pokemon TCG Pocket, a new trailer video and some information about the cards but the demo lacked any gameplay and players felt a bit left out. Thanks to more teasing from the iOS app store page, we know a little bit more about what playing in TCG Pocket will be all about
Gameplay elements
We learn that decks will consist of 20 cards, which is a third of what they are in the Trading Card Game. Keep in mind that Energies aren’t played in the deck in TCG Pocket but in a special Energy zone, and that there’s no Prize card that make you effectively start with 54 cards in the deck.
Another significant reveal is the timer, which against our most pessimistic assumptions, will be 5 minute per game, closer to what it is in a game like Duel Links.
Finally, we learn of a supporter named Professor Oak. Will it be similar to what it is in TCG, discarding your hand to draw fresh cards ?
Additionally, there’s a moment in the trailer that we didn’t discuss yesterday. At 0:25, sandwiched between two clips of match footage, there’s a whirlwind of 5 cards, which doesn’t resemble the typical experience of opening a booster pack. We believe it’s very likely to be an introduction for each match, where you would start the game with 5 cards in hand.
A solo mode will also be available, allowing you to face the computer. No additional information has been provided, but we expect it to be similar to the solo mode in Pokémon TCG Online
More teasing about the cards
In this promotional material, we also learn that Dragonite will be in the game (we already knew of Dratini). An immersive Charizard art is also announced : could it be that all ♢♢♢♢ cards will get the immersive treatment ? At least it’s fairly safe to assume that all final evolution of starters (Venusaur ex, Charizard ex and Blastoise ex) will.
The display rack we saw briefly on the trailer, displaying Gardevoir, will be called display board and they can be shared with your friends.
