The Play Store has recently revealed additional details for Pokémon TCG Pocket in their “Featured Stories”, complementing the earlier information shared on the iOS App Store. We were already aware of the two free booster packs per day and the immersive card arts; this new update introduces several features that fill us more about the overall game experience.
Wonder Pick: Wonder Trade for TCG?
Wonder Pick allows players to acquire a copy of a random card from another player’s booster pack. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s reminiscent of the Wonder Trade feature from the Pokémon video games on the 3DS, where players could trade a Pokémon at random with another player using the same feature.
But unlike those days when you were often swamped with the generational Rattata—while naively trading a good Pokémon—Pokémon TCG Pocket don’t make you lose a card in the process, and the one you get is entirely random: it can be a ☆ card if you’re lucky. We don’t know yet how to subscribe to it.
Assuming Wonder Pick is limited to a daily use, it could increase the total number of cards you get for free each day to 11—considering the 5 cards in each of the 2 free booster packs.
Multiple Decks and Auto-Battles
Two key news were revealed regarding battles:
– “A variety of decks available for you to try”. It’s very likely that, like in most TCG apps, Pokémon TCG Pocket will offer a selection of starter decks, allowing players to familiarize themselves with different strategies. In Pokémon TCG Live, players start with several themed decks (typically one per type), which provide a solid foundation for building competitive decks. Pokémon TCG Pocket could be similarly generous in this regard.
– “An auto-battle option to use”. A solo mode had already been hinted at, but the inclusion of an auto-battle option suggests there might be a significant amount of solo content to work through. Think of it like the repetitive AI battles in Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links—the kind where you just want to breeze through to complete a mission. The auto-battle feature could save time by letting you speed through these encounters.
Premium Pass benefits
The Premium Pass, previously mentioned in pricing details for $9.99, has now been further elaborated upon. It offers the following advantages:
- An Extra Pack a Day. This is a huge benefit, increasing the total number of cards you can collect by 50% (15 cards per day + Wonder Pick). For collectors and dedicated players, the Premium Pass looks like an essential purchase.
- Premium Missions: These missions seem to be exclusive to Premium Pass holders, offering additional rewards beyond the expected standard daily missions. The introduction of Premium Missions suggests a more complex mission structure, possibly requiring players to complete specific challenges to unlock exclusive bonuses.
In mobile gaming, Pass systems are a common feature, typically offering additional rewards in exchange for a small fee. These systems often enhance the rewards by providing extra bonuses on top of regular daily missions. In games like MTG Arena and Pokémon TCG Live, passes generally work by unlocking extra rewards as you level up, without requiring additional effort—just continue playing as usual, and the pass rewards come to you. However, Pokémon TCG Pocket might take a different approach. Instead of simply rewarding progression, the game could introduce unique missions specifically tied to the Premium Pass.
The best comparison might be Pokémon Go and its Special Research tasks. These events unlock unique storylines that require completing more intricate, multi-step challenges. Some of these special quests are only available through a paid purchase.
Example of a Pokémon Go Special Research with a list of Missions
Ultimately, the solo mode in Pokémon TCG Pocket could be more substantial than we initially thought—potentially rich enough to make the auto-battle feature essential, similar to the content-heavy Duel Links. This hints at a game experience that’s deeper and more engaging than a simple card collection simulator.
However, the biggest question that remains is whether the paid features will be exclusively available for purchase in the store or if there will also be attainable through in-game currency. As it stands, the benefits the Premium Pass offers are highly enticing—perhaps even to the point of creating an uneven playing field for free-to-play players. The inclusion of unique missions and extra packs could be seen as a game-changer for those who invest, but it also risks alienating those who prefer to play without spending.
