Summary
Although it has been available to play for just over four months,Pokemon TCG Pocketalready released its fourth set with Triumphant Light, which acts as a complement of sorts to the Space-Time Smackdown set based on Gen 4 critters.Triumphant Light is changingPokemon TCG Pocket’s metain various ways, and despite its size, it’s a great set to open thanks to its rare cards having innate synergies with Arceus and Arceus Ex, favoring deckbuilding for newcomers and veterans alike. With four sets under its belt, the game is taking shape in terms of features and gameplay, and it should undo one decision that accompanied two of its expansions.
It’s not unlikely that some elements or systems inPokemon TCG Pocketmay change over time because the game is essentially in its infancy, but some things may be harder to modify the longer they stay in their current state. For example, it seems unlikely that solo battle events will see a radical change to how they work, between stamina for battles and packs with a single promo card in them. However, one thing that should change is how each new set handles pack points, specifically smaller sets like Triumphant Light and Mythical Island.
Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Pack Points Need One of Two Changes
Theway pack points work inPokemon TCG Pocketis fairly simple, as players get five pack points per booster pack they open, which doesn’t apply to event-exclusive packs like the recent Genetic Apex boosters with guaranteed rare cards. With how big Genetic Apex is, pack points can easily feel fair in terms of how many are gained and how much cards cost, but this same approach is applied to all sets regardless of their size. A single Ex card is 500 pack points, meaning 100 booster packs, and that can be extremely expensive in small sets that one can hypothetically get the most from in 100 packs or less.
Considering that pack points are not transferable, it’s very likely that players will find themselves with leftovers every time they use them, but those points are tied to the set that generated them. There are two main ways the game can tackle this issue:
The first option would be a good way to have the game adapt with each set, giving players a chance to get the cards they want for a fair number of pack points. This would be amazing for deckbuilding, as purchasing cards with pack points is often used to complete a given deck. The second option would be equally amazing, even if pack points can’t be spent for a couple of weeks when a new set launches, much like the currentPokemon TCG Pockettrading systemis restricted for new cards.
Why Pack Points Need to Change in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Mythical Island and Triumphant Light are fantastic sets, but they created this progression barrier with set-specific pack points when the overall collection is under 100 cards, including secret rares. This can be quite frustrating, as saving up for mechanically necessary cards in a deck can be very taxing if not outright impossible in some instances due to Ex card prices. Cosmetic effects like Crowned rares or Immersive rares are arguably fine at higher prices, but at the very least,Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Ex cardsshould be more accessible.
