‘Pokémon TCG Pocket’: five things to know before you start playing

1 November, 2024

Pokémon TCG Pocket launched earlier this week (October 30) and is fast becoming a breakout gaming phenomenon.

The free-to-play mobile title takes the best bits of the real-world Pokémon Trading Card Game and does away with boring things like over-complicated rules and bank-busting prices. In Pocket, you can collect Pokémon, flex about your faves and take part in fast-paced battles, making it the colourful love child of Pokémon Go and Marvel Snap. And based on the early social media  buzz, we’re not the only ones already addicted. For those of you who haven’t downloaded it yet, here’s what you need to know before diving in…

You’ve gotta collect ‘em all

Pocket is all about opening up packs of virtual Pokémon cards – it really is as simple as that. Each one features a combat-ready ‘mon looking to defend your honour in a showdown – but with a variety of classic and new illustrations as well as fancy 3D variants, this game is designed for collectors. Dragging your finger across the screen to slice open your chosen booster before your five cards are dramatically revealed provides a familiar rush for anyone who’s ever dabbled in Pokémon cards before. Some shinies also have immersive animations, with Pocket making full use of its digital playground.

There are three types of digital pack to choose from (fronted by Mewtwo, Charizard and everyone’s favourite electric mouse Pikachu) with different cards found in each. There’s a range of rarities to uncover from “basic” one-diamond Pokémon like Ratata and Squirtle to two-star “ex” variants of some of the strongest beasts around.

Currently, the game offers one set of Genetic Apex cards, featuring 226 base cards and a number of secrets to uncover – including a way to unlock Mew (no, seriously). It’s safe to assume that in the future, different sets with equally impressive names will be added to Pocket. The game also allows you to display your favourites in a binder for the whole community to see. You might even get a free token or two to spend in the shop. Just like the mainline Pokémon games, your goal is to catch ‘em all… even if it’ll take a while.

Battles are short but sweet

As well as collecting them, Pocket players can also force their little monsters to battle. While the Pokémon Trading Card Game and its massive decks can feel intimidating, Pocket is designed to gently introduce you to the rules with a more urgent, compact reimagining. The turn-based combat involves drawing cards from your deck, powering them up with energy and sending them into the fray to attack. Some have special abilities, others have a type advantage. Water drowns out fire, but is weak to electric while psychic should really try and avoid dark. The first player to three wins is victorious, meaning the matches never drag.

A swift tutorial will establish the basics and a number of computer-generated opponents will soon have you thinking about strategy. You can build your own deck of 20 cards from scratch, take themed suggestions from the game or use one of several rental decks until you find a system that works. There’s also the option to fight strangers and friends online. It’s not quite as intense as the skirmishes found in Call Of Duty or Fortnite but you’ll still punch the air with joy when a risky move pays off.

Pokémon TCG Pocket
Charizard battles Mewtwo in ‘Pokémon TCG Pocket’. CREDIT: The Pokémon Company

You don’t have to pay to have a good time

Parents of ‘90s kids will know just how much an interest in Pokémon cards can cost but Pocket gives them away for free. Every 12 hours, you can open a new pack while completing simple missions (open three boosters, collect eight fire types) will give you the time-saving Pack Hourglass currency which cuts down the wait, one hour at a time. Who said patience was a virtue?

Similarly, the free-to-earn Shop Tokens can be used to buy helpful Item cards (you’ll definitely need some of these in battle) while opening boosters will give you Exchange Points which can be used to cherry pick your next champion. There is a paid Battle Pass which doubles the amount of packets you can rip open each day and provides additional missions but it’s not a necessary purchase. It’s the same story for in-game currency Poké Gold (79p a go) which can only be used to buy cosmetic items at the moment. There’s no pay-to-win here.

It’s big on nostalgia

Did you know there are currently 1025 different Pokémon kicking around in the various games? That number gets even more eye-watering when you add in things like Gigantamax variants, but Pocket keeps things nice and familiar. A bulk of the ‘mon found in the game come from the original 151 introduced in the original 1998 Game Boy games Red and Blue, while choice monsters from across the series help give the game a bit of balance.

Classic artwork from the original run of cards adds to the nostalgia and, just like old times, Charizard and Chansey are formidable beasts. It’s not just a rehash of what’s come before though. The leek-carrying Farfetch’d is one of the most reliable soldiers this time around and the immersive graphics on special cards do things their real-world counterparts could only dream of.

You’ll keep coming back for more

Pokémon TCG Pocket is quick to pick up but there are plenty of tips and tricks to master, which keeps things fun. With a new pack to open every 12 hours and daily missions to complete, the game rewards return visits which is perhaps why it feels so addictive. You can spend an evening making your quirky champions fight, or simply check in once a day to hopefully add some new creatures to your collection.

There’s also the Wonder Pick feature which allows you to grab a random card from a pack that’s been recently opened elsewhere in the world, but only if you’ve got enough stamina. Your options are constantly updating too, so do you take a punt on a semi-rare or wait for a rumoured God Pack to turn up? Either way, you’ll be checking in regularly.

The Pokémon Company has already promised trading in the coming months, so it might be worth drawing up a wish list of dream cards now. Beyond that, it’s safe to assume new Pokémon and themed seasonal sets will be added to keep collectors happy (variants of Meowth and Chansey were recently added as part of a limited-time event), while the simple battle system provides the perfect foundation for future challenges. As one fan said when Pokémon TCG Pocket first launched, “this is my life now”.

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