Mastering Card Exchange in Pokémon TCG Pocket

10/30/2025
Discover the essential guide to card trading in Pokémon TCG Pocket, offering a complete overview of the trading mechanics, rules, and how to maximize your collection through strategic exchanges.

Unlock Your Collection's Full Potential: A Trader's Handbook for Pokémon TCG Pocket

Navigating the Card Exchange System in Pokémon TCG Pocket

Engaging in card exchanges in Pokémon TCG Pocket enables players to swap their cards with fellow enthusiasts, although certain conditions apply. These transactions incur costs, specifically requiring Shinedust and Trade Stamina. This system facilitates acquiring missing cards or accumulating desired duplicates. The trading environment is governed by specific regulations, preventing unfair trades, such as exchanging highly valuable full-art cards for common ones, or transferring entire collections at once. For those new to the trading scene, the initial volume of information—covering Shinedust generation, trading protocols, and more—can be daunting. This guide aims to simplify these complex processes into an easily digestible format, outlining the operational framework and regulations of card trading in Pokémon TCG Pocket. A recent update on October 30 introduced a wishlist feature and modified the trade currency.

The Process of Initiating a Card Exchange in Pokémon TCG Pocket

Before initiating any card exchange, it is imperative to ensure that your Pokémon TCG Pocket application is updated to its most recent version. This can be confirmed by visiting the Pokémon TCG Pocket store page on your device's respective app store, either the App Store for iOS or Google Play Store for Android, and performing any necessary updates. To begin a trade, navigate to the "Social Hub" section and activate the "Trade" option. This will lead you to the trade interface, where your current Shinedust and Trade Stamina reserves are displayed at the top. From this menu, you can either propose a new trade or respond to an existing offer, provided you adhere to the established trading guidelines.

Understanding Trading Regulations and Limitations in Pokémon TCG Pocket

Trading within Pokémon TCG Pocket is subject to five primary official guidelines. Firstly, each trade necessitates one Trade Stamina point, which replenishes every 24 hours, though this regeneration period can be shortened using Poké gold and Trade Hourglasses. Secondly, cards exchanged must possess identical rarity levels. Thirdly, any card featuring a 'flair' must be traded for another card that also includes a flair. Fourthly, certain card types, including promo cards, three-star cards, and crown cards, are not eligible for trading. Additionally, some high-rarity cards and cards from specific expansions are also excluded. A comprehensive list of tradable cards is accessible within the app under the "Detailed trade list," found by clicking the '?' icon next to your Trade Stamina display. Lastly, exchanging rare cards (those with three diamonds or higher) demands Shinedust, obtainable through unpacking duplicate cards, completing missions, or converting old Trade Tokens via the shop. The amount of Shinedust required varies by card rarity, ranging from zero for one or two-diamond cards to 30,000 for two shiny stars. Beyond these official rules, players should note that only one trade can be active at a time, whether initiated by you or received as an offer, until its completion. Incoming trade offers can be disabled via the "Settings" menu in the trade interface. Furthermore, cards can be traded regardless of how many copies you own, even if it's your sole copy. Adhering to these principles will facilitate seamless trading experiences.

Executing a Trade Initiative in Pokémon TCG Pocket

To commence a card exchange, follow these steps: First, select the "Trade" button and choose the friend with whom you wish to trade. Next, pick a card from your collection to offer. After sending your offer, await your friend's decision. Periodically refresh your trade menu to look for a "Trade response received" notification. Upon receiving a response, re-enter the "Trade" menu to review your friend's counter-offer, then decide whether to accept or decline it. If you accept, you will receive your new card as the trade concludes. Should you decline, you may restart the trading process.

Responding to a Trade Proposition in Pokémon TCG Pocket

To reply to a trade proposition, proceed as follows: Access your trade interface to view any pending offers from friends. Examine the card presented by your friend and determine if it meets your expectations, opting to either proceed or decline the offer. If the proposed card is desirable, select one of your own cards of equivalent rarity to complete the exchange and advance to the subsequent stage. Otherwise, reject the offer and await future opportunities. Await your friend's confirmation of the trade. Refresh your trade menu for a "Trade agreement reached" alert. Finally, access the "Trade" section to finalize the transaction and acquire your new card.

Managing Obsolete Trade Tokens in Pokémon TCG Pocket

With Trade Tokens no longer in use, many players may find themselves with an accumulation of now-defunct currency. Fortunately, these tokens can still be utilized. Navigate to the shop menu, then select the “Limited Time/Events” section, and proceed to the “Other” tab to access the exchange interface. Here, your Trade Tokens can be converted into various items, including Pack Hourglasses and Shinedust. For example, one Trade Token can be exchanged for one Pack Hourglass (up to 60 exchanges), or for 10 Shinedust (unlimited exchanges). Larger quantities of Shinedust are also available, with 10 Trade Tokens yielding 100 Shinedust, and 100 Trade Tokens converting to 1,000 Shinedust, both without exchange limits. This exchange opportunity will remain active until July 29, 2026, providing ample time to convert your tokens, though it is advisable to do so promptly to avoid forgetting.