The long wait is finally over — trading has been added to Pokémon TCG Pocket! But before you get too excited, you should know that this isn’t just a simple trade with a friend. Instead, it’s a complex and, honestly, kind of ridiculous process involving burning cards, cooldown periods, and a new currency. Sound confusing? Don’t worry! If you’re determined to start trading, keep reading. We’ll break down everything you need to know.
What Do You Need to Trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket?
To trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket, you need two key things:
Trade Stamina
Trade Stamina works similarly to Wonder Pick Stamina — it’s a resource that replenishes over time.
- Each player has 5 Trade Stamina at a time.
- Each trade costs 1 Trade Stamina.
- One Trade Stamina regenerates every 24 hours.
- You can speed up recovery using items or Poké Gold (just like Wonder Pick Stamina).
Trade Tokens
Unfortunately, Trade Stamina alone isn’t enough—you also need Trade Tokens to complete a trade. And earning them? Not fun.
To get Trade Tokens, you must burn extra cards from your collection. The number of tokens you receive depends on the rarity of the card:
| Card Rarity | Trade Tokens Earned |
|---|---|
| ♢♢♢ (3-star common) | 25 Trade Tokens |
| ♢♢♢♢ (4-star common) | 125 Trade Tokens |
| ★ (1-star rare) | 100 Trade Tokens |
| ★★ (2-star rare) | 300 Trade Tokens |
| ★★★ (3-star rare) | 300 Trade Tokens |
| ♕ (Ultra Rare) | 1500 Trade Tokens |
To burn or sell your cards, you can go to your card collection, select the card to burn, and select “Obtain Items.” However, keep in mind the following:
- You must own at least 3 copies of a card before you can burn it for Trade Tokens.
- Once burned, the card is lost forever.
Which Cards Can Be Traded?
Currently, not all cards can be traded in Pokémon TCG Pocket. And for the ones that can, different cards require different amounts of Trade Tokens to exchange.
| Card Rarity | Trade Tokens Required |
|---|---|
| ♢ (1-star common) | 0 Trade Tokens (free trade) |
| ♢♢ (2-star common) | 0 Trade Tokens (free trade) |
| ♢♢♢ (3-star common) | 120 Trade Tokens |
| ♢♢♢♢ (4-star common) | 500 Trade Tokens |
| ★ (1-star rare) | 400 Trade Tokens |
At this time, higher rarity cards and ultra-rare cards cannot be traded.
Where Do I Go To Trade?
The Trading Option is located in the Social Hub. If it is not available, make sure you update your app to the latest version in the App Store.
How to Trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Currently, you must be friends with the person you want to trade with. To start a trade, follow these steps:
- Open the Social Hub and select “Trade.”
- Choose a friend from your list to trade with.
- Select a card you want to offer in the trade.
Important Trade Rules:
- Both players must trade cards of the same rarity. (For example, you cannot trade a ♢ card for a ♢♢♢ card.)
- Once you select a card, the game will display the Trade Token cost required to complete the trade.
- Confirm the trade request by selecting OK.
- Your friend will receive a notification in their Social Hub that a trade has been initiated.
What Happens Next?
- Your friend reviews the offer and can either:
- Accept and offer a card of the same rarity in return.
- Reject the trade, ending the process.
- If they accept, the trade request returns to you for final approval.
- If you confirm, the trade is completed, and the cards are exchanged.
- If either player rejects at any point, the trade is cancelled.
Now, wasn’t that easy?
Happy trading, Trainer!
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Written by Jason Ganos
Nintendo super fan since birth, Jason is the creator of Amiibo News and editor-in-chief at Nintendo Wire. One of his life goals is to provide the latest Nintendo news to fellow gamers with his natural know-how.
