What is Pokémon TCG Pocket? How to play, best cards and new events

Pokémon TCG Pocket is a brand-new way to play the critter-battling card game on mobile. 

Even if you don’t know your Alakazams from your Zubats, the game’s guided tutorials and beginner’s matches make it accessible for newcomers.

Before you can say Pikachu, you’ll be amassing cards and defeating other players like a seasoned pro. 

Here's what to know about the new Pokémon game that fans are raving about.

What is Pokémon TCG Pocket?

Available on iPhone and Android, Pokémon TCG Pocket offers a streamlined, digital version of the renowned Pokémon Trading Card Game. This has established a loyal fan base since its 1996 debut.

Don't forget to complete the missions to gain more rewards (The Pokémon Company)

Matches are faster than in the physical incarnation, with players earning points by knocking out opponents' Pokémon rather than drawing prize cards. 

As it’s a free-to-play game, you don’t have to pay to download it. Of course, the downside is it’s crammed full of micro-transactions, Gacha mechanics (a game feature where players spend in-game currency) that involve random rewards, and a premium subscription — all of which can be initially confusing.

But, don’t let that put you off: You can play the full game without spending a penny. And, to get you hooked, the game doles out many free packs immediately.

How do you play it? 

You can open a pack of cards every 12 hours (The Pokémon Company)

To get you started, here’s a quick tour of the game’s main features:

Design

The best things about Pokémon TCGP are its slick design and dazzling visuals. Slicing open packs with a swipe feels so satisfying you’ll want to do it repeatedly. The cards include special immersive versions that let you dive into the artwork. 

You can also tap on individual cards to swivel them around, with hologram-style visuals that make the Pokémon seem like they’re jumping out of their gilded cages. It’s all about showing off your shinies to your mates.

Browse all the cards you've collected in the Decks tab (The Pokémon Company)

Regarding its user interface (UI), the game has five main tabs at the bottom of the screen. You can access packs, view your card collection, add friends, and battle other players or the computer. Some features are locked initially, but you can unlock them quickly by playing the game and completing challenges.

How to get free cards

At launch, the game features three booster pack types as part of the Genetic Apex set, each with its exclusive cards. These packs are themed around well-known Pokémon including Mewtwo, Pikachu and Charizard. 

Like in real life, you have no clue what you will get. But, at least you can peep at the full lineup for each pack. Needless to say, the chances of grabbing more powerful Ex cards are as low as 0.0025 per cent in some cases (a 1 in 40 chance), while shiny or immersive cards are even rarer.

You'll start the game with a ton of free packs to open (The Pokémon Company)

Ultimately, you’ll end up with five cards no matter which pack you choose. You can open two booster packs a day, allowing you to gradually collect cards without spending money. However, you can earn or buy Pack Hourglasses to speed up this process. The same goes for Poke Gold, another type of in-game currency that can be purchased using real money.

Booster packs aren’t the only way to get free cards in the game. By opening your daily allotment of packs, you’ll net Pack Points that can be exchanged for specific types of cards. Build up enough and you could even get a Pokémon Ex card. 

The daily Wonder Pick feature lets you pick a randomly selected card from another player's booster pack haul.

Spend your winnings on cards and cosmetics in the Shop (The Pokémon Company)

Matches

Once you hit level three, you’ll unlock the battle tab and can play matches against the computer, randoms, or your friends.

The goal is to reach three prize points by knocking out your opponent's Pokémon using your line-up. At the start of a match, following a coin toss to decide who goes first, you’ll be dealt five cards (from a deck of 20) from which you can choose your active Basic Pokémon and three Pokémon for your bench. 

You’ll want to go second as this will allow you to attach energy (which comes in different types and auto-generates on each turn) immediately to your Pokémon and start attacking. You can evolve Pokémon with each turn to give them more health and ferocious attacks. 

Going second in a match lets you attack straight away (The Pokémon Company)

You can defeat a Pokémon by depleting its HP, granting you those all-important prize points (1 point for basic Pokémon, 2 points for EX Pokémon).

Alongside attacking, you can also retreat and activate abilities based on how much energy you have. Oh, and don’t forget to use any Item and Trainer cards to restore health and grab more cards from the deck.

Deck building

Before heading into battle, try building some decks first via the My Cards tab. Ensure you focus on specific energy types (grass, fire, water, lightning, psychic, fighting, darkness, and metal) and include the corresponding Ex cards. 

Can’t be bothered? In solo play, you can always revert to rental decks you’ve unlocked to save you spending time experimenting with different strategies.

Rental decks are a great way to familiarise yourself with Pokémon cards and their abilities (The Pokémon Company)

What events are taking place?

Battles aside, you can earn exclusive cards, items or currencies by participating in timed events. 

Because these events typically revolve around different energy-type Pokémon, they’re a good way to hone your deck-building skills or try out different rental decks. 

Play with your friends by hosting a private match (The Pokémon Company)

These are the events you can participate in: 

Lapras Event

This event runs until Monday, November 18 with PvE battles against water-type decks.

The main goal is to snag Lapras ex, a powerful card — and other promotional cards through battle tasks and chance rewards.

Genetic Apex Emblem Event 1

This PvP event concludes on Thursday, November 28 and lets you battle without using stamina.

You can earn Shinedust, exchangeable for flairs to embellish your cards, and various emblems. The latter are achievements that can be displayed on your profile.

How to reset your account

As mentioned earlier, TCG Pocket drowns you in cards once you start the game. But, if you don’t like the cards you’ve accumulated, you can always reroll to get better ones.

You can delete your account and start afresh if you don't like your cards (The Pokémon Company)

All you have to do is restart your account by following a few simple steps. However, before you take the plunge, you should know two things. It’s best not to link an account with your email or Nintendo ID if you plan to restart multiple times until you’re satisfied with your cards. And, you’ll lose all the rewards on your current playthrough.

With that in mind, here’s how to reset your account:

What are the best cards?

Looking for the most competitive cards to build out your decks and win more battles? We’ve got you covered.

Best Pokémon cards

Best Trainer cards

Best Item cards