When is Trading coming to Pokémon TCG Pocket Trading? Release Date Explained

Trading has been part of the Pokémon fabric and DNA since day one. It’s no surprise Trading is a huge topic of discussion in Pocket, and I’ve gathered the latest news and announcements to tell you everything we know about Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Trading mechanic.

Once you’ve opened many Pokémon TCG Pocket packs and reeled off Wonder Picks, your collection should look very full; but you’re also bound to have tons of duplicates. Getting extras of the same card is crucial when it comes to Flair in Pokémon TCG Pocket, but it can become an annoyance too. There are so many Pokémon I love when I first pull but become irritated by when I see them for the 10th time—or twice in one pack!

You can swap duplicates in real life—one area where the physical edition of the Pokémon TCG differs from the virtual format. We know Trading is in Pokémon TCG Pocket, but questions are being asked about it daily, and I’ll answer them now.

Can you Trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket?

You cannot Trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket at present as the feature is currently locked behind a notice saying “Coming soon.” I think this part of the equation is quite self-explanatory. You can’t Trade, but The Pokémon Company has addressed the future of the mechanic.

When is Trading Coming to Pokémon TCG Pocket?

As announced by the Pokémon TCG Pocket X social media page, “January 2025” is the official start period for Trading.

The post has been translated, and says, “We are aiming to add a feature that allows certain cards to be Traded started in January 2025. We are gradually planning to expand the selection of cards that are able to be Traded.”

So, not all cards can be Traded on day one. Using my best judgment, I’d say all cards ranging between one and three diamonds are going to be eligible to Trade. It does mean EX cards and other mega-rare pulls—such as Full Arts—need to wait a bit longer.

Unfortunately, like many players, I find myself in the situation where I have completed most of the main Genetic Apex set, and I’m mainly missing the odd EX card, as well as Full Arts. The Pokémon Company likely doesn’t want so many people having every card already, and it encourages players to spend more money and open more packs in a bid to pull the rarest cards.

Also, don’t be surprised if Gold Crown cards are never made Tradeable in Pokémon TCG Pocket. We’ll update this as we learn more about the card criteria for Trading.

How to Trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket

The actual Trading process hasn’t been outlined yet, but we wager a similar system to Pokémon GO is likely to be employed: Direct, one-to-one Trading between connected players, and you need to have a certain amount of currency to do so.

Pokémon GO requires Stardust to Trade—with certain cards made untradable altogether—and I expect you probably need a certain amount of Shinedust to Trade in Pokémon Pocket. The amount likely depends on the rarity of the creature, and Trading may be limited to a certain amount per day. This is all conjecture for now, but I can’t imagine the system will drastically deviate from this theory.

Are you looking forward to Trading in Pokémon TCG Pocket? Do you think it will be heavily restricted when it finally drops? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check out the best Electric Deck in Pocket, along with a guide on how to get Mew.