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Pokémon TCG Pocket: How to Trade Cards With Other Players

Trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket through Social Hub. Learn the unlock timing, card-matching rules, Shinedust costs, and fixes for unavailable trades.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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To trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket, open Social Hub > Trade, choose a friend, and propose an eligible card exchange. Trading unlocks 14 days after you start the game. The game checks card rarity and certain card features, while the current Shinedust cost appears before you finalize the trade.

How to start a trade

  1. Open the Trade screen: Tap the middle button at the bottom of the screen to open Social Hub, then select Trade.
  2. Choose a friend: Select the friend you want to trade with and tap Trade.
  3. Choose your offer: Select the card you want to trade. To choose a card with flair or a card in another language, use Edit Card to set its flair and/or language before selecting it.
  4. Check the exchange: Review the eligible cards and confirm that both sides satisfy the matching rules. The game only shows cards eligible for that specific trade.
  5. Review the cost and details: Check the Shinedust requirement shown on screen and the proposed cards before completing the trade.

Trading is a feature inside the mobile game, not a way to exchange physical Pokémon TCG cards. Pokémon Support notes that “The rules of Pokémon TCG Pocket are different from those of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.” Pokémon TCG Pocket Gameplay FAQ

Which cards can you trade?

The game’s eligibility rules determine which cards appear in the selection screen. In general, both cards in an exchange must have the same rarity. If one card has flair, both must have flair; if one has a gold frame, both must have a gold frame. A card missing from the picker may not be eligible for that trade, even if you own it.

For the up-to-date pool of eligible cards, open Social Hub > Trade > ? > Detailed trade list. Use this in-game list rather than an old online card list, since trade eligibility can change.

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What does a trade cost?

Trade Tokens were discontinued in the July 29, 2025 update, so players no longer need to consume cards to trade. That announcement said Shinedust would be required for trades involving three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star cards. Pokémon Forums: Updates to Trade Feature

Shinedust requirements vary by rarity. Check the amount displayed before confirming, and open Social Hub > Trade > ? > About trade rules for the current in-game details. The official support article also explains the Shinedust requirement: How much shinedust is needed for a trade?

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How to find cards you want

Add desired cards to your wishlist from My Cards > Card Details. The current official Gameplay FAQ says a wishlist can hold up to 40 cards; you can choose up to three to display on your profile and trade/share screens. You can also view another player’s wishlist to see what they are looking for. Pokémon TCG Pocket Gameplay FAQ

Why is a trade unavailable or a card missing?

  • Trading has not unlocked: The feature unlocks 14 days after you start the game. Your friend must also have trading unlocked.
  • You already have an active trade: You cannot trade with multiple people at once. Complete or cancel the active trade before starting another.
  • Your friend is not accepting offers: They may have disabled incoming trade offers. The setting is under Menu > Other > Settings > Trade > Suspend Trade Offers; certain friends may still be able to send offers.
  • The card is not eligible: The card may not be in the current trade pool, or the proposed cards may not match in rarity, flair, or gold-frame status. Check Detailed trade list from the Trade screen.
  • The Trade button is grayed out: Check for an active trade, whether offers are suspended, and whether both players have unlocked trading. Pokémon Support also documents temporary trade suspensions when many players are trading: The “Trade” button is grayed out and cannot be pressed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Canceling, changing, and checking trades

You cannot change the selected card during an active trade. Cancel the trade and start again to offer a different card. Canceling restores the stamina and returns cards and items used for that trade.

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If trade offers are temporarily suspended during periods of heavy activity, an exchange that expires during the suspension will not complete; spent stamina, cards, and items are restored. To review past exchanges, open Social Hub > Trade > History. The history screen shows the 30 most recent trades from the last 90 days, according to Pokémon Support.

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