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Pokémon TCG Pocket Trading Release Date and How Trades Work

Trading launched in Pokémon TCG Pocket on January 29, 2025. Here are the current friend, rarity, shinedust, and eligible-card rules.
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Pokémon TCG Pocket’s trading feature launched on January 29, 2025; the mobile game itself released on October 30, 2024. Trades are between friends, cards must match rarity, and some trades cost shinedust. The eligible card pool and displayed cost can change, so check the in-game list before agreeing to a trade.

When did Pokémon TCG Pocket trading release?

The game launched for iOS and Android on October 30, 2024, according to Pokémon’s game listing. Trading became available on January 29, 2025; that exact launch day was reported by PokéBeach. Pokémon’s January 16 announcement said trading would arrive that month, rather than specifying the day.

How trades work now

Trade with a friend after unlocking the feature

Pokémon Support says trading is limited to people on your friends list and unlocks 14 days after you start the game. You can have only one active trade at a time, so finish or cancel it before starting another. The current Trading FAQ has the full rules.

Check the live eligible-card list

In the app, open Social Hub > Trade > ? > Detailed trade list. Only cards eligible for the trade appear. The list has expanded over time, so an older announcement or guide may not reflect what can be traded now. Pokémon’s October 2025 update announcement described planned additions but said details were still being developed; it should not be treated as a guarantee of today’s eligible cards.

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Match rarity and card features

Both offered cards must have the same rarity. If one has flair, the other must have flair; if one has a gold frame, the other must have a gold frame. The app’s eligible-card list and trade flow are the practical checks for a particular card.

Review shinedust before confirming

Some trades require shinedust, and the amount depends on the card’s rarity. The app displays the cost before completion, so rely on that current screen rather than a static cost quoted elsewhere.

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Choose language or flair, then complete or cancel

The sender can edit the selected card to choose its language or flair, and the trade flow also lets players select or view expansion information. A placed card cannot be changed mid-trade; cancel and begin again if you need to choose a different one. According to the FAQ, canceling restores consumed stamina, cards, and items. You can suspend incoming offers at Menu > Other > Settings > Trade > Suspend Trade Offers while continuing to send offers. The game also provides access to your 30 most recent trades from the last 90 days.

What changed since trading launched?

The launch-era rules included Trade Tokens and required players to consume cards to obtain trade currency. Pokémon announced a revision in March 2025, then scheduled it for July 29, 2025: Trade Tokens were discontinued, cards no longer had to be consumed to trade, and shinedust became required for three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star trades. The current FAQ describes shinedust costs as rarity-dependent and shown before completion, so the in-game amount is the best guide for a specific transaction. See the official July 2025 notice for the change announcement.

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Are Pocket trades physical Pokémon cards?

No. Trades exchange digital cards within Pokémon TCG Pocket. Physical cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game are not used in the Pocket trade system; Pokémon Support distinguishes the mobile game’s rules from those of the physical card game. Pokémon Support’s Trading Card Game information concerns the separate card game.

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