Pokemon TCG Pocket has become a massive hit on mobile devices since its release in late October. Racking up over 30 million downloads in just over a month, Pokemon TCG Pocket has already brought in a whopping $120 million and continues to be incredibly popular today. The Pokemon Company has even managed to ride its success to a nomination for Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards 2024.
Despite its incredible success, it hasn't all been perfect in the world of Pokemon TCG Pocket. As one would expect from a new adaptation of a long-standing game, this mobile release takes some liberties from the rules of the pre-established card games and changes the overall formula. One such change is rubbing players the wrong way and may open up a slippery slope for the future of this title.
Dissecting Pokemon TCG Pocket's Controversial Deck Limit
Pokemon TCG Pocket Features A Strict Deck Limit
Users on social media have been discussing one of Pokemon TCG Pocket’s biggest limitations: the number of decks a player can build. Players can only build up to 15 possible decks at a time, with no leeway to increase the overall number. If gamers want to create new decks, they must delete one of their pre-existing decks to experiment with an entirely new one.
Interestingly, this is not the only limit players are beholden to in Pokemon TCG Pocket, as they are also held back on the number of cards they can have in the deck. Unlike the conventional Pokemon Trading Card Game, which allows players to have decks containing as many as 60 cards, Pokemon TCG Pocket only allows players to have 20 cards in one deck. This is done largely to ensure more casual games that can be done quickly, with simple deckbuilding strategies thrown in for good measure.
Pokemon TCG's Deck Limit Limits Creativity (And Balance)
Fans have expressed frustration at the game's deck limit, considering it “pointless" and bemoaning the way it limits the overall gameplay. Fewer potential decks to work with means players will quickly run out of space, especially given the smaller deck sizes. There are currently 250 cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket, and while that theoretically means that a player with all 250 unique cards can use each of them in at least one deck, DeNA’s commitment to adding more cards to the game means that players will quickly run out of space when building their decks.
Furthermore, players may have to use the same card across multiple decks, which means that even if a player had access to every unique card in Pokemon TCG Pocket, they may only be able to use some of them when building decks. Players can construct decks fairly quickly in Pokemon TCG Pocket, meaning the 15-deck limit probably won’t take long to reach. What’s worse, the deck limit can throw the game's balance off, as players may be forced to delete their best decks to build weaker decks if they want to play with friends who are just getting into the game.
Fans have expressed frustration at the game's deck limit, considering it “pointless" and bemoaning the way it limits the overall gameplay.
DeNA May Use Pokemon TCG Pocket's Deck Limit To Monetize
The most concerning part of this deck limitation is what it could mean for Pokemon TCG Pocket’s future monetization practices. Speculation has mounted that, as more cards are added to the game, DeNA may use this current deck limit as a basis to lock extra deck space behind a paywall. This would force users to pay even more for an option that should be available to all players, which could alienate gamers and turn them away from playing the game.
It’s unclear what DeNA’s rationale is for imposing these kinds of deck limitations in Pokemon TCG Pocket. As the game receives more content, a 15-deck limit feels like an albatross around the neck that will only complicate things for players of all skill levels. Here’s hoping DeNA can do right by its players to remove these deck limits, and hopefully not lock such a removal behind monetization methods.
- Released
- October 30, 2024
- Developer(s)
- DeNA, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket lets you easily collect Pokémon cards. Creatures Inc. Has created exciting new visual effects for cards that are only possible digitally.
Pokémon cards, played with by people in 89 countries, are now closer to you than ever!
Enjoy Pokémon cards anytime, anywhere, on your mobile device!
■ You can open packs every day to get cards!
Collect cards every day! You can open two booster packs every day at no cost to collect Pokémon cards featuring heartwarming illustrations from the past as well as all-new cards exclusive to this game.
■ New Pokémon cards!
Immersive cards, a brand-new kind of card, make their debut here! With new illustrations that have a 3D feel, immersive cards will make you feel like you’ve leapt into the world of the card’s illustration!
■ Trade cards with friends!
You can trade certain cards with friends. Use the trade feature to collect even more cards!
■ Show off your collection!
You can use binders or display boards to showcase your cards and share them with the world!
■ Casual battles—alone or with friends!
You can enjoy casual battles during quick breaks in your day! Ranked matches are now available for players who'd like to battle even more.
