Summary
- Next Pokemon TCG Pocket set likely Gen 3-themed, anticipated for an April 30 release.
- Gen 7 is the least represented with only 12 unique cards, potentially a lack of focus in the upcoming expansion.
- Free-to-play gamers may struggle with the rapid release schedule, and it is difficult to collect all cards.
Although the game is very early in its lifecycle, with Pokemon TCG Pocket coming out just short of six months ago, it has already amassed multiple expansions and an overall collection counting almost 900 cards. It can be quite difficult to get started in the game right now for this specific reason, as players get two booster packs per day, and currently there are five sets, of which one has three booster variants, one has two, and the others have one each. Still, Pokemon TCG Pocket has many good decks players can build, and some are more accessible than others. Despite this massive collection, one Pokemon generation is surprisingly almost absent from the game, and this may not change with the next expansion.
According to leaks and rumors, the next release for Pokemon TCG Pocket will happen as early as April 30, releasing the third set in a row with just one month or less since the previous. This can be quite problematic for free-to-play gamers, as the release cadence is not sustainable without a good dose of luck or for some fans who started playing on launch. The upcoming set is rumored to be a big one with three booster variants and over 200 cards, and based on this, it's quite likely that it won't be all about the least-represented region from the games - Alola.
Pokemon TCG Pocket: What Would The Perfect Approach to Duplicates Look Like?
Pokemon TCG Pocket is missing a huge opportunity to give players the ability to get better benefits from duplicate cards.
Gen 7 is The Least Represented in Pokemon TCG Pocket
As of Pokemon TCG Pocket's Shining Revelry expansion, there are only 12 unique cards based on Gen 7 games, and two critters are "duplicates" in the sense that both Salandit and Salazzle cards were released for Genetic Apex and Mythical Island. Then, there are two Illustration Rares for Gen 7, with one being for Salandit and the other for Marshadow. Some other generations also lack vast representation, such as Gen 8, but Gen 7 has the lowest overall. The current Gen 7 card list includes:
- Salandit
- Salazzle
- Pyukumuku
- Bruxish
- Meltan
- Melmetal
- Morelull
- Shiinotic
- Dhelmise
- Salandit (Mythical Island)
- Salazzle (Mythical Island)
- Marshadow
Why Pokemon TCG Pocket's April 30 Set is Likely to Be Gen 3-Themed
The problem is that Pokemon TCG Pocket's April 30 set is supposedly going to be quite big, and with three booster pack variants, the most logical candidate would be a Gen 3-themed expansion with packs for Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza - all missing from the game. These three Legendary Pokemon are not only beloved by fans on their own, but Gen 3 as a whole has plenty of fan-favorite critters and characters that have yet to be featured in the mobile game. While Gen 7 does have its fanbase, it seems unlikely that it will be the target of this huge set.
Another reason why Gen 3 seems more likely is that Genetic Apex covered Kanto and Gen 1 critters, Mythical Island covered several Gen 2 Pokemon, and the combination of Space-Time Smackdown and Triumphant Light covered Gen 4 almost entirely. A big Gen 3 set seems the next logical step for Pokemon TCG Pocket after Shining Revelry, and this could also be a good time to refocus on Gen 2 representation as well to complete the first few regions and generations of the video games.
Even if Gen 3 is not the focus of the next expansion, it seems unlikely that Gen 7 gets a lot of representation in the upcoming release. It may end up surpassing Gen 8 in terms of how many Pokemon get their own cards, but there is also the chance that Alola takes the bench once again. With Pokemon TCG Pocket's Ranked mode rewards, players can amass some Hourglasses before the new set drops, but Alola fans may be in for a bitter surprise.
- Released
- October 30, 2024
- Developer(s)
- DeNA, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Digital Card Game
