Pokémon TCG Pocket Expands with Space Time Smackdown Today: Full Details

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has just rolled out its latest major update, introducing the much-anticipated Pokémon Diamond and Pearl-themed Space Time Smackdown expansion. This marks the first full set release since the game's launch, bringing a fresh wave of excitement to players worldwide.

The Space Time Smackdown set is available in two distinct booster packs themed around Dialga and Palkia, comprising a total of 207 cards. Although this set is smaller compared to the previous Genetic Apex's 286 cards, it boasts an impressive 52 alternate art, Star, and Crown rarity cards. This results in a higher percentage of rare collectibles compared to Genetic Apex's 60 such cards.

Every Alternate Art 'Secret' Card in Pokémon TCG Pocket: Space Time Smackdown

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The official card count for Space Time Smackdown stands at 155, excluding alternate arts from the total collection number. The set includes 10 ex Pokémon: Yanmega, Infernape, Palkia, Pacharisu, Mismagius, Gallade, Weavile, Darkrai, Dialga, and Lickilicky, ensuring that every Pokémon type, except for Dragon, has a new ex Pokémon, with the Darkness type receiving two.

One of the most exciting additions in Space Time Smackdown is the introduction of Pokémon Tool cards. These items, attachable to the active Pokémon, offer additional battle benefits. The new set introduces three such tools: Giant Cape, which boosts the Pokémon’s Hit Points by 20; Rocky Helmet, which inflicts 20 HP damage to the opponent's Pokémon whenever the active trainer takes damage; and Lum Berry, which removes conditions like Poison from the Pokémon.

Battles

With the release of Space Time Smackdown, Pokémon TCG Pocket introduces new Solo Battles across various difficulty tiers. Eight new battles are available in the Intermediate tier, nine in the Advanced tier, and eight in the Expert tier, with no new additions to the Beginner tier. These battles feature Pokémon from the set, such as Dialga ex and Palkia ex, as well as Togekiss, Bastiodon, Glaceon, Magmortar, Magnezone, Rampardos, Torterra, and more.

In the multiplayer arena, the potential impact of Space Time Smackdown cards on the meta is still unfolding. Standouts like Infernape ex, capable of delivering 140 damage with just two Fire Energy (though discarding both upon impact), and Palkia ex, which mirrors Mewtwo ex's 150 damage for four Energy while also dealing 20 damage to each benched Pokémon (at the cost of three Energy), promise to shake up the game. Weavile ex's one Energy attack, dealing 30 damage or 70 if the defending Pokémon is damaged, adds another layer of strategy. Steel type decks are set to receive a significant boost with the inclusion of Dialga ex and other supportive cards.

Missions and Rewards

Accompanying Space Time Smackdown, Pokémon TCG Pocket introduces a variety of new missions. These missions follow a familiar structure, with collecting signature cards unlocking rental decks, and completing the entire set unlocking Dialga and Palkia icons. Museum missions make a return, offering challenges to collect 1 Star cards and full art 2 Star cards. The ultimate secret mission, "Champion of the Sinnoh Region," rewards players for collecting the full art Cynthia card alongside 1 Star cards of her key Pokémon: Gastrodon, Lucario, Spiritomb, and Garchomp.

Rewards from these missions include Pack Hourglasses, Wonder Hourglasses, and Emblem Tickets for the shop, but notably exclude the controversial Trading Tokens. To celebrate trading's addition to the game, developer Creatures Inc. gifted players 500 Trading Tokens. New shop items like Dialga and Palkia album covers and the Lovely Hearts backdrop are now available, along with a new Poké Gold bundle themed around Cynthia, replacing the previous Gardevoir bundle.

Trading

Since the controversial trading update, Creatures Inc. has remained silent on social media and within the game itself, focusing primarily on Space Time Smackdown. The "Trade Feature Celebration Gift" included 500 Trade Tokens and 120 Trade Hourglasses, sufficient for trading a single ex Pokémon. However, the trading system has sparked significant backlash due to its Trade Token requirement for cards at 3 Diamonds or higher. Players must "sell" cards to earn these tokens: 25 for a 3 Diamond card, 100 for a 1 Star card, 125 for a 4 Diamond card, 300 for a 2 Star card or a 3 Star immersive card, and 1500 for a Crown gold card. Lower rarity cards are tradeable without tokens but offer no value in return.

This means players need to sell, for instance, five ex Pokémon to trade one, or five 1 Star cards to trade one. Selling a single Crown rarity card, which is exceptionally rare, only yields enough tokens for three ex Pokémon trades. Fans have criticized the system as "hilariously toxic" and a "monumental failure," arguing it hinders community connection and makes trading unnecessarily laborious.