The physical Pokemon TCG may still be leading the charge for the card game’s presence within the franchise, but Pokemon TCG Pocket is filling the much-needed role of bringing the game to the palm of players’ hands. The mobile card collecting and battle simulator has seen a steady stream of content added in the months since its launch back in October 2024, and its upcoming Eevee Grove set is ready to shine a spotlight on the popular critter and its evolutions. While Pokemon TCG Pocket is dedicating its next set to Eevee, the physical TCG’s latest set has brought back a popular gimmick that its mobile counterpart may want to steal.
Although Pokemon TCG Pocket differs slightly from its physical counterpart in its rules and gameplay format, the games are two sides of the same coin when it comes to collecting the cards themselves. Pokemon TCG Pocket has done a great job of translating both old and new artwork from the physical card game to the digital space. Now that the physical TCG has brought back the Owner’s Pokemon gimmick in its Destined Rivals set, there has never been a better time for Pokemon TCG Pocket to put its own spin on this card format.
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Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Hardest Decks to Play May Finally Be Vindicated With Eevee Grove
Pokemon TCG Pocket is about to launch the Eevee Grove expansion, and it may have an ace up its sleeve for the hardest decks to play in the game.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Should Follow Destined Rivals’ Lead with Owner’s Pokemon
The Return of Owner’s Pokemon in Destined Rivals is a Burst of Classic Pokemon TCG Nostalgia
The “Owner’s Pokemon” style of cards debuted back in 2000’s Gym Heroes expansion of the original trading card game. These cards took iconic trainers from the franchise and allowed players to collect special cards of critters belonging to them. Cards like Brock’s Sandslash and Misty’s Seadra became icons of this set, but the gimmick has expanded over the years to include trainers from across the franchise’s nine generations of games.
Destined Rivals is the latest set to feature this nostalgic gimmick, putting an emphasis on Team Rocket and Team Rocket’s Pokemon cards. While the Team Rocket’s Pokemon are the highlight of Destined Rivals, cards like Cynthia’s Garchomp EX, Arven’s Mabosstiff EX, and Marine’s Grimmsnarl EX are also exciting new additions that showcase a nice cross-section of generational representation. However, as great as the physical versions of these cards are, Pokemon TCG Pocket could take them to the next level with a feature unique to the mobile title.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Could Make the Most of This Gimmick with Its Immersive Art Feature
Owner’s Pokemon would be the perfect addition to Pokemon TCG Pocket because they could have their own immersive art variants, showcasing a scene of the creature and its trainer together in a way the physical version of the game can’t. Immersive art cards have been one of the main selling points of Pokemon TCG Pocket, allowing players to take a look behind the curtain and see a larger, animated version of a card’s artwork that goes beyond the confines of a card’s frame. So far, Pokemon TCG Pocket’s immersive art includes cards like:
- Charizard EX – Genetic Apex
- Mewtwo EX – Genetic Apex
- Pikachu EX – Genetic Apex
- Mew – Genetic Apex
- Celebi EX – Mythical Island
- Palkia EX – Space-Time Smackdown
- Dialga EX – Space-Time Smackdown
- Arceus EX – Triumphant Light
- Giratina EX – Shining Revelry
- Guzma – Celestial Guardians
- Lillie – Celestial Guardians
- Buzzswole EX – Extradimensional Crisis
With Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s A4 set rumored to be Black and White themed, it could take the opportunity to introduce N’s Pokemon cards or even Ghetsis’ Pokemon cards. Adding Owner’s Pokemon cards to the line-up of potential immersive art cards could give them even more personality by showing the connection the featured trainer has with their partner mons in greater detail. Although it’s unclear if Destined Rivals will inspire Pokemon TCG Pocket to follow suit with Owner’s Pokemon cards, the consistent release of sets for the mobile title makes it seem like this addition will eventually become a reality.