Pokemon TCG Pocket fans want 10-pack pulls to guarantee a Pokemon ex card, as DeNA’s digital trading card game is known for using gacha mechanics without any form of pity system. In other words, no matter how many packs a player opens, the odds stay the same. Now, a group of Pokemon TCG Pocket fans are pushing for change, and they have some valid reasons behind their request.
Most F2P-friendly gacha games include soft or hard pity mechanics. These behind-the-scenes adjustments boost the odds of pulling rare items or guarantee them after a set number of attempts. Genshin Impact is a well-known example, offering a rare drop by the 10th pull and a super rare by the 90th. Pokemon TCG Pocket, however, does away with any such pity system.
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Fans now argue that a drop-rate adjustment to mimic a hard-pity system for Pokemon ex cards is essential. They’re calling for a change to booster packs so that every 10-pack pull, or every 10th pack, guarantees an ex. Right now, each regular pack has a relatively low chance of containing a four-diamond Pokemon ex. These cards are crucial, though, as most meta decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket rely on them. Given that, many players believe a hard-pity for four-diamond Pokemon would improve the gameplay experience without undermining the card-collecting appeal.
Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Pack Points Aren’t ‘Helpful’
Instead of using a pity system, Pokemon TCG Pocket reimburses unlucky pulls with Pack Points. Players earn a few points with each booster pack they open, which can later be used in the card-crafting menu to exchange for any card from the current expansions. On paper, this might seem like a better alternative to a hard-pity system. However, many fans argue that the exchange rates are so steep that free-to-play users rarely accumulate enough points to craft Pokemon ex cards.
To put things in perspective, a standard four-diamond Pokemon ex card costs 500 Pack Points to craft, while each booster pack only grants 5 points. That means players need to open at least 100 packs to craft a single ex card. It gets even more restrictive as Pack Points are tied to specific expansions, so players must earn all 500 points by opening packs from the expansion that includes the card they want.
|
Card |
Drop Rate |
Crafting Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Four-diamond Pokemon ex |
~ 0.333% |
500 Pack Points |
Luckily, Pokemon TCG Pocket recently announced major updates to ranked matches and trading mechanics, giving fans a reason to be hopeful. With these changes on the horizon, there’s a chance the developers might also revisit drop rates. They might even consider adding a soft- or hard-pity system in the future, though that seems more like pie in the sky than a likely update.