Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Starters Are Not All Born Equal

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The Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) Pocket provides players an innovative and thrilling method to amass Pokemon cards. It showcases holographic effects that react to your touch, along with captivating artwork on full cards, maximizing the mobile platform for a more engaging collection experience. Unlike the traditional game version, in Pokemon TCG Pocket, you gather digital cards, offering a slight relief from the challenges posed by scalpers.

The mobile version of DeNA’s Pokemon Trading Card Game simulator has faced some criticisms from fans since its launch. One common request is to revise the Pack Points system in Pokemon TCG Pocket, and another popular suggestion is that 10-pack purchases should guarantee an EX card. The frequent release of new sets in the app each month, expanding the collection of cards for players, only heightens these concerns among fans. While the game adds new Pokemon at a rapid pace, there seems to be an imbalance in the types of Pokemon, which is evident even among the starting Pokemon.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Has Put Itself in a Tricky Situation with Starters

How Many Cards Each Starter Currently Has in Pokemon TCG Pocket

  • Generation 1: Venusaur (1 rare, 2 EX, 1 Shiny rare, 1 Shiny EX, 1 Promo), Charizard (1 rare, 4 EX, 1 Immersive, 1 Shiny EX), Blastoise (1 rare, 2 EX, 1 Shiny rare, 1 Shiny EX, 1 Promo)
  • Generation 2: None
  • Generation 3: None
  • Generation 4: Torterra (1 rare), Infernape (3 EX), Empoleon (1 rare)
  • Generation 5: Serperior (2 rare, one being a full-art)
  • Generation 6: Greninja (1 rare, 1 Shiny rare, 1 Promo)
  • Generation 7: Decidueye (1 rare, 3 EX), Incineroar (1 Uncommon, 3 EX), Primarina (1 rare, 3 EX)
  • Generation 8: None
  • Generation 9: Meowscarada (2 rare, one being a full-art)

When selecting themes for new Pokémon card packs, many factors are taken into account, including brand synergy and marketing. This could potentially lead to the inclusion of Chikorita, Totodile, and Tepig line-ups in the Pokemon TCG Pocket around the time of Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s release. The third generation may gain prominence in the future, especially since Pokemon Sleep is focusing on those starters starting later in July. As for Generation 8, it seems they might be waiting for a better moment, perhaps when Cinderace isn’t as prominent after its recent appearances in Pokemon GO, its Pokémon TCG cards, and its Unite skin. Despite DeNA’s efforts to maintain balance with the Kanto starters, an issue arose once the Alola starters were introduced.

Each pocket monster has its devoted followers, and they will undoubtedly recognize if their preferred one is not given fair treatment.

The Double-Edged Sword With Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Starter Representation

Instead of evenly distributing the Kanto starter Pokémon across sets, the Celestial Guardians and Extradimensional Crisis collections demonstrated an issue with spreading starters over multiple releases. For instance, Primarina, a Pokémon that is frequently underappreciated due to its more feminine evolutionary chain, was only made available as a rare card, while the other Alolan starters received three EX cards and one rare (in Decidueye’s case).

In Eevee Grove, Primarina has three EX variations, yet fans anticipated seeing it in Extradimensional Crisis. However, Incineroar followed closely behind as a rare find. This situation was further aggravated because Empoleon and Torterra received the same treatment, with fans hoping they would be included later on.

It’s clear from Primarina’s case that some Pokemon should not be restricted to region-specific releases. Each pocket monster has a dedicated fanbase, so they’ll surely notice when their favorite is treated unfairly by not being included in the initial release. This might have negatively impacted DeNA, as the criticism surrounding Primarina could suggest, and popular Pokemon like Torterra and Empoleon have been held back for four expansions now.

Eventually, since Pokemon TCG Pocket continues to introduce new expansions monthly, it’s just a question of when every Pokemon will get its fair share. Here’s hoping that the current delay is only temporary and fan-favorites such as the starter creatures will eventually have their moment in the spotlight throughout the game’s lifespan.

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2025-07-04 14:44