Is Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Ranked Mode a Game-Changer or a Total Grind?

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Summary

  • Pokemon TCG Pocket rapidly evolves with fan feedback, adding free events, new cards, and ranked mode.
  • Shining Revelry expansion shook up the meta with powerful cards, changing the game’s deck strategies.
  • Ranked mode in Pokemon TCG Pocket offers rewards but faces issues like game plan disruptions and long grind.

The Pokemon TCG Pocket app debuted approximately five months ago, and since then, it has garnered a massive following and an array of collectible cards for players to amass, such as the latest Shining Revelry expansion. The game is swiftly advancing with new features or adjustments based on player feedback, like the revised trade policy for Pokemon TCG Pocket, which will be implemented later this year. This is beneficial for a mobile game that shares similarities with gacha games. To enhance this experience even more, developers have incorporated free events and cards, as well as a new ranked mode. While many players were eager for the addition of ranked play, its current form still requires refinement.

The recently launched Shining Revelry set in Pokemon TCG Pocket has significantly altered the game’s strategic landscape, introducing potent cards to counter Ex creatures, including Red and Meowscarada, as well as less conventional picks like Giratina Ex and Wugtrio Ex. This alteration has also sparked a noticeable change in the preferred decks for ranked play, given the intricate tier structure of the game mode. The combination of the tier system, seasonal rewards, the duration of ranked seasons, and other factors make the game mode both enjoyable and challenging at the same time.

Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Ranked Mode: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

In the competitive mode of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Pocket, you’ll find a ranking system consisting of different ranks and tiers. With every victory, you earn points, but in higher ranks, losing a game will cause your points to decrease. Here’s how it operates:

  • Beginner Rank (Tier 1 to 4, wins grant 10 points and losses don’t count)
  • Poke Ball Rank (Tier 1 to 4, wins grant 10 points and losses reduce them by 5)
  • Great Ball Rank (Tier 1 to 4, wins grant 10 points and losses reduce them by 5)
  • Ultra Ball Rank (Tier 1 to 4, wins grant 10 points and losses reduce them by 5)
  • Master Ball Rank (Wins grant 10 points and losses reduce them by 10)

Successive victories by players result in streak rewards, granting extra points. These bonuses are 3 points for back-to-back wins, 6 for three consecutive wins, 9 for four straight wins, and 12 points for five or more uninterrupted victories. This is on top of the 10 points earned from each win.

The Cons of Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Ranked Mode Explained

In practice, this game system works well, but as you advance to higher levels, it becomes quite tedious, especially with the way meta decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket can throw off strategies using luck-based cards such as Misty or Team Rocket Grunt. Additionally, whether a player goes first or second can significantly impact the outcome. Generally speaking, matches last around five to seven minutes for most players, so progressing through tiers and ranks can take quite some time. This is not ideal considering that each ranked season spans an entire month, which means dedicated players would need to play frequently to reach higher ranks unless they manage to stay undefeated over extended periods.

In the Pokémon TCG Pocket, it’s possible that a player could be moved back to lower ranks or tiers if they lose their ranked matches.

In ranked play, players might notice that they receive less gratitude from opponents after matches, leading to fewer Shop Tickets. Fewer Shop Tickets mean fewer Hourglasses in total. Although this doesn’t occur often, there is a greater chance of it happening because of the more competitive environment.

In addition, the prizes for placing in the Pokemon TCG Pocket tournament are varied, offering a decent amount of Hourglasses and an emblem tied to your rank at the end of a season. However, these rewards are only handed out once the season is over. Consequently, players might have to wait for as long as a month to receive tangible benefits for their effort, which isn’t very convenient.

The Pros of Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Ranked Mode Explained

Even though it’s theoretically possible to reach Master Ball rank and stay there until the season concludes, starting a fresh month with 100 Hourglasses to invest in booster packs. It might be disheartening that the top tier doesn’t grant enough Hourglasses for players to open 10 packs individually, but it’s still an ample amount. Players can earn between 10 and 25 Hourglasses in Beginner Rank, 30 to 45 in Poke Ball rank, 50 to 65 in Great Ball rank, and 75 to 90 in Ultra Ball rank. These are all valuable rewards for players, as they can significantly aid in the collection of Pokemon TCG Pocket sets, which can strengthen their decks.

As a gamer, I’d say: “In this game, it feels great when I climb up the ranks for the first time in a season and get some cool rewards! It gives me an immediate feeling of accomplishment. Plus, having more Hourglasses can be really helpful since new sets in Pokemon TCG Pocket come out pretty quickly. This lets us take our time to grow our collection before the month is over.” But remember, this isn’t set in stone yet, so we’ll just have to keep an eye on updates!

Currently, the ranked mode provides an excellent opportunity for players to push their decks to the maximum – whether they’re top-tier tournament decks or unique homemade combinations with strategic choices, like using Meowscarada to counteract the prevalent Ex decks while managing to survive one attack from Giratina Ex and being resistant to Red in the Pokemon TCG Pocket. For now, this mode is in a good position to receive more focus and improvements, aiming to refine its formula and enhance its features. This gives us reason to believe that any existing problems will be addressed in the not-too-distant future.

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2025-04-01 23:10