Pokémon TCG Pocket has received a substantial update, introducing the Space-Time Smackdown expansion, a significant leap from the previous Mythical Island addition. While Mythical Island offered a modest 80+ new cards, Space-Time Smackdown boasts nearly 200, featuring 40 full-art cards encompassing standard illustrations, Trainer cards, coveted Rainbow Rares, and the highly sought-after Immersive cards. The expansion centers around the Sinnoh region and prominently features legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia. This update also marks the retirement of the Genetic Apex set from the home screen, though its cards remain accessible through the newly implemented TCG Pocket Trading feature, allowing players to exchange cards from any set with friends. Alternatively, players can still acquire Genetic Apex packs by selecting the “Select other booster packs” option within the Space-Time Smackdown pack purchase screen.
Space-Time Smackdown cards are distributed across two distinct booster packs: Dialga and Palkia. The Dialga booster pack contains 54 exclusive cards, including 12 full-art cards, four Rainbow Rares, and one Immersive Dialga EX card. Key cards in this pack include evolutions like Tangela, Tangrowth, Yanma, Yanmega EX, Combee, Vespiquen, as well as popular Pokémon such as Leafeon, Shaymin, Swinub’s evolutionary line, Electabuzz, Electivire, Shinx’s evolutionary line, and Pachirisu EX. Trainers and items like Pokémon Communication and Giant Cape are also featured. The pack also boasts other notable Pokémon including Ralts’ evolution line, Duskull’s evolution line, Drifloon, Drifblim, Gligar, Gliscor, Hitmontop, Cranidos, Rampardos, Wormadam, Riolu, Lucario, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Croagunk, Toxicroak, Darkrai, Darkrai EX, Registeel, Bronzor, Bronzong, Heatran, Bidoof, Bibarel, Buneary, Lopunny, and Skull Fossil. Additionally, Trainer cards featuring Volkner, Dawn, and Team Galactic Grunt are included.
The Palkia booster pack offers a similarly impressive selection with 58 exclusive cards, including its own set of 12 full-art cards, four Rainbow Rares, and an Immersive Palkia EX card. This pack focuses on Pokémon such as Turtwig’s evolutionary line, Kricketot, Kricketune, Carnivine, Mow Rotom, Magmar, Magmortar, Chimchar’s evolutionary line, Regice, Piplup’s evolutionary line, Shellos, Gastrodon, Glaceon, Rotom, Misdreavus, Mismagius EX, Giratina, Cresselia, Rhyhorn’s evolutionary line, Regirock, Hippopotas, Hippowdon, Sneasel, Weavile EX, Spiritomb, Shieldon, Bastiodon, Wormadam, Probopass, Gible’s evolutionary line, Lickitung, Lickilicky EX, Porygon’s evolutionary line, Starly’s evolutionary line, Glameow, Purugly, and Chatot. This pack also features the Armor Fossil, Rocky Helmet, and Lum Berry, alongside Trainer cards featuring Cyrus, Cynthia, and Mars.
Beyond the pack-exclusive cards, a further 41 cards can be found in either the Dialga or Palkia booster packs. These cards offer another layer of collectibility, with some featuring full-art variants exclusive to specific packs. This shared pool includes Pokémon like Oddish, Gloom, Bellossom, Burmy, Wormadam, Slugma, Magcargo, Heat Rotom, Buizel, Floatzel, Finneon, Lumineon, Snover, Abomasnow, Wash Rotom, Frost Rotom, Manaphy, Magnemite’s evolutionary line, Voltorb, Electrode, Togepi’s evolutionary line, the Lake Trio (Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf), Nosepass, Poochyena, Mightyena, Skorupi, Drapion, Skarmory, Eevee, Regigigas, Aipom, Ambipom, Roselia, Roserade, and Fan Rotom. Note that the full-art Manaphy is exclusive to the Palkia pack, while the full-art Mesprit and Regigigas are exclusive to the Dialga pack.
The introduction of Space-Time Smackdown marks a significant expansion of the TCG Pocket game, offering a wealth of new cards to collect, trade, and utilize in battles. The division of cards between the Dialga and Palkia booster packs, along with the inclusion of pack-exclusive full-art variants and Rainbow Rares, adds a strategic element to collecting. Players will need to carefully consider which packs to purchase to obtain their desired cards, and the trading feature encourages interaction within the player community.
This latest update reinvigorates TCG Pocket with a significant influx of content, building upon the foundation laid by previous expansions like Mythical Island and Genetic Apex. The focus on the Sinnoh region and its legendary Pokémon, Dialga and Palkia, provides a thematic core for the expansion. The diverse array of cards, ranging from common Pokémon to powerful EX cards and sought-after full-art variants, caters to collectors and competitive players alike. The continued support and updates for TCG Pocket demonstrate its enduring popularity and solidifies its position as a prominent mobile Pokémon trading card game experience.
