"Pokémon TCG Pocket Expands with Space Time Smackdown Today"

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Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has just launched its latest major update—and its first full expansion set since release—the Space Time Smackdown expansion inspired by the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl era.

This new set is available in two themed booster packs: one featuring Dialga and the other Palkia. Altogether, it includes 207 cards, making it notably smaller than the previous Genetic Apex set, which contained 286 cards. However, this new set offers a higher rarity density—52 alternate art "Secret" cards with Star and Crown rarities compared to Genetic Apex's 60. This means a larger percentage of rare collectibles per pack.

Every Alternate Art 'Secret' Card in Pokémon TCG Pocket: Space Time Smackdown

52 Images

The official card count for Space Time Smackdown stands at 155, excluding alternate art versions from the main collection number. Among these, 10 are ex Pokémon: Yanmega, Infernape, Palkia, Pachirisu, Mismagius, Gallade, Weavile, Darkrai, Dialga, and Lickilicky.

Each Pokémon type now features a new ex Pokémon, except Dragon. Interestingly, the Darkness type gains two new ex additions in this set.

One of the most exciting elements introduced in Space Time Smackdown is the debut of Pokémon Tool cards. These items can be attached to an active Pokémon to provide strategic advantages during battle. Three new tools have been added:

• Giant Cape – Adds 20 HP to the attached Pokémon.
• Rocky Helmet – Deals 20 HP damage to the opponent's Active Pokémon whenever the player’s Pokémon takes damage.
• Lum Berry – Removes any special conditions (like Poison or Paralysis) from the attached Pokémon.

Battles

With the launch of every new set, fresh Solo Battles become available—and Space Time Smackdown is no exception.

• Intermediate Tier: 8 new battles
• Advanced Tier: 9 new battles
• Expert Tier: 8 new battles

No new missions were added to the Beginner tier this time around.

These new challenges feature key Pokémon from the set such as Dialga ex and Palkia ex, along with others like Togekiss, Bastiodon, Glacion, Magmortar, Magnezone, Rampardos, and Torterra.

In multiplayer, several cards from this expansion are expected to shake up the meta. For example, Infernape ex delivers a powerful 140 damage for only two Fire Energy cards, although both are discarded after use. This makes it capable of one-hit knockouts against all but the sturdiest ex Pokémon.

Palkia ex also stands out, offering a move that deals 150 damage for four Energy cards. It also inflicts 20 damage on each Benched Pokémon, though at the cost of losing three total Energy.

Weavile ex brings flexibility with a single Energy attack that does 30 damage normally or 70 if the defending Pokémon already has damage marked on it.

Steel-type decks may benefit the most from this set, with strong additions like Dialga ex, joining existing powerhouses such as Melmetal and Bisharp.

Missions and Rewards

A wide range of new missions has been added alongside the Space Time Smackdown expansion. These follow familiar mechanics seen in past updates.

Collecting signature cards unlocks rental decks, just like before. Completing the entire set gradually rewards players with exclusive icons for Dialga and Palkia.

Museum missions return as well, including two focused on collecting all 1-Star cards, and another pair centered around Full Art 2-Star cards.

The final secret mission, titled Champion of the Sinnoh Region, requires players to collect the Full Art Cynthia card and 1-Star versions of her core team: Gastrodon, Lucario, Spiritomb, and Garchomp.

Completing missions grants various currencies such as Pack Hourglasses, Wonder Hourglasses, and Emblem Tickets for the in-game shop. Notably, Trading Tokens were not included in mission rewards this time.

To celebrate the addition of trading functionality, Creatures Inc. did distribute 500 free Trade Tokens to all players.

New visual rewards have also been added to the shop, including album covers featuring Dialga and Palkia, as well as the Lovely Hearts backdrop. Additionally, a new Poké Gold bundle has replaced the Gardevoir-themed one, focusing instead on Cynthia.

Trading

As of now, Creatures Inc. has not officially addressed concerns regarding the recent controversial trading update, despite widespread player feedback. The game and developer social channels remain focused on the Space Time Smackdown rollout.

However, a “Trade Feature Celebration Gift” was distributed upon the update's release, containing 500 Trade Tokens and 120 Trade Hourglasses. While this allows a single ex Pokémon trade, many players feel the system remains overly restrictive.

Trading any card rated at 3 Diamonds or above requires Trade Tokens:

• 3 Diamond card: 120 tokens
• 1 Star card: 400 tokens
• 4 Diamond card / ex Pokémon: 500 tokens

Players earn Trade Tokens by permanently deleting cards from their collection:

• 3 Diamond card: 25 tokens
• 1 Star card: 100 tokens
• 4 Diamond card: 125 tokens
• 2 Star card: 300 tokens
• 3 Star immersive card: 300 tokens
• Crown gold card: 1,500 tokens

Lower-rarity cards cannot be traded and do not require tokens, but they also yield no value when deleted.

This system implies that to trade a single ex Pokémon, you must delete and lose five of them first. Similarly, trading one 1-Star card requires sacrificing five more. Even selling one of the rarest Crown cards only provides enough tokens to trade three ex Pokémon.

Fans have criticized the system as “hilariously toxic,” calling it a “monumental failure.” Many argue that a safe and accessible way for players to connect and trade was sacrificed for a frustratingly resource-heavy mechanic.