Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. How tos

How to trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket

Add as a preferred source on Google
Trade cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket.
The Pokemon Company

The ability to trade cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket is finally here, but there are many caveats to know about before you jump into it. With the update that brought you the Space-Time Smackdown card set also comes the ability to trade cards with your friends.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • A friend

Although trading may seem simple at first, there are a lot of rules to it that make it a lot more complicated than it needs to be. So if your friend has a super rare card that you want and you're ready to make an offer, here's how to trade cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket.

Trading rules in Pokémon TCG Pocket

Before we get into the exact details on making a trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket, you must know about the general rules. There are a few of them that may hinder your ability to trade, so it's important to know about them before you strike a deal.

  • You can only trade cards of the same rarity.
  • Making a trade requires one Stamina use. You gain one Stamina every 24 hours, or you can purchase them with Trade Hourglasses or Poké Gold.
  • If you want to trade rare cards (anything three diamonds or higher) you'll need Trade Tokens. You can get Trade Tokens from rare card duplicates.
  • Trades must be completed one card at a time.
  • If you're trading a card with a flair, the other person must also trade a card with flair.
  • The only cards you cannot trade are one two star or higher in rarity.
Starting a trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket.
The Pokemon Company

How to start a trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket

If you're the player initiating the trading process, this is how you can start the trade.

Step 1: Head to the Social Hub and select the Trade button. Make sure you have enough Stamina to trade, and press the next Trade button.

Step 2: Choose which of your friends you'd like to trade with. Then select which of your cards you'd like to offer up.

Step 3: Now you must wait for your friend to respond to the trade. Wait until you get the "Trade response received" message to continue.

Step 4: Check out your friend's trader offer and when you're ready, choose to either accept or deny the offer.

Responding to a trade in Pokémon TCG Pocket.
The Pokemon Company

How to respond to a trade

If you're the player responding to your friend's trade, this is how you complete it.

Step 1: Go to the Trade menu and wait until you get the trade offer notification.

Step 2: See if the trade offer is to your liking and decide to either continue the trade or reject it.

Step 3: Pick the card from your collection you'd like to trade.

Step 4: Wait for your friend to approve or reject the trade. If if is approved, you'll see a message on the Trade menu telling you the Trade was successful. If successful, select the Trade button to accept the new card.

Anyka Pettigrew
Anyka is a new writer for Digital Trends covering gaming across a spectrum of genres. While she adores anything from the…
Your GTA 6 ‘physical copy’ could expire before you even play it
Rockstar has confirmed that Japanese PS5 download codes won't remain valid forever.
Poster for GTA 6 game.

The debate around GTA 6's "physical" edition just got another twist. Rockstar has confirmed on its official website that PS5 download codes included with physical copies of Grand Theft Auto VI sold in Japan will expire 170 days after the game's November 19, 2026 launch date. That means players who don't redeem the code before roughly May 8, 2027 could be left with nothing more than an empty game box, even though they purchased a physical copy. The company says the policy is required due to regional regulations in Japan.

Why only Japan?

Read more
God of War Laufey finally has a release date, and there’s some good news for Kratos fans too
Santa Monica Studio confirmed the game will launch February 16, 2027, and revealed a new mainline Kratos title is already in development.
God of War: Laufey

Sony gave fans their first look at God of War Laufey during June's PlayStation State of Play, but the company did not share a release date at the time. Speculation about the launch window followed almost immediately, with industry insider NateTheHate pointing to a release in the first half of 2027. Santa Monica Studio has finally ended the guessing game, confirming that the title will launch on February 16, 2027.

Physical copies are locked in

Read more
Lenovo’s $99 280Hz gaming monitor is built for the ramen-budget crowd
Lenovo is selling a 280Hz monitor for less than GTA 6 Ultimate Edition
Lenovo gaming monitor render

Fresh off launching a metallic Hall-effect keyboard and a 59g gaming mouse for flashy esports setups, Lenovo has turned its attention to gamers working with much tighter budgets. The Legion 24-1r looks made for broke college students who spent way too much on their first gaming rig and now have instant noodles doing most of the heavy lifting at dinner. It costs just 669 yuan, equivalent to around $99, yet offers a 23.8-inch IPS panel running at up to 280Hz.

Lenovo is also offering the 27-inch Legion 27-1r with the same core specifications for 789 yuan, or roughly $116. For the ramen-budget crowd chasing competitive frame rates, both look like seriously tempting deals. (via NotebookCheck)

Read more