In the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket (TCG Pocket), players encounter various types of currencies and microtransactions, including Poke Gold, Shop Tickets, Hourglasses, Shinedust, Pack Points, and more. The game features a complex web of interrelated currencies that can be utilized against one another, making it essential to understand their mechanics. Some of these currencies can be recharged or earned for free, while others cannot, and there’s an Advance Ticket, which is currently non-functional.
In this guide, we’ll explore the different currencies in Pokémon TCG Pocket, explaining their purposes and how you can acquire them. You might be surprised by the financial aspects involved in becoming a Pokémon master!
All Currencies in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Here is a comprehensive list of currencies and microtransactions in Pokémon TCG Pocket, excluding cards and packs themselves:
- Poke Gold
- Shop Tickets
- Special Shop Tickets
- Emblem Shop Tickets
- Event Shop Tickets
- Premium Shop Tickets
- Pack Points
- Shinedust
- Rewind Watches
- Pack Hourglasses
- Wonder Hourglasses
- Event Hourglasses
- Advance Tickets
Indeed, there are a lot of currencies—perhaps too many. However, while some are not currently vital, others hold substantial value. For instance, Event Hourglasses are linked to limited-time events and vanish once those events conclude, whereas Gold Bars are the most valuable, as they can be purchased with real money.
How to Obtain Gold in Pokémon TCG Pocket
You can earn Poke Gold (often referred to as Gold Bars) by leveling up or purchasing them in the Shop using real money. Generally, buying larger quantities leads to better overall discounts.
Gold serves as a consumable, allowing you to quickly recharge Pack Stamina, Wonder Stamina, and Event Stamina. It can also be used for specific special items in the Shop, including accessories.
How to Acquire Shop Tickets in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Players can earn Shop Tickets through several means. You can obtain one free ticket daily from the Shop’s Complimentary Item Set, and from other players liking your public Binders. Additionally, you receive a limited number after battles or through the Pokémon TCG Pocket Wonder Pick system, which can be claimed in your Gifts menu. Completing specific challenges and missions, such as those in Viridian Forest or limited-time events, can also reward you with Shop Tickets.
Shop Tickets are used in the Shop to purchase select items. With them, players can acquire Pack Hourglasses, Wonder Hourglasses, Special Shop Tickets, Binder Covers, and some cards like Professor’s Research.
How to Get Special Shop Tickets in Pokémon TCG Pocket
You can obtain Special Shop Tickets by either spending 300 regular Shop Tickets to buy one in the Shop, or by exchanging duplicates of rare variant cards via the Pokémon TCG Pocket flair system in your Binder.
Special Shop Tickets are used to acquire exclusive accessories for your deck. Currently, they can be used to obtain unique black and gold versions of Coins, Playmats, Card Sleeves, and more. More rare and prestigious items may emerge in the future.
How to Obtain Emblem Shop Tickets in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Emblem Shop Tickets can be earned through specific challenges, such as completing the “Dex” missions or “Themed Collection” missions. For example, collecting all fossil Pokémon cards or reaching a total of 100 unique cards will reward you with Emblem Shop Tickets.
These tickets allow you to redeem Emblems in the Shop, which are special medals you can attach to your profile for others to see before battles. Presently, there are only three available featuring Pikachu, Mewtwo, and Charizard, but more are likely to be added in future updates.
How to Acquire Event Shop Tickets in Pokémon TCG Pocket
To earn Event Shop Tickets, players need to complete challenges or tasks tied to limited-time events. For instance, during the recent Meowth/Chansey event, players could earn Event Shop Tickets through special draws during the Wonder Picks that appeared every few hours.
Event Shop Tickets are spent on cosmetics and special items related to the event in the store. Keep in mind that these Tickets are event-specific, which means they cannot be used in other events.
How to Obtain Premium Shop Tickets in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Premium Shop Tickets are linked to the Premium Pass, which is a subscription-style battle pass available through a monthly fee or a two-week trial. Having a Premium Pass unlocks special missions and quests that grant you these Tickets.
Premium Shop Tickets can be used to purchase various accessories unique to Premium Pass holders, with no alternative methods to obtain them. Currently, players can find a series of Mewtwo-themed options for their decks and binders.
How to Acquire Pack Points in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Pack Points serve as a special currency gained each time you open a standard card pack, with every pack yielding five Pack Points as a guaranteed reward.
Players can trade Pack Points in the Pack Points Exchange shop for any card in the game (excluding Pokémon TCG Pocket Promo cards). Keep in mind that the cost depends on the card’s rarity, with some high-rarity cards requiring you to open 300 packs before acquiring one.
How to Obtain Shinedust in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Shinedust is a common resource, making it one of the least valuable currencies. You can earn this resource by opening packs, completing missions, and purchasing it during certain events, often using Event Tickets.
This currency is utilized to unlock new cosmetic flairs for your cards. You can destroy a duplicate card to pay with Shinedust to unlock a new cosmetic effect visible during battles on that card.
How to Acquire Rewind Watches in Pokémon TCG Pocket
You earn a Rewind Watch each time you level up. If there’s any other way to gain them, it remains undiscovered. Leveling up grants you one Rewind Watch.
These Watches are utilized to restore expired Wonder Pick options. If you don’t manage to pick from the Wonder Picks within the three-and-a-half-hour window, it will still appear as an expired option for a short time afterward. By paying the regular Stamina cost along with a Rewind Watch during this period, you can utilize the pick as if it hadn’t expired.
How to Obtain Pack Hourglasses in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Pack Hourglasses are rewards that you receive upon leveling up, with 12 awarded each time. You can also purchase them using regular Shop Tickets, and they may appear as rewards in certain missions, particularly those linked to one-time events.
A Pack Hourglass reduces the time required to open another pack by 1 hour. This means you will need to spend 12 Hourglasses to immediately open a pack right after another.
How to Acquire Wonder Hourglasses in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Similar to Pack Hourglasses, Wonder Hourglasses are also rewards from leveling up, where you gain 12 at a time. They can also be earned through specific missions and challenges or purchased with Shop Tickets.
Wonder Hourglasses decrease the recharge time for your Wonder Stamina, allowing you to regain those gold hearts faster and use Wonder Picks more often. Each hourglass reduces recovery time by one hour (stamina hearts recharge at a rate of one per 12 hours).
How to Obtain Event Hourglasses in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Event Hourglasses are among the rarest items and have only appeared in the Pokémon TCG Pocket Lapras ex event thus far. They were available as one-time rewards for accomplishing specific challenges in that event.
These Hourglasses were meant to replenish event stamina, the resource needed to participate in special event matches offering unique rewards. The blue stamina also recharges at a rate of one every 12 hours, but these Hourglasses could be used to instantly restore a single stamina point at a 1-to-1 cost.
How to Acquire Advance Tickets in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Currently, the only way to obtain an Advance Ticket is by logging into Pokémon TCG Pocket, at which point it is sent to your gifts by the developers. At present, no one can possess more than one ticket.
Additionally, the purpose of Advanced Tickets remains unknown. The description simply states, “This Ticket cannot be used yet. Wait and see what it’s for!” It’s possible that these tickets will play a role in the unreleased trading mechanics of Pokémon TCG Pocket, although this is purely speculative.
