Whether you’re a newbie who wants to give Pokemon TCG Pocket a try or a seasoned player who never tried the app before, you might be wondering if this game uses real cards.
Since its release in October 2024, Pokemon TCG Pocket became a big hit, garnering more than 30 million players worldwide.
The app features a more simplified version of the popular trading card game, allowing its users to build decks from a large collection of digital cards.
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At the time of writing, Pokemon TCG pocket has a total of two expansions: Genetic Apex, a mainline set, and Mythical Island, a themed set.
With lots of cool-looking cards, it’s easy to assume that Pokemon TCG Pocket cards are basically just digital versions of the familiar cards bought in physical stores.
But are they, really?
Are the Cards in Pokemon TCGP the Same With the Real Cards?
In terms of gameplay, there are various differences that are easy to spot between the physical Pokemon cards and the digital ones on Pokemon TCG Pocket.
Since the rules of tabletop Pokemon TCG and Pokemon TCG Pocket aren’t the same, the digital cards on the app have their own versions of rarity symbols, abilities, moves, and weaknesses.
But if we are talking about the card illustrations, some cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket do use artworks that are already present in some of the physical Pokemon cards, as listed in the examples below:
| Pokemon TCG Pocket Cards | Physical Cards With the Same Illustration |
|---|---|
 Pikachu (Genetic Apex Pikachu pack) |  Pikachu card from the Base Set |
 Kadabra (Genetic Apex Charizard pack) |  Kadabra card from the Base Set |
 Hitmonchan (Genetic Apex Charizard pack) |  Hitmonchan card from the Evolutions set |
 Nidorino (Genetic Apex Pikachu pack) |  Nidorino card from Team Up set |
 Snorlax (Genetic Apex Charizard pack) |  Snorlax card from Kalos Starter set |
Many of the cards in the app, however, have unique artworks that are only exclusive to the game. So, in other words, Pokemon TCG Pocket doesn’t use real cards per se; rather, it utilizes its own set of digital cards that can be based on the illustrations of physical cards.
Can You Use Code Cards to Unlock More Cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket?
This is another question that curious people might think about when downloading Pokemon TCG Pocket for the first time.
Code cards can only be redeemed by playing Pokemon TCG Live. This game is the more accurate virtual version of Pokemon TCG, and its digital cards are exactly the same as the real Pokemon cards released per set by The Pokemon Company.
This article about Pokemon TCG Live vs. Pokemon TCG Pocket highlights the differences between the two games, so you might want to check that out if you want to understand which platform suits your playstyle and preferences better.
While there’s no way to acquire cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket using code cards, we’ll never know in the future for sure.
Code cards, after all, are very efficient tools to encourage people to buy Pokemon TCG products while maximizing their time playing the franchise’s app at the same time.
If Pokemon TCGP Don’t Use Code Cards, Will They Be Worth Anything?
Pokemon TCG Pocket is a free-to-play game where it’s possible to acquire all cards without paying anything. With that in mind, it’s highly unlikely that its digital cards will be worth any money or value at all.
However, with the arrival of the trading option in January 2025, we can see that this will prompt many players to “negotiate” with other players just to obtain the cards that they don’t have yet.
It’s just hard to predict if those negotiations might involve money, but it’s safe to say this app is not an ideal platform for any type of investment.
Why Still Play Pokemon TCG Pocket?
Pokemon TCG Pocket is a game designed for casual players. With its availability on mobile, The Pokemon Company aims to introduce more people (even those who aren’t into TCGs) to enjoy the hobby of collecting and playing Pokemon cards without the need to spend heavily on building decks or booster packs.
So, if you just want to relax on some Pokemon TCG action, you can immerse yourself in the fast-paced and simple mechanics of Pokemon TCG Pocket.
The games here can only take a few minutes, so you can almost play it whenever you want.
Conclusion
Now that you know that Pokemon TCG Pocket doesn’t use actual Pokemon cards, are you still interested in trying the game?
We hope you still do, as this app is still in its early months, and there are promising features that are worth waiting for, such as the trading option, new events, and upcoming expansions.
Nevertheless, if you prefer the original Pokemon TCG, you can still enjoy playing online with Pokemon TCG Live.
Did you find this article useful? We got other helpful contents to satisfy your need for more Pokemon TCG knowledge! Read them all here at PokeCardHQ.
