Pokemon TCG Pocket vs. Live: Which One Offers the Better Experience?

Check out the newest Pokemon TCG app!

Celsos

Pokemon TCG Live and Pokemon Pokemon TCG Pocket

With the recent announcement of The Pokemon Company’s latest app, Pokemon TCG Pocket, many are wondering what will happen to Pokemon TCG Live.

So, for today’s post, we’re going to compare the two card gaming platforms head on: Pokemon TCG Pocket vs. Live, all in an epic Pokemon card game showdown!

 As of writing this article, Pokemon TCG Pocket is still to be released, but the creators behind the app already gave us a sneak peek into some of its promising features.

Pokemon TCG Live, on the other hand, became available in 2023, replacing the classic Pokemon TCG Online, which was introduced way back in 2011. 

Considering that Pokemon TCG Live is already more than a year older than Pocket, we’re going to have no trouble comparing it with the upcoming app as we are already familiar with all of its features and mechanics.

Now, let’s get started with the comparison, shall we?

More from PokecardHQ:

Pokemon TCG Pocket vs. Live: Overall Features and Mechanics

FeaturesPokemon Tcg Live LogoPokemon_Tcg_Pocket_Logo
Collecting digital copies of Pokemon cardsCheckCheck
Pokemon card battlesCheckCheck
Redeemable code cards from physical booster packsCheckCross
Battle Pass systemCheckCross
Deck building optionsCheckCheck
Avatar customization optionsCheckQuestion
Ranked and casual game modesCheck*Check
Displayable cardsCrossCheck
Immersive card artwork featureCrossCheck
Free digital booster packs per day*CheckCheck
Three-dimensional Holo cardsCrossCheck
*Pokemon TCG Pocket is playable on single player and PVP.
*Obtaining free booster packs is possible in Pokemon TCG Live by playing through the Battle Pass.

Note:
We’ll update the table above once Pokemon TCG Pocket is available on the Google Play Store.

More About Pokemon TCG Pocket

Pokemon Tcg Pocket Vs. Live - Tcg Pocket's Official Logo

Pokemon TCG Pocket is a new Pokemon card game app especially developed for the mobile platform. It contains features and elements present in the Pokemon TCG Live, with more emphasis on card collecting and appreciating Pokemon artwork.

Read more: How to Get into Pokemon Card Collecting?

Here is a more detailed information about the features that you’ll expect in Pokemon TCG Pocket:

Free Booster Packs

Pokemon Tcg Pocket Set - Genetic Apex Charizard
Pokemon Tcg Pocket Set - Genetic Apex Mewtwo
Pokemon Tcg Pocket Set - Genetic Apex Pikachu

To start your collection in Pokemon TCG Pocket, you’ll receive two booster packs every day you log in. We also assume that you can obtain more cards if you’ll spend some money, but free booster packs will be your bread and butter in the app.

Acquiring Cards From Other Players

Pulling A Pidgeot Card In Pokemon Tcg Pocket

You might need to interact with fellow players if you want to get more free cards other than the free booster packs. Pokemon TCG Pocket also offers a feature that allows you to get a copy of a card from a pack that another player has opened.

Exciting Pokemon Card Battles

Screenshot Of A Pokemon Battle In Pokemon Tcg Pocket

Playing the game on Pokemon TCG Live might look cool on PC, but it somehow looks pale on less user-friendly on mobile. We believe The Pokemon Company will attempt to fix this issue by introducing a separate mobile app for their trading card game.

Based on several footage of Pokemon TCG Pocket’s gameplay, we can conclude that the battles are indeed created with better graphics and are well-optimized for mobile gaming.

Immersive and Three-Dimensional Card Artworks

Immersive Artwork From A Pikachu Card In Pokemon Tcg Pocket

Apparently, some of the cards that you can obtain in Pokemon TCG Pocket can be viewed in several ways.

First, there are cards that allow you access to an immersive view of the artwork, which makes them livelier and gives you the illusion of entering inside the card’s artwork itself.
Second, there are some Holo cards with a kind of pop-up artwork providing you with a 3D view of a Pokemon.

Apart from these gimmicks involving card artwork, you can even put your card on display on the app, though we’re not sure how this feature will work out yet.

Pokemon TCG Pocket: FAQs

When will Pokemon TCG Pocket come out?

Pokemon TCG Pocket is expected to be released on October 30, 2024. This schedule is still a tentative one, so keep yourself updated by opening this article again after the release date.

If you want to spend less time making an account, you can pre-register right now on the Google Play Store or Apple Store.

What will be the first set for Pokemon TCG Pocket?

Looks like Pokemon TCG Pocket will release sets that are different from what we are used to. The first set for the app will be called Genetic Apex.

You can also see the card list here at PokeCardHQ’s Collector’s Corner page.

Our Verdict

While Pokemon TCG Pocket is indeed an app optimized for mobile devices, Pokemon TCG Live will remain relevant for those playing the Pokemon card game on PC.

Moreover, Pokemon TCG Pocket offers a more casual experience by adding more features that make Pokemon card collecting more enjoyable. 

If you’re into Pokemon card battles and you also buy lots of physical cards, there’s also nothing if you stick to Pokemon TCG live.

Overall, regardless of what type of Pokemon TCG enthusiast you are, it won’t hurt to give Pokemon TCG Pocket a chance. After all, more people are now using mobile phones for their gaming needs.

Did you find this article helpful? What is your opinion about Pokemon TCG Pocket? Let us know in the comment section below!

Celsos

From his man cave in the Philippines, Celsos hoards a box full of Pokemon cards. He loves everything about Pokemon, but he also enjoys other things like playing video games, reading Tolkien's books, and writing. He currently works as the editor and writer for PokeCard HQ.

Related Post

Leave a Comment