Pokémon TCG Pocket's latest major update delivers the highly anticipated Space Time Smackdown expansion, themed around Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. This two-part booster pack, featuring Dialga and Palkia themes, introduces 207 cards—a smaller set than Genetic Apex, but boasting a higher percentage of rare cards (52 alternate art Star and Crown rarity cards, compared to Genetic Apex's 60). Excluding alternate art cards, the set contains 155 cards, including 10 powerful ex Pokémon: Yanmega, Infernape, Palkia, Pacharisu, Mismagius, Gallade, Weavile, Darkrai, Dialga, and Lickilicky. Every Pokémon type, except Dragon, now has a new ex Pokémon; Darkness-type even gained two.
Every Alternate Art 'Secret' Card in Pokémon TCG Pocket: Space Time Smackdown
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A significant addition is the introduction of Pokémon Tool cards. Three new tools—Giant Cape (provides +20 HP), Rocky Helmet (deals 20 HP to the opponent when the active Pokémon takes damage), and Lum Berry (removes status conditions)—add strategic depth to gameplay.
Battles
Space Time Smackdown introduces new Solo Battles across Intermediate (8), Advanced (9), and Expert (8) tiers, featuring Pokémon like Dialga ex, Palkia ex, Togekiss, Bastiodon, Glacion, Magmortar, Magnezone, Rampardos, and Torterra. The update's impact on the multiplayer meta remains to be seen, but cards like Infernape ex (140 damage for two Fire Energy, albeit discarding them) and Palkia ex (150 damage plus 20 damage to benched Pokémon, at the cost of 3 Energy) are expected to be game-changers. Weavile ex's versatile attack (30 or 70 damage depending on opponent's damage) also adds intrigue, while Steel-type decks receive a significant boost with Dialga ex and other new additions.
Missions and Rewards
New missions accompany the expansion, offering familiar rewards like Pack Hourglasses, Wonder Hourglasses, and Emblem Tickets. Collecting signature cards unlocks rental decks, while completing the set unlocks Dialga and Palkia icons. Museum missions return, focusing on 1-Star and 2-Star cards. A final secret mission, "Champion of the Sinnoh Region," rewards players for collecting the full-art Cynthia card and 1-Star cards of her key Pokémon (Gastrodon, Lucario, Spiritomb, and Garchomp). Notably, the controversial Trading Tokens are absent from rewards, though players received a free 500 Tokens and 120 Trade Hourglasses as a "Trade Feature Celebration Gift." New shop items include Dialga and Palkia album covers, a Lovely Hearts backdrop, and a Cynthia-themed Poké Gold bundle.
Trading
Creatures Inc. remains silent on the ongoing controversy surrounding the trading update. While the "Trade Feature Celebration Gift" was provided, concerns persist regarding the high cost of trading rarer cards, requiring significant amounts of Trade Tokens obtained only by selling cards. This system, deemed "hilariously toxic" and a "monumental failure" by some fans, necessitates selling multiple high-rarity cards to trade even a single card of similar rarity, prompting criticism for its laborious and unintuitive design.
