Pokemon TCG Pocket is not friendly to my complementary pathology

I've been collecting Pokemon cards my whole life, but it wasn't until the beginning of the Sword & Shield era that I really got invested. I have a complete core set of the Sword and Shield base set – it's a binder with one of each card – including every V, Full Art, Rainbow Rare, and Gold Secret Rare. At 216 cards (30 ultra-rare or higher) it was a big deal, and with six new Pokemon TCG sets being released a year, I could never dream of keeping up with every single set.

I have since switched to Disney Lorcana, which has been very manageable as a collector. There are 204 cards in each set and 12 Enchanted cards (expensive and super rare cards that you only find once every six boxes). I've had no problem collecting full sets of four cards in the first five sets, and I'm trying to make peace with the fact that 12 Enchanted cards—which range from $80 to $800 each—are out of reach. The amount I collect per collection is steady, but I still have a bad feeling that my collection will never truly be complete.

I fully understand that a full set of 816 cards is unnecessary and overkill for any Lorcana set. This is collecting cardboard, it's not supposed to make sense.

Pokemon TCG Pocket is a Pokemon card game for collectors

On paper, Pokemon TCG Pocket is exactly what I'm looking for. Leaving aside the “play” part of a trading card game, it puts the focus almost entirely on collecting, which is what I'm all about. Naively, I imagined a world where I could actually collect a whole set of cards, enjoy the joy of a whole set, and then move on to the next set and do it all over again. I dreamed that Pocket could be the game for nerdy collectors like me who believe there's no point in collecting anything if you can't collect everything.

I didn't think it would be easy. I got to test Pocket at a preview event this summer, and even with unlimited Poke Gold (I spent hours ripping ten packs at a time, it was glorious) I didn't even come close to finishing a full core set. During an interview I asked the DeNA developers if it was possible to put together a complete set without spending money, and as much as it seemed to bother them to comment on monetization, the answer was no: some A monetary investment is required. Get a complete set

As a physical TCG collector, the investment didn't seem entirely unreasonable. While some estimates put a complete set in the $3,200 range (or 1,843 days of continuous play), I've noticed some flaws in that math that don't take into account the amazing options, crafting, and future trading system (although we don't yet). know how that system will work). One Reddit user claims that the actual cost to complete the set (minus the gold crown cards) was $410. That's less than a Lorcana card case, and one case won't get you anywhere near a complete set.

I'm an active pocket player who takes events for resources and is strategic about Wonder Picks and crafting. I'm 31 cards away from a full set of rare diamond cards, and I'm 21/60 in hidden cards. Part of me believes that with enough time and the occasional Poke Gold waste, I can finish this series in time for the next one. But I've been a Pokemon fan my whole life, so I really should have known better.

Pokemon TCG pocket sets are quickly available

According to the data miners, the next set is coming much sooner than I thought. A mini-set (60-80 new cards) will be released in December, followed by another full card set with over 250 cards in January. This suggests that there will be at least six new sets per year, much like the physical Pokemon TCG. As a collector, I have the same problem I've always had with Pokemon cards. There just isn't enough time – or money – to complete one set before the next set is released.

For players, this is great news. Trading card games need a constant influx of new cards to keep things fresh and interesting. People are already complaining about the imbalance in Pocket fights, and a new set of cards could shake up the meta significantly. I don't mind Pocket battles, but if you're looking for high-end Pokemon TCG gameplay, there's already a game for that. I like Pocket because it caters to the collector, so while the new sets are great for the meta, they're terrible for completists like me.

You have to open about 100 packs to earn enough pack points to get an ex card.

Knowing that I will never finish a Pokemon TCG Pocket main set without using a full whale makes me much less interested in the game. These digital cards have no value outside of the program. I cannot trade or sell them. I can't display them on the wall or ask the artist to sign them. They exist to fill a virtual binder and satisfy my collecting instinct, but a satisfying collection needs a conclusion. If there's always a gap in my card list because the new set always comes before I can finish the old set, I'm not sure what the point is.

Yes, pulling something shiny out of a package is exciting. If you're a completely free gamer who just likes the dopamine you get from opening a pack twice a day, I can see the value. But if you're not going to spend, spending any money on this game is a waste everyone Money in this game You might not mind seeing a bunch of empty spots in your collection, but it really bothers me.