Like in most mobile games, paid microtransactions exist in Pokemon TCG Pocket to help you level up quicker, but there are still many ways to get free packs and cards just by playing. Building your collection would not take much time; sets like the rare Genetic Apex set may take longer, but understanding how to earn TCG Pocket currencies and spend them wisely can make a huge difference.
I wanted to break it down, so here’s every currency, how to use it, and every in game activity that awards free packs and cards.
How to Get Free Packs
The game’s Pack Stamina System is the easiest way to get the free packs. You get one free pack when your Pack Stamina bar fills every 12 hours. You don’t have to be logged in here (and you won’t need to be for a while – only Genetic Apex packs will be available initially, though as more sets are released later, you can play packs from them).
In addition to the daily free packs, there are two other essential in-game currencies for earning free packs: Go to Shop Tickets and Pack Hourglasses.
Hourglasses and Shop Tickets
Event missions and step-up battles give you Shop Tickets. Items in the TCG Pocket shop that can be obtained from exchanging them include Pack Hourglasses and cosmetic accessories.
Pack Hourglasses are Pack Stamina; they help you fill Pack Stamina and decrease the pack opening time for every hourglass. Shop Tickets can be used to buy these or earned as mission rewards and daily gifts. To a certain extent, every 12 12-pack hourglasses will provide one free pack.
How to earn Free Packs Via Battles
Completing step-up battles grants rewards with two main types:
- First-Time Completion Rewards: As with any battle, these items can only be won once per battle: Hourglasses, Shop Tickets, and Shinedust.
- Battle Tasks: Each battle requires specific objectives that reward additional resources.
In the step-up battle portion of the Charmeleon Deck, you will earn three Shop Tickets each for completing these tasks: knocking out an opponent’s Active Pokemon with a Water-type attack and getting four Basic Pokemon into play.
Free Packs and Items Daily Missions
Hourglasses and shop tickets are given out daily as daily missions and are reset every 24 hours. Completing these ones is easy and includes opening packs, gobbling food, or using the Bonus and Wonder Pick features.
How to Claim Daily Gifts
Daily Gifts has different free currencies that can be used on packs in the in-app store. This refresh every day doesn’t carry over and is available once per refresh.
Additional Rewards to Level Up
Every time you level up your account, you will receive items, including:
- Pack Hourglasses
- Wonder Hourglasses
- Rewind Watches
- Poke Gold
With Rewind Watches, Wonder Picks would expire, but we have Rewind Watches to refresh expired Wonder Picks, giving you cards you could not get before.
How to Get Free Cards
Packs are hands down the best way to build your collection, but TCG Pocket does include activities to earn free individual cards, some of the most prominent being Bonus Picks and Wonder Picks.
Bonus Picks
Bonus Picks come and go randomly or scheduled and typically run anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. It also unlocks random cards (including promo rewards), and Wonder Stamina is good for picking up Wonder Picks.
Wonder Picks
Wonder Picks use Wonder Stamina, and we choose one card from a list of packs opened by other players. That means you will draw your chosen card 1 in 5 times. The Wonder Stamina cost varies from card rarity.
How to earn Free Packs Via Events
In TCG Pocket, limited-time events give you cards and items in exchange for completing objectives. The ongoing Lapras EX Drop (and similar events) offers additional chances to build your collection.
How to Farm Packs and Cards
To maximize your free packs and cards, be sure to:
- Claim daily free giveaways
- Complete limited-time events
- Ensure you focus only on missions that award Pack Hourglasses and Shop Tickets.
After you have finished those, step up battles give you rewards that allow you to continue farming packs and build your deck.
