A discussion on the poor matchmaking ofPokémon TCG Pocket’sbattle system has sparked frustration among trainers online. After launching in October 2024,Pokémon TCG Pockethas been a huge success forPokémonenthusiasts thanks to its intuitive design, and free-to-play format.Pokémon TCG Pocketquickly reached 10 million downloads worldwidetwo days after launch, and its numbers continue to grow.
On the dedicated subreddit forPokémon TCG Pocket, one user used a humorous meme to convey their annoyance,which has led to several other commenters agreeing and sharing their opinions regarding the matchmakingand lack of an ELO ranking system.
However,despite its simplicity and mainstream target audience, the lack of a dedicated ELO ranking system in Beginner lobbies has led to players with meta strategies competing against brand-new trainers.This has led to many commenters online expressing annoyance at this, and requesting the Pokémon Company to consider a skill-based matchmaking system.
Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Unbalanced Matchmaking Frustrates Players
Beginner Lobbies Are Packed With Meta Decks
Pokémon TCG Pocketoffers online multiplayer queues for “Beginners”, and “TCG Players”, with the latter being for those familiar with the rules and meta of the game. However,the queues can be accessed by players who have paid a lot of money for premium cards, meaning aTCGexpert could enter the beginner queues and defeat newcomers with ease.Exasperation at this was expressed on thePokémon TCGsubreddit, withuser aomarcosharing a meme with the caption “I haven’t even finished beginner step up yet.”
Fellow Redditors were quick to engage and agree with the user, with over 6000 upvotes and nearly 200 comments on the post.UserApaanDahsimply noted that the “beginner option should not exist after lvl 20,” and to be inaccessible for those with awareness of the meta strategies. Another user,ErikboundStudios, provided their thoughts on ELO-based ranking systems in competitive games, stating “this is why I’m in favor of skill-based matchmaking. Because people are going to use meta strategies no matter what. The devs should just group those people with each other.” These sentiments were universally shared among commenters.
Our Take: Pokémon TCG Pocket Needs Work But Is Enjoyable
An ELO Matchmaking System Will Improve The Game Instantly
Despite the matchmaking woes,Pokémon TCG Pocketis a genuinely excellent translation of the universally adored card gameinto a mobile format. The game boasts an intuitive interface and vibrant graphics that are comparable only to its other competitors in the TCG mobile space,Magic: The Gathering ArenaandYu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel. A wealth of content, seasonal events, and collectible cards are all presented in an accessible format which is highly engaging for veterans of thePokémon TCGcommunity.
Pokémon TCG Pocket: Mythical Island Emblem Event Guide
You can now compete in the Mythical Island Emblem event in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket to earn Emblems, rewards, and sharpen your PvP skills.
However, the polished gameplay experience can be marred by the lack of balance in competitive games.In order forPokémon TCG Pocketto achieve its very likely goal of being the premier TCG mobile game, developers should implement a skill-based matchmaking system.This will remove the frustration of being repeatedly eliminated by players withmeta Mewtwo EX decks. If thePokémonCompany addresses the community concerns in discussions like this Reddit thread, thenPokémon TCG Pocketwill reach its full potential and become the benchmark for mobile card games.
