Pokémon Trading Card Game Online: Difference between revisions

Friend Battle is located under the ''"Friends"'' section of the Social menu by selecting the head silhouette next to a friend who is currently logged into the game. This mode allows players to play against another player who is on their Friends List. This mode does not count toward Player rank or gives the player any rewards.

Play Testing is located under the Deck Manager Mode. This mode allows players to practice using their chosen deck against a random computer-controlled [[Game Store|Trainer]] from the [[#Trainer Challenge|Trainer Challenge]] and does not count toward Player rank or gives the player any rewards.

The Deck Manager allows the players to view, clone, edit or create decks using their obtained cards. Decklists must be eligible for any deck format (except Theme) to be able to be saved. After selecting a set of 60 cards, a Deck box, Coin, and Card sleeve [[#Gameplay items|Gameplay item]] may also be selected. While the game presents an option to select a Playmat, only the default Playmat is available at this time.

Redemption codes are unique codes that allow players to unlock {{TCG|Theme Deck}}s, {{TCG|Booster pack}}s and more from physical products that state to ''"Contain 1 code card"'' in the package. Only Theme decks that are clearly marked ''"Play This Deck Online"'' in the package will contain Redemption codes. These unique Redemption codes can only be used once.

Previously, Event Tickets were available for purchase in the menu section found on most screens or in th Pokémon.com website. As of October 30, 2018, the ability to purchase Event Tickets with real currency has been removed.

The Daily Challenge rewards players for playing the game on a daily basis. Players are presented with specific game related challenges starting at 9:00 AM {{wp|UTC}} each day. Each Daily Challenge has a {{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Pokémon types|Pokémon type}} associated with it as well as an Experience Point (or XP) value, which are applied to that given Pokémon type. Players may only accept a single challenge during a single day. The challenges may be completed anytime, however players will not be offered a new challenge until finishing their current one(s) or abandon it, except as a new day's challenge may be worked on simultaneously as players advance in [[#Player level|Player level]]. Completion of challenges rewards the player with Tokens or Booster Packs.

The Daily Login Bonus provides a reward for playing ''Pokémon Trading Card Game Online'' on a daily basis simply by logging into the game. It consists of an initial track designed to help new players get started in the game, and a track that provides recurring rewards to existing players. Each reward unlocks the first time players login each day starting at 12:00 AM UTC. This reward system does not require players to login on consecutive days to maintain progress on the track. Once players complete the introductory ''New Player track'', they are migrated to the recurring ''Existing Player track''. There is no limit to the number of times players may complete the ''Existing Player track'', as they are cycled back to the beginning of the track after receiving the bonus reward for the fifth day.

* Day 1 - 5 Trainer Tokens ''(Prior to the June 2, 2015 update, Day 1 awarded 15 Trainer Tokens.)''

* Day 2 - 10 Trainer Tokens ''(Prior to the June 2, 2015 update, Day 2 awarded 15 Trainer Tokens.)''

* Day 3 - 15 Trainer Tokens ''(Prior to the June 2, 2015 update, Day 3 awarded 1 [[#Event Tickets|Event Ticket]]. Prior to the April 3, 2014 update, Day 3 awarded 15 Trainer Tokens.)''

This reward system was briefly retired with the March 25, 2015 update in favor of the new Daily Challenge reward system but was reintroduced on June 2, 2015 to allow players who are not interested in pursuing Daily Challenges to continue earning daily rewards.

: ''NOTE: There is a separate Daily login bonus that may be received by logging into either [[Pokémon.com]] or TCGO each day starting at 12:00 AM UTC, which earn players/website users 12 [[#Trainer Tokens|Trainer Tokens]]. This Daily Login bonus to independent of the TCGO reward system.

! Play Mode:

! Brief Description of Game Play Rewards:

Tournament Chests are earned at the end of [[#Events Mode|Events Mode]] tournaments. The exact number of chests awarded, if any, depends on player placement in a tournament. Each Tournament Chest contains a random number of [[#Trainer Tokens|Trainer Tokens]] and a single  card of Uncommon {{rar|Uncommon}} [[Rarity]] or higher from a {{TCG|Standard format}} expansion. This card's tradability depends if the tournament Chest is tradable. Only Tournament Chests from some tournaments are tradable.

The in-game Shop system allows players to purchase [[#Theme decks|Non-exclusive Theme decks]], 10-card {{TCG|Booster pack}}s, [[#Gameplay items|Gameplay items]] (Card sleeves, Coins, Deck boxes, etc.), and [[Avatar Item|Avatar items]] with [[#Trainer Tokens|Trainer Tokens]]. The Shop used to allow adult players to purchase Gems and [[#Event Tickets|Event Tickets]] with real currency. Following the February, 2016 update, 5-card packs that cost 95 tokens were replaced with 10-card packs. The following are available items:

* [[Avatar Item|Avatar items]] availability are limited and Trainer Tokens cost varies. A wide variety of Avatar items are available at [[Pokémon.com]], and new Avatar items are more routinely release at the Pokémon.com website than in the ''Pokémon Trading Card Game Online'' in-game Shop.

Weekly special bundles or Blister packs with a cost range of 200 to 1265 Tokens were released for a limited amount of time, which typically included some combination of Booster pack(s), {{TCG|Promotional cards|Promotional card}}(s) and a [[#Gameplay items|Coin]].

:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="width: 100%; border: 2px solid #44acdb; background: #144d9a;"

Gameplay items include Card sleeves, {{TCG|Coin}}s, and Deck boxes and are purely cosmetical. They may be purchased from time to time in the in-game shop, available through [[#Redeem codes|Redemption codes]] provided with the purchase of physical products or may be traded for with other players. Playmats are currently unavailable in the game, despite an option to select one in the Deck Manager indicates that they may become available in the future.

===Tournament Keys===

Early expectation for the [[#Events Mode|Tournament Mode]] envisioned Tournament Keys as the in-game [[#Currency|Currency]] used to access special Tournament events. Tournament Keys were never implemented in open beta testing, which instead utilized [[#Event Tickets|Event Tickets]].

The ''Pokémon Trading Card Game Online'' was originally released on March 24, 2011<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110330181722/http://www.pokemon.com/us/news/ Web-based, Pokémon Trading Card Game Online announcements — February 25 & March 23, 2011]</ref> as a {{wp|Adobe Flash|Flash}}, web-based game. The game was subsequently redesigned as a downloadable game utilizing the {{wp|Unity (game engine)|Unity engine}}<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/11423-april-community-update/ Unity Game Engine, 2012 April Community Update — April 27, 2012]</ref> and relauched on May 15, 2012 for PC,<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/11770-build-notes-may-15th-2012/ TCGO Beta Release for PC, Build Notes — May 15, 2012]</ref> on November 5, 2012 for Mac,<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/14696-october-community-update/ TCGO Beta Release for Mac, 2012 October Community Update — October 27, 2012]</ref><ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/15015-patch-notes-for-1116/ TCGO Beta Release for Mac, 2012 Patch notes for 11/16 — November 17, 2012]</ref> and on September 30, 2014 for iPad.<ref>[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/the-pokemon-tcg-online-comes-to-ipad/ TCGO Release, The Pokémon TCG Online Comes to iPad! — September 30, 2014]</ref> The original browser-based version continued to function until August 8, 2012.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/13278-web-based-pokemon-tcg-online-now-offline/ Web-based Pokemon TCG Online now offline — August 8, 2012]</ref> Development continues on the downloadable version even after it officially emerged from open beta testing in February 2015.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/26008-september-2014-community-update/?hl=beta End of Open Beta, September 2014 Community Update — September 25, 2014]</ref>

* Collection viewer, Deck Manager, [[#Socialilzation|Social menu]], and [[#Player Profile|Player Profile]] — Reintroduced on August 21, 2012.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/13036-july-community-update/ Many features reintroduced, 2012 July Community Update — July 24, 2012]</ref>

* In-game [[#Shop|Shop]] — Also reintroducted on August 21, 2012 (initially allowing for just [[#Redeem codes|Code Redemption]] and {{TCG|Booster pack}} purchases through the now retired [[#Booster Credits|Booster Credit]] system)<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/13353-notes-for-build-101021/ in-game Shop, Notes for Build 1.0.10.21 — August 21, 2012]</ref> with the current [[#Gems|Gems]] system added on April 19, 2013<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/17258-180-patch-notes-april-18-2013/ Gems, 1.8.0 Patch Notes | April 18, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/17428-april-community-update/ Gems, 2013 April Community Update — April 25, 2013]</ref> and the [[#Trainer Tokens|Trainer Token]] system on July 25, 2013.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/19467-11118-patch-notes-july-25-2013/ Trainer Tokens, 1.11.18 Patch Notes | July 25, 2013]</ref>

* [[#Trade|Trade]] interface — Reintroduced with the October 24, 2012 update.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/14644-1042-build-notes-october-23-2012/ Trading, 1.0.42 Build Notes | October 23, 2012]</ref>

* Player Interface overhaul — Substantial changes to the game interface began in mid-2013<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/19609-july-community-update/ Interface changes, 2013 July Community Update — July 31, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/20723-september-community-update/ Interface changes, 2013 September Community Update — October 2, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/21639-november-community-update/ Interface changes, 2013 November Community Update — November 28, 2013]</ref> and continued to early 2014,<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/22107-january-2014-community-update/ Interface changes, January 2014 Community Update — January 9, 2014]</ref><ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/22415-217239-february-5-2014/ Interface changes, 2.17.239 | February 5, 2014]</ref><ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/22966-2180380-patch-notes-march-27-2014/ Interface changes, 2.18.0.380 Patch Notes | March 27, 2014]</ref> which allowed for the introduction of the touchscreen based iPad client in September 2014.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/26008-september-2014-community-update/ Interface changes & iPad, September 2014 Community Update — September 25, 2014]</ref> A streamlining of the overall [[#Game menu|Game menu]] navigation system was introduced on July 14, 2015.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/31468-dev-update-versus-rewards-new-layout-stomped-bugs/ Dev Update: Versus Rewards, New Layout & Stomped Bugs — July 14, 2015]</ref>

* [[#Events Mode|Tournament Mode]] — Introduced for testing with the March 27, 2014 update<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/22755-february-2014-community-update/ Tournament Mode, February 2014 Community Update — March 1, 2014]</ref><ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/22966-2180380-patch-notes-march-27-2014/ Tournament Mode, 2.18.0.380 Patch Notes | March 27, 2014]</ref><ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/23168-tournaments-alpha-testing-status-update/ Tournaments Alpha Testing Status Update — April 11, 2014]</ref><ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/23410-april-2014-community-update/ Tournament Mode, April 2014 Community Update — May 1, 2014]</ref> with occasional trial [[#Tournament special events|Tournament special events]] until it officially premiered on February 5, 2015<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/28289-the-clash-of-magma-vs-aqua-the-very-first-pok%C3%A9mon-tcg-online-tournament-event/ The Clash of Magma vs. Aqua - The very first Pokémon TCG Online tournament event! — February 4, 2015]</ref> and [[#Tournament rotation|continuously running tournaments]] on February 24, 2015.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/28953-play-tournaments/ Play Tournaments! On-demand — February 24, 2015]</ref>

* [[#Daily Challenge|Daily Challenge]] — Implemented on March 25, 2015 replacing the briefly retired [[#Daily Login Bonus|Daily Login Bonus]] and [[#Daily Match Bonus|Daily Match Bonus]] and retired [[#Achievements|Achievements]] reward systems.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/29577-daily-challenge-details-%E2%80%93-achievements-and-daily-login/ Daily Challenge Details – Achievements and Daily Login — March 24, 2015]</ref> The June 2, 2015 update reduced the requirements for {{DL|Evolution|In the TCG|Evolution}} challenges by ½ and {{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Knock Out}} challenges by 10, replaced challenges with a ''"Play Basic Pokémon"'' completion requirement to a ''"Do damage to opposing Pokémon"'' requirement, and temporarily removed all challenges with {{TCG|Special Conditions|Special Condition}} completion requirements.

* [[#Special Challenges|Special Challenges]] and [[#Tournament Chests|Tournament Chests]] — Implemented with the May 6, 2015 update.<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/30472-228-patch-notes-may-6-2015/ Special Challenges/Tournament Chests, 2.28 Patch Notes | May 6, 2015]</ref>

* [[#Versus Ladder|Versus Ladder]] — Introduced on July 14, 2015 to complement the other existing [[#Reward systems|Reward systems]].<ref>[http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/31298-dev-update-refining-rewards-and-coming-features/ Dev Update: Refining Rewards and Coming Features — June 5, 2015]</ref><ref>[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/earn-versus-points-for-victories/ Earn Versus Points for Victories! — July 14, 2015]</ref>