How to Trade Cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket

What you need before you trade

Before you can trade in Pokemon TCG Pocket, three things must be true:

1. You and your trade partner are mutual friends in-game. Add friends via friend code from the Friends tab.
2. Both cards are tradeable. Some cards (chase rarities, certain event promos) are explicitly non-tradeable.
3. Both cards are the same rarity.This is the same-rarity rule — you can't trade a Diamond ◆ for a Star ★.

The same-rarity rule

PTCG Pocket enforces strict same-rarity trades. Every card sits at one of eight rarity tiers:

• 1 Diamond (◆)
• 2 Diamond (◆◆)
• 3 Diamond (◆◆◆)
• 4 Diamond (◆◆◆◆)
• 1 Star (★)
• 2 Star (★★)
• 3 Star (★★★)
• Crown (♛)

You can only swap a card for another card of identical rarity. A 4-Diamond Charizard can't be exchanged for a 1-Star Charizard, even though they're the same Pokémon. Goldenrod enforces this on every posting — when you pick an offering, the wants list is automatically locked to the same rarity tier.

How to actually do the trade in-game

1. Open Pokemon TCG Pocket and tap the Friends icon.
2. Confirm both players are mutual friends.
3. Tap your friend's profile, then Trade.
4. Select the card you're offering from your collection.
5. Wait for your partner to select theirs.
6. Both players confirm; the trade completes and the cards swap.

The in-game UI doesn't tell you what your partner has — that's the gap Goldenrod fills.

What you can't trade

These categories are non-tradeable in Pokemon TCG Pocket:

• Promo A cards (event-exclusive)
• Selected cards from special booster packs
• Chase rarities above certain tiers (varies by set)

Goldenrod automatically filters non-tradeable cards out of the catalog. If you don't see a card when posting, that's why.

How to find Pokemon trades online with Goldenrod

Goldenrod is a free Pokemon trade finder for TCG Pocket. The flow:

1. Sign up free at goldenrodexchange.com (email + display name).
2. Build your collection. Mark which cards you have (Inventory) and which you want (Wishlist) under Collection.
3. Post a trade.Tap "+ New Posting", pick your offering(s), pick the cards you'd accept in return.
4. Browse the feed. Find what other players are offering, filtered by set, rarity, card type, or language.
5. Open a thread.Comment on someone's offering to start a conversation. Once aligned, swap friend codes.
6. Trade in-game. Open PTCG Pocket, find your partner, complete the swap.

Browse the trade feed →

Tips for faster trades

• Use precise wants, not "open to offers".The matching engine works better when you tell it exactly what you're hunting.
• Post in multiple languages if you have them.ENG/JPN/FRA — English speakers don't always check JPN postings, but JPN players will see your ENG posting if their language filter is open.
• Check the feed daily. Most trades complete within 24 hours of posting; older listings get less traffic.
• Be honest about rarity. Goldenrod auto-locks rarity, but always double-check before confirming in-game.

FAQ