Complete Your Genetic Apex Deck with These Tips for Pokémon TCG Pocket

Pokémon TCG Pocket is rapidly gaining popularity within the card gaming community, yet the days of the Genetic Apex Decks may be limited. With an official announcement regarding the release of the next card set in January, players face increased difficulty in completing the Genetic Apex Deck. The base set consists of a total of 226 fundamental cards, supplemented by an additional 60 rare cards. This collection contains crucial Genetic Apex Items that can dramatically influence battle outcomes.

For the majority of players, the primary objective in Pokémon TCG Pocket is to gather every card available. Personally, I see acquiring the core 226 cards as the initial priority. While the game features Pokémon from various generations, it predominantly centers around the classic 150, with many fan-favorites from Kanto retaining the artwork reminiscent of the trading cards first released over 25 years ago. Collecting all 226 cards without spending real money proves challenging; however, several strategies can enhance your chances of success.

Which Packs To Open

Picking The Right Option Out Of Three

Opening packs forms the essence of gameplay in Pokémon TCG Pocket. To maximize the effectiveness of the packs you receive daily, remember that you can open two packs by default, with the option to add a third by utilizing Pack Hourglasses, which reduce the wait time for the next opening. Each pack offers a choice among three options: Charizard, Mewtwo, and Pikachu. While it may seem like card distribution is entirely random, there is a method to it.

Many cards are exclusive to a specific pack, although some may appear across multiple options. To efficiently acquire the remaining cards from the original 226, it’s wise to determine which packs contain the cards you still need. If you find that the Charizard pack holds most of the cards on your checklist, allocate your openings there to trim down your remaining list of desired cards. The Pokédex feature allows you to filter by booster pack, revealing which cards are present in each selection.

How To Make The Most Of Wonder Picks

Not Wasting Your Wonder Picks

A custom Pokemon TCG Pocket cover showing the backs of five Wonder Pick cards — Custom art by Ben Williams

Wonder Picks offer a secondary method for obtaining cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket, providing players with a random selection among five cards opened by another player. You can preview the five cards before making your choice, allowing you to target packs that contain cards you still require for your collection. Each day, players earn at least two Wonder Stamina, with the cost of each pack ranging from one to three Stamina points based on the rarity of the cards inside.

While your chance of selecting any card remains at one in five, this applies equally across all rarity levels. As your collection nears completion and only the rarest cards remain, it becomes strategic to conserve your Wonder Picks for securing the most elusive cards in your inventory. Cards featuring EX items typically cost three Wonder Stamina, whereas those with a rarity of three require two. Personally, I have taken to saving my Stamina to focus on acquiring the last few EX cards, given their rarity in regular pack openings.

Another effective strategy is to choose Wonder Picks with multiple needed cards. If a Wonder Pick offers two necessary cards, you will enjoy a two in five chance of gaining a new addition. The pivotal advice regarding Wonder Picks is to avoid squandering them; capitalize on every opportunity to add new EX cards, which are notably scarce in standard packs.

Which Cards To Redeem With Pack Points

Saving The Packs For The Rarest Cards

Another essential approach to enhance your card collection is by utilizing pack points, a tool that can lead to common pitfalls if not used wisely. For every pack opened, you earn five pack points, which can be used to redeem cards, with their cost determined by rarity. Cards of rarity three, for instance, require 150 pack points, while EX cards come at a steep price of 500 points. Additionally, special edition cards demand even higher point totals.

In my early experiences with Pokémon TCG Pocket, I mistakenly expended my points on common cards. Instead, it’s paramount to prioritize saving your points for rare cards; common cards are much more readily available through regular pack openings over time.

Using pack points is the sole method to guarantee that you obtain the specific card you desire. If you find yourself missing EX cards in your quest to complete the 226-card collection, consider saving your points for those purchases. Even though it may take over 100 packs to afford a single EX card, ensuring you secure its addition to your collection is vital, especially with new cards on the horizon. Completing the Genetic Apex Deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket is achievable through a strategic mix of packs, pack points, and wonder picks.

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