Summary
Thanks toPokemon TCGPocket, there are two ways to play the Pokemon TCG without actually using any real-life cards. Pokemon TCG Pocket is a smaller app-sized game, while Pokemon TCG Live can be played on any computer that can run it and will do its best to emulate the real world version of the game.
If you play online, you also want to know which game to invest your time and efforts into. Both games require you to unlock cards if you want to build the most meta deck. However, both games are also different, depending on the type of gamer that you are. So here is the ultimate comparison, so you can see if Pokemon TCG Pocket or Pokemon TCG Live is the best choice for you.
920 Card Decks Vs 60 Card Decks
Pokemon TCG Live’s 60 Card Decks Offer More Creative Freedom
Pokemon TCG Live tries to emulate the original card game as much as possible. Because of this, decks consist of 60 cards. This will be a combination of Pokemon, Trainers, and Energy. While both games consist of getting your best cards out as fast as possible, Pokemon TCG Live gives you more flexibility on how many Pokemon lines you may have in a single deck.
Pokemon TCG Pocket on the other hand, focuses on tighter decks. So, while you could get your main strategy going quicker, it also makes your strategies less varied, and that just gives Pokemon TCG Live the win.
8Prize Cards Vs Points
Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Point System Is Less Restrictive
In Pokemon TCG Pocket there are no Prize Cards. So, if you’re the type of player that hates seeing their best cards get Prized, then Pokemon TCG Pocket might be a better option. Without Prizes, you will always be playing with your full deck at all times. This is the beauty of the point system, which requires you to get three points to win by knocking out Pokemon.
While Pokemon TCG Live may give you more wiggle room with six prizes before victory or defeat, not having to worry about instantly losing the game because of the prize system is a breath of fresh air. So victory goes to Pokemon TCG Pocket.
7Getting More Cards
Pokemon TCG Live Offers The Best Collection Method
One of the major aspects that makes Pokemon TCG Live a fantastic supplementary game to play on top of the Pokemon TCG is the barcode method of obtaining cards. Each time you buy a real-life pack of Pokemon cards, you get a barcode card that you’re able to scan to get a booster pack within the game. So if you’re already dipping some funds into the real-life card game, you can get extra goodies to use online.
Unfortunately, Pokemon TCG Pocket does not use this system. So, if you want new cards, you’ll have to use other methods, such as spending money on in-game currency, making due with your daily packs, or grinding for the cards you need. While this is not bad, Pokemon TCG Live triumphs simply for including such a convenient method of simultaneous card collection.
6The Speed Of The Game
Pokemon TCG Pocket Offers Quicker Experiences
Pokemon TCG Pocket isa much better mobile game experiencethan Pokemon TCG Live. While both games can be played on the phone, Pokemon TCG Live requires you to dedicate your attention to it. So, if you’re looking for something fast while you wait for the bus or for a doctor to call you in, you might find yourself having to forfeit a few games mid-match.
With smaller decks and a quicker win condition, Pokemon TCG Pocket is built around playing a fast game and moving on to the next one. Card games can usually take a decent amount of time to play through a full game, so being able to have a quick match is very enticing for those who just want to quickly play with their friends or kill time. This is where Pokemon TCG Pocket beats Pokemon TCG Live.
5The More Engaging Game
Pokemon TCG Live Offers More Strategy
Pokemon TCG Live benefits from using the standard format because it allows every strategy to be viable. There are decks that utilize the Discard Pile to recycle resources, utilize the Lost Zone, or even change the field with Stadium cards.
Many of these mechanics are gone in Pokemon TCG Pocket, which means many of the strategies simply revolve around hitting your opponent as hard as you’re able to. This makes Pokemon TCG Pocket a more casual game, while Pokemon TCG Live is a somewhat morechallenging game to master. However, this also makes Pokemon TCG Live the more interesting game to learn to play.
4Which Game Has The Better Gameplay?
Pokemon TCG Live And Pocket Tie
Pokemon TCG Live and Pokemon TCG Pocket have very different target audiences. Pokemon TCG Live is built more around battling with top tier Pokemon decks, while Pokemon TCG Pocket revolves around socializing on the go and collecting cards.
Pokemon TCG Live creates a fantastic competitive scene. While you can battle in Pokemon TCG Pocket, you can have just as much fun collecting cards, since some of the rarest cards also have immersive animations. This makes hunting for cards the main focus of the experience. Both games provide an excellent experience for their target demographic. So much so, that they both tie in the criteria of gameplay.
3The Available Packs
Pokemon TCG Live Has More Card Diversity
Pokemon TCG Pocket has significantly fewer cards than Pokemon TCG Live. This is because Pocket is starting fresh while Live tries to keep the card pool as current as possible. This also means that both games have separate sets that you won’t find in the other game or vice versa.
Pokemon TCG Live benefits from having both modern and older cards available. While the more recent packs are available in the shop, you may also access older packs by scanning QR codes that you never redeemed for Pokemon TCG Online. For card diversity, Pokemon TCG Live takes the crown.
2Which Game Will Prepare You For Real Games?
Pokemon TCG Live Is The Better Training Simulation
One major reason to play online clients of popular TCG is to master the real life card game. This is one of the major benefits of Pokemon TCG Live. Because it follows the real life card game closely, you can build a deck virtually before building it in real life while learning all the tricks and skills needed to be victorious.
Because of all the rule differences in Pokemon TCG Pocket, the app is not the best teacher if you want to start attending real life events. While it does teach you some fundamentals, it acts more as a casual supplement to the real thing than a way totest your skills as a pro.
1The Winner
Pokemon TCG Live Takes The Win
With this victory, Pokemon TCG Live proves itself to be the better game. It just has more cards, better methods of obtaining them, and can even help you transition from playing online to playing in real life with friends. This makes it the truest Pokemon TCG experience.
However, if you want to experience a game as it evolves, don’t sleep on Pokemon TCG Pocket. Just because it doesn’t have as many features as Pokemon TCG Live does not mean that you won’t enjoy chasing after the rare cards and waiting for the next set to release.
