Like most mobile games, Pokemon TCG Pocket includes paid microtransactions to help you advance, but there are plenty of ways to earn free packs and cards just by playing.

It will take you longer to complete a full set of Genetic Apex – especially when you take into account its extremely rare chase cards – without spending, but knowing how to earn the different TCG Pocket currencies and how to best use them will give your digital workbook a huge boost.

Here’s a look at each currency, how it’s used, and each in-game activity that rewards these items, all of which can be spent on completely free additional packs and cards.

How to get free packs

The first and most obvious way to get free card packs in Pokemon TCG will be explained when you start the game, but it’s worth repeating. A pack is given to you free of charge every 12 hours when the Pack Stamina bar fills up. You you do not need to be connected for the Stamina Pack to restock.

For now, this gift can only be redeemed for Genetic Apex Packs, but will allow players to choose which set they want to open when more are released. Apart from the daily free packs, there are two earnable currencies integral to the TCG Pocket economy that can be spent directly or indirectly on free packs, Buy tickets and pack hourglasses.

Hourglasses and store tickets

Store tickets are obtainable by completing event missions or from intensified battles and can be exchanged for either cosmetic accessories or items in the Pokemon TCG Pocket store, including the Hourglass Pack.

When used, each Hourglass Pack owned will grant Stamina Pack, reduce package opening time by one hour. These can be obtained to redeem in the Shop with Shop Tickets or earned as Mission Rewards or Daily Gifts. This actually means each pack of 12 hourglasses is worth one pack.

Battles

Completing intensified battles will earn you various rewards, with two important distinctions.

Most intensified battles have a reward for the first time as well as Combat tasks. The first will only be awarded once and includes various items (hourglasses, store tickets, Shinedust), while the second requires the player to achieve a specific objective in a battle to gain additional resources.

As an example, the Charmeleon Deck Intensified Battle includes two tasks, each awarding three Shop Tickets upon successful completion.

• Eliminate your opponent’s active Pokémon once with an attack from a Water-type Pokémon.
• Put four basic Pokémon into play.

Daily Missions

Daily missions reset every 24 hours and include bite-sized goals ranging from opening packs to interacting with Bonus or Wonder Pick features. As with the above, rewards can include hourglasses and store tickets.

Daily Gifts

Daily Gifts can be claimed for free on the TCG Pocket in-app store and can include various currencies redeemable for packs. These can only be claimed once per availability period and do not postpone until the next updateso make sure you claim them as soon as possible.

How to get free cards

While packs are the best and most efficient way to add cards to your collection, Pokemon TCG Pocket also includes various repeatable activities with individual cards as possible rewards at no cost, the two biggest being Choice of bonuses and wonders.

Bonus Picks

It is currently unclear whether the Bonus Picks feature appears based on set times or randomly. However, when they appear, you will have between 30 minutes and one hour to claim your choice. If you miss the window, you will have to wait for Bonus Pick to reappear.

THE the prize awarded is random and ranges from cards (including promotions) to items including Wonderful endurancean item you will need to interact with Wonder Picks.

Choice of wonders

Wonder Stamina is required to play Wonder Picks and works significantly differently from Bonus Picks. Here you will consume stamina for choose a card from a list of packs opened by other players. Once you have made your choice, the cards will be shuffled and turned over, making your choice random.

THE the probability of drawing any card is 1/5Wonder Stamina costs vary depending on the cards presented. The rarer the cards included, the higher the cost.

Events

Events are limited-time affairs that award items and cards for completing their various objectives. You can find more information about Pokemon TCG Pocket’s ongoing Lapras EX Drop event in our dedicated guide.

How to farm packs and cards

Taking all of the above into account, the best way to farm packs and individual cards is to make sure you claim all daily free gifts, complete limited-time events, and prioritize completing missions or goals that award pack hourglasses and store tickets.

Once you’ve exhausted all of these, intensified battles will be your next port of call. As the rewards here are permanent and not limited in time, you can collect them as you wish.

That wraps up our guide on how to get free packs and cards for Pokemon TCG Pocket. Check out our overview of Pokémon TCG Pocket vs. TCG Live and guides on how to get the Mew secret card for more content.