Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket developer Creatures Inc. won't say if the content of booster packs actually changes depending on which one players choose on the pack carousel, but it almost certainly does not.
Looking to simulate the experience of opening a real booster pack, when players must profusely focus on a booster box of packs to determine which pack holds the shinies, Pokémon TCG Pocket gives players a carousel of packs to spin through before picking the correct one.
These packs can be spun around, moved up and down, and analysed for bent corners and crinkles (which spawned an all but defunct conspiracy theory among some players), but many have theorised that it doesn't matter at all.
Taking this idea directly to The Pokémon Company, Polygon asked if it actually matters which pack players choose, or if the content is predetermined the moment they press Open a Pack. The Pokémon Company refused to give a clear answer.
"While Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket draws inspiration from the experience of opening physical Pokémon TCG booster packs, we are unable to share specifics at this time," it said vaguely.
But some players claim to already have hard proof that the choice in Pokémon TCG Pocket is all an illusion, with the Wonder Pick system being at the heart of such evidence.
This additional method of obtaining cards lets players pick one of five cards at random, with the choices coming directly from another player's pack. If a player opens one containing a Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Charizard ex, and Blane, for example, there's a chance a friend of that player, or even a complete random, will see this pack in their Wonder Pick section.
They can then choose to open this pack and be presented with the Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Charizard ex, and Blane, but each card is flipped around and players pick just one at random.
YouTuber PokéNinaa shared a clip of her opening a pack while a friend checked their Wonder Pick from her. The moment PokéNinaa selected Open a Pack, and was presented with the carousel of boosters presenting a choice, her Wonder Pick appeared on her friend's account.
The Wonder Pick contained a pack PokéNinaa hadn't open previously, and contained Pyukumuku, Blitzle, Slowpoke, Kabutops, and Melmetal. She then picked a booster pack from her myriad options and was presented with Pyukumuku, Blitzle, Slowpoke, Kabutops, and Melmetal.
Oher players have shared the same findings with Wonder Picks, leading to a general belief among the Pokémon TCG Pocket community that pack choices don't actually matter. It certainly appears to be the case, especially with The Pokémon Company refusing to say anything to the contrary, but there's a chance this could be an unintended bug or similarly unintended mechanic that will disappear once the game grows older than a couple of weeks.
Pokémon TCG Pocket arrived in October on iOS and Android as a digital version of the beloved trading card game. It lets players open packs, collect cards, build decks, and battle others, a simple formula that has already proved popular given it made $12 million in just four days and was downloaded more than 30 million times in just nine.
Creatures Inc. is keeping interest high by releasing myriad events catered to different playstyles. The first offered players freebies in the form of Wonder Picks, and to entertain more than just collectors, Creatures Inc. soon launched battle events both in single player and player versus player.
The Lapras ex Drop Event lets players take on a handful of water decks for a chance of winning the beloved Pokémon, while the PvP event embraces Pokémon tradition by putting badges on the line.
On the collecting front, most players are swooning over mythical god packs that award five alternate art cards in one go, and there's also a secret Mew card hidden in the game that's not super difficult to get.
And in battles, the two usual suspects of Charizard ex and Mewtwo ex are currently dominating the meta, though Pikachu ex isn't far behind.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
