After a full month with Pokémon TCG Pocket F2P, I’ve gathered data on my progress, card pulls, and the distribution of star cards using three separate devices (S23 Ultra, Fold6, and a Tablet). Here’s an in-depth look at my F2P journey, complete with rarity comparisons and expected vs. actual results. Note: This does not take into account which cards came from Wonder Pick versus from actual Packs.

Overview of My Progress

Over the course of 31 days, I played consistently across three devices, completing daily quests, leveling up, and opening card packs. Here’s an overview:

• Days Played: 31
• Level Reached: 20 on each device
• Packs Opened: 136 packs per device
• Diamond Rarity Cards: An average of 190/226 across devices
• God Packs: None

While luck is a major factor in card pulls, the data reveals some interesting patterns. Below, I’ll break down my results for each device and compare them to the theoretical averages.

Rarity Chart and Expected Pulls

To set the stage, here is the rarity distribution and the expected pull rate for each star level, including “👑” (Crown Rares). The table below shows the pull rate per pack and the expected number of pulls out of 136 packs based on the average rates:

My Actual Pull Results

Here’s a breakdown of the star cards I obtained across each device and how they compare to the expected averages.

Screenshot of Results for Each Device

S23 Ultra	Fold6	Tablet

Expected vs. Actual Results

The expected results provide a helpful benchmark to see how each account performed relative to the average rates. Here’s how each account compared to the expected pulls:

1. Tablet closely matched the expected results but slightly exceeded them with a 👑 card. This account’s results were the closest to the theoretical averages.
2. S23 Ultra yielded more 2★ cards than expected and matched the theoretical rate for 👑 cards.
3. Fold6 exceeded the expected number of 1★ cards but fell short in 2★ cards and had no 👑 card, despite pulling a high quantity of total star cards.

These differences underscore how luck can play a major role in determining outcomes, even with a large sample size.

Example Calculation for Expected Pulls

To calculate the expected pulls for each rarity per account, we use the formula:

Expected Pulls = Total Packs × Pull Rate per Pack

Let’s walk through an example calculation for the 1★ rarity on a single account:

1. Determine the Pull Rate per Pack: For 1★ cards, the probability is 1 in 8.16.
2. Calculate the Expected Pulls: Multiply the total packs (136) by the pull rate per pack (1/8.16):
   Expected Pulls for 1★ = 136 × 1/8.16 ≈ 16.67

This means we’d expect about 16.67 1★ cards on average per account. Repeating this process for each rarity provided the expected pulls in the table above.

Key Takeaways from My F2P Experience

1. Luck is a Key Factor: Despite playing identically on three accounts, the variance in results was evident, especially with higher-rarity cards. Only two 👑 cards appeared across all accounts, showing the challenge of obtaining these cards as an F2P player.
2. Consistent Engagement Pays Off: Reaching level 20 and opening 136 packs on each account required daily engagement. The game rewards persistence, and a dedicated approach yields better results over time.
3. Variance in Results: The differences in my pull results demonstrate the randomness inherent in card packs, even with a significant number of openings. Some players might get 👑 cards or immersive cards right from the start, and others could spend $100+ and not get any.

Overall, my experience in Pokémon TCG Pocket F2P was rewarding and provided insights into the game's mechanics and the importance of strategy in card collection. I am satisfied with the results for my F2P accounts, and I do not see any need to spend money as long as you play consistently. Also, if there are no restrictions on trading, players with multiple accounts/devices will have a clear advantage when it comes to collecting rare cards.