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Trainer Trials: GLC Feedback
Gym Leader Challenge has recently made its way into TCG Live in a half baked form only including cards from Sun and Moon on, and I must say I am quite impressed overall since it came out a week ago It's nice to have a different alternative format that isn't standard or expanded beta, its given me a new way to enjoy the game that I had not discovered previously. If I had to make a few changes to this format on TCG Live they would be:
- Making Gym Leader Challenge a permanent mode on TCG Live( I know TPCI have hinted at it returning periodically in future) but GLC is arguably the most popular side format and if it were to stay it would add more variety to the game on a permanent scale rather than it coming and going over and over. It could mean better retention of players on TCG Live rather than players just coming and going when GLC leaves or comes back periodically.
2. Adding Full Support for GLC. The Real GLC format supports Black and White cards onwards, and making sure that players can get the full proper GLC experience online will make the format a lot more accessible rather than just having a "half baked format" of sun and moon. To me this change seems obvious but I understand it is difficult programming all those cards into the games and the interactions they have with different cards. Also, if you think about it, if they add full support for Gym Leader Challenge then that can allow expanded beta (which is currently Sun and Moon on) to become a "complete" format as that format also includes cards from Black and White forward. So essentially, you would be providing 2 more complete formats to TCG Live adding more diversity to the game and adding a "finished" feel to the game rather than just having Standard as the one and only true "complete" format.
Do I think the addition of Sun and Moon on GLC to TCG Live is a good thing? Yes of course, its a step in the right direction. But adding full support for it can definitely improve the state of the game in terms of what it has to offer for ways to play The Pokémon Trading Card Game on TCG Live. I understand the large workload about the points i made above possible, but I think this should become part of TPCIs roadmap to making this game great and truly representing what the Pokémon Trading Card Game has to offer in all its forms and ways to play.
Comments
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I’m writing to share strong feedback about Gym Leader Challenge (GLC) in Trainer Trials.
GLC is, hands down, the best format available in Pokémon TCG Live right now. It rewards creativity, deckbuilding skill, and variety in a way that no other mode does. I also want to highlight something important: many players log in and play primarily (or only) when GLC is available. When GLC isn’t in rotation, there’s simply no equivalent alternative for those of us who love this style of play.
So please:
- Bring GLC back more frequently (ideally on a predictable schedule), or consider making it a permanent option in Trainer Trials.
- Continue expanding the card pool, especially by adding the missing 2015 cards that are still not available in the client. Completing those sets matters a lot for deckbuilding, collecting, and long-term trust in the format.
There is a real, passionate community here that wants to play this format consistently. GLC keeps players engaged, keeps the game feeling fresh, and gives a reason to build and experiment with dozens of different decks.
Thank you for reading—and please know that GLC has dedicated fans who want it supported and available more often.
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I agree! Current is terrible. And when i do attempt to play this mode currently, theres nobody to challenge.
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I would also suggest giving player a few more decks to try? The coinflipper colorless one was the main one I faced the time the last GLC TC was up, so that means a lot of people just tried whatever were given. All the archetypes have their own speciality and for the sake of "fun" I feel they gave the worst one to the playerbase. The game should give at least 3 competitive decks to the players so they can try ideas and Trainers who are viable and powerful, same idea they do with standart, filling the needed staples and also showing almost-complete deck recipes
May I suggest
- Grass Three Totems - Water IceDance - Fire CharizardGO-box
- Psychic MunkidoriGiratina - Lighting Spread - Fighting LunaSol-box
- Darkness GuzzlordToxicroak - Metal Metangbox - Colorless CrazyCodebox
A stronger deck showcase and permanent mode on the client would do amazing stuff for the community, both content and players
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Grass Rillaboom
1 Bramblin PAL 23
1 Brambleghast TEF 21
1 Budew PRE 4
1 Chikorita MEG 8
1 Bayleef MEG 9
1 Meganium MEG 10
1 Genesect PFL 8
1 Grookey SSH 11
1 Thwackey SHF 12
1 Rillaboom SHF 13
1 Kricketot CEC 13
1 Kricketune ASR 10
1 Tapu Bulu SFA 6
1 Turtwig UPR 6
1 Grotle BRS 7
1 Torterra BRS 8
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
1 Bug Catching Set PRE 102
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Net Ball LOT 187
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rare Candy SVI 191
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Timer Ball SUM 134
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Air Balloon SSH 156
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Forest of Vitality MEG 117
1 Turffield Stadium RCL 170
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Avery CRE 130
1 Ball Guy SHF 57
1 Boss's Orders SHF 58
1 Gladion CIN 95
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Lana's Aid TWM 155
1 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Marnie SSH 169
1 Professor's Research PRE 122
8 Basic Grass Energy SVE 1Fire
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- I suggest giving player a few decks to try? The coinflipper colorless one was the main one I faced the time the last GLC TC was up, so that means a lot of people just tried whatever they were given.Each color on the game has a lot of archetypes done and for the sake of "fun" I feel they choose the worst one to the players. I kindly will suggest a few list for the format, considering we still dont have all the cards available to us in the client, but it will showcase some important staples, archetypes and recipes. You should facilitate the same way you do with standart: giving a lot of full decks to start playing in the meta ASAP. Otherwise, the format will strugge to catch on because the potential is hidden or feels overwhelming coming from a rival.Even when we still dont have every card available, a lot of decks are pretty much playable.
- Grass - Rillaboom Box / Water - IceDance Box / Fire - CharizardGO BoxPsychic - MunkidoriGiratina / Darkness - ToxtricityBox / Dragon - HaxorusDragoniteColorless - CrazyCodebox
- Pretty much all of those decks are usable and playable in a competitive setting AND are fun to use. And yeah I would also love a dedicated queue for the format GLC in the Casual tab, it seems one of the most played so far
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GLC is a very bad format. You just have to run a bunch of cards that do the same thing; there's a bunch of cards that are pseudo&banned because of the monotype rule, and singleton formats just make decks inconsistent for no good reason. You also can't tech for weakness, unless you are specifically playing Kecleon, which is also stupid. There's far better single-prize formats out there, and GLC is not what we deserve. Making it permanent will only further fragment the side format player pool, and make it take far longer to matchmake for what are frankly far more interesting formats.
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