The Pokémon Company group has officially announced the upcoming “Dual Fusion” expansion for Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Pocket, introducing the mobile card game’s first-ever dual-type cards ahead of its second anniversary. According to reports from GoNintendo, the new set will launch worldwide on October 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. PDT, aligning with October 29 for UTC, European, and Japanese regions. This major update arrives hot on the heels of developer announcements that the title would adjust its release pacing, surprising the community with a robust C1 series expansion featuring booster packs for Pikachu and Mega Mewtwo X ex.
Strategic Shift and Dual-Type Mechanics
The marquee feature of the Dual Fusion expansion is the inclusion of dual-type cards, which combine two distinct elemental alignments onto a single card to alter deck-building strategies. As detailed by AppSpy, the confirmed dual-type lineup includes Mega Mewtwo X ex—classified as both Psychic and Fighting type—and Mega Greninja ex, which pairs Water and Darkness. While these cards offer expanded tactical advantages in combat matchups and type coverage, critics and players have noted that their attack energy requirements lean heavily on a primary type, sparking online discussions about how deeply integrated the secondary types truly are in practice.
In addition to Mega Mewtwo X ex and Mega Greninja ex, preview trailers released by Insider Gaming indicate that the C1 series will introduce new card artwork and variants for fan-favorite classics, including Pikachu ex, Mew ex, Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, and Mega Dragonite ex. The latter requires a diverse five-energy requirement featuring multiple elemental types, supported by items like the Rainbow Cave Stadium card to facilitate complex multi-energy deck archetypes.
Special Packs and Anniversary Campaigns
Alongside the booster set, the update introduces a brand-new mechanical feature dubbed “Special Pack: First Partners.” Running from October 31 through December 26, these special packs operate under a distinct stamina system that recovers once per week, guaranteeing at least one 1-star card per pull. The packs are designed to showcase the initial partner Pokémon encountered across all nine regions of the franchise history, giving collectors a reliable weekly objective.
Concurrently, Pokémon TCG Pocket is launching the long-term “Pika Pika! Pikachu Missions” campaign to celebrate 30 years of the broader Pokémon TCG franchise. Beginning October 20, players logging in across a ten-day period can earn immersive cards, custom accessories, and specialized Pikachu variants in an event structure scheduled to run for a full year.
Comprehensive In-App Event Schedule
The Dual Fusion rollout is backed by an extensive calendar of competitive and community events stretching from late October 2026 through early 2027. Developers have confirmed six Dual Fusion rental decks will be available from October 28 to December 15 to let players test the new mechanics immediately.
The official event roadmap features:
- Second Anniversary Celebration Campaign: October 29 – December 14
- PROMO Reissue Event 2026: October 29 – November 12
- Handy Card Collection Missions: October 29, 2026 – January 26, 2027
- Dual Fusion Emblem Event and Battle Rally Missions: November 5 – November 15
- Bonus Week: November 13 – November 20
- Promo Pack C Series Vol. 1: November 17 – December 1
- Themed Promo Card Events: November 25 – December 25
- Ranked Match Season C1: November 30 – December 14
- Community Week: December 5 – December 12
These overlapping initiatives aim to maintain player engagement following the introduction of the slower content cadence announced earlier in October, providing both casual collectors and competitive ranked players a steady stream of objectives.