If you’re anything like me, your morning routine involves waking up, rubbing your eyes, and immediately checking if your Pack Stamina has refreshed. There’s just something about that digital "swipe to rip" motion that hits the dopamine receptors differently. But honestly, the real meat of the game lately isn't just the daily pulls—it’s the rapid-fire schedule of limited-time drops and missions that keep popping up.
Right now, we are sitting in the middle of a massive wave of upcoming Pokemon TCG Pocket events that are basically mandatory if you want to keep your deck competitive without spending a fortune.
The Mega Latios ex Drop Event is Live
So, here is the big one. As of January 17, 2026, the Mega Latios ex Drop Event is officially in full swing. If you haven’t jumped into the Solo Battle tab yet, you’re losing time.
This event is scheduled to run until January 27, 2026. That gives you exactly ten days to grind out those wins. The headliner is obviously the Mega Latios ex promo card, but let’s be real: the drop rates can be a total pain. Unlike the standard packs, these promo packs are earned by beating the CPU in specific tiered battles.
The strategy here? Most people are running Blaziken decks or Mega Charizard builds to just steamroll the AI. The Expert difficulty is where you get the 100% drop rate for a promo pack, but if your deck isn't quite there yet, don't sweat it. Even the Intermediate and Advanced tiers have decent chances. Just make sure you’re spending your Event Stamina every 12 hours. It doesn't stack forever, so if you let it sit at 5/5, you're basically throwing away cards.
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Breaking down the Mega Latios Promo Pack
It isn’t just about the big dragon. The pack (technically Promo Pack A Series Vol. 9) usually includes a few other "filler" cards that actually have niche uses in the current meta. Expect to see variations of:
- Mega Latios ex (The chase card)
- Latios (Non-ex version)
- Altaria (Great for defensive setups)
- Swanna or Ducklett (Usually the ones you get when you’re hoping for the ex)
The Heliolisk and Buneary Wonder Pick Wrap-up
We are right at the tail end of the Wonder Pick event featuring Heliolisk and Buneary. This one officially wraps up on January 18, 2026, at 9:59 p.m. PST. If you’re reading this and it’s still before that deadline, go burn your Wonder Stamina now.
This event introduced those Chansey-stamped promo cards. They’re mostly for collectors, but the Goomy-themed accessories in the Event Shop are the real prize. I’ve seen so many people rocking that "slimy" playmat lately. If you have leftover Event Shop tickets, spend them before they expire or get converted into something useless like Shinedust.
What’s Coming in February 2026?
Looking ahead, things are getting crowded. Since we’re approaching the 30th Anniversary of Pokemon on February 27, the TCG Pocket roadmap is looking pretty spicy.
Rumors and early data points suggest a "Mega Evolution—Ascended Heroes" tie-in. While the physical TCG gets the set on January 30, Pocket usually follows with a themed event a week or two later. We are likely looking at a Mega Rayquaza or Mega Mewtwo rerun, or perhaps an entirely new "Drop Event" focused on the Sinnoh starters.
The 30th Anniversary "Bonus Week"
Expect a massive Bonus Week starting around mid-February. Historically, these involve:
- Double Daily Pack Stamina (the dream).
- Log-in bonuses that actually matter—think 24+ Pack Hourglasses.
- Limited-set reruns. If you missed the early 2025 sets, this is usually when they bring back those "A1" or "A2" packs for a short window.
The Problem with Event Stamina
One thing most players get wrong is hoarding Event Hourglasses. I used to save them for "the big one," but the game gives them out frequently enough during the missions themselves that you’re better off using them to guarantee you get a playset (two copies) of the main promo ex card.
There is nothing worse than an event ending and you’re stuck with one Mega Latios ex. It’s useless for a consistent deck. Burn the hourglasses, get the second copy, and then go back to saving.
How to Prepare for the Next Big Drop
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for upcoming Pokemon TCG Pocket events, you need to stop spending your Shop Tickets on every single card sleeve that looks cool.
I know, the Goomy stuff was tempting. But the "Special Shop" usually rotates in high-value items like Rewind Watches or Trade Tokens during the anniversary month. With the Standard Format rotation hitting the physical game in April 2026, Pocket is also expected to shake up its "active" pool.
Actionable Steps for This Week:
- Clear the Mega Latios missions by January 26. Focus on the "Knock Out with Lightning-type" tasks first to get the easy Hourglasses.
- Check your Wonder Pick for any "Bonus Picks." These are free and don't cost stamina, but they disappear fast.
- Save your gold (Poke Gold). February is going to be expensive with the 30th Anniversary cosmetics.
- Build a "Grind Deck." Stop trying to play "fun" decks against the AI. Build a fast, aggressive Fire or Lightning deck to clear event battles in under 5 minutes.
The meta in TCG Pocket moves fast because the decks are small and the games are quick. If you miss a three-day window, you might miss a card that defines the next two months of ranked play. Keep an eye on the "News" tab every night at the reset—usually 10:00 p.m. PST—because that’s when the "Shadow Drops" happen without any warning.