Pokemon TCG Pocket: Open Dialga or Palkia First?

The Space-Time Smackdown booster packs have arrived in Pokémon TCG Pocket. As with any new card release, they're sure to impact the competitive metagame. Unlike the smaller Mythical Island expansion, however, Pokémon GO players must decide between two distinct pack types—Dialga Packs and Palkia Packs.

How To Tell Which Cards Are in the Dialga Pack vs. Palkia Pack

The Space-Time Smackdown expansion features two separate booster packs. One displays Dialga on the packaging, while the other features Palkia. Similar to the Genetic Apex set, the available card pools differ slightly between packs. You can view the cards included in each, along with their pull rates, by selecting "Offering Rates" in the lower-left corner of the booster pack selection screen.

To check which cards come in Dialga versus Palkia packs in Pokémon TCG Pocket, simply hover over your desired pack and click "Offering Rates" to see the full list of contents.

The new set contains 207 cards in total, with certain cards being exclusive to one pack type. To decide which packs to prioritize, focus on the exclusive cards you want most for your collection.

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Should You Focus on Opening Dialga Packs or Palkia Packs in Pokemon TCG Pocket?

Deciding where to spend your Pack Hourglasses in Pokémon TCG Pocket depends on your goals. If you’re pursuing a particular favorite Pokémon, target the pack it appears in. Alternatively, if optimizing for competitive play is your aim, prioritize packs containing cards with strong battle potential. Here are key factors to help you choose between Dialga and Palkia packs.

Dialga High-Priority Pack Exclusives

Dialga packs contain several key EX cards, including Dialga EX, Yanmega EX, Gallade EX, and Darkrai EX. If you're planning to build a deck around any of these powerful EX Pokémon, focusing on Dialga packs is your best bet.

Certain illustration rare cards and Supporter cards are also exclusive to Dialga packs. For instance, you can only obtain Dawn and Volkner Supporter cards from these boosters.

Finally, collectors seeking Bidoof will find it exclusively in Dialga packs.

Palkia High-Priority Pack Exclusives

If you're aiming to get Palkia EX in Pokémon TCG Pocket, you’ll need to open Palkia packs, not Dialga ones. While this set has fewer EX cards overall than Dialga’s, it includes Lickilicky EX, Weavile EX, and Mismagius EX. These may not be receiving as much attention in early PvP discussions, but they could help you build a more unconventional and surprising deck.

For Supporter cards exclusive to Palkia packs, you’ll find Mars and Cynthia. If either is a personal favorite or their abilities align with your strategy, this may be the right choice for you.

Final Verdict – Which Packs to Pick

Dialga packs appear to be the stronger competitive option, offering multiple high-impact EX cards right from the start. However, the Palkia set includes several powerful Supporter cards and might help you assemble a less predictable deck strategy.

In the end, both paths lead to exciting new cards. Start by targeting the pack that contains your most-wanted chase cards. After that, save your Pack Hourglasses and Pack Points to complete your collection over time.

That covers everything you need to know about choosing between Dialga and Palkia packs in Pokémon TCG Pocket.

Pokémon TCG Pocket is available now on mobile devices.