My Experience with Pokémon Masters EX
I’ve been using Pokémon Masters EX for about two weeks on my iPhone 14, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag for a cheapskate like me. A buddy from work kept saying how fun it was to collect trainers and their Pokémon, so I caved and downloaded it. I’ve spend hours every evening after dinner just tapping through battles, trying to see how far I can get without paying a dime. The story mode on Pasio is decent — nothing mind-blowing, but it keeps you moving. Last Wednesday night, I was stuck on a tough battle against some psychic-type trainer, and I almost caved and bought gems. But I didn’t. I grinded through the free events instead, and it felt good to earn my way past it. That said, I hit a wall around level 30 where the game really nudges you toward spending. I’m still having fun, but I’m keeping my wallet shut until I’m sure it’s worth it.
Features Worth Noting
The real-time 3-on-3 battles are the main draw, and they’re actually appealing if you like strategy. You can craft teams from different sync pairs — each is a trainer with their specific Pokémon — and plan your moves around their special abilities. I’m still figuring out type advantages, but the tutorial pop-ups help a bit. Co-op battles are a thing too, but I didn’t bother because I don’t want to rely on strangers to enjoy a game. The daily login bonuses and event rewards are generous for free players — I got a couple of five-star sync pairs just from logging in over two weeks. There’s also a training area where you can level up your pairs without battling, which saves time. The art style is polished, and the voice acting during story scenes is a nice touch, even if I skip most of it. But here’s the thing: the game throws a lot of currencies at you — gems, coins, tickets — and it’s confusing to keep track of what each one does without looking it up online. I spent twenty minutes last Tuesday trying to figure out how to upgrade a move level, and I had to YouTube it.
What Needs Work
The biggest issue for a budget-conscious person like me is how aggressive the game gets with its premium currency, Gems. You earn them slowly through free missions, but the best sync pairs and upgrades are locked behind expensive banners that require hundreds of Gems. I saved up for a week and only got one multi-pull — and it gave me a duplicate I already had. That felt like a waste of time. The learning curve is also steeper than I expected. The game explains basic stuff, but it doesn’t tell you how to efficiently manage your resources or which sync pairs are worth investing in. I had to Google “best free units in Pokémon Masters EX” just to avoid wasting materials on weak ones. Also, the load times can be annoying — even on my iPhone 14, some screens take forever to transition, especially during event menus. And one more thing: the support team took several days to reply to my question about a bug, which is frustrating when you’re trying to complete a limited-time event and time is running out.
Pricing
The app is free to download, which is how I like it. But the in-app purchases are everywhere. You have things like the daily bundle for about a dollar, monthly passes around ten bucks, and those expensive Gems packs that go up to eighty dollars or more. I refused to buy anything so far. I noticed that the game throws pop-up sales at you after you lose a battle or open a special pack — it feels a bit manipulative, honestly. For casual play, you can get by without spending, but you won’t be competitive in the high-level events. There’s also a “Guaranteed 5-star Scout” voucher that cost real money, and that’s tempting, but I’m sticking to my rule: I don’t pay until I’ve seen every free feature at least twice.
Developer Notes
The game is made by DeNA Co., Ltd. in partnership with The Pokémon Company. I did a quick search to see if they have a sketchy history with microtransactions, and it seems like they update the game regularly with new events and sync pairs. They also released an EX version that supposedly improved the graphics and added more story content. On the plus side, they gave out free 5-star sync pairs to celebrate anime anniversaries, which is cool for free players like me. But I’m cautious — some older reviews mention that the game used to be even more pay-to-win, and while it’s better now, the pressure to spend is still there. They definitely know how to keep players hooked with limited-time banners and stamina systems.
Security & Privacy
I’m not too paranoid, but I always check what permissions an app asks for. Pokémon Masters EX wanted access to my storage and network data, which is normal for a game that downloads assets. They have a privacy policy that says they collect info like device ID, gameplay data, and purchase history for ads and analytics. I don’t love that, but it’s typical for free games. I also linked my Nintendo account to save progress, which feels safer than having my data tied to some random login. No creepy stuff like camera or microphone access, so that’s a relief. Still, I wouldn’t give them my credit card info unless I absolutely trusted the game — which I don’t yet.
How do the real-time 3-on-3 battles work in Pokémon Masters EX?
You build a team of three sync pairs (each a trainer with their specific Pokémon) and battle in real time, using type advantages and special abilities. The game provides tutorial pop-ups to help you learn, but you'll need to experiment with different pairs to master strategy.
What are the different currencies in Pokémon Masters EX, and how do I use them?
The main currencies are Gems (premium currency for pulls and upgrades), coins, and tickets, but the game doesn't explain them well. You earn Gems slowly through free missions and events, while coins and tickets are used for leveling and upgrades—check online guides to avoid wasting them.
I hit a wall around level 30 and feel pressured to spend money. How can I progress as a free player?
Focus on grinding free events and daily login bonuses, which can give you five-star sync pairs and resources without spending. Use the training area to level up your pairs, and look up guides for the best free units to invest in, so you don't waste materials on weak ones.
Why are the load times so slow in Pokémon Masters EX, even on a newer phone?
Load times can be long, especially during event menus, even on devices like the iPhone 14. This is a known issue; try closing background apps or reinstalling the game to improve performance, though it may not fully resolve the problem.
How does Pokémon Masters EX compare to other Pokémon mobile games like Pokémon GO?
Unlike Pokémon GO's real-world exploration and catching, Pokémon Masters EX focuses on strategic 3-on-3 battles with trainer-Pokémon pairs on a fictional island. It's more about team building and resource management, but it can feel more aggressive with premium currency pushes than GO's free-to-play model.
