The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket community is buzzing with requests for a full-art Professor's Research card.  Shortly after the release of the latest expansion, Triumphant Light, players began voicing their desire for a premium version of the iconic Professor Oak card.

DeNA's popular mobile game has maintained a rapid pace of content releases, adding new card sets nearly every month since its launch in late 2024. The Triumphant Light expansion, launched on February 28th, introduced 96 new cards, including the powerful Celestic Town Elder (#88). This Trainer card allows players to retrieve a Basic Pokémon from their discard pile, adding a strategic revival mechanic to the game.

While Celestic Town Elder has been praised for its unique gameplay mechanic, its full-art variant has sparked debate. Players like Reddit user G_aster have questioned the decision to prioritize a full-art Celestic Town Elder over more iconic cards like Professor Oak.  G_aster's post, arguing that "glorious Professor Oak" deserves the full-art treatment more than a "random grandma," gained significant traction within the r/PTCGP subreddit, indicating widespread support for a full-art Professor's Research.

The characterization of Celestic Town Elder as a "random grandma" also drew criticism, with many players highlighting her significant role within the Generation 4 Pokémon games.

Given Professor Oak's legendary status within the Pokémon franchise, many believe a full-art card is inevitable. However, some speculate that such a valuable card might be locked behind a paywall, potentially offered as a monthly perk for Pokémon TCG Pocket Premium Pass subscribers.

It's unlikely that this recent fan outcry will immediately impact DeNA's plans. Live-service games typically have content roadmaps planned months in advance. The next expansion is likely already in development and was probably conceived in 2024, with a potential release in the first half of April 2025.  While DeNA has stated that expansions will only be available for a limited time, none have been removed from the game as of early March 2025.