Loading...
Card Reader
April 25, 2026 at 03:17 PM
Initial article for the Card Reader item.
Card Reader is a paintable Utilities decoration in Pokemon Pokopia that reads key cards or Pokedexes. It is wall-mounted and pairs with the Shutter to create custom Area Gates with player-defined unlock conditions.
In-game description: "A machine that reads key cards or Pokedexes. Mount it to a wall."
Property | Value |
|---|---|
Category | Utilities (Decoration) |
Paintable | Yes |
Trade Value (standard) | 300 |
Trade Value (favorite) | 450 |
Placement | Wall-mounted |
Recipe Cost | 1 Pokemetal |
Recipe Source | Developer Room (Sparkling Skylands) |
The Card Reader appeals to Pokemon that prefer items in these tag groups:
Complicated stuff
Electronics
Glass stuff
Metal stuff
Strange stuff
The Card Reader recipe is unlocked by entering the hidden Pokedex Completion Room in Sparkling Skylands after registering all 300 base Pokemon. The recipe is one of three exclusive unlocks inside the room, alongside the Printer and Shutter.
Recipe: 1 Pokemetal at any Workbench.
When placed alongside a Shutter, the Card Reader becomes the activation mechanism for a custom Area Gate. Players can program the reader to open the Shutter when a specific key (such as a Pokedex with a certain registration count, or a particular collected item) is presented. This lets builders create themed restricted zones in their settlements that mirror the area gates from the main story.
Pair every Card Reader with a Shutter to actually use it as an Area Gate. Standalone, the Card Reader is just a wall decoration.
The Card Reader is one of the few wall-mounted Utilities items, so it works well for filling decoration slots in habitats with wall-decoration preferences.
Paint the Card Reader to match your Shutter and Printer for a coordinated office or secret-base aesthetic.
To get the Card Reader before completing the Pokedex, look for one in the Sparkling Skylands overworld and photograph it for 3D Printer duplication.