Formats & Rotation FAQ
Understanding Pokemon TCG formats — Standard, Expanded, rotation, and card legality.
What is Standard format in Pokemon TCG?↓
Standard is the primary competitive format, using only cards from the most recent sets (typically the last 2-3 years). It is the format used at most official tournaments, including Regional Championships and the World Championships. The card pool rotates annually to keep the meta fresh.
What is Expanded format in Pokemon TCG?↓
Expanded allows all cards from Black & White (2011) onward. This creates a much larger card pool with more powerful combos and strategies. Expanded has its own tournament circuit and ban list.
What is rotation in the Pokemon TCG?↓
Rotation is the annual process where older sets become illegal in Standard format. The Pokemon Company announces the rotation cutoff each year before Worlds. Cards that rotate out remain legal in Expanded format.
How do I know which cards are legal in Standard?↓
Check the regulation mark (a letter A-I) in the bottom-left corner of modern cards. The Pokemon Company announces which regulation marks are Standard-legal each year. You can also use official resources like the Pokemon TCG card database to check legality.
What are regulation marks on Pokemon cards?↓
Regulation marks are letters (D through I and beyond) printed on modern Pokemon cards that indicate which rotation cycle they belong to. When a rotation happens, cards with older regulation marks become illegal in Standard format.