Find out what is currently legal in the standard Pokemon TCG metagame, and what will be legal after rotation takes place on April 5, 2024.
Pokemon TCG has a rotation of sets every year which removes the older sets from competitive play. This helps to keep play lively and the metagame fresh and exciting for competitors.
Of course, just because a card isn’t in the rotation that year doesn’t mean you can’t play them against your friends—for example the old-school Pokemon Premium Collection cards. You can also play any cards in the “Unlimited” format, although this hasn’t been supported in the West since before the global health pandemic.
There is also an expanded metagame for players in Japan, which isn’t played much outside of the country. Although the Expanded Meta has a ban list, it allows the use of pretty much any card ever released.
Contents:
- What’s in Standard for Pokemon TCG?
- How to tell if a card is legal for tournament play for PTCG?
- When does rotation occur for Pokemon TCG in 2024?
- What will be legal after the 2024 Pokemon TCG rotation?
- When is rotation in Pokemon TCG live?
What’s in Standard for Pokemon TCG?
The following are currently legal for play in Pokemon TCG’s Standard format:
| Pokemon card set | Year of release | Series set identifier |
|---|---|---|
| Temporal Forces (TEF) | 2024 | |
| Paldean Fates (PAL) | 2024 | |
| Paradox Rift (PAR) | 2023 | |
| Obsidian Flames (OBF) | 2023 | |
| Paldea Evolved (PAL) | 2023 | |
| Scarlet & Violet (SVI) | 2023 |
| Sword & Shield Series | Year of release | Series set Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Crown Zenith (CRZ) | 2023 | |
| Silver Temptest (SIT) | 2022 | |
| Lost Origin (LOR) | 2022 | |
| Pokemon GO (PGO) | 2022 | |
| Astral Radiance (ASR) | 2022 | |
| Brilliant Stars (BRS) | 2022 | |
| Fusion Strike (FST) | 2022 | |
| Celebrations (CEL) | 2021 | |
| Celebrations Classic Collection | 2021 | |
| Evolving Skies (EVS) | 2021 | |
| Chilling Reign (CRE) | 2021 | |
| Battle Styles (BST) | 2021 | |
| Shining Fates (BRS) | 2021 |
| Other Miscellaneous sets | Series set symbol |
|---|---|
| SWSH Black Star Promos | |
| SVP Black Star Promos | |
| McDonald’s Collection 2022 |
How to tell if a card is legal in tournament play for PTCG
Cards with “E” and “F” regulation marks are legal to use until rotation in 2024 (exact date TBA). You will find the regulation symbols on the bottom left corner of the card.
Other cards cannot be used, for example, If a card has a “D” regulation checkmark, it cannot be played.
However, there is an exception to this rule. If you have an older version of a card with the wrong regulation checkmark, but a newer version of the same card exists then it will be legal for tournament play.
For more about Regulation marks and other card symbols, including where to find them, read our guide on Pokemon Card Symbols and what they mean.
The following list of sets are playable in standard, assuming the cards from them are marked with an “E” regulation mark, or later.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
When does Pokemon TCG rotate in 2024?
Standard Pokemon TCG format rotation will happen on April 5, 2024. After rotation, any cards marked with an “E” regulation mark will cease to be legal in tournament play. This is two weeks after the release of the Temporal Forces expansion on March 22nd.
Cards from sets before Fusion Strike will only be available if they have been reprinted. You can find a full list of cards leaving standard as well as reprinted, legal cards, on this website.
What will be legal after the 2024 Pokemon TCG rotation?
Expect cards with an “F” regulation checkmark or newer to be legal after the 2024 rotation. Cards with a regulation “E” checkmark will rotate out.
| Pokemon card set | Year of release | Set symbol or Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| Temporal Forces (?) | 2024 | ? |
| Paradox Rift (PAR) | 2023 | |
| Obsidian Flames (OBF) | 2023 | |
| Paldea Evolved (PAL) | 2023 | |
| Scarlet & Violet (SVI) | 2023 | |
| Crown Zenith (CRZ) | 2023 | |
| Silver Temptest (SIT) | 2022 | |
| Lost Origin (LOR) | 2022 | |
| Pokemon GO (PGO) | 2022 | |
| Astral Radiance (ASR) | 2022 | |
| Brilliant Stars (BRS) | 2022 |
Some noteworthy losses from standard include:
- Battle VIP pass
- Path to the Peak
- Gardevoir
- Escape Rope
- Energy Recycler
- Rapid Strike Urshifu V & Vmax
- Inteleon V & Vmax
- Mew V & Vmax
- Genesect V
- Cross Switcher
- Flaaffy
When is rotation in Pokemon Trading Card Game Live?
The Pokemon TCG Live app will undergo rotation on March 21st. This is two weeks before the physical Pokemon Trading Card Game rotates and coincides with the Western launch of Temporal Forces on March 22.
Two weeks after a new card is launched it will become legal for use in tournament play. So the Temporal Forces set will most likely be playable at the European International Championships that takes place between April 5 – 7, 2024.
If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.
For more tips and tricks to become the very best, make sure you check out our other articles:
Best Waifu Cards and Where to Buy Them | Most expensive and rarest Pokemon cards | What do the symbols mean on Pokemon cards? | Most expensive Charizard cards | How many Pokemon cards are there? | Are Golden Pokemon cards real? Golden cards explained | Most valuable Pokemon Energy cards you can add to your collection | Can you sell your Pokemon cards at GameStop? |