Rotation (TCG)

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Arotation in thePokémon Trading Card Game is when several sets are removed fromPlay! Pokémon sanctioned events, generally because they are too old and would not be compatible with newer sets or rules. Rotations almost always occur directly following theWorld Championships and remove four or more sets. If a set is rotated, that means a player may no longer use any card from that set in their deck (with exceptions; see below). This rule only applies toStandard format (formally referred to as Modified format) andExpanded format. InUnlimited format, players may use any card from any set in their decks.

Legal cards from rotated sets

Some cards in sets that are part of the current rotation arereprints of cards that appeared in older rotations. If a card is included as part of any set in the current rotation, any version of that card is legal for tournament play. For example, at least one version ofRare Candy has been legal in every modified format since it was printed. Thus, older versions of Rare Candy, even those from rotated sets likeEX Sandstorm andGreat Encounters, are still legal cards. Similarly, basicEnergy cards from all sets exceptFairy Energy are still allowed in tournament play.

Currently, only older cards that have received officialerrata fromThe Pokémon Company may be played. Previously, in cases where a card is reprinted with significant text changes, the player playing the card must have had a new copy of the card on hand, separate from their deck to serve as reference. For example, the effect ofEnergy Retrieval printed inBlack & White is different from the original print inBase Set. A player would be permitted to include the Base Set print of Energy Retrieval in their deck for tournament play, but would be required to provide a copy of the Black & White print as reference. As errata are understood implicitly aspublic information, a reference is no longer required.

Since the introduction ofregulation marks in the Japanese Sun & Moon Series and international Sword & Shield Series, the above only applies forTrainer and Energy cards, not Pokémon cards. For example, regulationSVP Promo 101Pikachu is not legal for play in the2026-27 Standard format, despite being textually identical to regulation SVP Promo 190Pikachu and regulation SVP Promo 225Pikachu. RegulationUltra Ball may be played, however, as it is a Trainer card with the same name as the regulationUltra Ball.