Only cards that are part of the Standard format may be used in official events. When older cards can no longer be used in official events, it is because they have been rotated out of the Standard format. Play Pokémon has created the Standard format for several reasons.
- The primary reason is accessibility. If older sets were not rotated out of the tournament format, new competitors would have to find cards that have been out of print for five or more years to be competitive. This entry barrier negatively impacts the growth of Play! Pokémon.
- The secondary reason is creativity. By removing older staple cards from the environment, a competitor’s deck-building skills are challenged by requiring them to find new avenues to victory. If sets were not rotated out of the tournament format, creativity would stagnate, and competitors would begin to grow disinterested because they would feel that the game had nothing new to offer them.
- The final reason is balance. As the available card pool grows, the number of possible card combinations increases exponentially. It becomes more and more difficult for The Pokémon Company to monitor what all of these combinations are and to prevent combos that have a negative impact on a competitor’s experience.
Where can I learn about what cards I can use in official events?
Prior to the start of the next tournament season, a list of expansion card sets that will be legal for the season will be announced. The news will be shared on Pokemon.com.
You may find information about individual cards removed from competitive play, card errata, and other rules and resources for Pokémon TCG on our page here.
All Play! Pokémon Premier Events use the Expanded and Standard tournament formats as we feel that they are the healthiest formats for competitors of all skill levels. Play Pokémon also supports the Unlimited format, which allows competitors to use cards from any set.
If you would like to play in Unlimited tournaments, please contact your local Tournament Organizer to request such events.