Competitive Rules & Formats

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Select a category to view the rules and format for that category.

A pair of hands holding Pokémon TCG cards during a match.

Trading Card Game

Three cards overlapping.

Introduction to Rotation

During every Championship Series season, Play! Pokémon removes older cards from competition in the Standard format with the goal of maintaining a healthy competitive environment. Standard format is the most popular way to play the Pokémon TCG, so this is essential to keeping things fresh and fun for experienced and new players alike.

A Pokémon TCG card with the regulation mark highlighted.

Pokémon TCG Card Legality

Pokémon TCG cards rotate out of the Standard format based on their regulation mark, a letter found on the bottom-left corner of all cards starting in 2020. Before a regulation mark rotates out of the Standard format, a new regulation mark is released to take its place. Cards that have older (or no) regulation marks but have been reprinted with current regulation marks are legal for the Standard format. A few of these cards have received errata, or updates to their wording, and that list can be found below.

View Errata
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Alternative Formats

Standard format is the most common way to play the Pokémon TCG, but the community often enjoys a variety of other fun ways to play the game. Gym Leader Challenge is a popular example and is one of many listed in the Alternative Play Handbook linked below.

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Pokémon TCG Tournament Rule Handbook

Reference the complete Tournament Rules Handbook for a comprehensive breakdown of all rules and regulations.

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