Rotation (TCG)

A rotation in the Pokémon Trading Card Game is when several sets are removed from Play! 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 the World 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 to Standard format (formally referred to as Modified format) and Expanded format. In Unlimited 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 are reprints 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 of Rare Candy has been legal in every modified format since it was printed. Thus, older versions of Rare Candy, even those from rotated sets like EX Sandstorm and Great Encounters, are still legal cards. Similarly, basic Energy cards from all sets are still allowed in tournament play.

In cases where a card is reprinted with significant text changes, the player playing the card must have a new copy of the card on hand, separate from their deck to serve as reference. For example, the effect of Energy Retrieval printed in Black & White is different from the original print in Base 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.

Current rotation

Expansions that are part of the current rotation

Standard format Sun & Moon Series Sun & Moon Guardians Rising Burning Shadows Shining Legends Crimson Invasion Ultra Prism Forbidden Light Celestial Storm Dragon Majesty Lost Thunder} Team Up Detective Pikachu File:LycanrocHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:AlolanRaichuHalfDeckSymbol.png Sun & Moon Trainer Kit: Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu File:AlolanSandslashHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:AlolanNinetalesHalfDeckSymbol.png Sun & Moon Trainer Kit: Alolan Sandslash & Alolan Ninetales Note: Additional expansions are added to the current rotation the third Friday after they are released in the United States. Black Star Promos SM Black Star Promos cards numbered SM01 and higher McDonald's Collection McDonald's Collection 2017 McDonald's Collection 2018

Expanded format Black & White Series Black & White Emerging Powers Noble Victories Next Destinies Dark Explorers Dragons Exalted Dragon Vault Boundaries Crossed Plasma Storm Plasma Freeze Plasma Blast Legendary Treasures File:ExcadrillHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:ZoroarkHalfDeckSymbol.png Black & White Trainer Kit XY Series Kalos Starter Set XY Flashfire Furious Fists Phantom Forces Primal Clash Double Crisis — mini set Roaring Skies Ancient Origins BREAKthrough BREAKpoint Generations Fates Collide Steam Siege Evolutions / XY Trainer Kit File:BisharpHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:WigglytuffHalfDeckSymbol.png XY Trainer Kit: Bisharp & Wigglytuff File:LatiasXYHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:LatiosXYHalfDeckSymbol.png XY Trainer Kit: Latias & Latios File:PikachuLibreXYHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:SuicuneHalfDeckSymbol.png XY Trainer Kit: Pikachu Libre & Suicune Sun & Moon Series Sun & Moon Guardians Rising Burning Shadows Shining Legends Crimson Invasion Ultra Prism Forbidden Light Celestial Storm Dragon Majesty Lost Thunder} Team Up Detective Pikachu File:LycanrocHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:AlolanRaichuHalfDeckSymbol.png Sun & Moon Trainer Kit: Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu File:AlolanSandslashHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:AlolanNinetalesHalfDeckSymbol.png Sun & Moon Trainer Kit: Alolan Sandslash & Alolan Ninetales Note: Additional expansions are added to the current rotation the third Friday after they are released in the United States. Black Star Promos BW Black Star Promos cards numbered BW01 and higher XY Black Star Promos cards numbered XY01 and higher SM Black Star Promos cards numbered SM01 and higher McDonald's Collection McDonald's Collection 2011 McDonald's Collection 2012 McDonald's Collection 2013 McDonald's Collection 2014 McDonald's Collection 2015 McDonald's Collection 2016 McDonald's Collection 2017 McDonald's Collection 2018

Expansions that have been rotated out or were never legal

Standard format Original Series Base Set Jungle Fossil Base Set 2 Team Rocket Gym Heroes Gym Challenge Neo Series Neo Genesis Neo Discovery Neo Revelation Neo Destiny Southern Islands (promo set) Legendary Collection Series Legendary Collection e-Card Series Expedition Base Set Aquapolis Skyridge Best of Game Cards (promo set) EX Series EX Ruby & Sapphire EX Sandstorm EX Dragon EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua EX Hidden Legends EX FireRed & LeafGreen EX Team Rocket Returns EX Deoxys EX Emerald EX Unseen Forces EX Delta Species EX Legend Maker EX Holon Phantoms EX Crystal Guardians EX Dragon Frontiers EX Power Keepers File:SetSymbolLatiasHalfDeck.png / File:SetSymbolLatiosHalfDeck.png EX Trainer Kit EX Battle Stadium File:SetSymbolPlusleHalfDeck.png / File:SetSymbolMinunHalfDeck.png EX Trainer Kit 2 Diamond & Pearl Series Diamond & Pearl Mysterious Treasures Secret Wonders Great Encounters Majestic Dawn Legends Awakened Stormfront File:ManaphyHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:LucarioHalfDeckSymbol.png Diamond & Pearl Trainer Kit Platinum Series Platinum Rising Rivals Supreme Victors Arceus File:SetSymbolPokemon Rumble.png Pokémon Rumble HeartGold & SoulSilver Series HeartGold & SoulSilver Unleashed Undaunted Triumphant File:GyaradosHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:RaichuHalfDeckSymbol.png HS Trainer Kit Call of Legends Series Call of Legends Black & White Series Black & White Emerging Powers Noble Victories Next Destinies Dark Explorers Dragons Exalted Dragon Vault Boundaries Crossed Plasma Storm Plasma Freeze Plasma Blast Legendary Treasures File:ExcadrillHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:ZoroarkHalfDeckSymbol.png Black & White Trainer Kit XY series Kalos Starter Set XY Flashfire Furious Fists Phantom Forces Primal Clash Double Crisis — mini set Roaring Skies Ancient Origins BREAKthrough BREAKpoint Generations Fates Collide Steam Siege Evolutions / XY Trainer Kit File:BisharpHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:WigglytuffHalfDeckSymbol.png XY Trainer Kit: Bisharp & Wigglytuff File:LatiasXYHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:LatiosXYHalfDeckSymbol.png XY Trainer Kit: Latias & Latios File:PikachuLibreXYHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:SuicuneHalfDeckSymbol.png XY Trainer Kit: Pikachu Libre & Suicune POP Series POP Series 1 POP Series 2 POP Series 3 POP Series 4 POP Series 5 POP Series 6 POP Series 7 POP Series 8 POP Series 9 Black Star Promos Wizards Black Star Promos Nintendo Black Star Promos HGSS Black Star Promos DP Black Star Promos BW Black Star Promos XY Black Star Promos McDonald's Collection McDonald's Collection 2011 McDonald's Collection 2012 McDonald's Collection 2013 McDonald's Collection 2014 McDonald's Collection 2015 McDonald's Collection 2016 Miscellaneous Promotional cards All pre-Boundaries Crossed expansion cards Ancient Mew ___'s Pikachu (also known as "Happy Birthday, Pikachu!") World Championships Decks All

Expanded format Original Series Base Set Jungle Fossil Base Set 2 Team Rocket Gym Heroes Gym Challenge Neo Series Neo Genesis Neo Discovery Neo Revelation Neo Destiny Southern Islands (promo set) Legendary Collection Series Legendary Collection e-Card Series Expedition Base Set Aquapolis Skyridge Best of Game Cards (promo set) EX Series EX Ruby & Sapphire EX Sandstorm EX Dragon EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua EX Hidden Legends EX FireRed & LeafGreen EX Team Rocket Returns EX Deoxys EX Emerald EX Unseen Forces EX Delta Species EX Legend Maker EX Holon Phantoms EX Crystal Guardians EX Dragon Frontiers EX Power Keepers File:SetSymbolLatiasHalfDeck.png / File:SetSymbolLatiosHalfDeck.png EX Trainer Kit EX Battle Stadium File:SetSymbolPlusleHalfDeck.png / File:SetSymbolMinunHalfDeck.png EX Trainer Kit 2 Diamond & Pearl Series Diamond & Pearl Mysterious Treasures Secret Wonders Great Encounters Majestic Dawn Legends Awakened Stormfront File:ManaphyHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:LucarioHalfDeckSymbol.png Diamond & Pearl Trainer Kit Platinum Series Platinum Rising Rivals Supreme Victors Arceus File:SetSymbolPokemon Rumble.png Pokémon Rumble HeartGold & SoulSilver Series HeartGold & SoulSilver Unleashed Undaunted Triumphant File:GyaradosHalfDeckSymbol.png / File:RaichuHalfDeckSymbol.png HS Trainer Kit Call of Legends Series Call of Legends POP Series POP Series 1 POP Series 2 POP Series 3 POP Series 4 POP Series 5 POP Series 6 POP Series 7 POP Series 8 POP Series 9 Black Star Promos Wizards Black Star Promos Nintendo Black Star Promos DP Black Star Promos HGSS Black Star Promos Miscellaneous Promotional cards All pre-Black & White Series cards Ancient Mew ___'s Pikachu (also known as "Happy Birthday, Pikachu!") World Championships Decks All

See also

• Standard format
• Expanded format
• Pokémon Trading Card Game

External links

• Pokémon Play! Pokémon Official Card Lists

This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.