Pokémon formats and card legality

In short

Standard allows cards with regulation mark H, I or J since April 10, 2026. G cards rotated out (Pokémon).
The next rotation isn't announced as of October 13, 2026.
Expanded allows Black & White cards onward, minus a ban list. Unlimited allows every card.
New sets are legal about two weeks after release, so a card you open at launch may not be playable that weekend.

What's legal in each format

Format	Legal cards	Announced	Effective	Source
Standard	Regulation marks H, I and J, and any later marks	Jan 9, 2026	Apr 10, 2026 (in person)	Pokémon
Expanded	Black & White series onward, minus the ban list	Jan 9, 2026 ("unchanged")	Unchanged	Pokémon, ban list
Unlimited	Every card from Base Set on; no cards banned	n/a	n/a	Pokémon ban list
Prerelease	Only the packs in that event's kit	Per set	That event	Play! Pokémon

International Play! Pokémon rules, as used in the US. Last verified October 13, 2026. Japan runs its own schedule: its Standard moved to H, I and J on January 23, 2026 (Pokémon Japan).

Find the regulation mark

The regulation mark is "a letter found on the bottom-left corner of all cards starting in 2020" (Play! Pokémon rules). Pokémon rotates Standard by these letters, not by set name: "A card's legality status is not based on which expansion it's from" (Pokémon).

Older cards still count when reprinted. "Older versions of cards that don't have a regulation mark can still be used if the card is currently legal for play." Pokémon's own example: an older Rare Candy stays legal because Rare Candy was reprinted with an I mark (Pokémon).

Charizard ex from Obsidian Flames; the enlarged corner shows regulation mark G, no longer legal in Standard — G Rotated outCharizard ex, Obsidian Flames. Illus. 5ban Graphics

Pikachu ex from Surging Sparks; the enlarged corner shows regulation mark H — H StandardPikachu ex, Surging Sparks. Illus. aky CG Works

Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex from Destined Rivals; the enlarged corner shows regulation mark I — I StandardTeam Rocket's Mewtwo ex, Destined Rivals. Illus. aky CG Works

Staryu from Perfect Order; the enlarged corner shows regulation mark J — J StandardStaryu, Perfect Order. Illus. Takeshi Nakamura

Same spot on every card: the letter left of the set code. Card images © Pokémon, Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK; scans via the Pokémon TCG API and Limitless TCG. Standard as of October 14, 2026.

How rotation works

In both 2025 and 2026, Pokémon dropped the oldest letter from Standard in the spring and announced it months ahead. The 2025 rotation removed F (Pokémon's announcement, reprinted by GoNintendo). The 2026 rotation was announced January 9 and took effect at in-person events April 10 (March 26 on Pokémon TCG Live) (Pokémon). Rotated cards stay legal in Expanded, unless banned, and in Unlimited.

GLeft Standard on April 10, 2026
H · I · JLegal in Standard since April 10, 2026
NextNot announced as of October 13, 2026

Our diagram, from Pokémon's announcement. We don't predict the next rotation; this page changes when Pokémon announces it.

Which format am I playing?

1. Read the event listingIt names the format: Standard, Expanded or a prerelease.
2. Standard? Check the markH, I or J in the bottom-left corner.
3. No mark, or an old one?It's legal if the same card has a legal reprint.
4. Brand-new set?Its cards are legal about two weeks after release.

Check the event listing for its format before you buy for a deck. Find events in the Event Locator, and if your store isn't listed, Pokémon suggests asking the store directly (Play! Pokémon).

Buying with legality in mind

Sealed product holds cards from its set, so check the set's regulation mark before buying it to play Standard. A product's date doesn't tell you its letter.
New-set cards are legal "typically two weeks after their release" (Pokémon).
Promos from special collections become legal "on the first or third Friday of the month after the product is released" (Pokémon). See our promo cards guide.
Prereleases are their own format: you build from the kit you're given. The cards join Standard on the set's legal date like any others. See Prerelease events explained.
Reprints can keep an older card playable (the rule above). Our reprints guide covers what a reprint is.

Checked against Pokémon's official pages on October 13, 2026. We re-check on the 1st and 15th of each month and whenever Pokémon announces a format change. For the full rules, see Play! Pokémon rules and resources.