Tournament Legal cards: The Standard-Constructed Format
When learning how to play the Pokémon trading card game or playing with friends just for fun you can you use cards from any set. However, when you play in an official Pokémon tournament you will only be allowed to use cards from specific sets depending upon the type of tournament.
Normally, in tournaments you have to make a 60 card deck using the Standard - Constructed format.
Every year, following the World Championships tournament (usually around September), the Pokémon Company rotates out some older sets. This is to ensure that the game stays fresh and to encourage players to come up with new ideas and strategies that will allow a balance to the game and prevent certain cards and card combinations from becoming too powerful as to negatively affect the overall spirit of the game.
For 2019/20 the Standard format consists of cards from Sun and Moon: Ultra Prism onwards.
(Some tournaments may also make use of the Expanded format which allow players to construct decks using cards from the Black and White series onwards)
The new Standard format includes cards from the following sets:-
Ultra-Prism, Forbidden Light, Celestial Storm, Lost Thunder, Team Up, Unbroken Bonds, Unified Minds
Detective Pikachu, Dragon Majesty
Promo cards numbered SM94 and above
New sets will also become legal on the 3rd Friday of the month after they are released
Normally, in tournaments you have to make a 60 card deck using the Standard - Constructed format.
Every year, following the World Championships tournament (usually around September), the Pokémon Company rotates out some older sets. This is to ensure that the game stays fresh and to encourage players to come up with new ideas and strategies that will allow a balance to the game and prevent certain cards and card combinations from becoming too powerful as to negatively affect the overall spirit of the game.
For 2019/20 the Standard format consists of cards from Sun and Moon: Ultra Prism onwards.
(Some tournaments may also make use of the Expanded format which allow players to construct decks using cards from the Black and White series onwards)
The new Standard format includes cards from the following sets:-
Ultra-Prism, Forbidden Light, Celestial Storm, Lost Thunder, Team Up, Unbroken Bonds, Unified Minds
Detective Pikachu, Dragon Majesty
Promo cards numbered SM94 and above
New sets will also become legal on the 3rd Friday of the month after they are released
Pokémon Organized Play permits the use of cards from sets that are not legal in the Standard format, as long as those cards have been reprinted in a Standard-legal set. In most cases, the mechanics of the old card remain unchanged, though the wording may be slightly altered for clarification. The easiest way to check if a card is legal for tournament play is to check the lists available on pokegym.net using the links below.
Standard Format List
Expanded Format List
In a few rare cases, the game play text of a reprinted card is significantly modified. In these cases, a player may only use an older version of that card if they provide a Card-Dex with the wording for the most recent printing of the card, OR the player has a copy of the card with the most recent wording, outside of his or her deck, for reference.
Click on the link below if you need to download a blank deck registration list to complete before going to a tournament
play-pokemon-deck-list-2019-1.pdf | |
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