Dear Reader:
Pokémon TCG Format Rotation for the 2018 Season
With the goal of maintaining a healthy competitive environment, Pokémon Organized Play begins each new Championship Series season by removing older expansions from Standard format competition. The annual rotation challenges existing players to create new strategies while enabling new players to get involved in Play! Pokémon events using the most recent releases.The 2018 season starts on July 10, 2017, so players can get an early start on working toward the 2018 Pokémon World Championships. However, the rotation will not occur until September 1, 2017. Importantly, this means that the Regional Championships in Liverpool, UK, which take place July 29–30, and the 2017 Pokémon World Championships, which take place August 18–20, will use the 2017 format and rules as currently listed, rather than using the new Standard format for the 2018 season.
The Standard format for the 2018 season will consist of the following expansions:
XY—BREAKthrough and any expansions released afterward
Black Star Promo cards numbered XY67 and up, and SM01 and up
Cards from the following products are also legal:
Generations
XY Trainer Kit—Pikachu Libre & Suicune
Sun & Moon Trainer Kit—Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu
McDonald's Collection 2016
New expansions become legal for tournament play on the third Friday of the month they are released.
The Expanded Format for 2018
The Expanded format remains a legal option for sanctioned Pokémon TCG events of all sizes. This format has allowed players to use all expansions from Black & White on, so players will have even more options when designing a winning deck!
The Expanded format will remain unchanged for the 2018 season. This format will continue to be aggressively monitored to ensure fair gameplay balance, and individual cards may be banned periodically to maintain this balance. Consult the Pokémon TCG tournament regulations for the latest updates. Also, please note that Lysandre's Trump Card (XY—Phantom Forces, 99/119 and 118/119) and Shiftry (Black & White—Next Destinies, 72/99) will continue to be banned in the Expanded format for the 2018 season. Players should double-check what format is being used before deciding which deck to bring to their local events.
The Expanded format for the 2018 season will consist of the following expansions:
Black & White and any expansions released afterward
Black Star Promo cards numbered BW01 and up, XY01 and up, and SM01 and up
Cards from the following product are also legal:
Generations
Double Crisis
Dragon Vault
Black & White Trainer Kit
XY Trainer Kit
XY Trainer Kit—Bisharp & Wigglytuff
XY Trainer Kit—Latias & Latios
XY Trainer Kit—Pikachu Libre & Suicune
Sun & Moon Trainer Kit—Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu
McDonald's Collection 2011 and later
New expansions become legal for tournament play on the third Friday of the month they are released.