2020 Standard
At the beginning of every Championship Series season, Pokemon Organized Play removes older expansions from competition in the Standard format, with the goal of maintaining a healthy competitive environment. This rotation challenges existing players to create new strategies and enables new players to get involved in Play! Pokemon events using the most recent releases.
The 2020 season starts July 1, 2019, so players can get an early start on working toward the 2020 Pokemon World Championships. However, the rotation will not occur until August 15, 2019. Importantly, this means that the 2019 Pokemon World Championships, which take place August 16-18, will be the first major event to use the 2020 format and rules as currently listed. For other competitions taking place this summer, be sure to check the event's rules and regulations before attending.
The Standard format for the 2020 season will consist of the following expansions:
Sun & Moon-Ultra Prism and any expansions released afterward
Black Star Promo cards numbered SM94 and up
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Cards from the following products are alsolegal:
Pokemon TCG: Detective Pikachu
Starting with the 2020 season, cards from McDonald's Collections will be legal in the Standard format if they're functionally identical to a card that is currently legal in the Standard format. For example, Magnemite (McDonald's Collection 2018, 8/12) is functionally the same card as Magnemite from Sun & Moon-Ultra Prism, so it can still be used in the Standard format.
New expansions become legal for tournament play on the third Friday of the month they are released.
| EN no. | Logo | English set | EN cards | EN release date | Set Abbrevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | 
|
Ultra Prism | 173* | February 2, 2018 | UPR |
| 78 | 
|
Forbidden Light | 146* | May 4, 2018 | FLI |
| 79 | 
|
Celestial Storm | 183* | August 3, 2018 | CES |
| 80 | 
|
Dragon Majesty | 78* | September 7, 2018 | DRM |
| 81 | 
|
Lost Thunder | 236* | November 2, 2018 | LOT |
| 82 | 
|
Team Up | 196* | February 1, 2019 | TEU |
|
Detective Pikachu | 18 | March 29, 2019 | DET | |
| 83 | 
|
Unbroken Bonds | 234* | May 3, 2019 | UNB |
| 84 | 
|
Unified Minds | 258* | August 2, 2019 | UNM |
| 85 |
|
Hidden Fates | 163* | August 23, 2019 | HIF |
| 86 |
|
Cosmic Eclipse | 271* | November 1, 2019 | CEC |
| 87 | Sword & Shield | 202+ | February 7, 2020 | SSH |