The Pokémon Trading Card Game has many old and valuable cards, but only recent collections (like Pokémon Sword & Shield) are allowed in official tournament play. This information may disappoint owners of powerful cards and classic collections, but the regulation of legal cards is vital to competitive Pokémon TCG events. Pokémon TCG must maintain accessibility to new players, meaning card series and collections that are no longer feasible to obtain often find themselves rotated out for the official season.
Pokémon TCG launched in December of 1998 and has released many sets and expansions since then. Since its launch, The Pokémon Company has developed and released thousands of cards. Despite the high prices of many Pokémon TCG cards, their value rarely comes from usability in-game. Instead, value is determined by rarity, art style, age, and condition. These traits are vital to collectors but not acknowledged in official Pokémon TCG tournaments.
Pokémon TCG sets and collections approved for official tournament play must fit into the season's modified Format. The Pokémon Company releases updated Pokémon Trading Card Game Format Rotations several months before the start of the Championship season. These announcements detail which collections Standard Format and Expanded Format will use and which Pokémon TCG cards are banned. While old cards are frequently marked ineligible, new Pokémon TCG expansions also suffer from buffer times. Official rules restrict players from using recently released expansions for two weeks, giving ample time for determined players to collect the Pokémon cards they need.
Old Pokémon Trading Card Game Cards Are Illegal For Fairness
The Pokémon Trading Card Game 2022 Championship Season begins September 10, 2021, and includes all "D" and "E" regulation mark cards from the Sword & Shield series. Before this season, officials decided card legality based on the expansion origin of each card. As a result, the 2021 Champion Season encompassed the Sword & Shield series, forcing players to adapt to the V and VMAX Pokémon card mechanics entering the field. The Sword & Shield series will be receiving two new expansions before the end of 2021, with Celebrations releasing in October and Fusion Strike releasing in November. Pokémon TCG's Fusion Strike will contain a unique Battle Style, introducing a new mechanic to official tournament play two weeks after its release.
However, players with old, powerful Pokémon TCG cards should not fret, as Unlimited Format and casual play allow their use. Unlimited Format is usually found outside Championship matches and is often reserved for special occasions (like promotional or charity events). Players battling friends should use whatever cards they have at their disposal, as many abilities, attacks, and mechanics still function within current rules and regulations.
Limited access to old Pokémon cards is the primary reason for rotating Pokémon TCG sets out of legality. This policy also restricts players from abusing certain card sets and diversifies strategies, decks, and cards used in play. In addition, the constant shuffling of legal series and expansions ensures the Pokémon Trading Card Game tournaments can continue to grow with new releases, introducing new mechanics to keep battles fresh and entertaining for players and fans alike. The Pokémon Trading Card Game's 2022 Season goes into effect on September 10.