
Review
2023 Rotation: All About the TCG's Update
01/25/23 0 comments
Keep yourself updated with all the information about 2023's Rotation, which will happen in April, so you know which sets will be unavailable for the Standard format and which cards will be viable.
What is "Rotation"?
Rotation
is a Pokémon Company procedure which aims at devaluing some previous sets from a block to boost the entry of new cards of future sets in that same block or a different one. As the next block is aboutScarlet/Violet
, theSword/Shield
block is over, in the sense that there aren't any more sets for it, as the last one released in the main set wasSword/Shield: Silver Tempest
Sword/Shield: Crown Zenith
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April 14th, 2023
, the physical tourneys' rotation will happen, but for the digital platforms, such as Pokémon Live, it will happen onMarch 30th, 2023
(and we don't have the dates for rotation in Pokémon TCG Online).How to Identify which Sets and Cards will Rotate?
According to Pokémon Company's new TOS, it will be all sets that have cards with a tag in the left inferior border of the letterD
.And How to Identify That?

Base Sets
-Sword / Shield: Base Set
- also calledSword/Shield 1
. -Sword / Shield: Rebel Clash
- also calledSword/Shield 2
. -Sword / Shield: Darkness Ablaze
- also calledSword/Shield 3
. -Sword / Shield: Vivid Voltage
- also calledSword/Shield 4
.Special Sets
-Sword / Shield: Champion’s Path
-also calledSword/Shield 3.5
. -Sword / Shield: Shining Fates
- also calledSword/Shield 4.5
. I explained all about this last year, and you can check out more information on it here.And what about the Promotional Cards that come in Triple Packs, Quadr Packs, Elite Trainer Boxes, Premium boxes and the like? Will they also rotate?"
If they have the letterD
, yes.Personal Opinion
In my opinion, for beginners and people who don't follow this TCG ever since it started, when players had to know by heart all sets from all blocks, it might even be "easier" to have these letters defining which cards will rotate. However, when all letters are used, andZ
is reached, is it likely they will go to a system with double letters, such asAA
? And then afterward anAAA
? Or will they use a letter and number system, such asA1
? Long-term, this will be a headache. I still prefer having players study the sets and their names correctly, so they know what stays post-rotation or not, and, let's be honest, with so many research sites, such asCards Realm
itself, with the western catalog, for me, there are no excuses to "not know the expansion names by heart". "Oh, but with promotional cards, the letter system even helps because their restricted codes are a bit confusing." In this point, as a single exception, I agree, and then I think the letter system would make more sense only in promotional cards rather than have it in the main sets — but again, this is only my personal opinion.Checking Sets and Rotation Cards
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D
, they are also considered cards that will berotated out!
Main Sets
Sword/Shield: Base Set
Pokémon








Trainers

Sword/Shield: Celebrations
D
letter card, so it won't be available after rotation, leaving just Professor's Research BRS 147, considered anF
letter).

Quick Notes
For the cards listed in the section below, they will be "reprinted" with anF
letter in the special setSword/Shield: Crown Zenith
. So, the ones who have theD
letter, can't be used after April 2023, but the ones with anF
letter can.
Special Energy

Sword/Shield: Rebel Clash
Pokémon




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Trainers

Sword/Shield: Shining Fates
D
letter card, so it won't be available after rotation, leaving just Boss's Orders BRS 132, considered anF
letter card).

Quick Notes
For the card Poké Ball RCL 164, it will be "reprinted" with the letterF
in the special setSword/Shield: Crown Zenith
. So, the ones who have theD
letter, can't be used after April 2023, but the ones with anF
letter can.
Special Energies

Sword/Shield: Darkness Ablaze
Pokémon







Trainers




Special Energies

Sword/Shield: Vivid Voltage
Pokémon




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Trainers



Special Energies

Special Sets
Sword/Shield: Champion’s Path
Pokémon
"Baby” Pokémon

Ultra Rares

Trainers

Sword/Shield: Shining Fates
Pokémon
"Baby” Pokémon

Ultra Rares

Trainers

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