Pokémon TCG: Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Rotation!

Greetings, Pokémon community!

Today, we'll explore the next Pokémon TCG Standard rotation, which will remove several cards from the format, namely from the first Scarlet & Violet sets.

If you are familiar with competitive Pokémon TCG, then you already know what this is all about. But, if you have never heard of rotation, just keep in mind it removes some old sets from Standard to open space for new cards, and that it happens once every year. It is a way for the Pokémon Company to balance the game.

We've covered many rotations in the past, like the 2023 rotation, the 2024 rotation, and the 2025 rotation.

There was no rotation in 2022 because of the pandemic, and at the time all sets from 2020 to 2022 remained Standard-legal. Nonetheless, it was an exception.

Schedule

The official release date for this rotation is April 10th. The 2023, 2024, and 2025 rotations also came out in the second week of April.

On digital platforms, like Pokémon Live, the rotation will come out on March 26th, 2026.

Which Sets Will Rotate Out of Standard in 2026?

The "first part" of Scarlet & Violet will rotate out of Standard entirely, and sets from Scarlet & Violet: Temporal Forces to the recent Mega Evolution sets as well as the upcoming sets will rotate in!

So, the sets from Scarlet & Violet: Base Set up to Scarlet & Violet: Paldean Fates will no longer be available in Standard.

Please note that this rotation applies to the West, as the East (Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, etc) follows a different schedule.

According to the Pokémon Company, all sets with a G letter on their bottom-left corner will rotate out of Standard.

How do we check, though?

The example above shows, clearly, how you can check if a card will be available in Standard after the rotation.

So, here are the sets that will rotate out of the format divided into base sets and special (collectible) sets.

Base Sets

- Scarlet & Violet: Base Set, also called Scarlet & Violet 1.

- Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved, also called Scarlet & Violet 2.

- Scarlet & Violet: Obsidian Flames, also called Scarlet & Violet 3.

- Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift, also called Scarlet & Violet 4.

Special Sets

- Scarlet & Violet: 151, also called Scarlet & Violet 3.5.

- Scarlet & Violet: Paldean Fates, also called Scarlet & Violet 4.5.

Will The Promo Cards Released in Triple Packs, Quad Packs, Elite Trainer Boxes, Premium Boxes, and Similar Also Rotate Out of Standard?

If you find the letter G on their bottom-left corner, yes, even these promos will rotate out.

What About Cards With Different Artworks?

Will cards with different artworks, like Rare Candy PGO 69 from the Pokémon GO set, also rotate out? Could I use them instead of the current Standard artwork, Rare Candy MEG 125 from Mega Evolution: Base Set?

You can, as long as that card is Standard-legal! The same goes to Dusk Ball MD 80, from Diamond & Pearl, which was reprinted in Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks.

Though they also changed this card, you can still use it if it's still Standard-legal.

The next Standard-legal card pool will include sets from Scarlet & Violet: Temporal Forces onwards and have the letter H. The next group, with the letter J, will be released from 2027 onwards.

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!