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Matthew Harris edited this page Dec 11, 2019 · 6 revisions

The Standard Format for 2020

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

  • Cards from the following products are alsolegal:

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.

2020 Standard Table

EN no. JP no. English set Japanese set EN cards JP cards EN release date JP release date Set Abbrevation
77 70 SetSymbolUltra Prism.png Ultra Prism Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon 173* 156* February 2, 2018 December 8, 2017 UPR
78 71 SetSymbolForbidden Light.png Forbidden Light Forbidden Light 146* 110 May 4, 2018 March 2, 2018 FLI
79 72 SetSymbolCelestial Storm.png Celestial Storm Sky-Splitting Charisma 183* 112 August 3, 2018 June 1, 2018 CES
80 SetSymbolDragon Majesty.png Dragon Majesty Dragon Storm 78* 66 September 7, 2018 April 6, 2018 DRM
81 73 SetSymbolLost Thunder.png Lost Thunder Super-Burst Impact 236* 111 November 2, 2018 September 7, 2018 LOT
82 74 SetSymbolTeam Up.png Team Up Tag Bolt 196* 118 February 1, 2019 December 7, 2018 TEU
SetSymbolDetective Pikachu.png Detective Pikachu Detective Pikachu 18 25 March 29, 2019 April 26, 2019 DET
83 75 SetSymbolUnbroken Bonds.png Unbroken Bonds Double Blaze 234* 116 May 3, 2019 March 1, 2019 UNB
84 76 SetSymbolUnified Minds.png Unified Minds Miracle Twin 258* 115 August 2, 2019 May 31, 2019 UNM
85 Hidden Fates High Class Pack GX Ultra Shiny 163* 250 August 23, 2019 November 2, 2018 HIF
86 Cosmic Eclipse Alter Genesis 271* 95 November 1, 2019 September 6, 2019 CEC
87 Sword & Shield Sword/Shield 202+ 150* February 7, 2020 December 6, 2019 SSH
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