The Pokémon Company International has officially announced the next Standard Format Rotation for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) beginning on Sept. 10, 2021.
The new Pokémon Standard Format will include all cards with the D and E regulation marks, including all cards from the Sword & Shield expansions. Cards from the Sun and Moon expansions will rotate out into the Expanded Format.
The Expanded Format will not change following the change to Standard. This means that players will be able to use any cards from the Black and White sets forward.
Serebii Update: The Pokémon Trading Card Game Stanard Format Rotation for 2022 has been announced, starting September 10th 2021. Cards with D and E regulation marks, specifically Sword & Shield onwards, will be allowed in Standard. https://t.co/gDbXkHSvkT #PokemonTCG pic.twitter.com/dth3DLj8u7
— Serebii.net (@SerebiiNet) April 21, 2021
High-impact cards rotating out of the Pokémon TCG Standard Format
This shift will mean that popular cards from the Pokémon Sun and Moon series, like the GX cards, will no longer be usable in Standard.
Here are some of the top cards that players will no longer be able to use:
- Pikachu & Zekrom GX
This card defined the standard meta since it came out in the Sun and Moon Tag Team expansion. Its GX move, along with its ability to get Electric Energy cards into play, made it one of the best cards to build decks around. It won several major tournaments, most recently the Pokémon Players Cup II.
- Arceus & Dialga & Palkia GX
Also known as simply “ADP,” this card saw a lot of success alongside Zacian V. It operated as a finisher while Zacian V allowed for players to continue drawing cards to find what they need.
- Lucario & Melmetal GX
Another card that saw a lot of popularity alongside Dacian V was Lucario & Melmetal GX. This helped give Steel-type allies a solid defensive core to build around. Zacian V will have to find new partners now that this card and ADP are rotating out.
The new Pokémon TCG Standard Format will leave players in search of new meta-defining decks and cards. While some Sword & Shield cards are already proving their worth — like Eternatus VMAX and Crobat V — there are plenty of others that will get their chance to shine.
