During the recent livestream of Champions League Osaka on the official Pokémon TCG YouTube channel, the details regarding card rotation for the Standard format in the 2025-26 season were announced.

All cards with the “F” regulation mark will no longer be legal in the 2025-26 Standard format. As such, cards from the VSTAR Universe [S12a] set and any older than those are no longer permitted to be used in tournament play. With specific exceptions, only cards with the “G”, “H”, or “I” marks will be permitted for use.

Any older card which has received a reprint with a newer mark is permitted to be used. However, an older card which has received a reprint with one or more effects that differ from those of the original may not be used.

The 2025-26 Standard format comes into effect in Japan on 24 January 2025, the same day that Battle Partners [SV9] launches there. Battle Partners [SV9] will be the first set to carry the “I” regulation mark. For this reason, the first day of the 2025-26 Standard format will likely be either on 28 March or shortly after as Journey Together, the English version of Battle Partners [SV9], releases internationally on 28 March.

The 2025-26 Standard format will take the Pokémon TCG into the ninth generation once and for all; with the new regulations, all Gen 8 cards are no longer allowed to be used. This also means that all Pokémon V, Pokémon VSTAR, and Pokémon VMAX will be taken out of play; the same is true of Radiant Pokémon. Notable decks which are about to be “retired” from play are the Regidrago VSTAR, Lugia VSTAR, Lost Zone Box, Snorlax, Palkia VSTAR/Dusknoir, and Palkia VSTAR/Terapagos ex decks.

Some other notable cards which have been commonly seen across the metagame but are about to be rotated out include Double Turbo Energy from Star Birth [S9], Dark Patch from the Darkrai VSTAR Starter Set [SLD], PokéStop from Pokémon GO [S10b], and Irida and Hisuian Heavy Ball from Space Juggler [S10P].

In other TCG-related news, check out the Energy Search Pro card from Paradise Dragona [SV7a]. Alternatively, you can also head over to the SNKRDUNK App via the banner below and find the top trending and latest single cards and boxes.

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