Every year the Pokémon TCG Standard format drops its oldest cards. In April 2026 the G regulation mark left Standard, taking the first year of Scarlet & Violet with it. The obvious next question is what happens in 2027, and which of the sets you are opening today will still be playable a year from now.
This guide explains how rotation works, what is confirmed for the current 2026-27 season, and what the next rotation is expected to look like. We will update it as soon as the official 2027 announcement is out.
How Standard rotation works
Every Pokémon card printed since Sword & Shield has a small letter in the bottom-left corner: the regulation mark. Standard legality is decided by that letter, not by the set name. When a rotation happens, the oldest legal letter is removed and every card carrying it leaves Standard at once.
Two details catch people out:
- Trainer and Energy reprints. A Trainer or Energy card with an old mark stays playable if a card with the same name has been printed with a legal mark. An old Ultra Ball is fine as long as a newer Ultra Ball exists.
- Pokémon are judged by the mark alone. A Pokémon card with an old mark rotates even if a newer printing has identical text.
Rotation only affects Standard. Expanded and Unlimited are not touched, and collecting is not affected at all. A rotated card is still a real card with the same collector value it had the day before.
The current season: 2026-27 Standard
The 2026-27 format was announced on 9 January 2026. The G mark rotated out on Pokémon TCG Live on 26 March 2026 and at official tournaments on 10 April 2026. The sets that left Standard were Scarlet & Violet base, Paldea Evolved, Obsidian Flames, 151, Paradox Rift and Paldean Fates.
Since then, only cards with the H, I and J marks are legal. That covers Scarlet & Violet from Temporal Forces onwards plus the entire Mega Evolution series, including Perfect Order, Chaos Rising and the newer sets. For the full order of the Mega Evolution releases, see Mega Evolution sets in order.
What to expect from the 2027 rotation
The Pokémon Company has not announced the 2027-28 format yet. What we do know is how every recent rotation has worked: it always removes the oldest legal regulation mark. In 2027 that is the H mark.
Based on the pattern of the last few years, the most likely timeline is:
- Announcement: around January 2027 (the 2026 rotation was announced on 9 January).
- Pokémon TCG Live: roughly two weeks before tabletop play.
- Tournaments: early-to-mid April 2027, alongside the first set of the new year.
Treat these dates as expectations, not facts, until the official announcement is published.
Sets with H-mark cards
| Set | English release | Expected effect of an H rotation |
|---|---|---|
| Temporal Forces | March 2024 | Most of the set would rotate |
| Twilight Masquerade | May 2024 | Most of the set would rotate |
| Shrouded Fable | August 2024 | Most of the set would rotate |
| Stellar Crown | September 2024 | Most of the set would rotate |
| Surging Sparks | November 2024 | Most of the set would rotate |
| Prismatic Evolutions | January 2025 | Most of the set would rotate |
| Journey Together | March 2025 | Partly: the set mixes H and I marks |
Always check the letter on the individual card. Sets around a mark change often mix two letters, and Trainer reprints can keep an older card playable.
What this means for players
If you are building a competitive deck now, cards from the Mega Evolution sets carry I and J marks and should stay legal well beyond April 2027. Heavy investment in H-mark Pokémon makes less sense this late in the season, unless you plan to play them in Expanded or casually.
Check your staple Trainers too. Many popular Items and Supporters are reprinted regularly, so an older copy may stay playable through a newer printing with the same name.
What this means for collectors and sealed product
Rotation does not change what a card is worth to a collector. Prices of rotated cards are driven by the artwork, rarity and the Pokémon, not by tournament legality. Chase cards like special illustration rares tend to hold their appeal long after they leave Standard.
Sealed product from H-mark sets is a separate story. These sets are already older, and supply of booster boxes from them shrinks as stock is opened. If you want a sealed display for the shelf, buying before a set is fully out of print is usually easier than chasing it later. Read more in our guide to out-of-print Pokémon booster boxes.
H-mark products currently listed in our shop include the Temporal Forces booster display, the Twilight Masquerade booster box, the Stellar Crown booster display, the Surging Sparks booster display and the Prismatic Evolutions booster bundle. Stock of older sets is limited.
Shopping at Card Jinx
All sealed Pokémon products we sell are factory sealed, and shipping from Germany is included in the price. We ship across the EU and worldwide, see shipping from Germany. Browse the full range in the Pokémon TCG category, or check what is coming next in our TCG release calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Pokémon TCG rotation?
The 2027 rotation has not been announced yet. Based on recent years, an announcement is expected around January 2027, with the change taking effect at tournaments in early-to-mid April 2027.
Which regulation mark rotates in 2027?
Rotation always removes the oldest legal mark. In the 2026-27 season the legal marks are H, I and J, so the H mark is expected to rotate next. This is not official until The Pokémon Company confirms it.
Which sets rotated in April 2026?
The G mark rotated on 10 April 2026 (26 March 2026 on Pokémon TCG Live). That removed Scarlet & Violet base, Paldea Evolved, Obsidian Flames, 151, Paradox Rift and Paldean Fates from Standard.
Is Prismatic Evolutions rotating?
Most Prismatic Evolutions cards carry the H mark, so they are expected to leave Standard if H rotates in 2027. Check the mark on each card, because some Trainer cards may stay legal through newer reprints.
Does rotation make my cards worthless?
No. Rotation only affects which cards can be played in the Standard format. Collector value depends on rarity, artwork and demand, and rotated cards remain legal in Expanded and Unlimited.
Where do I find the regulation mark?
It is a small white letter in a box at the bottom-left of the card, next to the set symbol and card number.
