Pokémon cards are a well-known symbol from childhood. In the late nineties, the Pokémon animated series was popular all over the world, and people saved collections with "pocket monsters" and changed Pikachu for Bulbasaur. Today, their popularity remains at the same peak, causing a new generation of fans. Every year, there is news about a new tournament that affects the interests of thousands of players.
However, not everyone may know which cards they are allowed to use in modern Pokémon tournaments. At first glance, all the cards that exist in the Pokémon card game universe are perfectly legal to play in tournaments. But this is not so, and today we will figure out why some cards are allowed while others are not. We will also answer questions regarding games with old and customized cards. In addition, we will analyze other aspects of the allowed cards for Pokémon tournaments.
Are Old Pokémon Cards Allowed In Tournaments?
If you're a new TCG player, you may be surprised to learn that the game has thousands of cards and constantly adds new ones. In fact, there are so many that only certain collection sets can be used in official tournaments. This information may disappoint owners of powerful cards and classic collections, but the regulation of legal cards is vital to competitive Pokémon TCG events. Pokémon TCG must maintain accessibility to new players — meaning card series and collections that are no longer feasible to obtain often find themselves rotated out for the official season. That is why today, in tournaments, you can only use cards from recently released collections, such as Pokémon Sword & Shield.
This rule is also applicable to other card games. When a new set comes out or an expansion is released, some older cards become illegal in official tournaments because they no longer fall within the bounds of what's considered acceptable by official developers.
But Why Is That So?
- First of all, this rule concerns the game balance, which is vital for every player. Perhaps your card would be stronger than many cards of other players. At the same time, it may turn out that your card is weaker than the rest.
- Secondly, each card collection is created with the utmost care since it takes a lot of time to balance the whole game. Imagine if the developers of Pokémon had to keep in mind information for past cards. Then you would have been waiting for the release of new collections much longer.
- Thirdly, it is also essential to spread the game and make it more popular. In other cases, you might not have heard about it. And this is all thanks to the new collection of Pokémon cards. The rule to use only recent collections helps to promote the company and the interest of surrounding players in it, making Pokémon better and more enjoyable.
One of the most important things to do before entering any tournament is to check with the people running it first. They will be able to tell you what Pokémon TCG sets are currently legal in that format and which cards are banned from being played. In addition to checking with the organizers of the event, it's also essential to check out their website or social media page so that you can see if there are any changes or updates regarding rules or formats. You should always keep up-to-date with these changes because they can affect how your deck plays!
Are Custom Pokémon Cards Legal In Tournaments?
If you're planning to enter a Pokémon tournament and win prizes or be recognized as a champion player, then you better be using only official Pokémon cards since no old and custom cards are not allowed. The same applies to printed cards. It's easy to think that if your friends are playing with printed cards, then it's okay for you to do the same thing. Also, they shouldn't have visible markings or even creases on their back. This is considered cheating since such marks help to recognize the card in play when it is face down. If you notice that your card has this trait, then use card sleeves because they are allowed in tournaments. Create your own card sleeves design on our website, and may luck be with you in the tournament!
What Does "Official Pokémon Cards" Mean?
This means that they must have been pulled on from an actual Pokémon booster box or other Pokémon product at some point. If they aren't official, then you won't be able to use them in any official events and will get disqualified if they are discovered by officials who are inspecting all of your cards before a game session begins. So be careful when buying Pokémon cards on eBay or another place. Check their image to find the copy.
Of course, you can use any cards when playing outside of tournaments. Some players even manage to create their own unique cards with special characteristics, which allows the game to grow in society. The main thing to remember is that before starting a fair game, you should warn your friends that you are using unofficial Pokémon cards.
Every player should understand that they will face huge imbalance problems with old cards and custom ones, not to mention cheating. Therefore, it is still better to use only official cards from the Pokémon developers, the main goal of which is to present a quality gaming experience.
Don't worry if your Pokémon card sets are in a foreign language because they are still legal. The main thing is that you could be able to read and translate the words on it. It is also vital to have its certified translation, which will be the main confirmation of your words. However, at the same time, players are prohibited from using Japanese cards in tournaments. The main reason for this is the differences in the characteristics of the cards from the English version.
Bottom Line
Now you know that in the original Pokémon tournaments, you should not use old and customized cards. Always use information from the official Pokémon website. We also recommend saving our article so that you can always find information before the start of the tournament.
FAQ
How Often Do Real Pokémon Tournaments Take Place?
Pokémon tournaments usually start every year in August. The winners of the tournament can receive prizes in decent amounts, the title of champion, and the opportunity to visit the next tournaments.
How Do You Enter Pokémon Tournaments?
To take part in Pokémon tournaments, first of all, use the Event Locator. Once you find out about the tournaments available around you, all you have to do is take a valid Pokémon Trading Card Game deck or video game and system with you.
Which Pokémon Cards Are Tournament Legal?
It should be understood that each Pokémon tournament is unique in its own way. Therefore, you should learn all requirements on the official site to understand which cards will be legal for the current tournament.
What Pokémon Cards Are Coming Out In 2022?
On May 27, 2022, players can look forward to the release of the Astral Radiance expansion. It will refer to the already existing Pokémon TCG Sword & Shield.