Pokemon Organised Play (POP) has announced the official Pokemon Modified format for the 2013/2014 pokemon tournament season. The new format will be NXD-on, rotating out the currently legal sets BW, EP, and NV. These sets were the last in the format from 2011 and the last to not include EX-pokemon in them. The rotation will come into effect on August the 28th, 2013. 

2012/2013 Format (BW-PF)	2013/2014 Format (NXD-on)
Black & White: April, 2011 Emerging Powers: August, 2011 Noble Victories: November, 2011 Next Destinies: February, 2012 Dark Explorers: May, 2012 Dragons Exalted: August, 2012 Boundaries Crossed: November 2012 Plasma Storm: February, 2013 Plasma Freeze: May, 2013 Black Star Promo Cards BW01 and higher McDonald’s Collection 2012	Next Destinies: February, 2012 Dark Explorers: May, 2012 Dragons Exalted: August, 2012 Boundaries Crossed: November 2012 Plasma Storm: February, 2013 Plasma Freeze: May, 2013 Plasma Blast: August, 2013 Black Star Promo Cards BW33 and higher McDonald’s Collection 2012

A New Format in 2015

In addition to their announcement about the rotation, POP has also announced that in 2015 organised play will feature a second format!

In addition to announcing our 2014 rotation, we are also pleased to give players a sneak peek at one of the changes that they will see after next year’s expansion rotation.

Starting in late 2014, a new TCG format will be joining the familiar Modified format as a legal option for sanctioned Pokémon events of all sizes. Because this new format will allow players to use all sets from Black & White on, players will have even more options when designing a winning deck!

We will provide more details as we near the end of the 2014 tournament season!

This format will be familiar to players who know of the Japanese “Palace Format” which has a similar long term focus. It is also similar to the dual competitive formats seen in Magic: The Gathering, which features Standard (similar to Pokemon Modified) and Modern (similar to this new format).

It is likely that Pokemon has announced this format now to inform players who might otherwise sell off their soon-to-rotate cards. This is a very exciting development for the game and its a shame we will have to wait a year to find out more about it.

Cards Being Rotated

The following is a comprehensive list of the cards being rotated out of format. That means the set lists for “Black & White”, “Emerging Powers”, “Noble Victories”, and Black Star Promos BW01-BW32.

However a large number of the cards in these sets have been reprinted in legal sets or as promos, often in the form of “Secret Rare” cards. Thanks to these reprints, all copies of the old cards may still be used in the current format. We’ve listed which set cards were reprinted in (if they were reprinted), any card with a reprint listed will not be rotated.

There has also been a lot of speculation about upcoming reprints of these older cards coming in future sets. Particuarly there is speculation that cards from the Japanese sets Megalo Cannon (our upcoming Plasma Blast) and EX Battle Boost will be reprinted in English. All cards which might be reprinted in such a way have been noted with a [Maybe Reprint] tag.

Where there are multiple reprints in the current set, only one has been listed.

[gn_spoiler title=”Black & White” open=”0″ style=”2″]

Setlist Set # Name Reprint 1/114 Snivy 2/114 Snivy [Maybe Reprint] 3/114 Servine McDonald’s Collection 1 4/114 Servine [Maybe Reprint] 5/114 Serperior 6/114 Serperior Dragons Exalted 125 7/114 Pansage 8/114 Simisage 9/114 Petilil 10/114 Lilligant 11/114 Maractus 12/114 Maractus 13/114 Deerling 14/114 Sawsbuck 15/114 Tepig 16/114 Tepig [Maybe Reprint] 17/114 Pignite  McDonald’s Collection 4 18/114 Pignite [Maybe Reprint] 19/114 Emboar 20/114 Emboar Next Destinies 100 21/114 Pansear 22/114 Simisear 23/114 Darumaka 24/114 Darumaka 25/114 Darmanitan 26/114 Reshiram Next Destinies 21 27/114 Oshawott 28/114 Oshawott [Maybe Reprint] 29/114 Dewott  McDonald’s Collection 5 30/114 Dewott [Maybe Reprint] 31/114 Samurott 32/114 Samurott [Maybe Reprint] 33/114 Panpour 34/114 Simipour 35/114 Basculin 36/114 Ducklett 37/114 Swanna 38/114 Alomomola 39/114 Alomomola 40/114 Blitzle 41/114 Blitzle 42/114 Zebstrika 43/114 Zebstrika 44/114 Joltik 45/114 Joltik 46/114 Galvantula 47/114 Zekrom Next Destinies 50 48/114 Munna 49/114 Musharna 50/114 Woobat 51/114 Swoobat 52/114 Venipede 53/114 Whirlipede 54/114 Scolipede 55/114 Solosis 56/114 Duosion 57/114 Reuniclus Dragons Exalted 126 58/114 Timburr 59/114 Timburr 60/114 Gurdurr 61/114 Throh 62/114 Sawk 63/114 Sandile 64/114 Krokorok 65/114 Krookodile 66/114 Purrloin 67/114 Liepard 68/114 Scraggy McDonald’s Collection 10 69/114 Scrafty 70/114 Zorua 71/114 Zoroark Next Destinies 102 72/114 Vullaby 73/114 Mandibuzz 74/114 Klink 75/114 Klang 76/114 Klinklang 77/114 Patrat 78/114 Patrat 79/114 Watchog 80/114 Lillipup 81/114 Lillipup 82/114 Herdier 83/114 Stoutland 84/114 Pidove 85/114 Tranquill 86/114 Unfezant 87/114 Audino 88/114 Minccino 89/114 Cinccino 90/114 Bouffalant 91/114 Bouffalant [Maybe Reprint] 92/114 Energy Retrieval [Maybe Reprint] 93/114 Energy Search Boundaries Crossed 128 94/114 Energy Switch [Maybe Reprint] 95/114 Full Heal 96/114 PlusPower 97/114 Poké Ball Boundaries Crossed 131 98/114 Pokédex 99/114 Pokémon Communication 100/114 Potion Boundaries Crossed 132 101/114 Professor Juniper Dark Explorers 98 102/114 Revive 103/114 Super Scoop Up 104/114 Switch Boundaries Crossed 135 105/114 Grass Energy 106/114 Fire Energy 107/114 Water Energy 108/114 Lightning Energy 109/114 Psychic Energy 110/114 Fighting Energy 111/114 Darkness Energy 112/114 Metal Energy 113/114 Reshiram Next Destinies 21 114/114 Zekrom Next Destinies 50 115/114 Pikachu

Selected Surviving Cards Serperior 6/114 Emboar 20/114 Reuniclus 57/114 Zoroark 71/114 Poké Ball 97/114 Potion 100/114 Professor Juniper 101/114 Switch 104/114

[/gn_spoiler] [gn_spoiler title=”Emerging Powers” open=”0″ style=”2″]

Setlist Set # Name Reprint 1/98 Pansage McDonald’s Collection 2 2/98 Simisage 3/98 Sewaddle 4/98 Sewaddle 5/98 Swadloon 6/98 Swadloon 7/98 Leavanny 8/98 Leavanny 9/98 Cottonee 10/98 Cottonee 11/98 Whimsicott 12/98 Whimsicott 13/98 Petilil 14/98 Lilligant 15/98 Deerling 16/98 Sawsbuck 17/98 Virizion 18/98 Pansear 19/98 Simisear 20/98 Darumaka 21/98 Darmanitan 22/98 Panpour 23/98 Simipour 24/98 Basculin 25/98 Basculin 26/98 Ducklett 27/98 Swanna 28/98 Cubchoo 29/98 Cubchoo 30/98 Beartic 31/98 Beartic 32/98 Emolga McDonald’s Collection 6 33/98 Joltik 34/98 Galvantula 35/98 Thundurus Promo 36/98 Woobat McDonald’s Collection 7 37/98 Swoobat 38/98 Venipede 39/98 Whirlipede 40/98 Scolipede 41/98 Sigilyph 42/98 Sigilyph 43/98 Gothita [Maybe Reprint] 44/98 Gothita 45/98 Gothorita [Maybe Reprint] 46/98 Gothorita 47/98 Gothitelle [Maybe Reprint] 48/98 Gothitelle 49/98 Roggenrola 50/98 Roggenrola 51/98 Boldore 52/98 Boldore 53/98 Gigalith 54/98 Drilbur  McDonald’s Collection 8 55/98 Drilbur 56/98 Excadrill 57/98 Excadrill 58/98 Throh 59/98 Sawk 60/98 Sandile 61/98 Krokorok 62/98 Krookodile 63/98 Terrakion 64/98 Purrloin  McDonald’s Collection 9 65/98 Liepard 66/98 Zorua 67/98 Zoroark 68/98 Vullaby 69/98 Mandibuzz 70/98 Ferroseed 71/98 Ferroseed 72/98 Ferrothorn 73/98 Ferrothorn 74/98 Klink 75/98 Klang  McDonald’s Collection 11 76/98 Klinklang 77/98 Cobalion 78/98 Patrat 79/98 Watchog 80/98 Pidove 81/98 Tranquill 82/98 Unfezant 83/98 Audino 84/98 Minccino 85/98 Cinccino 86/98 Rufflet 87/98 Rufflet 88/98 Braviary 89/98 Tornadus Promo 90/98 Bianca Boundaries Crossed 147 91/98 Cheren Dark Explorers 91 92/98 Crushing Hammer [Maybe Reprint] 93/98 Great Ball Boundaries Crossed 129 94/98 Max Potion Plasma Freeze 121 95/98 Pokémon Catcher Dark Explorers 111 96/98 Recycle 97/98 Thundurus Promo 98/98 Tornadus Promo

Selected Surviving Cards Cheren 91/98 Max Potion 94/98 Pokemon Catcher 95/98 Thundurus 97/98 Tornadus 98/98

[/gn_spoiler] [gn_spoiler title=”Noble Victories” open=”0″ style=”2″]

Setlist Set # Name Reprint 1/101 Sewaddle [Maybe Reprint] 2/101 Swadloon [Maybe Reprint] 3/101 Leavanny [Maybe Reprint] 4/101 Petilil 5/101 Lilligant 6/101 Dwebble McDonald’s Collection 3 7/101 Crustle 8/101 Karrablast 9/101 Foongus 10/101 Amoonguss 11/101 Shelmet 12/101 Accelgor 13/101 Virizion [Maybe Reprint] 14/101 Victini [Maybe Reprint] 15/101 Victini 16/101 Pansear 17/101 Simisear 18/101 Heatmor 19/101 Larvesta 20/101 Larvesta 21/101 Volcarona 22/101 Tympole [Maybe Reprint] 23/101 Palpitoad [Maybe Reprint] 24/101 Seismitoad [Maybe Reprint] 25/101 Tirtouga 26/101 Carracosta 27/101 Vanillite 28/101 Vanillish 29/101 Vanilluxe 30/101 Frillish 31/101 Jellicent 32/101 Cryogonal 33/101 Cryogonal 34/101 Kyurem Promo 35/101 Blitzle 36/101 Zebstrika 37/101 Emolga 38/101 Tynamo 39/101 Tynamo 40/101 Eelektrik 41/101 Eelektross 42/101 Stunfisk 43/101 Victini 44/101 Yamask 45/101 Yamask 46/101 Cofagrigus 47/101 Cofagrigus 48/101 Trubbish 49/101 Garbodor 50/101 Solosis [Maybe Reprint] 51/101 Duosion [Maybe Reprint] 52/101 Reuniclus [Maybe Reprint] 53/101 Reuniclus 54/101 Elgyem 55/101 Elgyem 56/101 Beheeyem 57/101 Litwick 58/101 Litwick 59/101 Lampent 60/101 Chandelure Next Destinies 101 61/101 Gigalith 62/101 Timburr 63/101 Gurdurr 64/101 Conkeldurr 65/101 Conkeldurr 66/101 Archen 67/101 Archeops Dark Explorers 110 68/101 Stunfisk 69/101 Mienfoo 70/101 Mienshao 71/101 Golett 72/101 Golurk 73/101 Terrakion Boundaries Crossed 151 74/101 Landorus Promo 75/101 Pawniard 76/101 Bisharp 77/101 Deino 78/101 Zweilous 79/101 Hydreigon Next Destinies 103 80/101 Escavalier 81/101 Pawniard 82/101 Bisharp 83/101 Durant 84/101 Cobalion [Maybe Reprint] 85/101 Audino 86/101 Axew McDonald’s Collection 12 87/101 Fraxure 88/101 Haxorus 89/101 Druddigon [Maybe Reprint] 90/101 Cover Fossil [Maybe Reprint] 91/101 Eviolite Plasma Storm 122 92/101 N Dark Explorers 96 93/101 Plume Fossil [Maybe Reprint] 94/101 Rocky Helmet Boundaries Crossed 133 95/101 Super Rod Dragon Vault 20 96/101 Xtransceiver 97/101 Virizion [Maybe Reprint] 98/101 Victini 99/101 Terrakion Boundaries Crossed 151 100/101 Cobalion 101/101 N 102/101 Meowth

Selected Surviving Cards Kyurem 34/101 Chandelure 60/101 Archeops 67/101 Terrakion 73/101 Landorus 74/101 Hydreigon 79/101 N 92/101 Rocky Helmet 94/101 Super Rod 95/101

[/gn_spoiler] [gn_spoiler title=”Black Star Promos BW01-BW32″ open=”0″ style=”2″]

Setlist Set # Name Reprint BW01 Snivy BW02 Tepig BW03 Oshawott BW004 Reshiram Next Destinies 21 BW005 Zekrom Next Destinies 50 BW06 Snivy BW07 Tepig BW08 Oshawott BW09 Zoroark Next Destinies 102 BW10 Axew BW11 Pansage BW12 Zorua BW13 Minccino BW14 Pansage BW15 Pidove BW16 Axew BW17 Ducklett BW18 Darumaka BW19 Zoroark [Maybe Reprint] BW20 Serperior Dragons Exalted 125 BW21 Emboar Next Destinies 100 BW22 Samurott BW23 Reshiram Next Destinies 21 BW24 Zekrom Plasma Freeze 39 BW25 Scraggy BW26 Axew BW27 Litwick BW28 Tropical Beach Promo BW29 Victory Cup BW30 Victory Cup BW31 Victory Cup BW32 Victini

Selected Surviving Cards Reshiram BW04 Zekrom BW05

[/gn_spoiler]

What Are We Losing

The first thing on a lot of people’s minds when a rotation happens is “what important cards will the format be losing?”. Thanks to the large number of reprints of important/staple cards the effect of this rotation is minimal on the format and may be even less so when we see the additional reprints in the upcoming Plasma Blast set. Nonetheless, we are losing some old friends (or foes) and a couple of cards which have seen widespread usage in the last format.

Pokemon

• Cobalion NV84 – a card which has seen use as a tech in a large number of formats.
• Durant NV83 – used as the centre-piece of durant mill decks.
• Eelektrik NV40 – the energy acceleration to a number of decks from Zekeels to Rayeels and more, probably the card which will be mourned the most.
• Gothitelle EP47 – a huge pokemon for a number of formats, showing how powerful trainerlock can be, possibly being reprinted.
• Klinklang BW76 – used in a number of steel decks and used widely with max potion.
• Victini NV14 – affectionately known as fliptini, this card’s Victory Star ability improved the performance of a large number of coin-flip based decks, broadening the format considerably.
• Victini NV15 – a one off tech in a number of decks due to its powerful V-create attack.

Trainers

• Crushing Hammer – used prolifically in Hammertime decklists utilising Sableye or other ways to get more and more flips of this powerful card, possibly being reprinted.
• Energy Retrieval – a staple card for decks like Blastoise or Emboar, now replaced with its bigger sibling Super Energy Retrieval.
• Energy Switch – a card which improved the consistency and speed of a number of decks, particularly popular with Darkrai variants after Shaymin HGSS8 was rotated out of format in the last rotation.
• Full Heal – a card that never saw serious competitive play.
• Plus Power – a staple in the game for a long time which had a number of serious uses but which was never particularly widespread.
• Pokedex – a card used heavily with “top of the deck” abilities, its partner Ether for the hyped Etherdex combo never really panned out but nonetheless saw some play.
• Pokemon Communication – another long term staple, this time mostly replaced by different ball trainers.
• Revive – a strong card which saw one off plays in a number of decks.
• Recycle – useful for some very niche decks, but largely seen as inconsistent.
• Super Scoop Up – a card which is equal parts too good and too bad to use, when heads is flipped in the right deck at the right time it could be game winning, but equally a bad flip and it could causes losses. For the sake of reducing luck in the game many will be happy to see this card finally gone.
• Victory Cup – not a useful card, but definitely a blingy one. I suspect we’ll be seeing it again soon.
• Xtransceiver – generally seen as a worse Random Receiver and thus unused.

 

What do you think of the rotation and how it will affect the metagame?