Pokémon TCG Sets in Order: A Complete Release Timeline (1999–2026)

From the original Base Set in 1999, to the new Mega Evolution series that began in 2025 and continues forwards into 2026, here’s our list of all of the Pokémon TCG sets in order. The Pokémon Trading Card Game has changed a lot over time as new mechanics and hundreds of new Pokémon have been introduced. Let’s take a tour through the game’s history and see what we can uncover.  

Original series: 1999-2000

It all started here. The Base Set of the Pokémon TCG was released in the West in January of 1999. It was Localised by Wizards of the Coast, the same company behind Magic: the Gathering. Many of the game’s most famous cards were introduced here, including Base Set Charizard, the most iconic Pokémon card of all.

Future sets in this era introduced a variety of innovations. The Team Rocket expansion gave us ‘Dark Pokémon’, who had been led into evil by Team Rocket and had lower HP than other cards, in exchange for attacks that dealt more damage. Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge featured Pokémon owned by characters from the Pokémon games, an idea that was revisited several times in the future.

Neo and E-Card series: 2000-2003

Pokémon Gold and Silver were released in America in October of the year 2000 and, two months later, the set Neo Genesis started bringing the 100 new Pokémon from the second generation into the TCG.

Baby Pokémon, as well as Darkness and Steel types, came into the game here. Perhaps the most novel set from this time was Neo Destiny, which explored themes of fate and the different paths that can be taken through life. Neo Destiny introduced ‘Light Pokémon’ who possessed abundant HP and a variety of attacks that supported the rest of their team. These Light Pokémon acted as a counterpart to the Dark Pokémon from the Team Rocket set. Only a single ‘Light Pokémon’ has been printed since, Light Toxtricity, who came out 19 years later in the Sword and Shield era.

The final three sets of this era: Expedition, Aquapolis, and Skyridge, introduced an ‘e-reader’ feature. Printing cards with a strip along the bottom that could be scanned to unlock playable minigames on the Gameboy Advance.

Ruby and Saphire, EX series: 2003-2007

The Ruby and Sapphire era was a time of massive transitions for the Pokémon TCG. The Pokémon Company International revoked Wizards of the Coast’s license to translate the game and began localising it in house instead. The frames of the cards were also redesigned, taking on a more modern appearance that was a major step towards their current design.

The biggest shift in the Ruby and Sapphire era was the introduction of ex or ‘extra’ Pokémon. These ex Pokémon are powerful cards that provide opponents who knock them out with additional prize cards. Ex Pokémon are now ubiquitous, so it’s strange to think that they weren’t part of the game until several years in.

The set EX Delta Species also introduced ‘Delta Pokémon’ to the game, who have atypical alternative types.  

Diamond, Pearl and Platinum series: 2007-2009

The Diamond and Pearl games brought Pokémon to the Nintendo DS, as the trading card game continued to step across new frontiers.

During this era, ex Pokémon were replaced with level x or ‘lv X’ Pokémon. These high levelled cards could be placed on top of their lower levelled counterparts, this worked similarly to evolving, except that level x Pokémon could still access all of the moves of the Pokémon they transformed from.

Pokémon SP were introduced in Platinum. Similar to the owner’s Pokémon from Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge, Pokémon SP all belong to different trainers from the games. They have no need to evolve, though, and come out ready to battle right away.

Heart Gold and Soul Silver series: 2010-2011

The Heart Gold and Soul Silver era returned us to the Johto region from the NEO sets. Despite only lasting a year, these expansions gave us two unique card variants: Prime Pokémon and Pokémon LEGEND.

Prime Pokémon are mechanically the same as any other pocket monster that you might find, but they possess distinctive artwork, showing a close up of their face glaring towards the viewer.

Pokémon LEGEND, meanwhile, are truly unique cards that are split in two. Both halves come together to form a single playable card that can be brought into play. In terms of gameplay, LEGEND cards were never entirely practical, but their beautiful artwork has left them as valuable collector’s items years later.

Black and White series: 2011-2013

Black and White took us to Unova, the Pokémon world’s version of America and the first region not based on an area in Japan. This collection of sets also saw the return of ex Pokémon from the Ruby and Sapphire era.

What the Black and White era might be most notable for, though, is expanding the range of full art cards available to players in a major way. While a few cards, like Pokemon LEGEND, had burst out of their borders before, Black and White printed a massive range of trainers and Pokémon that had art that covered their entire cardboard canvas.

X and Y series: 2013-2016

In the X&Y era, Mega Evolved Pokémon made their debut. Unlike Mega Pokémon today, they only award two prize cards to the opponent when they get knocked out. This was balanced out by several other factors. Today a Charmeleon card evolves straight into a Mega Charizard, but when the X and Y sets were in standard, Charmeleon would first have to evolve into a Charizard, before Mega Evolving into its next form. Additionally, a player’s turn ended immediately the moment they successfully mega evolved, unless they used a special Spirit Link Pokémon Tool.

Mega Pokémon have always been popular, and they made their first appearance here.

Sun and Moon series: 2017-2019

Instead of ex Pokémon, the Sun and Moon series gave us ‘GX’ Pokémon. These new headliners could use special GX attacks that were extremely devastating, but each player could only use one during the entire course of the game.

Not only that, but multiple GX Pokémon could form Tag Teams, working together to provide a massive burst of extra power at the cost of granting an opponent three prize cards if they got knocked out.

The Sun and Moon series also introduced Rainbow Rare cards, shiny Pokémon with a special foiling treatment that gave them a gleaming multicoloured shine.

Sword and Shield series: 2020-2023

The Galar region, where Pokémon Sword and Shield is based, gave players a Pokémon experience based on the UK.

Pokémon battles in Galar occur in massive football stadium sized arenas, and instead of ex or GX Pokémon, the Sword and Shield era gave us Pokémon V. These Pokémon V weren’t the top of the power curve, though, since they could also Vmax transforming into a colossal state where they gained an incredible amount of size and power.

Scarlet and Violet series: 2023-2025

The Scarlet and Violet series solidified a lot of what we know about the TCG today. After a long absence, ex cards made a triumphant return, and full art cards were formalised as illustration and special illustration rares.

Nostalgia was a major focus of these expansions. We returned to the original beloved collection of Pokémon in Scarlet & Violet – 151, and saw some old favourites from Black and White make a return in the special double set Black Bolt and White Flare.

We also saw some popular old mechanics come back, like Pokémon owned by trainers from the games who appeared scattered through the Journey Together and Destined Rivals expansions.

Mega Evolution Series 2025-2026

The Mega Evolution series is the current ongoing period of Pokémon TCG history that we’re currently involved in, and it began with the release of the set Mega Evolution in September of 2025. Designed to accompany the game Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the Mega Evolution sets, true to their name, are all about Mega evolving Pokémon into unstoppably powerful mega forms.

Chase cards from these sets feature a variety of treatments, including ultra rare full art prints, Special Illustration rare versions, mega attack versions (featuring Japanese text) and even exclusive golden Mega Hyper Rare variants.

The Mega Evolution series will continue until the release of the next mainline games, Pokémon Winds and Waves. These are currently anticipated to come out in 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Pokémon TCG sets are there?

As of May 2026, there are over 110 major expansions released in English.

What is the next Pokémon TCG set in 2026?

Following the May launch of Chaos Rising, the next major expansion is Pitch Black, scheduled for July 31, 2026.

When did the Mega Evolution Series start?

The modern Mega Evolution Series officially debuted on September 26, 2025.

Complete Your Collection at Magic Madhouse

Now that you’ve taken a trip down memory lane, why not browse through our full catalogue of Pokémon sets, and see if you find any classic cards catch your eye.