View source for Limited format (TCG)

The '''Limited format''' is an official [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] format used in [[Play! Pokémon]] events. It is used at {{TCG|Prerelease Tournament}}s and often appears as a side activity during large {{TCG|Premier Events}}.

Limited format games are played using {{TCG|booster pack}}s and {{TCG|Basic Energy card}}s provided by a tournament organizer, which are opened and constructed into a [[deck]] for play. The booster packs are typically all from the same [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansion]], though this is not necessarily a hard rule. Players cannot bring cards from outside sources.

Decks in the Limited format follow different rules compared to other formats:<ref name=Handbook>[https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/play-pokemon/rules/play-pokemon-tournament-rules-handbook-en.pdf Play! Pokémon Tournament Rules Handbook], section 5.5</ref>
* Decks must contain exactly 40 cards
* There is no limit to the amount of cards with the same name that can be included in the deck, except for cards with a restriction on the card text itself (such as {{TCG|ACE SPEC card}}s)
* Matches are played with 4 [[Prize card]]s

Play! Pokémon divides the Limited format into three sub-formats: Sealed, Booster Draft, and {{TCG|Build & Battle Box|Build & Battle}} Draft.<ref name=Handbook></ref> The Alternative Play Handbook includes an additional ruleset called Ditto Draft.<ref name=AltHandbook>[https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/tcg-alternative-play-handbook-en.pdf Pokémon TCG Alternative Play Handbook], page 28</ref>
==Sealed event==
{{main|Sealed format (TCG)}}
In '''Sealed events''', players receive either a Build & Battle Box or 4-6 booster packs and construct a deck using the cards pulled and provided Basic Energy. Players cannot exchange cards with other players, and they are given 30 minutes to construct their deck.

==Booster Draft event==
In '''Booster Draft events''', players receive 4-6 booster packs and are split into equal-sized groups consisting of no more than eight players. Upon being seated in a circle, the group begins drafting cards as follows:
* Each player opens one booster pack and selects one card from it, keeping both the contents of the pack and their selection secret from the others.
* The unselected cards are passed to the player on their left, who selects another card. The process repeats until there are no cards remaining in the pack.
* Everyone opens another pack, repeating the process again, but passing unselected cards to their right. Each booster pack is passed in the opposite direction of the last until no packs remain.

Players are then given 30 minutes to construct a deck using their drafted cards and any Basic Energy provided by the organizer.

==Build & Battle Draft event==
In '''Build & Battle Draft events''', players receive a {{TCG|Build & Battle Box}} and are split into groups of four. Players open the 40-card deck included in the box, and then begin drafting the included booster packs in the same manner as a Booster Draft event. Players are given a minute after each booster pack to review their cards. Once each pack is fully opened, players are given 20 minutes to construct a deck by combining the Build & Battle Box's preconstructed deck with any drafted cards and provided Basic Energy.

Beginning in May 21, 2026, [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Live]] features a similar way of playing with Limited format rules in the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Live#Build & Battle|Build & Battle]] mode.

==Ditto Draft format==
[[File:Ditto Marker.jpg|thumb|A Ditto Marker used at Play! Pokémon events]]
The '''Ditto Draft format''' is a modification to the Booster Draft and Build & Battle Draft events that allows cards to evolve in nonstandard ways. After drafting cards, players are given 20 minutes to build a deck and are given {{p|Ditto}} {{TCG|Marker}}s. Once per turn, a Ditto Marker can be placed on a {{TCG|Basic Pokémon}} without a {{TCG|Rule Box}} to give it the Evolutionary Advantage {{TCG|Ability}}. This version of Evolutionary Advantage has a different effect than that [[:Category:Cards with Evolutionary Advantage|typically seen in the TCG]].

<div class="roundy" style="display: flow-root; border: 2px solid #{{TCG Colorless color dark}}; background-color: #{{TCG Colorless color light}}; max-width: 500px">
<div style="margin: 0.25rem">
<div style="border-radius: 6px; padding: 0.25rem; display: flex; gap: 0.5rem; align-items: center; background-color: #{{TCG Colorless color}};">
[[File:TCGAbilityIcon.png|100px|link=Ability (TCG)|Ability]]
<div style="border-radius: 6px; flex: 1; padding: 0.25rem; font-weight: bold; background-color: #{{TCG Ability color light}}; border: 2px solid #{{TCG Ability color}}; color: #000; text-align: center">Evolutionary Advantage<div lang="ja">{{tt|ぬけがけしんか|Head Start Evolution}}</div></div></div>
<div style="border-radius: 6px; padding: 0.25rem 0.666rem; background-color: #fff; margin-top: 0.25rem">Once during your turn, you may put any Stage 1 or Stage 2 card from your hand onto this Pokémon to evolve it. You can’t use this Ability during your first turn or the turn this Pokémon was put into play. If you put a Stage 2 card onto this Pokémon, your turn ends. Each Pokémon can use only 1 Evolutionary Advantage Ability per game.</div></div></div>

==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
{{TCG formats}}
{{Project TCG notice}}
[[Category:Pokémon TCG formats]]

[[it:Formato limitato (GCC)]]