View source for Unlimited format (TCG)

The '''Unlimited format''' of the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] allows any card that was {{TCG|Rotation|once playable}} in [[Play! Pokémon]] tournaments (that is, all cards except Worlds edition decks, jumbo cards, [[Ancient Mew (The Power of One promo)|Ancient Mew]], [[_____'s Pikachu (Wizards Promo 24)|Birthday Pikachu]], and otherwise unplayable cards) to be used. It is not as popular or as commonly used as the {{TCG|Standard format}} or {{TCG|Expanded format}} and is not used in any tournaments sanctioned by Play! Pokémon organized play. It can, however, be used in {{TCG|Pokémon League}}s if the {{DL|Pokémon League (TCG)|League Leader|League Leader}} wishes to allow it.

In the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]]'s Friend Battle Mode, any deck composed of cards currently available in the game (from the {{DL|Pokémon Trading Card Game|HeartGold & SoulSilver Series|HeartGold & SoulSilver}} [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansion]] ownards) are allowed in this play type (including Standard format decks and [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game Online decks|Theme decks]]).

Because of the lack of restrictions in Unlimited, decks can use combinations of cards which are not legal in Standard or Expanded format play. Cards such as {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Porygon2|49}} and {{TCG ID|Triumphant|Seeker|88}} which never appeared in the same Standard format, are [[Porydonk_(TCG)|frequently used together]]. Despite the large variety of cards available, only a few strategies make up what is generally considered the highest "tier" in Unlimited play, with most competitive {{TCG|Archetype|decks}} being either "donk" decks focused on winning by KOing your opponent's only Pokémon in play, or "lock" decks focused on preventing the opponent from taking meaningful actions.  The former is more difficult for the player going first due to the current first turn rules.