How to read a Pokémon TCG decklist (and turn it into a real deck)
A Pokémon TCG decklist line such as 4 Dreepy TWM 128 means four copies of Dreepy, from the set with code TWM (Twilight Masquerade), card number 128. Lists are split into Pokémon, Trainer and Energy sections and always add up to 60. Once you can read the set codes, any list from a tournament, a YouTube video or a friend becomes a shopping list.
Key facts
- Each line is: copies, card name, set code, collector number
- Lists are grouped into Pokémon, Trainer and Energy, totalling exactly 60
- Set codes are three letters: MEG is Mega Evolution, TWM is Twilight Masquerade
- Any printing of the same card plays the same, so reprints are fine
- Pokémon TCG Live and Limitless TCG both export in this format
- Paste the whole list into our deck builder to buy it
The anatomy of a decklist
Here is the start of the Dragapult ex list that won Regional Louisville in October 2026, in the format Pokémon TCG Live exports:
Pokémon: 19
4 Dreepy TWM 128
4 Drakloak TWM 129
3 Dragapult ex TWM 130
- Pokémon: 19 — the section heading and how many cards are in it. Trainer and Energy sections follow.
- 4 — copies. Never more than four of one name, except basic Energy.
- Dreepy — the card name exactly as printed.
- TWM — the set code. Here, Twilight Masquerade.
- 128 — the collector number, printed at the bottom of the card itself.
Some lists add PH or RH after the number to ask for a particular finish. It changes the look, not how the card plays.
Set codes for the current Standard sets
The codes below are the ones Pokémon TCG Live and Limitless use for the sets that make up today's Standard format.
| Code | Set | Released |
|---|---|---|
| TEF | Temporal Forces | March 2024 |
| TWM | Twilight Masquerade | May 2024 |
| SFA | Shrouded Fable | August 2024 |
| SCR | Stellar Crown | September 2024 |
| SSP | Surging Sparks | November 2024 |
| PRE | Prismatic Evolutions | January 2025 |
| JTG | Journey Together | March 2025 |
| DRI | Destined Rivals | May 2025 |
| BLK / WHT | Black Bolt / White Flare | July 2025 |
| MEG | Mega Evolution | September 2025 |
| PFL | Phantasmal Flames | November 2025 |
| ASC | Ascended Heroes | January 2026 |
| POR | Perfect Order | March 2026 |
| CRI | Chaos Rising | May 2026 |
| PBL | Pitch Black | July 2026 |
| — | 30th Celebration (special set) | September 2026 |
Older cards keep turning up in lists too. PAF is Paldean Fates, a common source for Ultra Ball and Rare Candy, and MEW is Pokémon 151. Remember that Standard legality goes by the regulation mark (H, I or J), not the set, so check the card itself if you are unsure.
Reprints: why the number does not matter much
Popular cards get reprinted, often several times. Lillie's Clefairy ex appears in lists as JTG 56 from Journey Together, but there is also an Ascended Heroes printing. Both are the same card in play. When a list asks for one printing and you own another, you do not need to buy it again — and when you are buying, the cheapest legal printing is usually the smart choice. Our holo vs reverse holo guide explains why finishes differ in price.
Where to find lists
Limitless TCG publishes the lists from every major event, with each player's results. Pokémon TCG Live lets you export any deck you build in the app. Our own best Pokémon decks right now page picks ten current tournament lists and explains how each one wins.
Turn a list into a basket
Copy the whole list — headings and all — and paste it into our deck builder, or paste a Limitless decklist link instead. It reads every line, finds the card and any reprints we stock, and adds everything we have to your basket in one click. Cards we do not have are listed separately with links to their pages. For example, Dragapult ex TWM 130 was £3.00 on 26 October 2026, and we had all 60 cards of the list for £95.90.
Building your own list rather than copying one? Start with how to build a Pokémon TCG deck, then browse singles in stock.
Frequently asked questions
What does TWM mean in a Pokémon decklist?
TWM is the set code for Twilight Masquerade. In a line like "4 Dreepy TWM 128", 4 is the number of copies, Dreepy is the card name, TWM is the set and 128 is the card's collector number in that set.
What is the set code for Mega Evolution?
MEG. Later Mega Evolution-era sets use PFL (Phantasmal Flames), ASC (Ascended Heroes), POR (Perfect Order), CRI (Chaos Rising) and PBL (Pitch Black).
Do I need the exact printing in a decklist?
No. Any printing of the same card plays identically, so a reprint from another set or a different finish is fine as long as it is legal in your format. Our deck builder offers the cheapest printing we stock.
How do I export a decklist from Pokémon TCG Live?
Open the deck in Pokémon TCG Live and use its export option to copy the list to your clipboard. The text it copies can be pasted straight into our deck builder.