In one embodiment, a method determines if a first flag for using a most probable mode (MPM) set for intra prediction is set. When the first flag indicates the MPM set is used, the method decodes a first index for the MPM, the first index indicating a first intra prediction mode in the MPM set. When the first flag does not indicate the MPM set is being used, the method determines if a second flag for using a near-MPM set is set. When the second flag indicates the near-MPM set is being used, the method decodes a second index for the near-MPM, the second index indicating a second intra prediction mode in the near-MPM set. When the second flag does not indicate the near-MPM is being used, the method decodes a third index for a non-MPM, the third index indicating a third intra prediction mode in the non-MPM set.