If you've never been to a Pokémon TCG Prerelease...
I help run a couple of the local prerelease events now, but before that I was simply a dad who decided to take his son to try one. We had such a great experience that we've been attending ever since. That was around eight main sets ago!
My son was six when we went to our first prerelease. I played while he watched, helped me make decisions (sometimes spotting things I missed!), and by our third event he was playing on his own.
I honestly think prereleases are one of the best ways to experience the Pokémon TCG.
For $40–55 (depending on the store), you receive:
- A 40-card prebuilt deck
- An exclusive stamped prerelease promo card
- 5–7 booster packs from a set that hasn't officially released yet
You spend the first 30 minutes opening your packs and making any changes you'd like to your deck. Then everyone plays three short matches using the decks they just built. Since everyone starts with similar cards, it's a much more level playing field than regular competitive play. You don't need an expensive deck or to know the current meta to have fun.
One of my favourite parts is the atmosphere. Opening Pokémon packs is always exciting—but opening a brand-new set alongside 30 other Pokémon fans, seeing everyone's big pulls, discovering the new artwork together, and celebrating each other's luck makes it a completely different experience.
It's also incredibly welcoming to newer players. If you know the basic rules (or have played a little on Pokémon TCG Live), you'll be just fine. Experienced players are usually more than happy to answer questions or help someone who's attending their first event.
One of the coolest things I've noticed is how often first-time players become regulars. Almost every prerelease I see someone who's a little nervous walking in, and by the end of the afternoon they're already asking when the next one is.
The next Pokémon: Pitch Black prerelease events are happening this weekend. I'll be running events at Everything Games on Saturday, July 4, and Epic Games & More on Sunday, July 5. If you've ever been curious about trying a prerelease event now is the time and the next opportunity won't be until November.
Happy to answer any questions if you're wondering what prereleases are like or whether they'd be a good fit for you or your kids!