Play! Pokémon/Pre-Release Tournaments

Pre-release Tournaments are events in which players get the opportunity to play with cards from an Expansion that will be released in stores prior to the event. They are typically held on the two weekends before the set release (although a third weekend is added to the schedule if the Pre-release clashes with a major Play! Pokémon event, such as the World Championship, traditionally held in August). The fee is a minimum of $25 and each player gets four Booster packs, a 22-cards pack, and a foil black-star promo. Players may build a 40-card deck using the cards opened out of the given packs (not including basic Energy cards, which are provided at the event). If the player vouches to participate in this event, he or she receives two additional booster packs at the end of the event, along with a special Pre-release card.