My First Tournament

X

Xon Suprimes

Aspiring Trainer
Member
Hi, I'm new here. I didn't really know where I should post to ask this, so I'm doing it here.

Anyways, on November 1st there will be a Phantom Forces Pre-Release near me, but I've never gone to a tournament/league/premier before. What do I expect at a Pre-Release?
I've never actually battled anyone in general either. One more question - When I'm battling someone do I have to tell my opponent my actions? Like saying the move I'm doing?

Thanks for Reading,
Xon Suprimes
 
Pre-release are little events that are held before a set comes out. Basically after everyone has registered and paid etc. the tournament organizer will give out everyone 6 packs of the new set (in this case you'll get 6 Phantom Forces packs).
From there everyone has about 30 minutes or so to make a 40 card deck (not the normal 60) out of the cards they obtained. You will have to bring your own Energy cards, however some events may have some you can borrow for the event.
When the times up, the TO (tournament organizer) will shortly post up papers showing everyone and their pairings (who they're against). When these are put up they'll announce it to everyone and you go check your table number and your opponent. Then you go find your table and wait for your opponent to turn up and for the TO to tell everyone they can start playing.
In prereleases you lay with 40 card (as explained earlier) so you'll also only be playing with 4 prize cards.
When all the rounds are over (depends on the amount of players that turned up) the TO/judge will then call up each player to collect their last 2 packs and anything else that you get at the prerelease (at old ones they gave out sleeves and deckboxes but I'm not sure if they do them anymore). You don't get anything extra for winning so the tournament is all in good fun. :)
When you're playing the game it's best to tell your opponent what you're doing. If something confuses you or you want to see what a card does that your opponent just played, politely ask them if you can check it or ask about the ruling/play you were confused about.

If you have any other questions let me know. Prereleases are great events to start off with. My first event was a PR too. They aren't really serious because there's nothing to lose when you play in them, so it's a nice environment to start off in.
 
Nintendan said:
Pre-release are little events that are held before a set comes out. Basically after everyone has registered and paid etc. the tournament organizer will give out everyone 6 packs of the new set (in this case you'll get 6 Phantom Forces packs).
From there everyone has about 30 minutes or so to make a 40 card deck (not the normal 60) out of the cards they obtained. You will have to bring your own Energy cards, however some events may have some you can borrow for the event.
When the times up, the TO (tournament organizer) will shortly post up papers showing everyone and their pairings (who they're against). When these are put up they'll announce it to everyone and you go check your table number and your opponent. Then you go find your table and wait for your opponent to turn up and for the TO to tell everyone they can start playing.
In prereleases you lay with 40 card (as explained earlier) so you'll also only be playing with 4 prize cards.
When all the rounds are over (depends on the amount of players that turned up) the TO/judge will then call up each player to collect their last 2 packs and anything else that you get at the prerelease (at old ones they gave out sleeves and deckboxes but I'm not sure if they do them anymore). You don't get anything extra for winning so the tournament is all in good fun. :)
When you're playing the game it's best to tell your opponent what you're doing. If something confuses you or you want to see what a card does that your opponent just played, politely ask them if you can check it or ask about the ruling/play you were confused about.

If you have any other questions let me know. Prereleases are great events to start off with. My first event was a PR too. They aren't really serious because there's nothing to lose when you play in them, so it's a nice environment to start off in.
Click to expand...

Thanks a ton! Well, looks like I'm gonna need to get some fairy energy.
 
Xon Suprimes said:
Thanks a ton! Well, looks like I'm gonna need to get some fairy energy.
Click to expand...

Call the place that you are going to go to, and ask them if they'll have energy available. In my experience, most have energy to spare. Also, you really can't go in expecting to make a fairy deck, because what happens if you only pull 2 fairy pokemon from your 6 packs?
 
I have never in my life been to a prerelease where the venue or the TO doesn't supply basic energies. Worst comes to worst, they'll let you proxy basic energy if they run out of a certain type. This happened at every single XY prerelease I went to, since nobody had Fairy energy. The staff simply told us to choose a type that your deck wasn't running, and that would be counted as Fairy energy.

One thing to remember is that the promo card you receive along with your packs (Bronzong) cannot be used in your deck. However, if you pull a Bronzong from your six packs, you can of course use that. EDIT: Some places apparently do let you use your promo. If they don't make an announcement about it, ask a staff member.

Also, many places do booster drafts with the new set after the "main" prerelease event. Drafts are typically $20 a person, but this can vary. This is an opportunity to get more cards from the new set, and unlike the main event, there are actual prizes in the form of extra packs to the winners. I'm going to be writing a more detailed article on drafts in the future, but in a nutshell, each player opens packs one at a time, picks one card, then passes the rest of the pack to left or right, alternating between packs. This sounds confusing, but it's not nearly as bad as it sounds; a staff member will act as a "pod leader" to oversee the draft and will be happy to help you understand things. You'll then need to build a 40-card deck, with the cards you picked, kind of like the main event (remember that you can only use the cards from the draft), and will play in a tournament, using four prizes just like before.
 
My Little Keldeo said:
I have never in my life been to a prerelease where the venue or the TO doesn't supply basic energies. Worst comes to worst, they'll let you proxy basic energy if they run out of a certain type. This happened at every single XY prerelease I went to, since nobody had Fairy energy. The staff simply told us to choose a type that your deck wasn't running, and that would be counted as Fairy energy.

One thing to remember is that the promo card you receive along with your packs (Bronzong) cannot be used in your deck. However, if you pull a Bronzong from your six packs, you can of course use that.
Click to expand...

Depends on venue. Mine let me use my promo.
 
AlexanderTheAwesome said:
Depends on venue
Mine let me use my promo
Click to expand...


Seriously? I should start coming to your venue more often. :rolleyes: I have never been to a prerelease that has allowed use of the promo card for the main event. That's awfly kind of them. I'd have loved to use my Machamp at one if the Fists prereleaes I was at (I pulled four Machops, three Machoke, a Lucario and a Hawlucha).
 
Ok, I understand now. I'm allowed to bring as many energies as I want in a deck, correct? I know they rotate formats each year, but if I have some energies that aren't Boundaries Crossed - Current Set? Also, why do you need 30 minutes to create your deck? You can only use the Pokemon you get from your packs, right?

Thanks again,
Xon Suprimes :)
 
A prerelease is a great way to begin, I began with a boundaries crossed Pre-release, and I had a great time and it settles you in for the bigger enviroments. You may use as many basic energy as you want, at long as the total amount of cards (Energy, pokemon, trainers, etc.) fit the standard of 40. I believe at prereleases you can use unlimited amount of pokemon (In regular tournies, it is 4 copies of 1 card, excluding ace spec/energy). In PRs (Pre-releases) you can use more than 5 of a card, if you pull them, lets take Keldeos case for example. LEts say you pull 5 machop, you may use 5 machop in the deck while at normal tournies it is 4. This may be something my area does...

All energy is legal (Special energy too, if it is legal. This would be Double Colorless Energy and Rainbow energy currently).

You choose from the 60 cards you pulled (10 cards a pack x 6 packs) and make a deck out of it. This takes time. Of course it greatly helps new players with deck building skills and strats.
 
Xon Suprimes said:
Ok, I understand now. I'm allowed to bring as many energies as I want in a deck, correct? I know they rotate formats each year, but if I have some energies that aren't Boundaries Crossed - Current Set? Also, why do you need 30 minutes to create your deck? You can only use the Pokemon you get from your packs, right?

Thanks again,
Xon Suprimes :)
Click to expand...

Because you have to decide what pokemon you're going to put in your deck along with the amount of energy cards. You can only have 40!

In PRs (Pre-releases) you can use more than 5 of a card, if you pull them, lets take Keldeos case for example. LEts say you pull 5 machop, you may use 5 machop in the deck while at normal tournies it is 4. This may be something my area does...
Click to expand...
My area does this as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top