Interested to learn how to play the Pokemon TCG? Perhaps you’ve played the game a long time ago but you’re looking to get back into the game. A sealed / prerelease Pokemon TCG tournament is a great way for beginners and returnees alike to familiarise themselves with the Pokemon TCG.
These tournaments are usually held when a new Pokemon TCG set releases. Each player will receive one Pokemon TCG Build & Battle Box; you will create a 40-card deck using the contents of this box.
The rules of the game remain the same, except you need to set aside *4 Prizes* instead of 6 Prizes. Another important rule is that you can have more than four Pokemon cards of the same card name.
What is a Pokemon TCG Build & Battle box?
The box contains:
- 23-card Evolution pack, which includes an exclusive foil promo card. There are one of four variations.
- Four 10-card booster packs from the latest set (currently: Battle Styles)
The tournament organiser will provide Basic Energy cards for all attendees. Attendees will also receive additional Booster packs after the tournament too.
What should you bring?
- 40 card sleeves
- Several dice to mark damage and for coin flips
How to build my deck?
The tournament organiser will allocate a certain amount of time for you to build your deck. These are what I do during my sealed / prerelease Pokemon TCG tournament.
- Open the Evolution pack, and all four Booster packs. Sort all Pokémon by Pokémon type to make it easier to build your deck.
- You will want to focus on one or two Pokémon types for your deck. If you managed to pull a Pokemon V, that could be the key Pokémon to build your deck around. Otherwise the Evolution pack provides a strong foundation.
- Take note of Pokemon with Colorless-type attack costs. These could be added into your deck to take advantage of an opponent Pokemon’s Weakness.
Usually my sealed / prerelease Pokemon TCG tournament decks follow this rough guide:
- Two or three Evolution lines
- 10-14 Energy cards
- Plenty of Trainer cards, especially those that allow you to draw more cards or search for Pokemon / Energy / more Trainer cards
I’m lost, I’m not sure how to build my deck
The sealed / prerelease Pokemon TCG tournament is a beginner-friendly environment. Reach out to the tournament organiser or other players; they will be more than happy to guide you into building your deck.
Have fun and enjoy the whacky combos you might see in a sealed / prerelease Pokemon TCG tournament!
The Southern Islands 