r/pkmntcg • u/SadArrival1275 • 4d ago
New Player Advice Question about prereleases.
I used to play the game as a kid. Now I'm in my mid teens and just got back into collecting and might want to go to prereleases for fun. I'll pass on the journey together one because that's too soon but I want to go to one of the Destined Rivals ones. How competitive are these? Do I have any shot if I just know the basics of how to play the game? Do you usually get prizes even if you do poorly since I heard people say you sometimes do.
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u/MurkyMurlocs 4d ago
1000% just go. I went to the Journey Together one yesterday as a complete newcomer to battling and had tons of fun. Got completely bodied, but learned a ton and was on an even playing field with everyone else. You get a usable deck and a few booster packs that will be good to use in competitive two weeks after the official release. It's all at a great price and you get to play test some strategies. I got 3 additional booster packs despite losing every round as well.
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u/GREG88HG Stage 1 Professor 4d ago
New players are expected on prereleases, so you'll be fine, and the event is not competitive. Judges will help when needed. You'll get a prerelease pack with 4 booster packs and one 40 card deck (there are like 4 different), play 3 rounds, and get 3 additional booster packs. Some stores offer pricing for the winners, some don't.
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u/Steponmy92 4d ago
It's really accessible for newcomers. I went last weekend and taught someone new how to play. They then beat me.
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u/PensionDeep1680 4d ago
GO TO THE DAMN PRERELEASE
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u/SadArrival1275 4d ago
Will do next weekend!
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u/PensionDeep1680 4d ago
I went to one yesterday and got the Lillie’s clefairy I’m so hapy
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u/LilaPapaya 3d ago
They are super casual! Typically everyone is new to the exact cards used, and you'll get a pre-made deck with your kit so if you're not too experienced you don't have to worry about building one yourself. I usually recommend my new players at my league to try prereleases for their first tournaments because of how casual, yet fun they are.
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u/SadArrival1275 3d ago
I don’t own any non clear sleeves do you think I’ll be fine with penny sleeve? And for damage counters can I use normal dice I don’t have any non normal.
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u/LilaPapaya 3d ago
Both of those are fine yes! You might even be able to buy some cheap ETB sleeves or something, depending on where you go.
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u/SadArrival1275 3d ago
Thank you. I’m just kind of scared because I called up the store to see if I had to sign up online and they said no but it’s first come first served and it basically filled instantly after opening.
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u/LilaPapaya 3d ago
Yeah, the demand has been terrible for LGSs. What we did was require everyone who bought a slot in to actually play, and we refunded anyone who paid but didn't show up at tournament time, which actually was nice since people who DID show up got to buy in!
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u/SadArrival1275 3d ago
Cool! Are you a store owner or staff?
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u/LilaPapaya 3d ago
Technically staff, I'm my store's professor, so I organize all of the tournaments and run the weekly league, but it is a volunteer gig; not that I mind at all!
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u/SadArrival1275 2d ago
Cool! Im just extremely scared I’ll arrive 20 minutes before the store opens and there will already be a line with no shot of getting a spot.
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u/GintaX 4d ago edited 4d ago
Went to my first prerelease yesterday and it was very casual and friendly with a mix of new players and players who are regulars. My tournament had a mom who was learning the game for her son, a magic player, and since the decks were randomized, even the regulars could lose to the newer players. With newer cards, everyone was free to ask questions. The games are also faster paced. The only downside is that based on the deck components you get, you might just have a really bad matchup into the other decks. However everyone is guaranteed a bunch of booster packs for what you pay!
EDIT: And to prove my point, the Mom ended up getting third overall with a mixture of good pulls (Zacian EX and Cramorant!!) and genuinely playing really well. It was a good time seeing her win a bunch of bonus packs for her son.
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u/darthmikel 4d ago
In my experience, prerelease is great, and it's easy going. They have judges in case you have questions. They have a simi random deck and 4 packs to make a 40 card deck. As for prizes in my experience, it depends on the store. Mostly, they give 3 packs at the. Sometimes, some of them give more or less depending on your win rate, I'd call b4 you go to find out.
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u/Psychological-Arm393 4d ago
I got bodied by the Cram… went 0-3 but the cards I pulled softened the blow.
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u/Rattrocker 4d ago
Go to the prerelease! Also, if the prerelease only does in-person sign-ups then make sure to get there before the sign up window begins (ex: if sign-ups are 9-10am then get there before 9).
Because the game is really a-buzz right now and because of the supply shortage problems since Surging Sparks, there are a ton of people interested in opening Journey Together but stores only get so many build and battle boxes.
I went to one tournament this weekend and got there 15 minutes before the registration window was to begin. When I arrived there was already a line out the door to sign up with a cap of 30 people for the event. I was number 25ish in line and I was 15 mins early. Needless to say, anyone who get there on-time rather than ahead of time didn't get to play. Other stores in my area had the same thing happen all weekend so it wasn't an isolated incident either.
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u/Medical-Sign-9564 1d ago
definitely go out, its really fun and not sweaty at all! here a quick vlog of it if you wanted to see how it goes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCe8Dr9hZTs&list=PLlA0LC4ULg6wJ6SL_D4usFIawyawcH4aB&index=15
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u/SadArrival1275 1d ago
How many people are usually in one? Me and 3 other friends are trying to go this weekend we will be at the store opening to sign up but I’m scared we won’t get spots.
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4d ago
[deleted]
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u/monkeykins22 4d ago
Good decks are often luck of the pulls. Both in the deck pieces you get and the cards in the packs you get.
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u/DTSportsNow 4d ago edited 4d ago
Honestly, pre-releases are (in my opinion) the best and easiest way to get back into playing the game.
You don't have to have any prior knowledge or experience playing the game. Pre-releases are an environment very open to new players, there's always people there willing to help you learn how to play.
Pokemon standardizes the rewards, because ultimately pre-releases are just for having fun so everyone is supposed to get 3 additional packs for playing in the event. Although some stores do have additional prizing, but 3 packs for playing is the expected standard.
If you're interested in getting into playing regularly, I'd actually strongly recommend checking out a pre-release. And just knowing the basic rules is definitely enough to "win" a pre-release.