Prerelease cards (TCG)

Prerelease cards

Cards in set 38 Release date Release period August 1999 - Present

Prerelease cards are reprints of one selected card from a Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion with a foil "PRERELEASE" stamp in the bottom right corner of the card illustration.

Information

Wizards of the Coast first produced Prerelease cards when the TCG was first localised, and were given to participants of the early test leagues of what would later become the Pokémon League. Prerelease cards were then only awarded through select sites of the Pokémon League for the next three expansions before Wizards ceased their production. After Pokémon USA acquired the TCG license and fully established the Pokémon Organized Play program, Prerelease events were set up to coincide with the release of the upcoming expansions. Typically held on two weekends before the commercial release of expansions, Prerelease tournaments have continued to be an integral part of the TCG calendar.

Trivia

• Officially, there were only 4 Prerelease cards released by Wizards. However, whilst printing a test run of Jungle Clefable cards (a trial of the Prerelease cards for the Pokémon League), several Base Set Raichu cards were erroneously added to the sheet, and therefore also included a Prerelease stamp. The error was corrected and the Raichu cards were apparently given to Wizards employees. Despite this common knowledge within the TCG community, Wizards continued to deny their existence for years.
• Luxio was the first Prerelease card to have a "STAFF" stamped version, for the Prerelease event organizers. Cards released thereafter have continued to feature STAFF versions as well as a normal version.
• Buck's Training was the first non-Pokémon Prerelease card.
• With the release of HeartGold & SoulSilver, Prerelease cards no longer feature the "PRERELEASE" stamp, and instead feature the expansion logo. Also, ever since the release of HeartGold & SoulSilver, all of the cards have been Rare cards in the set.
• Starting from the Dark Explorers expansion, all Prerelease cards were actual promotional cards and featured alternate art.

Card lists

Wizards Prerelease cards

No. Mark Card name Type Rarity Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkRaichu.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Raichu]] Lightning Erroneously produced in trial run Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkClefable.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Clefable]] Colorless Pokémon League (August 1999) Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkAerodactyl.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Aerodactyl]] Fighting Pokémon League (October 1999) Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkDark Gyarados.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Dark Gyarados]] Water Pokémon League (April 2000) Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkMisty's Seadra.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Misty's Seadra]] Water Pokémon League (July 2000) Promotion

PUSA Prerelease cards

No. Mark Card name Type Rarity Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkArmaldo.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Armaldo]] Fighting [[Image:Rarity_EX Sandstorm Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Sandstorm Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkGyarados.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Gyarados]] Water [[Image:Rarity_EX Dragon Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Dragon Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkTeam Aqua's Cacnea.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Team Aqua's Cacnea]] Grass [[Image:Rarity_EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkSwalot.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Swalot]] Grass [[Image:Rarity_EX Hidden Legends Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Hidden Legends Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkWartortle.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Wartortle]] Water [[Image:Rarity_EX FireRed & LeafGreen Prerelease.png|x20px|EX FireRed & LeafGreen Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkDark Houndoom.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Dark Houndoom]] Fire [[Image:Rarity_EX Team Rocket Returns Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Team Rocket Returns Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkManectric.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Manectric]] Lightning [[Image:Rarity_EX Deoxys Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Deoxys Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkGrumpig.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Grumpig]] Psychic [[Image:Rarity_EX Emerald Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Emerald Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkBayleef.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Bayleef]] Grass [[Image:Rarity_EX Unseen Forces Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Unseen Forces Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkMetang δ.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Metang δ]] Lightning [[Image:Rarity_EX Delta Species Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Delta Species Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkTentacruel.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Tentacruel]] Water [[Image:Rarity_EX Legend Maker Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Legend Maker Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkExeggutor δ.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Exeggutor δ]] Fighting [[Image:Rarity_EX Holon Phantoms Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Holon Phantoms Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkIvysaur.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Ivysaur]] Grass [[Image:Rarity_EX Crystal Guardians Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Crystal Guardians Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkDragonair δ.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Dragonair δ]] Grass [[Image:Rarity_EX Dragon Frontiers Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Dragon Frontiers Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkCacturne.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Cacturne]] Darkness [[Image:Rarity_EX Power Keepers Prerelease.png|x20px|EX Power Keepers Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkLuxio.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Luxio]] Lightning [[Image:Rarity_Diamond & Pearl Prerelease.png|x20px|Diamond & Pearl Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkGabite.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Gabite]] Colorless [[Image:Rarity_Mysterious Treasures Prerelease.png|x20px|Mysterious Treasures Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkKirlia.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Kirlia]] Psychic [[Image:Rarity_Secret Wonders Prerelease.png|x20px|Secret Wonders Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkPorygon2.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Porygon2]] Colorless [[Image:Rarity_Great Encounters Prerelease.png|x20px|Great Encounters Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkMothim.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Mothim]] Grass [[Image:Rarity_Majestic Dawn Prerelease.png|x20px|Majestic Dawn Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkBuck's Training.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Buck's Training]] Supporter [[Image:Rarity_Legends Awakened Prerelease.png|x20px|Legends Awakened Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkPiloswine.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Piloswine]] Fighting [[Image:Rarity_Stormfront Prerelease.png|x20px|Stormfront Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkLucario.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Lucario]] Metal [[Image:Rarity_Platinum Prerelease.png|x20px|Platinum Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkTropius.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Tropius]] Grass [[Image:Rarity_Rising Rivals Prerelease.png|x20px|Rising Rivals Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkMilotic.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Milotic]] Water [[Image:Rarity_Supreme Victors Prerelease.png|x20px|Supreme Victors Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkRaichu.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Raichu]] Lightning [[Image:Rarity_Arceus Prerelease.png|x20px|Arceus Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkPichu.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Pichu]] Lightning [[Image:Rarity_HeartGold & SoulSilver Prerelease.png|x20px|HeartGold & SoulSilver Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkBlastoise.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Blastoise]] Water [[Image:Rarity_Unleashed Prerelease.png|x20px|Unleashed Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkLeafeon.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Leafeon]] Grass [[Image:Rarity_Undaunted Prerelease.png|x20px|Undaunted Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkElectivire.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Electivire]] Lightning [[Image:Rarity_Triumphant Prerelease.png|x20px|Triumphant Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkSnorlax.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Snorlax]] Colorless [[Image:Rarity_Call of Legends Prerelease.png|x20px|Call of Legends Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkDarmanitan.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Darmanitan]] Fire [[Image:Rarity_Black & White Prerelease.png|x20px|Black & White Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkGigalith.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Gigalith]] Fighting [[Image:Rarity_Emerging Powers Prerelease.png|x20px|Emerging Powers Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkVictini.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Victini]] Psychic [[Image:Rarity_Noble Victories Prerelease.png|x20px|Noble Victories Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkArcanine.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Arcanine]] Fire [[Image:Rarity_Next Destinies Prerelease.png|x20px|Next Destinies Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkVolcarona.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Volcarona]] Fire [[Image:Rarity_Dark Explorers Prerelease.png|x20px|Dark Explorers Prerelease]] Promotion — [[Image:RegMarkAltaria.png|x18px|link=Standard format (TCG)|Altaria]] Dragon [[Image:Rarity_Dragons Exalted Prerelease.png|x20px|Dragons Exalted Prerelease]] Promotion

This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions and releases Bold indicates a main expansion. Italics indicate a special set. Releases that are entirely composed of prints from other releases are small.
Miscellaneous releases Unreleased Wizards sets: Crosstrainer • Legendary Collection 2 • Jamboree Miscellaneous Promotional cards: Prerelease cards • W Promotional cards • Winner cards • Box Topper • Jumbo cards • Metal cards • Toys "R" Us Promotional cards • Yellow A Alternate cards