Prerelease cards (TCG): Difference between revisions

 

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

[[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 [[The Pokémon Company International|Pokémon USA]] acquired the TCG license and fully established the [[Play! Pokémon]] program, Prerelease events were set up to coincide with the release of the upcoming expansions. In the United States, Prerelease events are typically held over two weekends prior to the commercial release of expansions, and have continued to be an integral part of the TCG calendar.

 

* Officially, there were only four Prerelease cards released by Wizards. However, whilst printing a test run of {{TCG|Jungle}} Clefable cards (a trial of the Prerelease cards for the Pokémon League), several {{TCG|Base Set}} Raichu cards were said to have been 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 from {{TCG|Diamond & Pearl}} 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.

** 4 of the 7 sets that were skipped ([[Evolving Skies (TCG)|Evolving Skies]], [[Brilliant Stars (TCG)|Brilliant Stars]], [[Astral Radiance (TCG)|Astral Radiance]] and [[Lost Origin (TCG)|Lost Origin]]) have since had the Staff versions released to Pokémon Leagues in Europe. It is unclear whether these will be released outside of Europe, or if the remaining 3 sets ([[Battle Styles (TCG)|Battle Styles]], [[Chilling Reign (TCG)|Chilling Reign]], and [[Fusion Strike (TCG)|Fusion Strike]]) will ever be released<ref name=":0" />.

* Buck's Training from {{TCG|Legends Awakened}} was the first (and to-date only) non-Pokémon Prerelease card.

* With the release of {{TCG|HeartGold & SoulSilver}}, Prerelease cards no longer feature the "PRERELEASE" stamp, and instead feature the expansion logo.

* Starting from the {{TCG|Dark Explorers}} expansion until the end of the Black & White Series, all Prerelease cards were actual promotional cards and featured alternate art.

** For only the {{TCG|XY}} and {{TCG|Evolutions}} expansions since this, the Prerelease promos returned to specially stamped cards from the expansion. They are Black Star Promos in between these two sets (from {{TCG|Flashfire}} until {{TCG|Steam Siege}}), and from {{TCG|Sun & Moon}} onwards.

* Starting from the {{TCG|Fates Collide}} expansion, there are four available Prerelease cards, released in Prerelease Kits (alongside four staff versions available at Prerelease events for organizers).

* The rarities of the cards chosen to be Prerelease cards have followed trends during certain periods of the TCG:

** All cards from {{TCG|Dark Explorers}} onwards are Holo Black Star Promos (or Rare Holo for {{TCG|XY}} and {{TCG|Evolutions}}).

==Card lists==

{{Setlist/nmheader|title=Wizards of the Coast Prerelease cards|tablecol=CCCCFF|bordercol=8888AA|cellcol=E6E6FF|promo=yes|symbol=no}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|8/82|{{TCG ID|Team Rocket|Dark Gyarados|8}}|Water|||Pokémon League (April 2000)}}

{{Setlist/nmfooter|cellcol=E6E6FF}}

{{Setlist/nmheader|title=The Pokémon Company International Prerelease cards|tablecol=CCCCFF|bordercol=8888AA|cellcol=E6E6FF|promo=yes|symbol=no}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|27/99|{{TCG ID|Arceus|Raichu|27}}|Lightning|||''{{TCG|Platinum: Arceus|Arceus}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|BW51|{{TCG ID|BW Promo|Crobat|51}}|Psychic|||''{{TCG|Plasma Storm}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|BW96|{{TCG ID|BW Promo|Tornadus-EX|96}}|Colorless|||''{{TCG|Legendary Treasures}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|11/108|{{TCG ID|Evolutions|Charizard|11}}|Fire|||''{{TCG|Evolutions}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SM72|{{TCG ID|SM Promo|Alolan Raichu|72}}|Lightning|||''{{TCG|Crimson Invasion}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH115|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Passimian|115}}|Fighting|||''{{TCG|Chilling Reign}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH122|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Flaaffy|122}}|Lightning|||''{{TCG|Evolving Skies}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH185|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Moltres|185}}|Fire|||''{{TCG|Brilliant Stars}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH186|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Lucario|186}}|Fighting|||''{{TCG|Brilliant Stars}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH187|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Liepard|187}}|Darkness|||''{{TCG|Brilliant Stars}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH188|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Bibarel|188}}|Colorless|||''{{TCG|Brilliant Stars}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH207|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Hisuian Samurott|207}}|Darkness|||''{{TCG|Astral Radiance}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH240|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Finneon|240}}|Water|||''{{TCG|Lost Origin}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH241|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Gengar|241}}|Psychic|||''{{TCG|Lost Origin}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH242|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Comfey|242}}|Psychic|||''{{TCG|Lost Origin}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH243|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Machamp|243}}|Fighting|||''{{TCG|Lost Origin}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|SWSH272|{{TCG ID|SWSH Promo|Archeops|272}}|Colorless|||''{{TCG|Silver Tempest}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|006|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Pawmot|6}}|Lightning|||''{{TCG|Scarlet & Violet}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|007|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Hawlucha|7}}|Fighting|||''{{TCG|Scarlet & Violet}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|008|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Revavroom|8}}|Metal|||''{{TCG|Scarlet & Violet}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|019|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Baxcalibur|19}}|Water|||''{{TCG|Paldea Evolved}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|020|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Tinkaton|20}}|Psychic|||''{{TCG|Paldea Evolved}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|039|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Mawile|39}}|Metal|||''{{TCG|Obsidian Flames}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|057|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Chi-Yu|57}}|Fire|||''{{TCG|Paradox Rift}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|058|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Iron Bundle|58}}|Water|||''{{TCG|Paradox Rift}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|059|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Xatu|59}}|Psychic|||''{{TCG|Paradox Rift}}'' Prerelease}}

{{Setlist/nmentry|060|{{TCG ID|SVP Promo|Aegislash|60}}|Metal|||''{{TCG|Paradox Rift}}'' Prerelease}}

{{TCG Releases|Misc}}

[[Category:English promotional cards]]

[[zh:预售卡（TCG）]]