This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Expansion code images for CSMPj-CSMPq packs and breakdown for CSMPa-CSMPh packs
The Battle Party Set (Simplified Chinese: 对战派对组合Battle Party Set) is a Pokémon Trading Card Game kit that was released exclusively in Mainland China on April 15, 2023.
The Battle Party Set was specifically designed for hosting offline tournaments. Each box includes eight 60-card decks that represent a different type, three Battle Master Reward Packs, one Battle King Reward Pack, a score sheet, and four cardboard sheets containing damage counters, Special Condition markers, GX markers, and a coin. The cards from each deck are enclosed in three 20-card packs, which are held in a plastic wallet. Each pack bears the expansion code of the deck it belongs to, should the box contents become jumbled. The cards within these packs are always the same for each deck; however, each one has a chance to have all cards inside printed in Reverse Holofoil instead of the standard Non Holofoil. Battle Master Reward Packs come in silver packaging and contain one random card from the Reward Packs' regular card list. Battle King Reward Packs come in gold packaging and contain one random card from the Reward Packs' Secret card list. All cards from the Reward Packs are Holofoil.
Initially, the Battle Party Set was not available for general sale, and its contents were only available to the general public through organized events. Battle Party Set Tryout Events were held at Pokémon Card Gym stores and participating retailers between April 15 and July 14, 2023. These events allowed eight participants to open a set and compete in a three-round Swiss tournament to determine which players would receive the enclosed Reward Packs. Each participant was required to sign up through the Pokémon TCG Members WeChat App and pay 28 Chinese Yuan in order to play.[1] Pokémon Shanghai initially allocated 50,000 sets[2] for stores holding the events during the scheduled period, but later announced an extension of this period past July 14. The announcement did not specify if additional sets were allocated.[3] More events were held from January 13, 2024.[4]
Conducted in tandem with the Battle Party Set Tryout Event was the Battle of the Kings Tournament, which was held at game stores across China. Each tournament had 64 participants and consisted of two rounds. In the preliminary round, competitors were split into groups of eight, with each group opening a set and playing three games per contestant to determine a winner. Reward Packs were allocated to competitors in the same way as the Tryout Events. The eight group winners progressed to the finals and competed in another three-game tournament utilizing a new Battle Party Set. Reward Packs were once again allocated to top finishers, with the overall winner earning a limited SM-P Promotional card. Similarly to the Tryout Events, participants were required to sign up through the Pokémon TCG Members WeChat App and pay an entry fee of 32 Chinese Yuan.[5] A total of 300 Battle of the Kings Tournaments were held in its first season, which ran from April 15 until July 14, 2023. All contestants received a Regular copy of The Masked Royal as participation prize, and the overall winners received a Full Art copy of The Masked Royal.[5]
A response to feedback from participants was published on the official Pokémon Website on April 19, 2023. Investigations determined that eight host stores violated rules for the Tryout Events by arranging for personnel other than successfully registered players to take part. These stores had their rights to host official events temporarily revoked. It was also determined that a number of Battle of the Kings Tournament players utilized multiple Pokémon TCG Members accounts or used the accounts of other registered players to participate in events. Pokémon Shanghai announced that tournaments beginning April 22, 2023 would enforce on-site ID verification and the intention to bolster on-site management at future events.[6]
On July 12, 2023, Pokémon Shanghai announced the plan to hold a second Battle of the Kings Tournament season with new promo cards as prizes,[3] one of which was later revealed at the end of Great Tournament 2023 Shenyang to be a Full Art print of Olivia. Details of this season were published on September 8, 2023, which announced 300 more events were to be held between September 16 and December 17, 2023. All participants were given a Regular copy of Olivia; the overall winners were given a copy of the previously revealed Full Art counterpart.[7] While the second season was in progress, Pokémon Shanghai announced another store had violated rules during the promotion process and revoked their rights to host official events, including an upcoming Battle of the Kings Tournament. They also announced that any other affected events would be rescheduled and the number of planned tournaments would not change.[8] Upon detailing the host venues for tournaments held on December 16 and 17, 2023, Pokémon Shanghai announced a postponement to the second season.[9] Events resumed from January 13, 2024 with an increased entry fee of 34 Chinese Yuan.[10]
On January 8, 2024, it was announced that another organized event would be added to the Battle Party series—the Transformation Tournament. These competitions were the same as the Tryout Events, except for the addition of Modification Packs (supplied separately by Pokémon Shanghai). Participants were given a four-card Modification Pack to correlate with the deck they selected, which contained two Pokémon cards and two Trainer cards from a pool of ten cards. Participants could then substitute any cards from their deck with those from the Modification Pack. If a participant selected the Grass-type deck (CSMPa) for example, staff would give them a Grass-type Modification Pack (CSMPj). These events were first held on January 13, 2024. Those wishing to compete were required to sign up through the Pokémon TCG Members WeChat App and pay an entry fee of 30 Chinese Yuan.[4]
Starting February 1, 2024, the Battle Party Set became available for general sale at a price of 228 Chinese Yuan.[11]
