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1. Your Official Player ID To be an official part of the Play! Pokémon ecosystem, the very first thing you'll need is a Player ID. Your Player ID helps track your progress, and is your ticket to signing up for local tournaments across both VGC and TGC competitions. If you don't have an ID yet, you can get one by setting up a free Pokémon Trainer Club account online. Then simply note down the number (or save a picture of the barcode on your phone), so it's ready to use as soon as you arrive at your event. But if you forget, don’t worry - you can usually register for an account in-store with the help of staff.
Stepping into your first official Play! Pokémon Organised Play Event is a big moment. Whether you're a Trading Card Game player, Video Game Championships battler, or just an all-round Pokémon fan, there's a huge amount to see and do. To make sure you turn up fully prepared and ready to play, we've put together a list of all the things you'll need to throw yourself into your first event.
2. A tournament-legal deck or team If you're planning to compete, you'll need to make sure that your Pokémon are ready for a battle. If you're taking part in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, you'll need a deck of exactly 60 cards, all of which are fully legal within the current Standard competition rules. That means only cards that are in the current rotation, and no banned cards! For the Video Game Championship, you'll need to make sure that your team is fully-trained, and complies with tournament regulations. Different types of competition will often have different rules about how many Legendary Pokémon you're allowed to use, so be sure to check in advance. If it’s your very first tournament, stores and veteran players will help you out if you’re missing a detail or two, but try your best to keep track!
3. Your team sheet or decklist / Bring your cards and Pokémon to trade! A Play! Pokémon event is the perfect place to perfect your team by trading cards or Pokémon with the other attendees. Before you arrive, you can sort the cards you no longer need for your deck into a specific binder to keep them safe, making sure you know exactly which cards you're happy to give away. And if you're trading Pokémon from the games, make sure that you've got the right copies to hand so you can swap with any new Trainers you meet.
4. Your favorite gameplay accessories Make sure you bring everything you need to be able to play without any interruptions. For TCG players, that might mean your favorite playmat, unmarked sleeves for your cards, and dice, coins, markers, or any other physical items your cards might instruct you to use as you deal damage or mark status effects. For VGC competitors, you'll need to make sure you've got a fully-charged console or phone, a working charger, and a copy of the game you're going to be competing with - Pokémon Champions is now the official game of Play! Pokémon.
5. Anything else you need to stay comfy! Play! Pokémon events can mean a lot of intense competition, so bring anything else you need to make sure you have a great day. That could mean a lucky charm, your favorite merch, or some snacks and drinks to keep you going!
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Everything you'll need to bring to your first Pokémon Organised Play Event
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