Prerelease cards (TCG)

Prerelease cards

Cards in set 167 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 or the expansion's logo in the bottom right corner of the card illustration.

Information

Wizards of the Coast first produced Prerelease cards when the TCG was first localized, 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 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.

The Diamond & Pearl expansion was the first to 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.

Prerelease cards from HeartGold & SoulSilver onwards feature the expansion logo rather than a "PRERELEASE" stamp. Beginning with Dark Explorers, most Prerelease cards are alternate-art Black Star Promos, rather than exact prints from the expansion.

Since the Fates Collide expansion, Prerelease cards have been included in Prerelease Kits or Build & Battle Boxes rather than being distributed as standalone cards. These products contain a random one of four different Prerelease cards. "STAFF" versions are still distributed standalone to organizers.

Trivia

• Officially, there were only four 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 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.
• Staff versions were temporarily halted from the Battle Styles expansion due to unknown reasons - although a combination of hoarding, scalpers, and the COVID-19 pandemic halting in-person tournament play may have been influential.^[1] Staff versions were resumed as of Silver Tempest.
  • Four of the seven sets that were skipped (Evolving Skies, Brilliant Stars, Astral Radiance and Lost Origin) have since had the Staff versions released to Pokémon Leagues in Europe.^[2] Staff promos from the remaining three expansions (Battle Styles, Chilling Reign, and Fusion Strike) also appeared in Europe, but it is currently unknown if they were accidentally sent out to Pokémon Leagues, or stolen from a warehouse.^[3]
• Buck's Training from Legends Awakened was the first (and to-date only) non-Pokémon Prerelease card.
• The XY, Evolutions, and Destined Rivals expansions feature the only Prerelease cards after Dark Explorers to be specially-stamped cards from the expansion rather than Black Star Promos with unique art.
• The rarities of the cards chosen to be Prerelease cards have followed trends during certain periods of the TCG:
  • All cards until EX Sandstorm are Rare Holo.
  • All cards from EX Dragon until Supreme Victors are Uncommon.
  • All cards from Arceus until Call of Legends are Rare.
  • All cards from Black & White until Next Destinies are Rare Holo.
  • All cards from Dark Explorers onwards are Holo Black Star Promos (or Rare Holo for XY and Evolutions).

Card lists

Wizards of the Coast Prerelease cards

No. Image Card name Type Rarity Promotion 14/102 Raichu — Allegedly produced in trial run 1/64 Clefable — Pokémon League (August 1999) 1/62 Aerodactyl [Starlight Holofoil] Aerodactyl [Cosmos Holofoil] — Pokémon League U.S. (October 1999) Pokémon League Europe (October 1999) 8/82 Dark Gyarados — Pokémon League (April 2000) 9/132 Misty's Seadra — Pokémon League (July 2000)

The Pokémon Company International Prerelease cards

No. Image Card name Type Rarity Promotion 1/100 Armaldo — EX Sandstorm Prerelease 32/97 Gyarados — EX Dragon Prerelease 24/95 Team Aqua's Cacnea — EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua Prerelease 50/101 Swalot — EX Hidden Legends Prerelease 50/112 Wartortle — EX FireRed & LeafGreen Prerelease 37/109 Dark Houndoom — EX Team Rocket Returns Prerelease 38/107 Manectric — EX Deoxys Prerelease 29/106 Grumpig — EX Emerald Prerelease 35/115 Bayleef — EX Unseen Forces Prerelease 49/113 Metang δ — EX Delta Species Prerelease 45/92 Tentacruel — EX Legend Maker Prerelease 41/110 Exeggutor δ — EX Holon Phantoms Prerelease 35/100 Ivysaur — EX Crystal Guardians Prerelease 28/101 Dragonair δ — EX Dragon Frontiers Prerelease 27/108 Cacturne — EX Power Keepers Prerelease 52/130 Luxio — Diamond & Pearl Prerelease 48/123 Gabite — Mysterious Treasures Prerelease 53/132 Kirlia — Secret Wonders Prerelease 49/106 Porygon2 — Great Encounters Prerelease 42/100 Mothim — Majestic Dawn Prerelease 130/146 Buck's Training Su — Legends Awakened Prerelease 46/100 Piloswine — Stormfront Prerelease 53/127 Lucario — Platinum Prerelease 52/111 Tropius — Rising Rivals Prerelease 70/147 Milotic — Supreme Victors Prerelease 27/99 Raichu — Arceus Prerelease 28/123 Pichu — HeartGold & SoulSilver Prerelease 13/95 Blastoise — Unleashed Prerelease 17/90 Leafeon — Undaunted Prerelease 20/102 Electivire — Triumphant Prerelease 33/106 Snorlax — Call of Legends Prerelease 25/114 Darmanitan — Black & White Prerelease 53/98 Gigalith — Emerging Powers Prerelease 43/101 Victini — Noble Victories Prerelease 12/99 Arcanine — Next Destinies Prerelease BW40 Volcarona — Dark Explorers Prerelease BW48 Altaria — Dragons Exalted Prerelease BW53 Flygon — Boundaries Crossed Prerelease BW51 Crobat — Plasma Storm Prerelease BW75 Metagross — Plasma Freeze Prerelease BW84 Porygon-Z — Plasma Blast Prerelease BW96 Tornadus-EX — Legendary Treasures Prerelease 86/146 Aegislash — XY Prerelease XY10 Dragalge — Flashfire Prerelease XY13 Machamp — Furious Fists Prerelease XY21 Bronzong — Phantom Forces Prerelease XY39 Kingdra — Primal Clash Prerelease XY46 Altaria — Roaring Skies Prerelease XY60 Gyarados — Ancient Origins Prerelease XY68 Chesnaught — BREAKthrough Prerelease XY94 Trevenant — BREAKpoint Prerelease XY127 Moltres — Fates Collide Prerelease XY128 White Kyurem — Fates Collide Prerelease XY129 Zygarde — Fates Collide Prerelease XY130 Tyranitar — Fates Collide Prerelease XY144 Yanmega — Steam Siege Prerelease XY145 Volcanion — Steam Siege Prerelease XY146 Clawitzer — Steam Siege Prerelease XY147 Hoopa — Steam Siege Prerelease 11/108 Charizard — Evolutions Prerelease 34/108 Gyarados — Evolutions Prerelease 51/108 Mewtwo — Evolutions Prerelease 59/108 Machamp — Evolutions Prerelease SM10 Shiinotic — Sun & Moon Prerelease SM11 Bruxish — Sun & Moon Prerelease SM12 Passimian — Sun & Moon Prerelease SM13 Oranguru — Sun & Moon Prerelease SM18 Alolan Sandslash — Guardians Rising Prerelease SM19 Oricorio — Guardians Rising Prerelease SM20 Mudsdale — Guardians Rising Prerelease SM21 Drampa — Guardians Rising Prerelease SM46 Seviper — Burning Shadows Prerelease SM47 Crabominable — Burning Shadows Prerelease SM48 Zygarde — Burning Shadows Prerelease SM49 Bewear — Burning Shadows Prerelease SM72 Alolan Raichu — Crimson Invasion Prerelease SM73 Salazzle — Crimson Invasion Prerelease SM74 Regirock — Crimson Invasion Prerelease SM75 Registeel — Crimson Invasion Prerelease SM94 Wash Rotom — Ultra Prism Prerelease SM95 Lucario — Ultra Prism Prerelease SM96 Heatran — Ultra Prism Prerelease SM97 Gumshoos — Ultra Prism Prerelease SM115 Pheromosa — Forbidden Light Prerelease SM116 Xurkitree — Forbidden Light Prerelease SM117 Malamar — Forbidden Light Prerelease SM118 Lycanroc — Forbidden Light Prerelease SM129 Kyogre — Celestial Storm Prerelease SM130 Manectric — Celestial Storm Prerelease SM131 Celesteela — Celestial Storm Prerelease SM132 Delcatty — Celestial Storm Prerelease SM149 Suicune — Lost Thunder Prerelease SM150 Raikou — Lost Thunder Prerelease SM151 Giratina — Lost Thunder Prerelease SM152 Tapu Lele — Lost Thunder Prerelease SM158 Charizard — Team Up Prerelease SM159 Zapdos — Team Up Prerelease SM160 Nidoqueen — Team Up Prerelease SM161 Jirachi — Team Up Prerelease SM179 Volcanion — Unbroken Bonds Prerelease SM180 Stakataka — Unbroken Bonds Prerelease SM181 Melmetal — Unbroken Bonds Prerelease SM182 Persian — Unbroken Bonds Prerelease SM202 Amoonguss — Unified Minds Prerelease SM203 Tapu Fini — Unified Minds Prerelease SM204 Necrozma — Unified Minds Prerelease SM205 Terrakion — Unified Minds Prerelease SM218 Buzzwole — Cosmic Eclipse Prerelease SM219 Entei — Cosmic Eclipse Prerelease SM220 Phione — Cosmic Eclipse Prerelease SM221 Blacephalon — Cosmic Eclipse Prerelease SWSH006 Rillaboom — Sword & Shield Prerelease SWSH007 Frosmoth — Sword & Shield Prerelease SWSH008 Galarian Perrserker — Sword & Shield Prerelease SWSH009 Cinccino — Sword & Shield Prerelease SWSH022 Flapple — Rebel Clash Prerelease SWSH023 Luxray — Rebel Clash Prerelease SWSH024 Coalossal — Rebel Clash Prerelease SWSH025 Garbodor — Rebel Clash Prerelease SWSH035 Decidueye — Darkness Ablaze Prerelease SWSH036 Arctozolt — Darkness Ablaze Prerelease SWSH037 Hydreigon — Darkness Ablaze Prerelease SWSH038 Kangaskhan — Darkness Ablaze Prerelease SWSH066 Charizard — Vivid Voltage Prerelease SWSH067 Donphan — Vivid Voltage Prerelease SWSH068 Snorlax — Vivid Voltage Prerelease SWSH069 Lugia — Vivid Voltage Prerelease SWSH088 Cherrim — Battle Styles Prerelease SWSH089 Octillery — Battle Styles Prerelease SWSH090 Houndoom — Battle Styles Prerelease SWSH091 Bronzong — Battle Styles Prerelease SWSH112 Cinderace — Chilling Reign Prerelease SWSH113 Inteleon — Chilling Reign Prerelease SWSH114 Cresselia — Chilling Reign Prerelease SWSH115 Passimian — Chilling Reign Prerelease SWSH122 Flaaffy — Evolving Skies Prerelease SWSH123 Galarian Articuno — Evolving Skies Prerelease SWSH124 Galarian Zapdos — Evolving Skies Prerelease SWSH125 Galarian Moltres — Evolving Skies Prerelease SWSH168 Oricorio — Fusion Strike Prerelease SWSH169 Pyukumuku — Fusion Strike Prerelease SWSH170 Deoxys — Fusion Strike Prerelease SWSH171 Latias — Fusion Strike Prerelease SWSH185 Moltres — Brilliant Stars Prerelease SWSH186 Lucario — Brilliant Stars Prerelease SWSH187 Liepard — Brilliant Stars Prerelease SWSH188 Bibarel — Brilliant Stars Prerelease SWSH205 Hisuian Basculegion — Astral Radiance Prerelease SWSH206 Wyrdeer — Astral Radiance Prerelease SWSH207 Hisuian Samurott — Astral Radiance Prerelease SWSH208 Magnezone — Astral Radiance Prerelease SWSH240 Finneon — Lost Origin Prerelease SWSH241 Gengar — Lost Origin Prerelease SWSH242 Comfey — Lost Origin Prerelease SWSH243 Machamp — Lost Origin Prerelease SWSH269 Sunflora — Silver Tempest Prerelease SWSH270 Rapidash — Silver Tempest Prerelease SWSH271 Kirlia — Silver Tempest Prerelease SWSH272 Archeops — Silver Tempest Prerelease 005 Quaquaval — Scarlet & Violet Prerelease 006 Pawmot — Scarlet & Violet Prerelease 007 Hawlucha — Scarlet & Violet Prerelease 008 Revavroom — Scarlet & Violet Prerelease 019 Baxcalibur — Paldea Evolved Prerelease 020 Tinkaton — Paldea Evolved Prerelease 021 Murkrow — Paldea Evolved Prerelease 022 Pelipper — Paldea Evolved Prerelease 036 Palafin — Obsidian Flames Prerelease 037 Cleffa — Obsidian Flames Prerelease 038 Togekiss — Obsidian Flames Prerelease 039 Mawile — Obsidian Flames Prerelease 057 Chi-Yu — Paradox Rift Prerelease 058 Iron Bundle — Paradox Rift Prerelease 059 Xatu — Paradox Rift Prerelease 060 Aegislash — Paradox Rift Prerelease 089 Feraligatr — Temporal Forces Prerelease 090 Metang — Temporal Forces Prerelease 091 Koraidon — Temporal Forces Prerelease 092 Miraidon — Temporal Forces Prerelease 115 Thwackey — Twilight Masquerade Prerelease 116 Infernape — Twilight Masquerade Prerelease 117 Froslass — Twilight Masquerade Prerelease 118 Tatsugiri — Twilight Masquerade Prerelease 133 Ledian — Stellar Crown Prerelease 134 Crabominable — Stellar Crown Prerelease 135 Drifblim — Stellar Crown Prerelease 136 Bouffalant — Stellar Crown Prerelease 151 Gouging Fire — Surging Sparks Prerelease 152 Chien-Pao — Surging Sparks Prerelease 153 Magneton — Surging Sparks Prerelease 154 Indeedee — Surging Sparks Prerelease 181 N's Darmanitan — Journey Together Prerelease 182 Iono's Kilowattrel — Journey Together Prerelease 183 Lillie's Ribombee — Journey Together Prerelease 184 Hop's Snorlax — Journey Together Prerelease 034/182 Ethan's Typhlosion — Destined Rivals Prerelease 049/182 Misty's Gyarados — Destined Rivals Prerelease 087/182 Team Rocket's Mimikyu — Destined Rivals Prerelease 096/182 Team Rocket's Tyranitar — Destined Rivals Prerelease 001 Meganium — Mega Evolution Prerelease 002 Inteleon — Mega Evolution Prerelease 003 Alakazam — Mega Evolution Prerelease 004 Lunatone — Mega Evolution Prerelease

References

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