Prerelease cards (TCG)

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Prerelease cards
Cards in set 167
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 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 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.

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.
  • Luxio from 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.
    • 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] However, the staff versions have since been 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.
  • With the release of HeartGold & SoulSilver, Prerelease cards no longer feature the "PRERELEASE" stamp, and instead feature the expansion logo.
  • Starting from the 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 XY and 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 Flashfire until Steam Siege), and from Sun & Moon onwards.
  • Starting from the 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:

Card lists

Wizards of the Coast Prerelease cards
No. Image Card name Type Promotion
14/102 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Raichu Lightning Allegedly produced in trial run
1/64 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Clefable Colorless Pokémon League (August 1999)
1/62 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Aerodactyl Fighting Pokémon League (October 1999)
8/82 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Dark Gyarados Water Pokémon League (April 2000)
9/132 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Misty's Seadra Water Pokémon League (July 2000)
 



The Pokémon Company International Prerelease cards
No. Image Card name Type Promotion
1/100 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Armaldo Fighting EX Sandstorm Prerelease
32/97 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Gyarados Water EX Dragon Prerelease
24/95 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Team Aqua's Cacnea GrassDarkness EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua Prerelease
50/101 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Swalot Grass EX Hidden Legends Prerelease
50/112 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Wartortle Water EX FireRed & LeafGreen Prerelease
37/109 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Dark Houndoom FireDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Prerelease
38/107 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Manectric Lightning EX Deoxys Prerelease
29/106 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Grumpig Psychic EX Emerald Prerelease
35/115 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Bayleef Grass EX Unseen Forces Prerelease
49/113 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Metang δ Lightning EX Delta Species Prerelease
45/92 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Tentacruel Water EX Legend Maker Prerelease
41/110 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Exeggutor δ Fighting EX Holon Phantoms Prerelease
35/100 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Ivysaur Grass EX Crystal Guardians Prerelease
28/101 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Dragonair δ Grass EX Dragon Frontiers Prerelease
27/108 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Cacturne Darkness EX Power Keepers Prerelease
52/130 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Luxio Lightning Diamond & Pearl Prerelease
48/123 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Gabite Colorless Mysterious Treasures Prerelease
53/132 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Kirlia Psychic Secret Wonders Prerelease
49/106 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Porygon2 Colorless Great Encounters Prerelease
42/100 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Mothim Grass Majestic Dawn Prerelease
130/146 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Buck's Training Su Legends Awakened Prerelease
46/100 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Piloswine Fighting Stormfront Prerelease
53/127 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Lucario Metal Platinum Prerelease
52/111 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Tropius Grass Rising Rivals Prerelease
70/147 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Milotic Water Supreme Victors Prerelease
27/99 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Raichu Lightning Arceus Prerelease
28/123 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Pichu Lightning HeartGold & SoulSilver Prerelease
13/95 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Blastoise Water Unleashed Prerelease
17/90 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Leafeon Grass Undaunted Prerelease
20/102 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Electivire Lightning Triumphant Prerelease
33/106 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Snorlax Colorless Call of Legends Prerelease
25/114 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Darmanitan Fire Black & White Prerelease
53/98 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Gigalith Fighting Emerging Powers Prerelease
43/101 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Victini Psychic Noble Victories Prerelease
12/99 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Arcanine Fire Next Destinies Prerelease
BW40 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Volcarona Fire Dark Explorers Prerelease
BW48 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Altaria Dragon Dragons Exalted Prerelease
BW53 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Flygon Dragon Boundaries Crossed Prerelease
BW51 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Crobat Psychic Plasma Storm Prerelease
BW75 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Metagross Psychic Plasma Freeze Prerelease
BW84 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Porygon-Z Colorless Plasma Blast Prerelease
BW96 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Tornadus-EX Colorless Legendary Treasures Prerelease
86/146 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Aegislash Metal XY Prerelease
XY10 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Dragalge Dragon Flashfire Prerelease
XY13 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Machamp Fighting Furious Fists Prerelease
XY21 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Bronzong Metal Phantom Forces Prerelease
XY39 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Kingdra Dragon Primal Clash Prerelease
XY46 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Altaria Colorless Roaring Skies Prerelease
XY60 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Gyarados Water Ancient Origins Prerelease
XY68 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Chesnaught Grass BREAKthrough Prerelease
XY94 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Trevenant Psychic BREAKpoint Prerelease
XY127 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Moltres Fire Fates Collide Prerelease
XY128 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png White Kyurem Water Fates Collide Prerelease
XY129 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Zygarde Fighting Fates Collide Prerelease
XY130 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Tyranitar Darkness Fates Collide Prerelease
XY144 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Yanmega Grass Steam Siege Prerelease
XY145 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Volcanion Fire Steam Siege Prerelease
XY146 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Clawitzer Water Steam Siege Prerelease
XY147 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Hoopa Psychic Steam Siege Prerelease
11/108 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Charizard Fire Evolutions Prerelease
34/108 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Gyarados Water Evolutions Prerelease
51/108 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Mewtwo Psychic Evolutions Prerelease
59/108 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Machamp Fighting Evolutions Prerelease
SM10 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Shiinotic Grass Sun & Moon Prerelease
SM11 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Bruxish Water Sun & Moon Prerelease
SM12 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Passimian Fighting Sun & Moon Prerelease
SM13 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Oranguru Colorless Sun & Moon Prerelease
SM18 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Alolan Sandslash Water Guardians Rising Prerelease
SM19 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Oricorio Psychic Guardians Rising Prerelease
SM20 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Mudsdale Fighting Guardians Rising Prerelease
SM21 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Drampa Dragon Guardians Rising Prerelease
SM46 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Seviper Psychic Burning Shadows Prerelease
SM47 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Crabominable Fighting Burning Shadows Prerelease
SM48 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Zygarde Dragon Burning Shadows Prerelease
SM49 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Bewear Colorless Burning Shadows Prerelease
SM72 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Alolan Raichu Lightning Crimson Invasion Prerelease
SM73 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Salazzle Psychic Crimson Invasion Prerelease
SM74 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Regirock Fighting Crimson Invasion Prerelease
SM75 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Registeel Metal Crimson Invasion Prerelease
SM94 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Wash Rotom Water Ultra Prism Prerelease
SM95 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Lucario Fighting Ultra Prism Prerelease
SM96 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Heatran Metal Ultra Prism Prerelease
SM97 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Gumshoos Colorless Ultra Prism Prerelease
SM115 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Pheromosa Grass Forbidden Light Prerelease
SM116 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Xurkitree Lightning Forbidden Light Prerelease
SM117 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Malamar Psychic Forbidden Light Prerelease
SM118 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Lycanroc Fighting Forbidden Light Prerelease
SM129 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Kyogre Water Celestial Storm Prerelease
SM130 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Manectric Lightning Celestial Storm Prerelease
SM131 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Celesteela Metal Celestial Storm Prerelease
SM132 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Delcatty Colorless Celestial Storm Prerelease
SM149 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Suicune Water Lost Thunder Prerelease
SM150 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Raikou Lightning Lost Thunder Prerelease
SM151 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Giratina Psychic Lost Thunder Prerelease
SM152 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Tapu Lele Fairy Lost Thunder Prerelease
SM158 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Charizard Fire Team Up Prerelease
SM159 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Zapdos Lightning Team Up Prerelease
SM160 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Nidoqueen Psychic Team Up Prerelease
SM161 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Jirachi Metal Team Up Prerelease
SM179 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Volcanion Fire Unbroken Bonds Prerelease
SM180 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Stakataka Fighting Unbroken Bonds Prerelease
SM181 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Melmetal Metal Unbroken Bonds Prerelease
SM182 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Persian Colorless Unbroken Bonds Prerelease
SM202 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Amoonguss Grass Unified Minds Prerelease
SM203 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Tapu Fini Water Unified Minds Prerelease
SM204 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Necrozma Psychic Unified Minds Prerelease
SM205 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Terrakion Fighting Unified Minds Prerelease
SM218 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Buzzwole Grass Cosmic Eclipse Prerelease
SM219 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Entei Fire Cosmic Eclipse Prerelease
SM220 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Phione Water Cosmic Eclipse Prerelease
SM221 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Blacephalon Psychic Cosmic Eclipse Prerelease
SWSH006 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Rillaboom Grass Sword & Shield Prerelease
SWSH007 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Frosmoth Water Sword & Shield Prerelease
SWSH008 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Galarian Perrserker Metal Sword & Shield Prerelease
SWSH009 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Cinccino Colorless Sword & Shield Prerelease
SWSH022 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Flapple Grass Rebel Clash Prerelease
SWSH023 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Luxray Lightning Rebel Clash Prerelease
SWSH024 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Coalossal Fighting Rebel Clash Prerelease
SWSH025 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Garbodor Darkness Rebel Clash Prerelease
SWSH035 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Decidueye Grass Darkness Ablaze Prerelease
SWSH036 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Arctozolt Lightning Darkness Ablaze Prerelease
SWSH037 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Hydreigon Darkness Darkness Ablaze Prerelease
SWSH038 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Kangaskhan Colorless Darkness Ablaze Prerelease
SWSH066 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Charizard Fire Vivid Voltage Prerelease
SWSH067 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Donphan Fighting Vivid Voltage Prerelease
SWSH068 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Snorlax Colorless Vivid Voltage Prerelease
SWSH069 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Lugia Colorless Vivid Voltage Prerelease
SWSH088 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Cherrim Grass Battle Styles Prerelease
SWSH089 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Octillery Water Battle Styles Prerelease
SWSH090 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Houndoom Fire Battle Styles Prerelease
SWSH091 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Bronzong Metal Battle Styles Prerelease
SWSH112 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Cinderace Fire Chilling Reign Prerelease
SWSH113 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Inteleon Water Chilling Reign Prerelease
SWSH114 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Cresselia Psychic Chilling Reign Prerelease
SWSH115 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Passimian Fighting Chilling Reign Prerelease
SWSH122 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Flaaffy Lightning Evolving Skies Prerelease
SWSH123 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Galarian Articuno Psychic Evolving Skies Prerelease
SWSH124 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Galarian Zapdos Fighting Evolving Skies Prerelease
SWSH125 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Galarian Moltres Darkness Evolving Skies Prerelease
SWSH168 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Oricorio Fire Fusion Strike Prerelease
SWSH169 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Pyukumuku Water Fusion Strike Prerelease
SWSH170 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Deoxys Psychic Fusion Strike Prerelease
SWSH171 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Latias Dragon Fusion Strike Prerelease
SWSH185 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Moltres Fire Brilliant Stars Prerelease
SWSH186 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Lucario Fighting Brilliant Stars Prerelease
SWSH187 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Liepard Darkness Brilliant Stars Prerelease
SWSH188 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Bibarel Colorless Brilliant Stars Prerelease
SWSH205 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Hisuian Basculegion Water Astral Radiance Prerelease
SWSH206 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Wyrdeer Psychic Astral Radiance Prerelease
SWSH207 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Hisuian Samurott Darkness Astral Radiance Prerelease
SWSH208 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Magnezone Metal Astral Radiance Prerelease
SWSH240 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Finneon Water Lost Origin Prerelease
SWSH241 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Gengar Psychic Lost Origin Prerelease
SWSH242 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Comfey Psychic Lost Origin Prerelease
SWSH243 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Machamp Fighting Lost Origin Prerelease
SWSH269 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Sunflora Grass Silver Tempest Prerelease
SWSH270 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Rapidash Fire Silver Tempest Prerelease
SWSH271 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Kirlia Psychic Silver Tempest Prerelease
SWSH272 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Archeops Colorless Silver Tempest Prerelease
005 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Quaquaval Water Scarlet & Violet Prerelease
006 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Pawmot Lightning Scarlet & Violet Prerelease
007 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Hawlucha Fighting Scarlet & Violet Prerelease
008 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Revavroom Metal Scarlet & Violet Prerelease
019 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Baxcalibur Water Paldea Evolved Prerelease
020 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Tinkaton Psychic Paldea Evolved Prerelease
021 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Murkrow Darkness Paldea Evolved Prerelease
022 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Pelipper Colorless Paldea Evolved Prerelease
036 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Palafin Water Obsidian Flames Prerelease
037 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Cleffa Psychic Obsidian Flames Prerelease
038 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Togekiss Psychic Obsidian Flames Prerelease
039 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Mawile Metal Obsidian Flames Prerelease
057 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Chi-Yu Fire Paradox Rift Prerelease
058 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Iron Bundle Water Paradox Rift Prerelease
059 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Xatu Psychic Paradox Rift Prerelease
060 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Aegislash Metal Paradox Rift Prerelease
089 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Feraligatr Water Temporal Forces Prerelease
090 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Metang Metal Temporal Forces Prerelease
091 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Koraidon Dragon Temporal Forces Prerelease
092 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Miraidon Dragon Temporal Forces Prerelease
115 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Thwackey Grass Twilight Masquerade Prerelease
116 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Infernape Fire Twilight Masquerade Prerelease
117 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Froslass Water Twilight Masquerade Prerelease
118 TCG2 A01 Bulbasaur.png Tatsugiri Dragon Twilight Masquerade Prerelease
 


References



Project TCG logo.png 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: CrosstrainerLegendary Collection 2Jamboree
Miscellaneous Promotional cards: Prerelease cardsW Promotional cardsWinner cardsBox TopperJumbo cardsMetal cardsToys "R" Us Promotional cardsYellow A Alternate cards