What format are the events played in?
Pokémon TCG League Challenges and League Cups must be played in the Standard format. More information on current card legalities and regulation marks for the Pokémon TCG Standard format can be found here. Make sure to communicate this to your competitors well in advance of the event so that they can prepare accordingly and bring decks that are in the correct format.
Are deck checks required for League Challenges & League Cups?
Deck checks are required to be performed at all Premier events. Play! Pokémon expects that deck checks will be performed on at least 10% of decks but recommends that tournament staff strive to complete as many as is reasonable without loss of quality or disrupting tournament proceedings. Deck checks may happen at any time during a tournament, from registration through the final round. Although competitors may be required to put the cards in their decks in the same order as the cards on their deck lists, they should not assume this and should always await direction from tournament staff before reordering their deck. During a deck check, tournament staff will check the following:
- The list is complete and legible.
- The deck described is legal for tournament play.
- The contents of the deck match the list exactly.
- The cards and card sleeves are free of features that could cause them to be classified as marked.
Where can I find the banned card list?
You can find the banned card list here.
Playmat Distribution
For Pokémon TCG League Cups only, the Champion of each age division will be awarded one (1) League Cup–branded Champion playmat.
Additional prizing beyond the playmats and Prize Packs provided by Play! Pokémon is at the Organizer’s or store’s discretion.
Tournament Mode
- Pokémon TCG League Challenges must be run using the Pokémon TCG League Challenge Tournament Mode.
- Pokémon TCG League Cups must be run using the Pokémon TCG League Cup Tournament Mode.