The Pokémon Company International has made a last-minute adjustment to the tournament rules for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The decision affects the upcoming Special Set Ascended Heroes and has a direct impact on the Pokémon European International Championships in February.
Ascended Heroes will therefore not be approved for the tournament as originally expected. The decisive factor was concerns from the community about the limited availability of the cards prior to the competition.
Planned tournament admission changed at short notice
Until the beginning of this week, Ascended Heroes was considered legal for the European International Championships, which are considered the second largest event of the season. The tournament begins in mid-February. At that time, however, only a single product containing cards from Ascended Heroes would have been available in stores.
Specifically, this is the so-called Tech Sticker Collection, which contains only two booster packs. No other products from the set were planned at that time.
Criticism of limited availability
After the staggered release plan was announced, numerous players expressed their concerns. The main issue was fair access to the new cards. Due to limited availability before the tournament, players would have had to spend a considerable amount of money to have a realistic chance of obtaining enough booster packs.
The discussion focused in particular on possible distortions of competition. If individual cards from Ascended Heroes had offered game-changing advantages, only a small group would have been able to use new decks.
New rule introduced for special sets
In response, the tournament rules were adjusted. Ascended Heroes will now only be legal for tournaments two weeks after the release of the Elite Trainer Box. This is currently planned for March. This automatically excludes the set from participation in the European International Championships.
The change does not only apply to Ascended Heroes. In the future, all so-called Special Sets will only be approved for official tournaments two weeks after the release of their Elite Trainer Box.
Differences between Special Sets and regular expansions
Unlike classic expansions, Special Sets are not released in booster boxes. They are usually released exclusively through special product lines and are often not available in large retail chains or supermarkets.
This limited distribution structure regularly leads to lower availability. In the case of Ascended Heroes, this would have meant that very few cards would have been in circulation before the tournament.
European International Championships in February
The Pokémon European International Championships take place at the ExCeL Centre in London. The event runs over several days and attracts players from all over Europe. For many participants, the tournament is considered an important milestone in the competition calendar.
The rule change means that the card pool for the event remains unchanged and corresponds to the previously available expansions.
FAQ
Due to limited availability prior to the tournament, their admission has been postponed.
Special Sets will only become legal in tournaments two weeks after the release of the Elite Trainer Box.
Two weeks after the release of the Elite Trainer Box in March.
No, it applies to all future Special Sets.
Only a Tech Sticker Collection with two booster packs.
They are released without booster boxes and are more difficult to obtain.
The change takes effect immediately for upcoming events.
At the ExCeL Centre in London.
