Written by Jim Ziegler

It was an unprecedented Pokémon World Championship in Honolulu last weekend, but with the World Championship behind us, it’s time to look ahead at what the rest of the year has in store in the store.

 

Next year’s Pokemon World Championships have already been announced, along with 2026, both taking place in California, making them once again within financial reach of sleepy little Hilo’s gaming community. In competitive reach… that’s a different story.

 

The Pokémon World Championships have been growing steadily, even with the requirement to get a spectator badge to enter the venue, and The Pokémon Company International has taken steps to slow that growth down by placing a limit on how many players will get an invitation from each game, division, and region. By switching from a set goal to earn an invitation (for example, 600 points for TCG Masters) to a system where only the highest scoring few players will earn invites, TPCi has made not only a moving goalpost, but also an invisible one.

 

Video Game and GO players may be even more heavily impacted as Showdown events are rolled into League Challenges and League Cups hosted in local game shops without any official prize support. These players are less likely to be satisfied with a few packs of trading cards, since they may not be players, and store owners have been reluctant to host these Premier Events because they don’t bring in the players who purchase a lot of product outside of a few snacks.

 

As a step forward, though, new policy is to help Pokémon Professors volunteering at Regional and International Championships with travel and hotel stipends, which marks a significant step forward in support shortly after Wizards of the Coast stepped back from official recognition of Magic judges. But the real questions is: When will Ravensburger put together an official judge program?

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON

Pokémon Day

Sunday, 1:00 PM

The ever-popular monthly Pokémon Day event is back with all of your favorite activities. See Pokémon Professor Jim to Learn To Play and for help building your new deck at 1:00, then hang around for everyone's favorite activity, Pokémon Bingo. Win packs, promos, and prizes! Remember, all players under 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Entry fee: $10.

 

Standard Constructed Tournament

Sunday, 3:00 PM

Show everyone that you’re the best! Like no one ever was! Join the battle at the weekly Standard Constructed Tournament! Regulation F, no deck list required. Entry fee: $6

 

Pokémon League Casual Play

Monday and Saturday at 6:30 PM, Sunday at noon

The $10 entry fee comes with a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack.

 

GATHER FOR MAGIC

Standard Showdown

Saturday, 3:00 PM

Tiny tails, big adventures, Standard format! The first Standard Showdown of the Bloomburrow meta is here! Bring your best deck, and battle it out for fun and prizes. Entry fee: $10

 

FNM: Standard Constructed

Saturday, 6:00 PM

Format: Standard Constructed. Entry: $10.00

Casual Commander

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6:00 PM.

The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other magicians. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

 

TIME TO DUEL! Yu-Gi-Oh!

Advanced Constructed Tournament

Wednesday, Friday 7:00 PM

Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Shimmering Skies Lorcana Constructed Tournament

Saturday, 6:30 PM

This tournament will be a core constructed format, so bring your 60-card deck (no more than two colors), put on your Mickey Mouse ears, and sing your way to victory. Entry fee: $10

Shimmering Skies Lorcana League

Monday, & Saturday, 6:30 PM

The adventures in the Inklands continue with Locana League. Bring your sealed deck, or join the fun! The initial entry fee includes a starter deck of your choice, a booster pack, and a 200-card deck box to keep your sealed cards from getting mixed up with your collection. Entry fee: $25 (one-time charge)

THIS MEANS WAR(HAMMER)!

Kill Team

Zoom in on the action and lead a single squad into combat, with modified rules to keep the action moving. Bring your best squad and prepare to battle. Entry: $15

 

Casual Warhammer

Sunday, 5:00 PM

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. At Gam3Escape, there is only Warhammer! Whether it’s a Tyranid terror or a Blood Angel battalion, stage your army and prepare for battle at the weekly Casual Warhammer event. 

 

Cardfight! Vanguard

overDress Constructed Tournament

Monday, 5:30 PM

Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

 

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED

Casual Play League

Tuesdays, 6:00 PM

Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form.