Back in the Pokemon Saddle?

We stopped by our local game store, where we used to regularly go to play Pokemon. The same crew was there, the gym leader was there, and they were having fun.

We didn't have our cards, so we didn't play. But the kids and hubby seemed enthusiastic to come back next week and participate.

There's a pretty big group now. It's tempting. Should we start playing Pokemon again?

Pokemon TCG: Secret Wonders - An Unexpected Adventure

For the first time in a month, we went to our Pokégym this weekend. What a surprise, it was a Secret Wonders new pack tournament!

The buy-in was a pack of Secret Wonders Pokémon cards and two expansion packs. The kids had 20 minutes to put their decks together. They played 2 out of 3, with 3 prize cards.

Our 6 year old beat the Gym leader in the first round! Unfortunately, we couldn't stay because after nearly two hours, our 4 year old was getting really, incredibly, completely bored. And hungry.

There was no prize for winning the tourney other than extra stamps on their Pokemon Gym cards, so we left. Our 6 year old was disappointed. But she was also hungry. So we said our goodbyes to the other players.

Overall impression with Secret Wonders? It's getting hard to keep up with all the cards. But, with there being so many expansions now, the odds are pretty good that if we buy a booster pack, we'll get cards we don't have. The kids love getting cards we don't have.

It's also interesting that the two starter decks for Secret Wonders are Fire/Grass and Lightening/Fighting. Odd combinations, yet complimentary.

Pokemon World Tournament

Think you're good? Wanna go to Hawaii to prove it? The last chance qualifier is August 10th. And, even if you don't qualify, you're welcome to come by the Hawaii's Big Island to check it out.

Sounds like another Pokemon vacation in the making if you ask me.

Mysterious Treasures

The new expansion for Pokemon TCG Diamond/Pearl, Mysterious Treasures, is coming out on August 22nd.

Various stores around the US, Canada and Mexico are holding pre-release tournies. Here's one in Rancho Cucamonga, California. And here's one in Littleton, Colorado.

Here's a searchable database for tournaments. Are there any tournies near you? You gonna go?

Legal Pokémon Cards - The Basics

One of my main goals was to make sure that we don't inadvertently use cards in our decks that won't be legal for tournament plat starting Sept. 1st, 2007. We did some research to figure out which sets are legal. There was not one place that had it clearly laid out to say, "These card are legal to play starting Sept. 1st". So here is what we found.

The following card sets will be legal for play in tournaments and at gyms starting Sept. 1st, 2007.

EX Holon Phantoms
EX Crystal Guardians
EX Dragon Frontiers
EX Power Keepers
Diamond and Pearl
Mysterious Treasures (Due out in Oct. 2007)
OP Series 4
OP Series 5
Black Star Promos 37 and up
Any card printed in an earlier set that was reprinted in one of these listed sets (i.e. energy cards)

Anything I'm missing?

The following list are the sets that were legal in the 2006-2007 season, that will no longer be allowed in game play starting Sept. 2007.

EX Deoxys
EX Emerald
EX Unseen Forces
EX Delta Species
EX Legend Maker
EX Trainer Kit 2
OP Series 3
OP Series 2
Black Star promos 29 to 36

You can check here to know which cards go with which sets.