A Complete Guide To Star Trek Prerelease Weekend In MTG

Published Nov 3, 2026, 11:30 AM EST Niall (pronounced Ny-ul) is a UK-based writer who has been writing about Magic: The Gathering throughout his entire career, with everything from new set breakdowns and individual deck guides to offering his opinions on the state of formats and the general direction of the iconic TCG. Niall also has a rich history covering triple-A releases, sports games, and PC hardware. Prerelease for Magic: The Gathering's Star Trek set is almost here, with events officially kicking off on Friday, November 6, and we've got the rundown on how these events typically work, plus what you need to bring. Players new and old will converge on local game stores, with Universes Beyond sets historically drawing a larger share of players, while in-universe set prerelease events tend to skew toward experienced players. Whether you've never been to a prerelease event or just need a refresher after a break away from the game, we've got you covered. When & Where Is Star Trek Prerelease Taking Place? Star Trek prerelease events typically take place at local game stores that are part of the Wizards Play Network (WPN). These stores receive allocated stock of prerelease kits, which they use to run prerelease events from Friday, November 6 through Thursday, November 12, although most events will take place over the weekend, from Friday to Sunday. You can check the WPN store locator to find your nearest WPN store, then contact them for details about their prerelease event. Depending on interest in a particular set, they may run only one event, or none at all; it depends entirely on the local player base. For example, my LGS used to have access to 40 prerelease kits per launch, which was enough to run one event of ten pods, each featuring four players. After the success of Secrets of Strixhaven, Marvel Super Heroes, and The Hobbit, it has since been granted double the allocation, but because of the store's size, it has to split this into two prerelease events over two days. Every store runs its events differently, so it's best to head down and ask how yours operates to be in the know! Virtually every LGS requires you to book ahead of time to attend a prerelease event; don't just show up on the day and expect to take part. If a store isn't running an event, but still has access to prerelease kits, you may be able to purchase them and run a prerelease event at home. Stores also sell some sealed products from the prerelease date, so you could buy a Draft Night and use it to run an event elsewhere, too. How A Prerelease (Typically) Works Because there is no "one size fits all" approach to prerelease, we can only walk you through our prerelease experiences and those of players we've spoken to from other stores and regions. Prerelease events are played in pods of four; you'll be assigned to a pod when you arrive at your LGS. You won't leave this pod for the entire event. When the event starts, the Star Trek prerelease kits are handed out, and everyone opens them at the same time; players have an hour to open the packs and assemble decks of at least 40 cards. Each prerelease kit contains six Play Boosters, a promo card, a D20, and some status counters. Once your pod is ready, which may be before the hour is up, you can start playing your games. Each player plays each other in a best-of-three game, meaning your record for the night is based on playing three matches. If you win a match 2-0, you typically receive a Play Booster; losing a match, regardless of result, awards a random promo card. If Wizards of the Coast has provided enough prize stock, sometimes all wins award a Play Booster. Prerelease is a casual event, so establish any house rules regarding mulligans and general play beforematches begin. You report your match results as they happen to whoever is running the event, and they track each pod. Once all games are complete, your pod should have a clear winner, but if not, you can go into details like rounds lost, life points remaining, etc. Whoever wins your pod typically receives an additional three Play Boosters as a prize. What Do You Need To Take To Prerelease? Again, every store is different, but we've assembled a list of essentials that it's well worth checking over if you're not sure of what is typically required at a prerelease event. Basic lands (10-15 of each type). Card sleeves to protect your deck. A playmat to prevent card and sleeve damage on uneven or unclean surfaces. Dice and counters to track in-game actions where necessary. The official MTG companion app. WPN stores may require this for registration, but you can also use it to track life totals during games. Drinks and snacks. Not all stores will sell these, and prerelease events can run quite long; just be sure to check with the store beforehand. Star Trek Draft Archetypes For Prerelease You can check out the complete Star Trek Draft archetypes guide for an in-depth breakdown of the decks you'll be looking to build during your prerelease event, but here is the complete list of archetype names to have on hand. White-Blue Spacecrafts & Artifacts Black-Blue Control Black-Red Klingon Red-Green Landfall Green-White Life & Counters White-Black Borg Artifacts Red-Blue Scientists & Noncreatures Black-Green Graveyard Red-White Power 8+ Green-Blue Strange New Worlds We're adding this frequently asked questions section to our prerelease guides moving forward to quickly address some of the smaller queries that players may have, especially if it's their first event. Q: How Much Does A Magic: The Gathering Prerelease Cost? A: Prerelease costs vary depending on the store, and it's typically never just the cost of the kit. You're paying to be in the store using their space, often out of hours, so the cost can be anywhere from $30-$50. Q: Do I Have To Sleeve My Prerelease Deck? A: Some stores may enforce this as a rule, but generally speaking, to protect the cards and prevent card marking, it's advised that you take sleeves with you to cover your deck. Q: How Do I Get MTG Arena Rewards For Attending A Prerelease? You need to link your Wizards account to your local game store, then register for the prerelease event in the MTG Companion app, then rewards will be granted in MTG Arena once the event is over. Q: How Do I Deal With A Difficult Player During Prerelease? A: This is a sensitive topic, as prerelease isn't an event that requires judges and mostly allows for pods to have their own interpretation of etiquette, such as loudly progressing through the stages of a turn or allowing for take backs if a mistake is made. No player is obliged to allow this, but if a player's behavior is ruining the fun for your pod, and they are morally in the wrong, report it to the event organizer and see what can be done. Player hygiene also falls under poor sportsmanship/ethics, so if someone in your pod is clearly not looking after themselves and it's a distraction to your pod, report it (respectfully) to the event organizer. Q: Do I Need To Be Good At Magic To Participate In A Prerelease? No, you don't need to be a great Magic player to take part in a prerelease; these are casual events that are all about experiencing a new set and don't require a deep understanding of the rules of the game, but you need to know the basics so that your opponents don't have to correct your moves and essentially play your turns for you. You also need to know how to draft and build a legal deck, but you can practice on MTG Arena if you're unsure. Franchise Magic: The Gathering Original Release Date August 5, 1993 Publisher Wizards of the Coast Designer(s) Richard Garfield