What is a Pokemon Booster Draft ?

When a new booster set of Pokemon Cards comes out, as well as Pre-Release events there will be accompanying "Booster Drafts."

While Pre-Release events will only be held on the two weekends before the store release of the booster sets, Booster drafts will be held a different times throughout the season.

Booster Drafts serve several purposes, one is to get experience building decks and playing with cards that you may not be familiar with, but they are very helpful in allowing you to pick cards that you need to complete a deck or a collection.

It is important that you be a little familiar with the cards that you will be drafting. Of course, with brand new sets this is more difficult, but there are web sites that scan and post translations of the Japanese sets that the American set will be based on.

Not all the cards in the Japanese sets will be released in the same set in the U.S. but you get an idea of what is coming out.

The site I like to look at Japanese card scans is called "Pokebeach." They also post the scans of the American cards, usually right after the first Pre-Release.

I find that speaking to the teens at league is helpful because they usually have a pretty good idea of what is coming out and what the "word on the street" is about it. I find that to be a great way to find out about new cards and decks.

The cost for booster drafts in my area is $20.00. Most stores give each player 5 booster packs and have a prize pool for either the first and second place winner or if it is a bigger event sometimes there will be prizes for 3rd and 4th as well.

Other venues will just draft with 6 packs and not provide a prize pool, but everyone gets 6 packs.

Next time, how to draft.