There’s something magical—pun intended—about attending a Magic: the Gathering prerelease. From the moment I walked into the local game store, the air was buzzing with anticipation. Players were chatting about the new mechanics, trading guesses on which rares would define the Limited format, and eyeing the fresh promo packs with eager curiosity.

I arrived just minutes before the registration, signed in, received my prerelease kit, and found a quiet spot to crack open the packs. The crinkle of foil and scent of fresh cards never gets old.

The tournament organizer announced the 40-minute Sealed deck building time and started opening the PR kit. I took a few pics for my social media postings before the pack opening.

Deckbuilding is always a chaotic joy. As I spread out my pool, I noticed a decent curve in blue and red, along with a couple of bombs that immediately caught my eye. I spent the next 30 minutes fine-tuning a build that leaned hard into combat tricks and aggressive creatures, and also going into the long game with my best Rares. It’s always a bit of a puzzle—figuring out synergies, weighing mana base options, and deciding whether a risky splash is worth it. I sleeved up, heart pounding slightly from excitement and nerves.

The event’s ambiance was somewhat casual, so I set myself to play not too competitively while also avoiding simple game errors. My first match was against a probable store regular who, thankfully, was also friendly and talkative. We exchanged stories about past prereleases while trading attacks on the battlefield. My deck performed surprisingly well; the early pressure from my creatures overwhelmed his slower board development. I won that match 2–1.

The rest of the event was a rollercoaster. I won another match, lost one to a brutal flyer-heavy deck, and had a nail-biter win in the final round. But more than the wins or losses, it was the camaraderie that stood out. Everyone was there to enjoy the new set, discover interactions, and just have fun slinging spells. Between rounds, we shared Prerelease kit pack openings, debated flavor text, and swapped stories about misplays and lucky breaks.

By the end of the night, I was mentally exhausted but completely satisfied. I didn’t pull anything absurdly valuable, nor did I go undefeated, but that wasn’t the point. Prerelease events are about the shared joy of discovery and competition, and once again, Magic delivered.

Taking the bus home, I was already looking forward to brewing with the new cards—and, of course, the next prerelease.