5 Must-Know Facts About the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Prerelease

Turtles Forever | Illustration by Devin Elle Kurtz

The gnarliest set of the year is upon us. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has crawled out of the sewers of New York to collide with the first Universes Beyond release of 2026, with the full gamut of product releases.

That means the usual Prerelease weekend, one that won’t look much different than the typical Prerelease, though it might smell like pizza depending on where you play. And hey, it’ll be the second Prerelease event in a row where you can open TMNT rares in a Prerelease Kit!

What Is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Prerelease?

Mikey & Leo, Chaos & Order | Illustration by Jason Rainville

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Prerelease is a casual event meant to introduce players to the cards from the TMNT Magic set. It’s the first opportunity for people to actually play with the cards before the set officially releases a week later.

This is a Universes Beyond set, and it appears as though the set pulls from a bunch of different turtley influences. You can expect to see references to TV shows, comics, movies, and more.

What Format Is Prerelease?

Sealed is the default format for Prereleases. Game stores also sometimes offer Two-Headed Giant Sealed events, though usually only once or twice throughout Prerelease weekends.

What Comes in a Prerelease Kit?

A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Prerelease Kit includes the following:

• 6 TMNT Play boosters
• 1 Bonus rare/mythic rare (no longer a stamped “prerelease promo”)
• 1 Spindown life counter
• 1 Box to carry your cards in, often with special punch-out counters relevant to the set.

When Is Prerelease Week?

Most Prerelease events will take place from Friday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1. Prerelease week technically starts before and ends after those dates, but the vast majority of local game stores offer events Fri-Sun, usually multiple events per day.

Where Is the Prerelease?

Prereleases take place at local game stores (LGS). These are hobby shops where people can gather to play various games, buy product, etc. These stores are sometimes dedicated to trading card games, while others might have Prereleases as a side-operation to a larger storefront.

You can use Wizards of the Coast’s Store and Event Locator to find game stores near you. Just type in the address and the distance you’re willing to drive, and set the filter to “Magic Prerelease” to narrow your search. Not every store in your area will have Prerelease events listed, but you can remove the filters and just search for stores in your area, then look up those stores’ websites to check their calendar of events and pricing.

It’s a good idea to call the game store you plan to play at and verify whether you need to pre-register for the event or not. Don’t get caught showing up to a store with full events and risk not being able to play!

Who Goes to Prereleases?

Prerelease is one of the most inviting Magic events you can go to, and it’s tailored to new players in a casual environment. These events are perfect for veterans and newcomers alike, since it’s the first chance anyone has to play with cards from the latest set.

TMNT is also a Universes Beyond product, which means you’re likely to see people who are new to Magic and are giving the game a try because they’re fans of the crossover IP.

Is Going to Prerelease Worth It?

There are two things to consider when evaluating whether to buy into one or more Prerelease events.

The first and most obvious is the monetary cost of the event. Universes Beyond products are generally more expensive, so you can expect a single TMNT Prerelease to run somewhere around $40-50. The price is usually equivalent to buying the individual packs that come in the Prerelease Kit, but you’re not guaranteed to open anything of value, so from a purely financial perspective, Prereleases tend to be on the net-negative side.

That said, you also get to play with the product you open, and stores offer extra booster packs and other throw-ins for participating in the event, with more boosters given to players with a better record. In other words, you’re getting the intrinsic value of getting to play in a tournament and experience the new cards for a few hours, as well as the tangible value of extra booster packs.

Universes Beyond throws a bit of a wrinkle in the mix because the price point is higher, but with no promise of opening “better cards” than you would in a cheaper Prerelease. It really comes down to valuing the event itself, and the potential for prize packs and other bonuses. If that appeals to you, then yes, Prerelease is worth it. If you’re just there to crack packs, then you’re better off just buying individual boosters or a booster box.

TMNT Sealed Simulator

If you feel like you need a little practice before you attend one of these events, give our Sealed Simulator a whirl. It’ll be updated as soon as the full TMNT set is spoiled, and you can practice opening Sealed pools and creating decks before you do it in person.

Wrap Up

Mikey & Don, Party Planners | Illustration by Gabriel Rubio

Ninja Turtles looks fun enough. Marvel’s Spider-Man gave these small-sized Universes Beyond sets a bad rap, and I doubt TMNT’s going to be a standout set for 2026, but it’s hard not to just enjoy prereleasing, whether you love the set or not. New set, chill atmosphere, and just a good time playing Magic.

I highly recommend grabbing a friend and trying Two-Headed Giant if you have the opportunity. I’ve been playing 2HG at Prereleases for over 10 years now, and it remains one of my favorite experiences.

Are you planning to go to a TMNT Prerelease event? Let us know in the comments down below or in the Draftsim Discord, and check out our Newsletter to stay up to date on the latest MTG news.

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