Are you ready to take your first step towards a Magic Pro Tour Journey? This February we’re hosting not one, but TWO Regional Championship Qualifiers. Each of these events will qualify the top two players for the Regional Championship later this year in Dallas. Interested? Read on to find out all you need to know about the event and how to sign up.

Phoenix Regional Championship Qualifier Information

Our RCQ weekend will happen a mere two weeks after the release of Murders at Karlov Manor. Preregistration for each of these events will go live on Monday, February 5th, and you’ll have through the end of day Wednesday, February 14th to pre reg and lock in your spot before prices for both events go up by $5. So if you’re interested and you know you’re attending, preregister early! 

Saturday RCQ

• Date: February 17, 2023
• Format: Murders at Karlov Manor Sealed (plus top 8 draft)
• Preregistration Link!
• Player Cap: 56
• Early Pre Reg Entry: $55
• Week / Day-Of Registration: $60

And a quick breakdown of the important times for our Saturday RCQ.

• Day of Registration: 10 AM - 11 AM
• Player List Finalized / Player Meeting: 11:05 AM
• Deck Registration / Construction Begins: 11:10 AM
• Round 1 Begins: 12:00 PM
• Max Rounds: 6 (Plus a cut to the top 8)
• REL: Competitive

Sunday RCQ

• Date: February 17, 2023
• Format: Standard Constructed
• Preregistration Link!
• Player Cap: 56
• Early Pre Reg Entry Fee: $40
• Week / Day-Of Registration: $45

And a quick breakdown of the important times for our Sunday RCQ.

• Day of Registration: 10 AM - 11 AM
• Player List Finalized / Player Meeting: 11:05 AM
• Round 1 Begins: 11:10 AM
• Max Rounds: 6 (Plus a cut to the top 8)
• REL: Competitive

Rules Enforcement Level - Competitive

New to competitive magic? Here's a short primer of what to expect:

At at Competitive REL, decklists for the modern event are required. This will happen during the course of deck construction, and will be presided over by our head judge. During that time, you and another player will document each other's sealed pool before being given an abbreviated time to finish constructing a 40 card sealed deck. The deck you register will need to be the deck presented at the beginning of each round of the event.

Players are also expected to be familiar with the Magic Tournament Rules and the Infraction Protocol Guide. Our intent here is to protect the interests of all players by providing tournament integrity while also recognizing that not all players are intimately familiar with tournament structure, proper procedures, and rules. Infractions in these tournaments are covered by the Magic Infraction Procedure Guide.

Prizes!

All Regional Championship Qualifiers come loaded with some one-of-a-kind promo cards and this time around, augmented reality pins courtesy of Pinfinity. This seasons promo cards include alternate art Explore participation promo and alt art Expressive Iteration as the Top 8 and Winner promos (winners will each receive a foil and non-foil Expressive Iteration). 

But perhaps the most important part of the tournament - the winner and 2nd place player for both events will each receive an invitation to play at the next Dreamhack Regional Qualifier, the first step on your journey to the new Magic Pro Tour!

In addition to promos and prizes, both RCQs will include store credit prizes based on attendance, up to a 1K payout as detailed below:

• 1st Place: $250 Store Credit + Regional Championship Invitation, Pin + Lanyard, and Promos
• 2nd Place: $250 Store Credit + Regional Championship Invitation, Pin, and Promos
• 3rd-4th Place: $100 Store Credit, Pin, and Promos
• 5th-8th Place: $75 Store Credit, Pin, and Promos

Competitive REL Tips and FAQ

If this is your first time playing at a competitive rules enforcement (or Comp REL) event, there are some things you should know so that you have a fun and enjoyable experience. We’ve put together some of the most frequent issues and questions players have here.

Decklists Required

Maybe the biggest and easiest to forget thing. Decklists are required at comp REL. Typically there’s two ways to do them. You can either swing by the store before the event starts (in the 10-11 AM hour) and write one by hand OR you can head over to decklist.org and make it before the event begins. Either way, your decklist should be complete and in your hands by the time the player meeting is over. Whatever is on your decklist at the beginning of the event is what you’ll be held to over the course of the event. Common mistakes on decklists include:

• Not including basic lands in the decklist
• Missing cards out of your sideboard
• Making a last minute change and not documenting it on the decklist.

Whether you print it out ahead of time or do it right before the event, make sure you double check your decklist before handing it off to the judge. This could save you from a penalty in the event a deck check is done. Also, while we’re on the subject of decklists - you are responsible and required to de-sideboard after each match! 

Plan Ahead To Be On Time

With over 8 hours of potential Magic to play, it’s important that we start on time to keep things running smoothly. To that end, we recommend getting here at least 30-45 minutes before the event fires (about 10:15-10:30 AM). That way if you need to buy a crucial single, resleeve your deck, or make a change to your decklist, you can. You’ve also got padding in the case that something happens to your method of transit.

Speaking of transit - if you’re coming from the extreme north or south end, we highly recommend utilizing the light rail to get here. The park and rides at the Northgate transit center are great and it takes about as long to take the train as it does to drive it. Plus you don’t have to find parking on the hill!

If you have to drive, we recommend the parking lot at the Harvard Garage for weekend events like these. It’s got a day rate that’s fairly reasonable, and it’s nearby. You can now park next door at Dick’s Drive-In, but please pay attention to where you park, and make sure you pay through their parking app! There’s also another surface lot behind the college here that you can try if that doesn’t work.

Our Judge is here to help

Worried you made a mistake? Call a judge! Concerned your sleeves are too worn. Judge! Need oracle text on a card? Also judge! At comp REL we keep a judge on hand to help make sense of rulings, do deck checks, adjudicate conflicts and more. They’re also here to facilitate the experience and make it as pleasant as possible. Calling a judge isn’t a value judgement on something your opponent did, nor is having a judge called on you a mark of slander on you. If you need some help, that’s what they’re there for.

On that same vein - if you have a problem with the venue (i.e., too hot, too cold, a problem with another player that isn’t MTG related, a problem with the bathroom, etc.), please reach out to one of our managers. Our goal is to make this event as fun as possible, so please let us know how we can help with that!

FAQ - RCQ / Comp REL Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I preregistered for the event, and now I can’t make it. What should I do?

A: Please contact us by email and request a refund. You can use our contact page, or reply to the email confirmation you were sent when you registered online.

Q: I preregistered for the event and qualified in another event already. What should I do?

A: Congratulations are in order, but I'm afraid you cannot play in a trial or RCQ when you've already gotten an invitation or bye at another event. Please contact us by email and request a refund.

Q: What should I bring with me to the event?

A: You should definitely bring your deck, a decklist and any tokens or dice you may need to play the deck. You may also want to bring a lifepad or pen and paper to keep track of life totals, a water bottle, extra sleeves, and a snack. We’ve got a water cooler on hand that you can use to fill the bottle, and sometimes rounds will run right into each other, so having a snack can alleviate a little hunger.

Q: Should I preregister for the event?

A: If you're able to, yes absolutely! Preregistration locks in your spot at the event, and if you do it early enough you’ll save $5. The last thing you need or want is to show up on the day of and find out we sold out the night before (which is a thing that has happened in the past).

Q: How well do I have to know Magic to play at a comp REL event? 

A: We suggest you have a working knowledge of the game. Be familiar with the format you’re playing in and know the policies and procedures of Magic.

Q: If I’m running late, can I call the store and check in over the phone?

A: We always strongly encourage you to reach out and let us know what’s going on. In the event that you’re going to be just a few minutes late, we may be able to help your by doing the check-in process over the phone.

Q: If I win the event, what information do I need to provide to you to get the invitation?

A: We’ll have you fill out a short player information card if you qualify for one of the top prizes at these events. Information on that will include your name, phone number, and the email that is associated with your Wizards Account (this is the email you use to log into the Magic Companion app or Magic Arena). This info will be communicated to the coordinators for the other events, and they’ll follow up from there.