In case you couldn’t tell from the weeks of attention we’ve given to the set, X-Men will finally make its debut this weekend at Sneak Preview events worldwide. I know that every three months I gush over how much fun these events are, and this time around, you’re going to get more of the same.

Sneak Previews are a blast.

Whether you’re a comic book fiend who’s firmly entrenched in Marvel and DC lore, a casual kitchen counter competitor, or a cutthroat, take-no-prisoners Pro Circuit player, going to these events is a no-brainer. Simply put, if you enjoy playing Vs. System, you should attend. No excuses. Even if you break your leg this Friday doing your best Wolverine impression only to discover that you don’t actually have special mutant healing powers, you need to get that bone set, put the sucker in a cast, and hobble your way to the Sneak Preview on Saturday with the help of some crutches!

Like I said—no excuses.

We all know what to expect at these events. You get five packs of the new set, put together the best Sealed Pack deck possible, and go to war with your mutants. It’s an exciting day of Vs. as you explore the new set by playing with it for the first time.

Of course, we’re all gamers. And gamers always want more. We’re a finicky bunch sometimes, but luckily there’s enough incentive at these events to appease even the most hardened card-flopping veteran. In the first tournament of the day, playmats, deck boxes, and t-shirts can be won as door prizes or by finishing near the top of the standings. For every tournament after that, you can only win these items by playing well, so make sure you get there early! The number of prizes at each event will be directly proportional to how many people participate.  

For starters, everyone’s going to get the super cool Extended Art stacker cards for Colossus and Wolverine. Check out these beauties:

As if that weren’t enough, an Extended Art SNIKT! will go home with the top players.

This is one of the most powerful plot twists ever printed, and as you can see, its artwork is unbelievable. Make no mistake about it—your average, run-of-the-mill SNIKT! will be highly sought after. With that in mind, imagine how precious the gem above will be.

Of course, Sneak Previews are not just about the new cards. It simply wouldn’t be a Vs. party without some exclusive t-shirts, deck boxes, and playmats.

First up is the X-Men deck box:

Your favorite gang of mutant fighters is on the front, and there’s one angry Magneto on the back. You can’t go wrong. Keep in mind that these deck boxes are exclusive to this Sneak Preview, so if you’re a big fan of the X-Men, this will be your only chance to get one for yourself.

As I’ve seen at organized Vs. System events around the world, players love to represent the game with the t-shirts they get at these events. The X-Men set will carry on the tradition, but this time around, the intensity has been cranked up to 11. Check this out:

Wolverine is one pissed-off, mutated Canadian on this shirt, making it the perfect way to show your opponents that you mean business. Or, you can wear it just to show your support for Vs. System and the X-Men. And that you mean business. About your support.

*Cough*

Moving right along to the pièce de résistance: the X-Men playmat, featuring the lovely and lethal Dark Phoenix.

I’ll keep it short and sweet and let you know that as cool as this looks reflecting from your computer monitor and into your eyeballs, it looks oh so much better in person. Straight up, if you don’t give yourself an opportunity to win one of these, you’re going to regret it.

As a forewarning, these items will not be available in some regions (particularly Europe), so please contact your local tournament organizer on this page to confirm what will be given out.

There you have it. Good times, great set, excellent free swag. What more could you ask for? Find an event near you and make plans to have an exciting weekend.