Is Pokémon Europe International Championships worth attending if you don’t follow battles?!

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  • Pokemon Centre Pop-up
  • Carnival Games
  • Pokemon Play Lab

If you’ve been keeping up with my weekly updates or just following my content in general, you’d realize that my favorite pastime is Pokemon Go. I don’t delve into any of the Nintendo Switch games, nor do I collect cards; instead, I’m deeply engrossed in Pokemon Go at all times. Being a devoted Pokemon Go enthusiast, I also appreciate the real-world events associated with it, even though some larger Pokemon events may not be specifically related to Pokemon Go. This month, for instance, I attended the Pokémon Europe International Championships, which, despite its name, isn’t primarily focused on Pokemon Go.

The Pokémon Europe International Championships (Pokemon EUIC) is a competitive event centered around Pokémon battles. It includes contests in both the mobile game Pokémon Go and the Nintendo Switch games, as well as the traditional trading card game. There’s a selection process to participate, with real-life rewards like prizes and trophies on the line. However, if you’re not particularly interested in this kind of competition, would it still be worth attending?

Pokemon Centre Pop-Up

What I most anticipate during Pokemon tournaments in London is the temporary Pokemon Center. It’s puzzling to me why there isn’t a permanent Pokemon Center in London, but I always look forward to attending and purchasing some merchandise. At each tournament, they highlight a special “spotlight” Pokemon, with this year featuring Psyduck, Wooper, and Ogrepon (not available in Pokemon Go). The pop-up Pokemon Center offers unique merchandise items that can only be found there.

At the Pokemon EUIC, you don’t require a ticket to visit the temporary Pokemon Centre. Instead, you should book a specific timeslot and arrive accordingly. The entrance boasts numerous photo spots, while inside offers an array of merchandise. This year, there was a noticeable fashion trend featuring bright colors and crop tops, which was fascinating. I ended up spending quite a bit of time and money browsing around here!

Play Lab

Outside the primary Pokemon EUIC zone, there was another space known as the Play Lab. Unlike other areas that may require reservations or tickets, the Play Lab is accessible to all visitors. Divided into three distinct sections, each part offers unique activities for interaction.

In a quick tutorial for Pokemon Go, you’ll shadow a staff member throughout Excel, completing tasks and eventually engaging in PvP battles, which awards you a Pin. Additionally, you can learn the basics of the trading card game by playing against another new player, eventually receiving your own starter deck of cards.

To wrap things up, consider giving Pokemon Unite a brief try, with instructions provided on gameplay, as a reward for acquiring a notebook. This section is designed to familiarize newcomers with various elements of Pokemon and encourage them to explore more of their engaging games.

Inside EUIC

Inside the Pokémon Europe International Championships, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. While much of the area is dedicated to competitions, with zones for PvP battles and card games only accessible to registered and official competitors, there’s more to explore. A large stage at the front offers a prime spot to witness many of the final matches. To kick off the day, they had a live band playing with some impressive pyrotechnics – an amazing spectacle!

Instead of joining the battle scenes, feel free to make your way towards the rear fairground section instead. There, you’ll find a couple of food trucks, some small shopping stalls, and fun fairground games. Completing these activities may even earn you some cool stickers!

This year, they offered ring toss (at the digits station), a scavenger hunt where participants searched for Pokemon throughout the venue and snapped photos, as well as a “Who’s That Pokemon?” trivia guessing game. While I could easily create an entire fairground of Pokemon-themed activities, this combination provides a fun and engaging experience.

There was a booth dedicated to Pokemon Go at EUIC, which had trainer posting a picture on Instagram to win a prize from a massive spinning wheel, as well as an area where you can have your picture taken on different digital, Pokemon backgrounds, a face painting booth to get the starts painted on your face, a board game area full of Pokemon themed board games like Monopoly and Labaryth, and a Pokemon oragami and coloring station to do some crafting.

If you enjoy Meet-and-Greets, there was a scaled-down stage featuring both Pokémon for interaction and popular influencers, plus designated spots where Pokémon would pose for photos during the day. For those seeking more organized yet relaxed competitions with prizes on offer, EUIC offers side events such as PvP battles using Pokémon caught exclusively at the Excel during the event, along with card game matches featuring specific decks. These contests can be registered for up to a day before the event commences.

As a die-hard Pokémon enthusiast, let me tell you, there’s an abundance of excitement awaiting you at the Pokémon Europe International Championships, regardless of whether you’re into battles or not! The fun doesn’t stop there, as there are unique Pokémon Go stops to discover, a captivating quest line exclusive to the event, and numerous new gyms just begging to be conquered! In essence, if you’re a Pokémon fan seeking a thrilling day out, this is definitely an event not to be missed!

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2025-02-27 23:48