Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Prerelease Event

The Highball is hosting a Magic: The Gathering prerelease event on Sunday, August 9, from 2 PM to 6 PM, with doors opening at 1:30 PM. The afternoon is built around the new set, The Hobbit, which invites players to "take back the Lonely Mountain."

If you've never done a prerelease, here's how it works: you buy a sealed prerelease kit, which contains six booster packs and a foil rare or mythic rare. You open those packs on the spot and use them to build a deck from scratch. The afternoon is split into two pods—one for new and casual players and another for experienced Planeswalkers—so you'll be playing against people at your own level. You get 50 minutes to build your deck and 50 minutes to play three rounds; the best-of-three winner can walk away with additional prizes.

The event is held at The Highball @ Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (1120 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704) in partnership with Austin Books & Comics. Parking is free, and the whole thing is for ages 18 and up. A prerelease kit costs $34.99 and is purchased in person on the day.