Tournaments
Three kinds of tournament: Bushiroad's own, ours on the platform, and ones supporters host themselves.
Competitive event
Masters League 26/27: rules & format
Masters League 26/27 is Bushiroad's flagship Palworld TCG circuit and the only route to the first World Championship. Qualifiers run across more than 20 regions from November 2026 to March 2027. Day 1 is Swiss, best-of-one, 30 minutes a round, capped at 10 rounds; Day 2 is single-elimination, best-of-three, 75 minutes a round; the final has no time limit. Entry is free, and the champion of each qualifier earns a sponsored invitation to the Masters World Finals in Tokyo.
Format
| Stage | Pairing | Games | Time | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — Qualifier | Swiss | Best of 1 | 30 min | Up to 10 |
| Day 2 — Top Cut | Single elimination | Best of 3 | 75 min | — |
| Final | Single elimination | Best of 3 | No time limit | — |
- Day 1 — Qualifier: The number of rounds depends on turnout and the event schedule, up to a maximum of 10.
- Final: No time limit.
Tournament level Level 3 — Qualifiers and the World Finals are Level 3 tournaments. Side events held at a qualifier are Level 1.
Entry & eligibility
- Entry fee
- Free. There is no entry fee for any Masters League Qualifier, though a venue or side-event fee may apply separately.
- Registration
- A Bushi Navi account authenticated by SMS before you register, and a smartphone with the Bushi Navi app on the day. Venue internet is not guaranteed.
- Who can enter
- Open to everyone except the tournament organizer, staff, head judge and judges. You may compete in any region regardless of citizenship or residency.
Deck rules
- You must use the same deck for the whole tournament — no swapping cards between games.
- Main deck and Soul deck must each be sleeved, in sleeves that tell the two apart.
- Only English edition cards may be used. Soul cards are the exception and may mix languages.
- Every card is legal from its official release date, promos included.
What to bring
Bring Life counters, Material markers and Ingredient markers.
- Patterned oversleeves are not allowed. Embossed, matte and textured oversleeves are fine.
- Supplies branded by competing trading card games are not allowed. Anything else must be officially licensed and carry a copyright notice.
Prizes
- Everyone who plays
- Special PR Pack Vol. 1 (one of eight cards), a card holder with lanyard, and a Bushi Navi flair.
- X-2 record
- Cattiva PR card and a Vol. 1 PR pack.
- Day 2 players
- Special PR Pack Vol. 1.
- Top 8
- Masters League rubber mat and a Bushi Navi flair.
- 3rd
- PR card ESOUL-015, a flair, and a non-sponsored World Finals invitation.
- 2nd
- PR card ESOUL-016, a flair, and a non-sponsored World Finals invitation.
- Champion
- PR card ESOUL-014, a trophy, a flair, a champion prize, and a sponsored World Finals invitation.
Qualifying onward
Each qualifier champion receives a sponsored invitation to the Masters World Finals in spring 2027; 2nd and 3rd receive non-sponsored invitations. An invitation that is declined passes down, as far as 4th place. If a champion has already accepted a sponsored invitation, that qualifier's sponsored invitation passes down instead. You must tell Bushiroad you are declining more than two weeks before the World Finals, or you may be penalised.
Where & when
Announced schedule
Announced for more than 20 regions: the Americas from November 2026 to March 2027 (11 locations across the USA, Canada, Argentina and Mexico); Asia and Oceania over the same window (Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Vietnam, some dates to be confirmed); and Europe in February and March 2027 (Germany, the UK, France, Austria and Italy, some dates to be confirmed).
8 events you can enter now, across 4 countries.
United States3 events
- Kissimmee — 2026-11-07
- Pasadena — 2026-12-05
- Philadelphia — 2026-12-12
Indonesia2 events
- Surakarta — 2026-11-08 and 1 more date
Vietnam2 events
- Ho Chi Minh City — 2026-11-28 and 1 more date
Italy1 event
- Rho — 2026-11-28
Event dates last synced 2026-09-26.
Past winners & decklists
The English circuit has not run yet. These are the Japanese Masters League results — the same programme, played under the same format — and every deck below is the full fifty cards.
Masters League 26/27 FAQ
- How many rounds is a Masters League qualifier?
- Day 1 is Swiss and the round count depends on turnout, up to a maximum of 10 rounds. Day 2 is a single-elimination top cut.
- Is Masters League best-of-one or best-of-three?
- Both. Day 1 Swiss is best-of-one with 30-minute rounds. Day 2 top cut is best-of-three with 75-minute rounds, and the final has no time limit.
- Does Masters League cost anything to enter?
- No. There is no entry fee for any Masters League Qualifier, though the venue itself or a side event may charge separately.
- Can I play in a region I do not live in?
- Yes. You may compete in any region regardless of citizenship or residency.
- Can I use Japanese cards at Masters League?
- Only English edition cards may be used, with one exception: Soul cards may mix languages.
- How do I qualify for the Palworld TCG World Championship?
- Win a Masters League qualifier. Champions receive a sponsored invitation to the Masters World Finals; 2nd and 3rd receive non-sponsored invitations, and declined invitations pass down as far as 4th.
Rules summarised in our own words from the official Bushiroad event page, last checked 2026-09-24. Always confirm details with the organiser before travelling.