I highly recommend multiple packs of card sleeves, as well as dice over cardboard counters. Make sure to have a rounded, translucent die for rolling and different dice for damage if you decide to go the dice route.
Make suitable preparations for the location; find cheap eats beforehand, and definitely book a room that's close by if you can! Quick access to the convention center is a huge plus, and if you don’t figure out the best restaurants, you might be stuck paying for an expensive hotel buffet! If you've familiarized yourself with the staple cards, try to bring as you can. (Pokémon Communication, Professor Juniper, Copycat, Professor Elm's Training Method, Junk Arm, Rare Candy, Cleffa… basically, if HGSS on decklists you see tend to play a few of the same cards, bring plenty of those.)
If you’re looking to learn, go to the Open Gaming Room and watch people there. Observing how certain cards interact with each other is the key to understanding the game. And don’t be afraid to look for a game! Pokémon card players are generally very polite, so there’s really very little danger of being mocked. Instead, if you happen to go up against a far better player, they’ll probably explain to you why certain cards work, and why you might want to avoid others.
The side event staff give out booster packs like candy, so if you’re low on inventory hit up the side events. Even if you’re eliminated quickly, you’re still likely to win packs.
During the event, you’ll find that the hypercompetitive players tend to go far up quickly, or sometimes drop. If you lose a round at nationals, you simply play someone with a similar record. Everyone is guaranteed to be able to play a certain amount of rounds (last year it was 9 in the masters if I recall correctly) even if they lose every single one. So if you’re intent on learning the game, don’t sweat if you lose; you’ll simply grow increasingly likely to play other beginners, who are more likely to play at your pace.
Most importantly, try to meet people! The biggest reason for many players’ attending nats, myself included, is to see friends from all across the country. In an age dominated by electronic media, you’re sure to meet friends with whom you can chat all year long, and these friends are often willing to help you improve your TCG skills. Nats and Worlds are huge social events where we see these friends in real life; the tournament is really just an excuse to congregate in one area
. Like any community, some people are friendlier than others in the Pokémon community; however, you’ll find that the unfriendly are in the minority by a wide margin. (wider, I dare say, than those of the YGO and MTG communities!
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Come to nats. You won’t regret it.
