Pokémon China has announced the third season of Victory Friday, a recurring Pokémon Card Gym tournament held only on Fridays from August 21 through November 20, 2026. Each event champion receives one special-art foil Gengar ex promo card.
Check the Mini-Program Before You Go
Choose the correct group, verify the store listing, and bring matching identification. If you are targeting the Gengar ex promo, remember that it is the champion reward rather than a participation gift.
Event schedules and task status can change or update with a delay. Use the official Pokémon China announcement and the Pokémon Card Member mini-program as the final references.
Victory Friday Season 3 FAQ
When does Victory Friday Season 3 take place?
It runs from August 21 through November 20, 2026, with events held only on Fridays. Check the mini-program for each store's exact time.
How do you get the Gengar ex promo?
The champion of each listed Victory Friday event receives one special-art foil Gengar ex promo card, subject to the official event rules.
Can every trainer enter the newcomer group?
No. The newcomer group has registration-history and prior-participation requirements, and each eligible trainer may enter it only once.
The season has separate general and newcomer groups, each with its own field size, round count, registration start, and eligibility rules. The official Pokémon Card Member mini-program is the source of truth for available venues and individual event schedules.
Special Avatar and Frame Rewards
Participating in one Victory Friday event during the season completes a special task in the mini-program. The task awards one special avatar fragment and one special avatar-frame fragment, which can be exchanged for one Gengar-themed avatar and one matching purple frame.
Open the mini-program and go to Tasks, then Special Tasks. Task updates may be delayed, and the official notice asks trainers to follow the in-app completion and redemption instructions.
General and Newcomer Groups
The two groups are not interchangeable. Choose the listing that matches your eligibility and check the mini-program before registering.
The newcomer group is limited to trainers who register for the mini-program on or after August 21, 2026, or existing members who did not join specified champion-track, Gym Battle, or Gym Challenge events from February 20 through August 20. Each eligible trainer may enter the newcomer group only once.
| Group | Players | Swiss rounds | Registration opens |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 16-32 | 4-5, best of one | August 20, 2026 |
| Newcomer | 8-16 | 3-4, best of one | August 21, 2026 |
Gengar ex Champion Promo 421/SV-P
The supplied card artwork identifies the prize as Gengar ex 421/SV-P, illustrated by Satoshi Shirai. It is a 310 HP Darkness-type Stage 2 Pokémon ex that evolves from Haunter, with Fighting Weakness and a retreat cost of two Colorless Energy.
Its Ability places two damage counters on an opposing Pokémon whenever the opponent attaches an Energy from hand to that Pokémon while Gengar ex is in play. Its 160-damage attack can move one Energy from the opponent's Active Pokémon to one of their Benched Pokémon. As a Pokémon ex, it gives up two Prize cards when Knocked Out.
Identity and Venue Rules
The tournament uses real-name verification. Bring a valid identity document that matches the registration record; the organizer may conduct spot checks. A mismatch, false identity information, multiple real-name accounts, or failure to meet group eligibility can prevent participation and may affect future official-event access.
The official notice accepts documents including a mainland Chinese resident identity card or electronic ID, household register, passport, foreign permanent resident identity card, and travel permits for Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan residents. Follow venue staff and judge instructions, and confirm local arrangements with the host store.
Dates and Key Details
Victory Friday Season 3 runs from August 21 to November 20, 2026, and events take place on Fridays only. Actual start times and local arrangements are set by each participating store, so confirm the event listing in the Pokémon Card Member mini-program before travelling.
- Season window: August 21-November 20, 2026; Fridays only.
- Format: best-of-one Swiss rounds, with the round count based on attendance.
- Champion reward: one special-art foil Gengar ex promo card per event.
- Participation task: one season event unlocks fragments for a special avatar and avatar frame.
How to Register
Sign in to the Pokémon Card Member mini-program and open Event Center, Find by Type, Battle for Victory, Gym Battle, then Gym Special Battle. Select either Victory Friday Season 3 - General Group or Victory Friday Season 3 - Newcomer Group.
General-group registration begins August 20; newcomer registration begins August 21. Registration availability, event time, and venue capacity depend on the individual store listing.
Sources
- 冲破暗影，夺取胜利！参加胜利星期五，赢取属于你的荣耀吧！Pokémon China · Primary source
- 耿鬼ex（SV5K） card reference52Poké Wiki