The Pokémon Trading Card Game's 30th anniversary celebration rolls on this summer with a fresh batch of nostalgia bait. The First Partner Illustration Collection, Series 2, arrives June 19 and shifts focus away from the Kanto region hype that made Series 1 a collector's nightmare.
This isn't a full expansion. Instead, the First Partner sets curate small, display-worthy collections built around starter Pokémon from specific generations. Series 2 draws from Johto, Unova, and Galar, meaning you're hunting for Totodile, Chikorita, and Cyndaquil from the Game Boy classics; Tepig, Snivy, and Oshawott from Generation 5; and Sobble, Scorbunny, and Grookey from Sword and Shield.
Each box runs $14.99 USD (£14.99 in the UK) and includes a promo pack with three random cards drawn from a nine-card pool of illustration rares showcasing Trainer-Pokémon bonds. You'll also get two standard Booster Packs from Perfect Order and Chaos Rising, plus a sticker sheet featuring those same starter generations. Hit all nine illustration rares and you're looking at three boxes minimum.
The retail landscape for anniversary releases has been uneven. Series 1 flew off shelves and prices inflated hard, with GameStop infamously marking up the $15 boxes to $50. The good news: Series 2 skips Kanto and Hoenn, the two generations that drive reseller feeding frenzies. That breathing room might actually let you grab these at normal prices.
Pokémon Center US remains the safest bet, though pre-orders aren't live yet. Expect their queue system at launch, which beats the alternative chaos. Target and Best Buy handle local pickup well. TCGplayer works as a backup if retail channels dry up, though prices swing with demand. UK collectors should prioritize Pokémon Center UK for MSRP, with Chaos Cards and Magic Madhouse as solid alternatives if you have accumulated reward points. Smyths Toys typically stocks these in-store on release day even when online pre-orders aren't available.
Series 3 hasn't been officially announced, but it's coming. Expect Generation 3, 6, and 9 starters (Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip; Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie; Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly) to round out the line in Fall 2026. Rumors suggest a fourth series could drop in Winter 2026 as a teaser for Generation 10 starters ahead of 2027's Pokémon Winds and Waves.
Before June arrives, Chaos Rising launches May 22 with over 120 cards including new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex like Mega Greninja. The broader 30th Anniversary set is also coming this year with reprints of franchise heavy hitters like Pikachu, Charizard, and Palkia.
Author Emily Chen: "Series 1's GameStop disaster proved collectors will pay stupidly for nostalgia, but Series 2's less obvious roster actually makes it feel like a genuine product rather than pure FOMO bait."
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