Pokémon 30th Anniversary: The complete guide to the 30th Anniversary expansion
On February 27, 1996, Pokémon Green and Pokémon Red were released in Japan. Thirty years later, the Trading Card Game is celebrating the event with an expansion entirely dedicated to it: 30th Anniversary. On the agenda: 30 Pikachu signed by 30 artists, a brand-new rarity called Futuristic, iconic reprints with gold borders, and mystery cards that no one saw coming. We're taking a complete look at the set.
01
Why are we talking about the Pokémon "30th Anniversary"?
Two dates hide behind this anniversary. The first is February 27, 1996: the Japanese release of the very first video games, which has since become "Pokémon Day." The second is October 20, 1996: the launch of the Pokémon TCG in Japan, just a few months after the games.
To mark the occasion, The Pokémon Company has gone big: for the first time, an expansion is being released on the same day worldwide, in French, English, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian. In the English version, it is simply called 30th Anniversary, with numbering identical to the English version.
Not to be confused with Celebrations. The Celebrations expansion (October 2021) celebrated the 25th anniversary with a reduced format of 25 cards + 25 reprints. The 30th Anniversary is a true, complete set with its own secret rarities.
02
Set composition: 199 collectable cards
The main set has 128 cards, but by adding the secrets, Pikachu, reprints, and Energies, collectors aiming for the "master set" have nearly 200 cards to gather.
| Category | Detail | Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Main set | 68 Commons, 18 Rares, 12 Double Rares (Pokémon ex)… | 128 |
| Secret cards | 18 Illustration Rares, 10 Special Illustration Rares, 2 Futuristic | 30 |
| Rare Pikachu | Numbered from 01/30 to 30/30 | 30 |
| Classic Collection | Gold-bordered reprints (1999 → 2023) | 30 |
| Basic Energy | Holographic versions | 8 |
| Mew RGB | R/RGB, G/RGB, B/RGB — surprise cards | 3 |
| "Master set" total | ≈ 199 | |
Notable feature: there are neither Uncommon nor Reverse cards. The 128 main cards are all holographic, with the 30th Anniversary logo integrated into the holo effect.
03
What's in a 30th Anniversary booster pack?
Forget the usual 10-card boosters: here, each booster contains 5 holographic cards + 1 holographic Energy. And the 5th card is always a Rare Pikachu, which guarantees at least one Pikachu in every pack.
Important: booster packs are not sold individually, and there are no booster displays. They can only be obtained through sealed products (boxes, bundles, ETBs, etc.). The price per booster therefore depends on the chosen product—we'll compare all that below.
04
The Futuristic rarity: Mew ex and Mewtwo ex
✦ An unprecedented rarity, created for the occasion
This is THE novelty of the set. The Futuristic rarity is recognizable by its symbol: a four-pointed turquoise star. Only two cards feature it, both illustrated by the artist YOSHIROTTEN in a highly graphic neon style:
- Mewtwo ex — 157/128
- Mew ex — 158/128
These are the two most sought-after cards in the expansion, by far. Initial community counts suggest an appearance rate of approximately 1 in every 72 to 134 boosters—which is on average one Futuristic card every 8 to 15 Elite Trainer Boxes. These figures remain provisional as long as the opening sample size is limited.
05
Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares
The artistic common thread of the set: the Day & Night theme, which can be found on several pairs of cards and even in the sealed products.
Day & Night Pikachu ex
Two versions signed by kantaro: 149/128 (Day) and 150/128 (Night). Have fun spotting the other Pokémon from the set hidden in the backgrounds.
Jirachi ex
Card 155/128, illustrated by AKIRA EGAWA, is among the most coveted cards after the two Futuristic ones.
The Legendary Bird trio
Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, by mashu: placed side by side, the three cards form one single panoramic illustration.
28 illustrations in total
18 Illustration Rares and 10 Special Illustration Rares, numbered after 128—enough to fill a beautiful binder.
06
The 30 Pikachu: one booster, one Pikachu
This is the most fun idea in the set: 30 Pikachu cards, illustrated by 30 different artists, numbered from 01/30 to 30/30. Each one brings its own universe, and the game text also varies from one card to another. A nice nod: 01/30 is signed by Ken Sugimori, and 25/30—Pikachu's number in the Pokédex—goes to Atsuko Nishida, the character's creator.
- 01Ken Sugimori
- 02danciao
- 03satoma
- 04Takeshi Nakamura
- 05Asako Ito
- 06sowsow
- 07James Turner
- 08DOM
- 09Atsushi Furusawa
- 10Tomokazu Komiya
- 11Narumi Sato
- 12USGMEN
- 13Susumu Maeya
- 14OKACHEKE
- 15Yuu Nishida
- 16Tetsu Kayama
- 17Teeziro
- 18Shinji Kanda
- 19Rianti Hidayat
- 20Akira Komayama
- 21OOYAMA
- 22akagi
- 23Naoyo Kimura
- 24svlt
- 25Atsuko Nishida
- 26Kiyotaka Oshiyama
- 27Nurikabe
- 28Shimaris Yukichi
- 29nagimiso
- 30Kazuki Minami
Since there is a Pikachu in every booster, completing the 30 is an accessible goal... provided you open quite a few boosters or trade!
07
The Classic Collection: 30 iconic cards reprinted
For nostalgia's sake, the set offers 30 reprints of iconic cards released between 1999 and 2023. They are immediately recognizable by their gold border and the 30th Anniversary stamp. They retain their original numbering, text, and rarity—Charizard thus remains the famous 4/102 from the Base Set.
The complete list of reprints
| Card | Original expansion | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Pikachu 58/102 | Base Set | 1999 |
| Charizard 4/102 | Base Set | 1999 |
| Misty 18/132 | Gym Heroes | 2000 |
| Erika's Jigglypuff 69/132 | Gym Challenge | 2000 |
| Seel 25/111 | Neo Genesis | 2000 |
| Shining Celebi 106/105 | Neo Destiny | 2002 |
| Lugia 149/147 | Aquapolis | 2003 |
| Delcatty 5/109 | EX Ruby & Sapphire | 2003 |
| Dark Tyranitar 19/109 | EX Team Rocket Returns | 2004 |
| Crobat ex 108/115 | EX Unseen Forces | 2005 |
| Metagross δ 11/113 | EX Delta Species | 2005 |
| Palkia LV.X 106/106 | Great Encounters | 2008 |
| Cherrim 43/146 | Legends Awakened | 2008 |
| Crobat G 47/127 | Platinum | 2009 |
| Gengar 94/102 | Triumphant | 2010 |
| Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND 99 & 100/102 | Triumphant | 2010 |
| N 101/101 | Noble Victories | 2011 |
| Rayquaza-EX 85/124 | Dragons Exalted | 2012 |
| Genesect-EX 11/101 | Plasma Blast | 2013 |
| Mega Gardevoir-EX 106/160 | Primal Clash | 2015 |
| Greninja BREAK 41/122 | BREAKpoint | 2016 |
| Ampharos-GX 57/111 | Crimson Invasion | 2017 |
| Solgaleo-GX 89/149 | Sun & Moon | 2017 |
| Pikachu & Zekrom-GX 33/181 | Team Up | 2019 |
| Zacian-V 138/202 | Sword & Shield | 2020 |
| Raikou 050/185 | Vivid Voltage | 2020 |
| Mew-VMAX 114/264 | Fusion Strike | 2021 |
| Arceus-VSTAR 123/172 | Brilliant Stars | 2022 |
| Magikarp 203/193 | Paldea Evolved | 2023 |
Expansion names indicated in their English version, the most used by collectors. Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND counts as two cards (the two halves).
Cards from the Classic Collection keep their vintage text: they are not playable in Standard format. They are above all collector's items.
08
The mystery of the Mew RGB
A little surprise that no one was expecting: three Mew cards numbered R/RGB, G/RGB, and B/RGB appeared in the first boosters opened, around September 12. They do not appear on any official list and had never been announced.
Their exact role remains unclear at the time of writing: it is still unknown if they will be tournament legal, and the community expects to learn more with the next expansion. One thing is certain: their rarity and enigmatic nature already make them highly prized cards.
09
All Pokémon 30th Anniversary products and their prices
Releases span from September to November 2026. Here is the full calendar with the recommended retail prices in France (indicative, they may vary according to stores and availability).
| Product | Release | Boosters | RRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite Trainer Box | Sept. 16 | 9 | €55.99 |
| Pokébox Sylveon ex or Greninja ex | Sept. 16 | 4 | €24.99 |
| Poster Collection | Sept. 16 | 3 | €19.99 |
| Stickers Collection | Sept. 16 | 3 | €16.99 |
| Two-Pack Blister | Sept. 16 | 2 | €11.99 |
| 6-Booster Bundle | Oct. 2 | 6 | €35.99 |
| Mini-tins Day & Night | Oct. 2 | 2 | €11.99 |
| Binder Collection | Oct 2 | 5 | €45.99 |
| Battle Decks Espeon-ex / Umbreon-ex | Oct 30 | — | €19.99 |
| Ultra-Premium Collection Day or Night | Nov 6 | 30 | €239.99 |
| Ditto Premium Collection | Nov 6 | 8 | TBC |
| Figure Collections Mew / Mewtwo | Nov 6 | 5 | TBC |
Box details
6-Booster Bundle
The simplest format: 6 booster packs, nothing else. It's also the best price-per-pack value in the set (approx. €6 per pack).
Binder Collection
5 booster packs and a 9-pocket binder in 30th anniversary colors. Perfect for starting your collection and storing your 30 Pikachus.
Day & Night Mini Tins
2 booster packs, a sticker sheet, and an art card. The tin designs follow the set's Day & Night theme: perfect for tin collectors.
Espeon-ex Battle Deck
A 60-card deck ready to play… and fully holographic. Comes with a Victini promo card.
Umbreon-ex Battle Deck
The "Night" counterpart to the Espeon deck: 60 shiny cards, with a Zeraora promo card. An excellent entry point to learn how to play.
Ultra-Premium Collection
The ultimate box, in Day or Night versions: 29 boosters + 1 Classic Collection booster, a Pikachu-ex card accompanied by Espeon-ex or Umbreon-ex, and a playmat.
Ditto Premium Collection
A box centered on Ditto, with 8 booster packs and a promo card. The French price is not yet confirmed.
Mew / Mewtwo Figure Collections
5 booster packs, a promo card, and a Mew or Mewtwo figure — the two stars of the Futuristic rarity. French price TBC.
And also, from September 16
- Elite Trainer Box (€55.99): 9 boosters, a Nidorina promo card, and 16 holographic Energies.
- Sylveon-ex or Greninja-ex Pokébox (€24.99): 4 boosters, a promo card, and a jumbo card.
- Poster Collection (€19.99): 3 boosters, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres promos, and a double-sided poster.
- Sticker Collection (€16.99): 3 boosters, an Alolan Exeggutor or Lucario promo, and a sticker sheet.
- 2-Pack Blister (€11.99): 2 boosters, an Eevee promo, and a coin.
10
Which product should you choose based on your profile?
The lowest cost per pack in the set. Perfect for opening without breaking the bank.
60 ready-to-play holo cards, for learning the rules with a consistent deck.
9 boosters, an exclusive promo, and accessories: the classic that never disappoints.
30 boosters, ex promos, and a mat: the "Grand Anniversary" box.
Cool items to give as gifts, which remain beautiful even after being opened.
Are the cards tournament legal?
Yes, for the majority: the 128 cards of the main set and their secret versions bear the regulation mark J and are legal in the Standard format. Only the Classic Collection reprints, which retain their original text, are not.
FAQ
Your questions about the Pokémon 30th Anniversary
When is the Pokémon 30th Anniversary expansion released?
September 16, 2026, simultaneously worldwide. Other products follow on October 2, October 30, and November 6, 2026.
How many cards are in the set?
128 cards in the main set, plus 30 secret cards, 30 Rare Pikachus, 30 Classic Collection reprints, 8 holo Energies, and 3 RGB Mews: approximately 199 cards in total.
Can you buy individual booster packs or a display box?
No. There are no loose boosters or display boxes for this expansion: boosters are only available in sealed products (bundles, ETBs, boxes, etc.).
Which cards are the rarest?
The two Futuristic cards, Mew-ex 158/128 and Mewtwo-ex 157/128, followed by Special Illustration Rares like Day/Night Pikachu-ex and Jirachi-ex. The mysterious RGB Mews are also highly sought after.
What's the difference from the Celebrations expansion?
Celebrations (2021) marked the 25th anniversary with a short 25-card + 25-reprint format. The 30th Anniversary is a full expansion of 128 cards, with 30 secrets, 30 reprints, and an unprecedented rarity.
Is there a French version?
Yes, it is called 30e Anniversaire and uses the exact same numbering as the English 30th Celebration version.
Are the cards Standard legal?
The 128 main cards and their secret variants (regulation mark J) are. The Classic Collection reprints are not.
Ready to celebrate 30 years of Pokémon?
Find our Pokémon products, boosters, and sealed boxes on Master Shop TCG. Shipping to Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal.
Discover our Pokémon productsInformation up to date as of October 1, 2026. Prices shown are recommended retail prices in France and are subject to change. Pokémon and associated names are trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and GAME FREAK inc.
