For Pokémon's 30th anniversary, The Pokémon Company is releasing three waves of First Partner Illustration Collections throughout 2026. Each collection centres on a special promo booster pack containing three Illustration Rare promo cards featuring starter Pokémon from a specific generation trio. It's a clear spiritual successor to the jumbo First Partner packs from the 25th anniversary in 2021 — but this time in standard card size, with fresh artwork, and at a far more accessible price point.
The format is consistent across all three series: one promo pack (3 of 9 IR cards at random), two regular booster packs from recent sets, and a sticker sheet. Each collection retails at $14.99. The nine promo cards within each series form three connected panoramic scenes — one per region — meaning the trios only reveal their full artwork when placed side by side.
What's in the Box
| Contents | Detail |
|---|---|
| Promo booster pack | 1 pack containing 3 of 9 Illustration Rare promo cards — each series spans 3 Pokémon regions (9 regions total across all three series), with the specific cards random within that series |
| TCG booster packs | 2 assorted booster packs from recent Scarlet & Violet expansions |
| Sticker sheet | 9 individual stickers featuring first partner Pokémon from the series' regions |
| Retail price | $14.99 / £14.99 |
Collecting tip: Each pack contains only 3 of the 9 cards at random. To complete a full set of nine you'll typically need three to four boxes — or trade duplicates. The regional trios are each printed on the same print sheet, so distribution between Kanto, Sinnoh, and Alola cards appears roughly even.
Series 1 — Kanto, Sinnoh & Alola
Series 1 launched on 30 March 2026 and features the original Kanto trio alongside Sinnoh and Alola starters. The artwork packs each card with region-specific detail: Kanto cards reference Gym Badges and the classic Pokédex, Sinnoh cards feature the iconic Pokétch, and the Alola trio is surrounded by Z-Crystals evoking the island challenge trials.
Kanto — Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle
Sinnoh — Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup
Alola — Rowlet, Litten, Popplio
Market note: The Kanto starters are the chase cards of Series 1. Charmander (#038) has been trading at around $36, Squirtle (#039) at $32, and Bulbasaur (#037) at roughly $25 — each well above the $14.99 box retail. Sinnoh and Alola cards are more accessible, though Piplup commands a premium (~$16) among water-type fans. Series 1 sold out rapidly at most retailers on launch day.
Partner Network · First Partner Illustration Collection — Series 1Series 2 — Johto, Unova & Galar
Series 2 was confirmed on 2 April 2026 for a 19 June 2026 release. It follows the same format as Series 1 — three Illustration Rare promos per region, nine cards total, random pack distribution. The featured regions are Johto (Gold & Silver's Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile), Unova (Black & White's Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott), and Galar (Sword & Shield's Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble).
The promo card artwork was revealed on 8 May 2026 via Pokémon China.
Johto — Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile
Unova — Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott
Galar — Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble
Series 3 — Hoenn, Kalos & Paldea
Series 3 will complete the set by covering the remaining three generations. Hoenn brings Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip from Ruby & Sapphire; Kalos adds Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie from X & Y; and Paldea rounds things off with Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly from Scarlet & Violet. No release date or promo artwork has been revealed yet.
Full picture: Across all three series, the First Partner Illustration Collections will cover all 27 base-form starter Pokémon across nine generations — each rendered in the Illustration Rare style with new regional artwork. The complete run of 27 promos will be exclusive to these collections and unavailable in any regular booster product.