After months of speculation, McDonald's is officially bringing back its collaboration with the Pokémon Trading Card Game. For years, McDonald's has run periodic promotions for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, adding small packs of promo cards to Happy Meals. These cards are usually reprints but come with their own special holofoil pattern and new numbering. While this has been a nearly annual tradition, McDonald's in the US skipped the promotion in 2024, although other countries had similar promotions for the Pokémon TCG.
Pokémon TCG news site PokeBeach reports that McDonald's will launch a new Pokémon TCG Happy Meal promotion starting later this month. The new "Dragon Discovery" promotion will feature a total of 15 cards, with seven holofoils that use a special confetti pattern. In addition to the cards themselves, McDonald's is also adding several new prizes in the Happy Meals. These include stickers and double-sided posters. Additionally, the promotion comes with four different Happy Meal boxes, featuring Charizard, Dragonite & Pikachu, Rayquaza, and Roaring Moon. The new Dragon Discovery promotion runs from January 21st to February 24th.
What Pokémon TCG Cards Are Appearing In The New Happy Meals?
Happy Meal Promotions Include 15 Cards, All Of Which Are Reprints
The new set comes with 15 cards, containing a mix of fan-favorite Pokémon like Charizard, Pikachu, and Umbreon as well as powerful Dragon-type Pokémon. Except for Pikachu, all the holofoil cards in the new set are Dragon-type Pokémon, in keeping with the theme of the new promotion. The cards will come in a 4-card promo pack, with one holofoil included in each pack. There are no "new" cards involved with the promotion, as all the cards previously appeared in past Scarlet & Violet card sets. However, the holofoil pattern is exclusive to McDonald's and matches the same pattern used in past sets.
The following cards will appear in the new Happy Meal promotion:
#001: Charizard
#002: Pikachu (holo)
#003: Miraidon (holo)
#004: Jigglypuff
#005: Hatenna
#006: Dragapult
#007: Quagsire
#008: Koraidon (holo)
#009: Umbreon
#010: Hydreigon (holo)
#011: Roaring Moon (holo)
#012: Dragonite (holo)
#013: Eevee
#014: Rayquaza
#015: Drampa (holo)
Our Take: Scalpers Stay Away
Previous Pokémon TCG Promotions Have Been Ruined By Scalpers
Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic.
The new Pokémon TCG McDonald's Happy Meal promotion looks like a fun giveaway for kids. I also appreciate that the promotion is trying to focus on different parts of the Pokémon franchise, with Dragon-type Pokémon, instead of just leaning on the same Pokémon over and over again.
While these cards won't have any value, I fear that scalpers will once again raid their local McDonald's, trying to scoop up as many cards as they can to try to turn a quick profit. We have seen similar tactics in past years, so hopefully McDonald's keeps these Pokémon TCG cards for kids instead of selling them to anyone who asks.
Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic.
English (US) ·