The 10 Coolest Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Cards

10. Pikachu ex — ME: 30th Celebration #149/128

While both Pikachu ex cards in this subset work together as a matching daytime and nighttime set, the "day" version illustrated by kantaro ever so slightly edges it out for me.

Not only is it cheaper—sitting at roughly $89.03 on TCGplayer compared to its nighttime equivalent bringing in $116.07—it features one of my favorite Pokémon of all time in the background: Espeon!

This is one of those pieces of art that has instantly come to represent the 30th Celebration set, making it an absolute gem for any anniversary collection.

9. Hisuian Zoroark — ME: 30th Celebration #123/128

I’m a huge Witch Hat Atelier fan, so when I heard artist and creator Kamome Shirahama was illustrating one of the coolest Pokémon—Hisuian Zoroark—I knew this card had to be mine. Shirahama brought her signature intricate linework and sweeping dark-fantasy flair to celebrate the card game's 30th milestone, making this illustration feel like a high-end art piece at an accessible market price of just $1.25 on TCGplayer. This one went straight into my basket!

8. Pikachu — ME: 30th Celebration #029/128

There are so many cool Pikachu variations floating around this expansion thanks to the each 30th Celebration booster pack guaranteeing one of these 30 unique foil Pikachu rare cards. However, my favorite has to be this one from Pokémon Art Director James Turner.

Turner was a massive creative driving force who brought the world of Generation 8 and its First Partner Pokémon to life. His instantly recognizable pop-art illustration style filled me with so much joy in his independent game, The Plucky Squire, and it’s so nice to see him return to Pokémon with this quirky, adorable design. Best of all, it sits at a super budget-friendly $1.48 market average on TCGplayer.

7. Alolan Exeggutor — ME: 30th Celebration #129/128

Alolan Exeggutor is one of the goofiest regional variants out there, and I love it. This card brings that absurdity to life - a towering palm tree looking down at you in a beachy Alolan scene. Artist AYUMI ODASHIMA does a fantastic job of leaning into just how silly this Mon is, going for a modest $3.50 median market price on TCGplayer.

6. Mew ex — ME: 30th Celebration #152/128

This Special Illustration Rare by Kuroimori is one of the most popular chase cards in the collection. It shows Mew resting in a lush, sun-dappled forest, bathed in soft ambient light and surrounded by wild honeysuckle. Considering Mew holds such a sacred place in the series' history as the first-ever Mythical Pokémon (and arguably the DNA root of the entire Pokédex!), it’s no surprise this card isn’t cheap - a hefty $231.14 market price on TCGplayer.

5. Lapras — ME: 30th Celebration #131/128

Everything about this piece feels like a warm vacation breeze. Artist Amelicart serves up gorgeous, sun-kissed ocean waves featuring a content Lapras gliding through the water alongside an adorable Spheal—which just happens to be one of my absolute personal favorite Pokémon! It's serene, atmospheric, and easily worth its $19.98 average market price on TCGplayer.

4. Meowth — ME: 30th Celebration #144/128

I love the way Meowth is completely slonked out over the staircase bannister in this piece by artist OKUBO. This scene is all too familiar to anyone who lives with cats - I have three of my own, and at any given chance, at least one of them is pulling this exact liquid-cat move across the furniture. This is definitely one I’ll be trying to get, sitting at $28.53 on TCGplayer at time of writing.

3. Sylveon ex — ME: 30th Celebration #153/128

If there’s one thing you know about me, it’s that I’m Eevee’s number one fan. So as soon as I saw this gorgeous Sylveon card, I immediately wanted it. Artist You Iribi delivers an unbelievably sleek, stylish illustration of Sylveon ex framed by soft ribbons and pastel light shifts.

The price isn’t as bad as you’d think for a card of this popularity - it’s currently at an average market price of $89.63 on TCGplayer. It’s not great, but that’s where this hobby is at nowadays.

2. Maushold — ME: 30th Celebration #146/128

I’m a little biased, as I’ve fallen in love with my Population Bomb spamming machine in Pokémon Champions. But this card is just pure, unadulterated fun! Artist osare captures the wholesome family energy of so many Mausholds going about their day, waving at you. How can you not love this? It’s hovering around a comfortable $36.44 market price on TCGplayer, but shifting quickly.

1. Jirachi ex — ME: 30th Celebration #155/128

This Jirachi card is simple stunning! Legendary TCG illustrator AKIRA EGAWA delivers what might genuinely be their masterwork with this Special Illustration Rare. Featuring cosmic, starry lighting, ethereal brushwork, and a sweeping sense of galactic scale, Jirachi ex looks less like a trading card and more like a museum-tier oil painting. Sitting at an average market price of $98.18 on TCGplayer, this might genuinely be one of the coolest Pokémon cards of all time, let alone the 30th Celebration.

No matter your favorite card in the 30th Celebration expansion, there’s something out there for everyone! Let me know what your personal coolest card is, and what you’re chasing in the comments. If you’re struggling to get your hands on any 30th Celebration products, make sure you have IGNDeals on notifications on X to be alerted to any new product drops.