The Pokémon TCG’s sick new 30th anniversary will sell out immediately

1 day ago 12

Published Jun 1, 2026, 9:28 AM EDT

There will be 30 Pikachu to collect, each drawn by a different artist

The Pikachu cards in the Pokemon Trading Card Game's 30th anniversary set, which features 30 Pikachu cards with different artists.

It’s Pokémon’s 30th anniversary this year, so it’s only natural that the celebrations include a new trading card set. The nostalgic collection, which drops worldwide on Sept. 16, introduces a new rarity type with a special tactile finish. There are six special holofoil cards to collect, and fan favorites like Mew and Mewtwo are among them.

Series mascot Pikachu makes its obligatory appearance, but unlike most sets, Pikachu might as well be the headliner. Every pack holds one of 30 possible Pikachu variants, and each one is illustrated by a different artist. You know, because we don’t already have enough Pikachu cards to fill an extra large binder! To the set's credit, the Pikachu cards do genuinely look amazing. Prolific TCG artist Tomokazu Komiya will also debut his first standalone Pikachu card, which will undoubtedly make it a chase card for collectors. I, for one, will be seeking the squished face Pika drawn by OKACHEKE and the dreamy Pikachu from Atsuko Nishida.

Which Pokémon and artists are found in Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration?

In the trailer for the set, you can see many of the new cards. I'm particularly fond of the Eeveelutions that can be seen lounging around sleepily, like Umbreon and Espeon. TPC says that the upcoming set will depict monsters "during different moments throughout daytime and nighttime." Artists visible throughout the trailer include 0313, Amelicart, Aspara, Yuu Nishida, Whisker, Iori Suzuki, and 5BanGraphics. Some of the monsters you'll be able to collect are Greninja, Lapras, Drifloon, Zorua, Ho-Oh, Xerneas, Kyogre, Lunala, Zekrom, Zacian, Slowpoke (in a well!), Unown, and Meowth, among others. Each booster pack will contain five foil cards, and one foil Basic Energy.

Take a peek below:

There's also a version of the beloved base set Charizard, but this one will have a sparkly gold finish along the edges.

"Fans can discover 30 classic Pokémon cards from across the game’s decades-long history that are making a return in 30th Celebration. Each of these classic cards will feature a stunning foil treatment," TPC says.

Despite Pikachu’s ubiquity in the collection, Pokémon fans will probably be thrilled to get their hands on any of the new set. Over the last few years, the hobby has been overrun by resellers who mark up new releases for up to two to five times the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Demand for a 30th anniversary set will undoubtedly be high, so collectors should be ready to fight bots — or willing to get up at the crack of dawn to stand in line.

Pokémon’s 30th anniversary has been marked throughout the year with a variety of different releases, from merch like plushies and a logo for all 1,000-plus Pokémon in the series' compendium.