The Pokémon TCG officially unveiled the very special Pokémon 30th Celebration TCG set, along with its upcoming September release date.
As an avid Pokémon TCG collector, I am just as excited to see the latest celebratory set. Today, the Pokémon TCG is celebrating its 30th birthday by revealing the special 30th Celebration set, which is set to release worldwide on Wednesday, September 16th. Yes, you heard that right! For the first time ever in franchise history, the set will launch in all regions on September 16—not just Japan first. A new rarity will also debut in the set called Futuristic Rare (FUR). Mew and Mewtwo will be the first two mons to feature the new rarity, as part of the 30th Celebration set.
The two new Futuristic Rare Mew and Mewtwo cards are illustrated by renowned Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN, bringing the fresh, new visuals to each card. The official Pokémon TCG website described the cards as such: “Each Futuristic rare card will depict Pokémon in striking artwork evocative of hope toward an unknown future.” As these two legendary monsters are staple classics, it only makes sense to spotlight them rightfully. For collectors, this also means that prices for these cards will skyrocket once they hit the market.
Also re-hitting the market, the Charizard card from the base set will also be reprinted as part of the 30th Celebration packs. This will be a great opportunity for new, younger Pokémon TCG collectors to finally score a Charizard, similar to kids who got one back in 1996. Iconic reprints also include the Pikachu & Zekrom Tag Team GX card that dropped back in 2019, within the Sun & Moon—Team Up set.
Similar to the 2021 Celebrations set, this set will be reprints galore. There will be 30 different Pikachu cards to collect. Each one of these cards will be illustrated by a different artist, meaning they’ll all have distinct art styles and feature a “30” Pikachu stamp and special foil treatment. They will not be legal for tournament play. Every booster pack will come with a Pikachu card.
In terms of Illustration Rares, the teaser unveiled a handful coming in the 30th Celebration set—including Lapras, Drifloon, Lycanroc, and Hisuian Zorua. Expect to see Legendary Pokémon make appearances in this set too, such as Xerneas, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, and Dialga. “Additional new cards in the 30th Celebration [set] will depict an array of Pokémon during different moments throughout daytime and nighttime,” the official TCG website stated. “Fans can discover 30 classic Pokémon cards from across the game’s decades-long history that are making a return in the 30th Celebration. Each of these classic cards will feature a stunning foil treatment.”
While the chase cards will be Mew and Mewtwo, expect new ex cards for popular cards, the likes of Sylveon and Greninja—and cards for a host of other fan-favourites, including Slowpoke, Espeon, and Umbreon. Even though the whole Pokémon TCG community is in shambles, this is still a great opportunity for the kids of today to experience something special. To reiterate, the 30th Celebration TCG set is set for its global release on September 16.
