Every Pokemon journey starts with the same big decision: which first partner do you pick? Pokemon TCG is leaning into that nostalgia with the First Partner Illustration Collection Series 2, a collector-focused set that turns the starter Pokemon of three regions into Illustration Rare-style promo cards. It lands on 19 June 2026.
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Find events near youThis second series shines a light on the first partners of Johto, Unova and Galar, covering a lot of childhoods from Cyndaquil and Totodile through to Tepig, Snivy, Grookey and Scorbunny. Each box includes a dedicated pack carrying three of nine promo cards, so collectors chasing the full set will be opening more than one. You also get two regular Pokemon TCG booster packs and a sticker sheet, though the promos are the draw rather than competitive deck fodder.
The real appeal is the art. Illustration Rare cards trade the usual game-focused layout for full, expressive scenes of these Pokemon in their element, and they have become some of the most sought-after pulls in modern sets. The set lands in Pokemon's 30th-anniversary year, part of a steady run of nostalgia-driven releases marking three decades since the games first arrived.
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Set up your group for freeSeries 2 follows an earlier First Partner Illustration Collection and will be sold at the Pokemon Center and wherever Pokemon TCG products are stocked. Chasing the cards you're missing is half the fun, and trade nights are the quickest way to fill the gaps, so if you're after a local crew, find a community near you.
Sources: Pokemon.com
