The Pokémon 30th anniversary set is called Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration, and it is one of the most unusual expansions the game has ever released. Every card is foil, every pack has a Pikachu, and 30 famous cards from the last three decades return as reprints. Here is the full breakdown of the card list, the chase cards and the best way to collect it.

What is the Pokémon 30th anniversary set?

Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration was announced on June 1, 2026, and released on September 16, 2026. It arrived on Pokémon TCG Live a day earlier, on September 15. According to the official Pokémon announcement, it is the first Pokémon TCG expansion launched at the same time around the world, although launch-day timing still varies a little by region.

The set code is 30C. Its theme is time of day: many cards show Pokémon in daytime and night-time versions, with Espeon representing the day and Umbreon the night. The set also introduces a brand-new rarity called the Futuristic rare, illustrated by the Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN.

What is inside a pack?

Each booster pack contains five foil cards, one foil Basic Energy and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. Most importantly, every single pack includes one of 30 different Pikachu cards, each drawn by a different artist. That makes it easy to start a Pikachu binder even if you only open a few packs.

Day and night: the Espeon and Umbreon theme

The day and night idea runs through the whole product line, not just the cards. The Ultra-Premium Collection comes in a Day version with Espeon ex and a Night version with Umbreon ex, each with its own Pikachu ex promo by YOSHIROTTEN. The Espeon ex and Umbreon ex battle decks follow the same split, and the 30th Celebration mini tins come in five day designs and five night designs. If you like a matching display, it is worth deciding early whether you are collecting day, night or both.

30th anniversary Pokémon card list

The 30th anniversary Pokémon card list has 191 cards in total. Some guides quote 190 or 199 because they count the special energy cards differently, but the structure is the same everywhere:

001–128: the main set, including the 30 Pikachu (023–052) and two double rare Pikachu ex (053 and 054).
129–146: illustration rares, such as Lapras, Lycanroc and Hisuian Zorua.
147–156: special illustration rares.
157–158: the two Futuristic rares, Mewtwo ex and Mew ex.
RGB Mew: three ultra-secret Mew cards in red, green and blue versions.
CC1–CC30: the 30-card Classic Collection.

If you want to tick off every card, the full 30th Celebration card list on Limitless shows each one with its number.

The Classic Collection

The Classic Collection is 30 foil reprints of famous cards from across the game’s history. It includes the Base Set Charizard and Pikachu, Shining Celebi, Lugia, Dark Tyranitar, Scizor ex, Palkia LV.X, Rayquaza EX, M Gardevoir EX, Greninja BREAK, Pikachu and Zekrom GX, Zacian V, Mew VMAX, Arceus VSTAR and even a Magikarp.

These reprints are not legal in the Standard format, but they can be played in formats where the original cards are legal. For most fans they are display pieces: a quick tour of 30 years of Pokémon cards in one binder page set.

30th anniversary Pokémon cards worth chasing

Most of the value in the set sits in a small group of cards. Here are the 30th anniversary Pokémon cards collectors want most.

Futuristic rare Mew ex and Mewtwo ex

Mewtwo ex (157) and Mew ex (158) are the only two Futuristic rares. Their YOSHIROTTEN artwork looks unlike anything else in the game, and they are among the hardest regular pulls in the set.

Special illustration rares

The special illustration rares include two Pikachu ex cards (149 and 150) in day and night versions, plus Mewtwo ex (151), Mew ex (152), Sylveon ex (153) and Gengar ex (154). Checklists also show Fuecoco ex, Greninja ex, Jirachi ex and Salamence ex in this slot. The Pikachu ex pair is the most popular, because it fits the anniversary theme perfectly.

RGB Mew

The three RGB Mew cards are the rarest cards in the set. They were never announced before release and did not appear on early checklists, which made the first pulls a big talking point. Community trackers have recorded only a handful across thousands of packs, so treat them as a lucky bonus rather than a goal.

Classic Collection Charizard and Lugia

In the Japanese version, the Base Set Charizard and Lugia reprints are the highest-value Classic Collection cards, and collectors watch them closely in English too.

30th Celebration pull rates

There are no official odds. Two community groups tracked thousands of English packs, and their results were similar:

Illustration rare: about 1 in 5 packs
Classic Collection card: about 1 in 10 packs
Special illustration rare: about 1 in 18 to 20 packs
Futuristic rare: about 1 in 99 to 117 packs
RGB Mew: only one or two seen in thousands of packs

These pull rates are community estimates from tracked openings, not official numbers. Your own results can be very different, especially with small amounts of packs.

English vs Japanese 30th Celebration

Japan released its version, MEGA expansion pack 30th CELEBRATION (code M6a), on the same day. Japanese packs hold six foil cards, including a guaranteed Pikachu and one of eight special Basic Energy cards by YOSHIROTTEN. The Japanese main set is smaller, with 103 cards against 128 in English, so the two versions are not one-to-one copies. See the official Japanese 30th Celebration page for the Japanese release.

Japanese MEGA 30th Celebration booster box (M6a) — The Japanese MEGA 30th Celebration booster box is the pick for Japanese collectors.

Which 30th Celebration product should you open?

The English lineup does not include a standard booster box, so for the Pokémon 30th anniversary set your choice comes down to these products:

Booster bundle: the simplest way to open packs and collect Pikachu.
Elite Trainer Box: 9 packs plus sleeves and accessories, with a Nidorina promo. The Pokémon Center edition is a step up for collectors.
Ultra-Premium Collections: the Day and Night boxes are the only way to get Classic Collection packs.
Battle decks: the Espeon ex and Umbreon ex decks match the day and night theme.

For contents and release dates of every box, read our 30th Celebration products and pre-orders guide.

Is the Pokémon 30th anniversary set worth collecting?

For most fans, yes. The Pokémon 30th anniversary set is easy to enjoy at any budget, because every pack gives you a Pikachu and every card is foil, so there are no empty-feeling packs. Set collectors get a clear, satisfying goal in the 30 Pikachu and the 30-card Classic Collection, while chase collectors have the Futuristic rares, the special illustration rares and the RGB Mew to hunt.

It is also a set people will remember. Anniversary releases mark a moment in the hobby, and 30th Celebration Pokémon cards combine new artwork with reprints of cards many players grew up with. If you are buying to keep sealed, choose products you would be happy to display, store them carefully and treat any change in value as a bonus rather than the reason to buy.

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration FAQ

Do you get a Pikachu in every pack?

Yes. Every English pack includes one of the 30 different Pikachu cards.

Are the Classic Collection cards legal in tournaments?

Not in Standard. They can be used in formats where the original printings are legal.

What is a Futuristic rare?

It is a new rarity drawn by YOSHIROTTEN. Only Mewtwo ex and Mew ex appear at this rarity.

When did the 30th Celebration set come out?

It released worldwide on September 16, 2026, the same day as the Japanese version.

More 30th anniversary guides

Start with our Pokémon 30th anniversary overview, compare the 20th, 25th and 30th anniversary sets, or shop the full 30th Celebration range. You will find every guide in our TCG news and guides.

Pokémon 30th Anniversary Set: 30th Celebration Card List, Chase Cards and Pull Rates

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