The highly anticipated 30th Celebration set for the Pokémon Trading Card Game released to much fanfare on Sept. 16, and collectors have eagerly snapped up any sealed product they can find in hopes of pulling the mythical RGB Rare Mew ex, which The Pokémon Company kept under wraps until release day. With fan reception proving extremely positive so far—thanks to more generous hit rates than many modern releases—the set is shaping up to keep secondary-market prices reasonable once valuations settle and that new cardboard smell fades.
But just what are the cards that trainers and collectors alike are on the hunt for? From Classic Collection bangers and stunning Special Illustration Rares to the newly unveiled Futuristic Rares, here are some of the most intriguing pulls in 30th Celebration.
Mew ex and Mewtwo ex – Futuristic Rare
These striking full-art cards feature a singular art style unlike anything seen before in Pokémon TCG history. Illustrated by modern artist YOSHIROTTEN, Mew and Mewtwo are depicted in a cyberpunk-esque environment with a chromed-out finish that wouldn’t look out of place in a Blade Runner fever dream.
The cards are extremely scarce, and while their prices have plummeted from the skyscraping prerelease highs, they remain two of the defining chase cards from 30th Celebration. Mew ex lands at 158/128, with Mewtwo ex following just behind at 157/128.
All 30 Pikachu Rares
A nice touch from The Pokémon Company is that every five-card booster pack is guaranteed to contain one of 30 unique Pikachu Rares, featuring a new artwork for each year of Pokémon’s existence. That isn’t the only special treatment inside each pack, as the Basic Energy cards are also illustrated by YOSHIROTTEN, the artist behind the set’s two Futuristic Rares.
The artists who produced these Pikachu artworks form a who’s who of notable names from throughout the game’s history. Shinji Kanda, Tomokazu Komiya, sowsow, OKACHEKE, Asako Ito, and even original Pokémon designer Ken Sugimori have all delivered distinctive takes on the most famous ‘mon in the world.
Crystal Lugia – 30th Celebration Classic Collection
One of the main appeals of ripping open 30th Celebration is the presence of the beloved “Classic Collection,” which returns after appearing in 2021’s Celebrations set with another batch of iconic cards from throughout the game’s history. While Base Set Charizard, Paldea Evolved Magikarp Illustration Rare, and Neo Destiny Shining Celebi all deserve plaudits, the most desirable—and currently most valuable—of these is Crystal Lugia, originally printed way back in 2003’s Aquapolis.
Sure, the 30th version can be had for a fraction of the price of the original, but the original doesn’t boast the gold border and striking foil finish that make this reissue so eye-catching.
Greninja ex and Gengar ex – Special Illustration Rares
Myriad Special Illustration Rares are present in 30th Celebration alongside some of the higher-rarity pulls, but these full-art beauties are sure to garner supreme interest from collectors when opening sealed product. Greninja ex appears at 148/128.
If there’s one Pokémon almost genetically engineered to become a sought-after SIR, it’s Gengar, and artist CHORISO certainly understood the assignment with this Gengar ex SIR. The Ghost-type sports a devilishly mischievous expression while lurking amid an environment that looks ripped straight from an after-school Halloween cartoon, giving the card a playful, slightly sinister aesthetic that fits Gengar flawlessly.
The pull is also a milestone for CHORISO, marking the artist’s first-ever full-art Pokémon TCG card after contributing illustrations to recent Mega Evolution-era sets. Since Gengar cards already have a habit of attracting collectors like moths to a particularly spooky flame, pairing one of the franchise’s perennial fan favorites with such distinctive artwork makes this an easy inclusion among 30th Celebration’s biggest chases.
Pokémon TCG Still Delivers the Thrill of the Chase
30th Celebration has plenty more lurking inside its tiny booster packs, and narrowing the set down to just a handful of standouts means leaving plenty of eminently attractive cardboard still in the box. Still, between futuristic chrome Mews, 30 flavors of Pikachu, a golden dose of Lugia nostalgia, and a deep bench of striking full-arts, the set certainly isn’t hurting for cards worth chasing.
Thirty years into the Pokémon TCG, 30th Celebration stands as a fitting reminder that great artwork, fan-favorite ‘mon, and a well-placed dose of nostalgia remain an extremely potent combination.
Join the conversation