Pokemon First Partner Illustration Collection Series 2 Drops: Johto, Unova, and Galar Starters in the Spotlight
The 30th-anniversary nostalgia train rolls on. First Partner Illustration Collection Series 2 landed June 19 with the Johto, Unova, and Galar starters, three illustration-style promos per box, and a collector-friendly $14.99 price. Here is what is inside and how to chase it.
The Pokemon TCG's 30th anniversary year keeps delivering nostalgia bait, and the latest drop is one collectors have been circling on the calendar for weeks. First Partner Illustration Collection - Series 2 hit store shelves and the official Pokemon Center on June 19, and the early read from shops is that it is moving fast.
What is actually in the box
Each Series 2 collection runs $14.99 and is built around a single region's starter trio. Inside you get a special booster pack containing three of nine illustration-rare-style promo cards featuring beloved first partner Pokemon, plus two additional Pokemon TCG booster packs and a sticker sheet. It is a low-cost, art-forward product designed to be opened and enjoyed rather than locked away.
The three regions in Series 2
- Johto - Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile
- Unova - Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott
- Galar - Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble
That lineup is a deliberate shift from Series 1, which leaned on the Kanto, Sinnoh, and Alola starters. If you collected the first wave, this is the natural follow-up to complete the full first-partner picture.
Why collectors care about the art
The draw here is not chase-card value, it is presentation. The promos use the textured illustration-rare treatment that has become the most requested look in the modern Pokemon TCG. For player and parent buyers, three guaranteed promos plus two boosters at $14.99 is an easy yes.
For a lot of shops, products like this are the gateway purchase that turns a casual fan into a returning customer. They are affordable, they look great, and there is no anxiety about pull rates.
Where this fits in the anniversary calendar
Series 2 is one piece of a long 30th-anniversary rollout. A third series featuring the remaining starter regions, including Hoenn, Kalos, and Paldea, is slated for September, and the broader anniversary celebration runs deep into the back half of the year. If you are building a complete first-partner run, plan on a third trip later this fall.
Buying tips for collectors
- Check local shops first. Big-box retail tends to be picked over quickly on launch products like this; your local hobby shop is often the better bet for sealed inventory.
- Buy the region you love. Because the value here is artwork rather than a single hot chase, collect for the starters that mean the most to you.
- Grab a spare for grading. If a promo comes back clean, illustration-style cards photograph well in a slab and make strong display pieces.
Use The Card Shop Finder to locate a nearby shop carrying sealed Series 2 before the launch wave sells through.