First Partner Series 3 Lands August 7. The 30th Anniversary Trilogy Is Complete.

First Partner Series 3 Lands August 7. The 30th Anniversary Trilogy Is Complete.

First Partner Series 3 Lands August 7. The 30th Anniversary Trilogy Is Complete.

The third and final piece of Pokémon's 30th Anniversary First Partner trilogy has been revealed. First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 launches August 7, 2026, completing a set that, lined up across all three releases, covers every main-series starter Pokémon ever printed.

Hoenn, Kalos, and Paldea Round Out the Set

Series 3 brings the panoramic Illustration Rare promo treatment to the starter trios from Hoenn, Kalos, and Paldea. That's Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip from Ruby and Sapphire; Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie from X and Y; and Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly from Scarlet and Violet. Three generations of fan-favorite first partners, each getting a full anniversary spotlight.

What's Inside the Box

Each Series 3 box follows the same structure as Series 1 and Series 2:

  • 1 promo booster pack containing 3 of 9 Illustration Rare promos
  • 1 Mega Evolution: Chaos Rising booster pack
  • 1 Mega Evolution: Pitch Black booster pack
  • 1 sticker sheet

The two booster packs come from the current Mega Evolution block. Chaos Rising released on May 22, 2026 and is headlined by Mega Greninja ex. Pitch Black releases on July 17, 2026 and is headlined by Mega Darkrai ex. With Pitch Black hitting shelves only three weeks before Series 3, this collection is one of the earlier retail products to ship with sealed Pitch Black packs inside.

The MSRP is expected to hold at $14.99, matching the price point of the first two waves.

The Full Trilogy: All Nine Generations of Starters

Here's why Series 3 matters more than a typical mid-year release. With this final wave, the trilogy covers every single starter Pokémon from the main-series games. Nine generations, twenty-seven Pokémon, every familiar partner from Bulbasaur to Quaxly:

  • Series 1 (March 30, 2026): Kanto, Sinnoh, Alola
  • Series 2 (June 19, 2026): Johto, Unova, Galar
  • Series 3 (August 7, 2026): Hoenn, Kalos, Paldea

For Pokémon's 30th anniversary, that's the kind of completeness that turns a product line into a collectible event. Owning the full trilogy means owning the official tribute to three decades of starter Pokémon, end to end.

The Promo Art Reveal Is Still to Come

The specific Illustration Rare promo cards for Series 3 have not been shown yet. For both Series 1 and Series 2, the promo artwork was first revealed through Pokémon China's website roughly one month ahead of the U.S. launch. That timeline points to an early-July reveal for the Hoenn, Kalos, and Paldea promos.

If the precedent from the first two waves holds, expect each of the nine starters in panoramic Illustration Rare style with the 30th anniversary stamp marking the cards as commemorative.

Why This Matters for Collectors

The First Partner Illustration Collection takes a different approach than most anniversary products. Rather than reprinting old promos or rerunning vintage sets, the line commissions new panoramic-style art that puts each starter trio front and center, with a 30th anniversary stamp marking the promos as commemorative.

Series 3 closing the trilogy means a clean shelf in any Pokémon collector's display: three boxes per region, nine Illustration Rare promo cards per series, every generation represented. For anyone collecting the anniversary year, this is the final chapter to grab.

The promo art reveals are expected in early July. The boxes drop August 7. Mark the calendar.

References

Back to blog