First Partner Illustration Collection (Series 1) Opening and Review
Today is a big day for Trainers everywhere: several big Pokémon TCG products dropped including the highly anticipated First Partner Illustration Collection (Series 1).
I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of these and even luckier to have pulled the Kanto Illustration Rare cards from the First Partner Illustration Collection Booster Pack.
If you are looking for a visual and experiential trip back to some of your favorite Pokémon destinations, I absolutely recommend picking up one of these products. Even at current market price on TCGPlayer, the First Partner Illustration Collection is pretty affordable. You don’t have to stand in line for this one – just pick it up for around $48 via my partners at TCGPlayer and let the good times roll!
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The Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 1 includes:
• 1 Pokémon TCG booster pack containing 3 of 9 promo cards
• 2 Pokémon TCG booster packs
• 1 sticker sheet -
30 Years of First Partner Pokémon!
Every Pokémon Trainer’s journey begins with a first partner—a loyal friend who stands by your side through thick and thin! Relive your own adventures and celebrate the bond between Trainer and Pokémon with a booster pack containing 3 of 9 illustration rare-style promo cards consisting of beloved first partner Pokémon from the Kanto, Sinnoh, or Alola region. You’ll also find two more Pokémon TCG booster packs and a fun sticker sheet featuring first partner Pokémon friends.
The First Partner Illustration Collection Booster Pack
While the whole First Partner Illustration Collection is pretty cool – coming with two booster packs from recent sets and a sticker sheet that kids will love – what I was most excited about was the First Partner Illustration Collection Booster Pack. This pack contains three of nine possible promos, and we were lucky enough to hit the Kanto starters – easily my favorite of those included in Series One.
While I’ve written about the promos when they were originally announced, I still wasn’t prepared for just how cool these cards look in person. They really are a trip down memory lane, turning my afternoon trip to the mall into a trip to the far away lands of Kanto where our Pokémon journey began!
Each card contains details that are pertinent to the early days of Pokémon, making them a massively nostalgic addition to your Pokémon collection. For example, you can see the Snorlax that you need to awaken with the Poké Flute sleeping soundly in Charmander’s artwork, and the bike you rode through the original games as well as the S.S. Anne pictured dreamily behind Squirtle.
Combined, these cards are the perfect way to celebrate 30 years of Pokémon. And as if all of that weren’t enough, you can even line them up to see how their artwork connects!
First Partner Illustration Collection cards feature connected artwork
Is the First Partner Illustration Collection worth it?
Of course, as with any Pokémon TCG product, the question is: is the price tag actually worth it?
While MSRP for this particular product is actually quite low at around $15.99, even at the current online market price it’s a good buy. Purchasing online for just $48 via TCGPlayer saves you from having to stand in the long lines already reported at big box stores around the country from Trainers looking to bag both this and the new Ascended Heroes products.. And even at $48 you’re still getting a lot – especially considering how gorgeous and collectible the Illustration Rare promos are.
It’s an easy “yes” for me even at current market price.
