First Partner Illustration Collection Series 2 (Johto, Unova, Galar)

No bad pulls, no chase-card heartbreak. Just nine starter Pokemon rendered in some of the prettiest art the line has produced. Sometimes that is exactly the point.

Pokemon's 30th anniversary celebration rolls on with the First Partner Illustration Collection Series 2, which hit shelves on June 19, 2026. Where Series 1 covered Kanto, Sinnoh, and Alola, this second wave turns to three more beloved regions: Johto, Unova, and Galar. It is a deliberately low-stress product built around guaranteed Illustration Rare promos, and that design choice makes it one of the more approachable collectibles of the year. Here is the full picture.

What's in the Box

Every Series 2 box follows the same fixed format as Series 1, which keeps things refreshingly predictable. For $14.99 you get:

Item	Contents
1 special promo pack	3 Illustration Rare promos (one per region)
2 standard booster packs	From current Mega Evolution era sets
1 sticker sheet	A commemorative anniversary sheet

The headline is that promo pack. It always contains exactly three of the nine available Illustration Rare promos, with one card from each region. So every single box guarantees you one Johto promo, one Unova promo, and one Galar promo. There is no scenario where you open a box and get nothing special, which is the whole appeal.

The Nine Promos

The full checklist is nine cards, three starters per region, each given the Illustration Rare treatment that has become one of the most coveted art styles in modern Pokemon. Here is the complete lineup:

Region	Starters
Johto	Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile
Unova	Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott
Galar	Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble

Each card is a starter Pokemon, and each gets the soft, painterly Illustration Rare style that collectors have chased since it debuted. There's a clever detail baked into the art too: within each region, the three starters' illustrations connect into one continuous panoramic scene, which quietly turns "get one of each region" into "complete each region's picture." If you have ever been drawn to the artwork side of the hobby rather than the chase-card side, this is squarely aimed at you.

How the "3 of 9" Pull Structure Works

This is the part worth understanding before you buy. The promo pack uses a fixed pool, not random booster odds. Every box gives you three promos, one from each region, drawn from that region's three options. That means:

• You will never get a duplicate region in a single box (no two Johto cards in one pack)
• You cannot complete a single region's trio from one box, since you only get one card per region per box
• Completing the full nine-card set takes multiple boxes

Early community tracking from Series 1 suggests it takes roughly five to six boxes on average to complete all nine cards through raw openings, assuming no trading. That is a meaningful detail for set completionists: budget for it, or plan to trade and buy singles to finish off the last few cards. For collectors who would rather just buy the cards they want directly, this is a reminder that singles often beat sealed for set completion, a theme we cover in our pricing guide.

Which Promos Will Hold the Most Value?

We do not give buy-or-sell advice on individual cards, but the early market patterns are worth describing honestly. Across nostalgia-driven Pokemon products, the rule is consistent: the older and more iconic the region, the stronger the demand.

Johto Leads on Nostalgia

The Johto starters (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile) are the early favorites, and it is not close. Johto holds a near-legendary status in the fanbase, comparable to Kanto, and Gold and Silver nostalgia runs deep among the collectors who have the most disposable income today. Expect these three to command the highest individual premiums on the secondary market.

Unova as the Sleeper

The Unova trio (Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott) is the interesting middle. Gen 5 spent years as an underappreciated generation, but appreciation has been building steadily as the players who grew up on Black and White reach collecting age. There is a reasonable case that Unova cards are the value play here, though that is speculative and the market is young.

Galar for the Art

The Galar starters (Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble) bring the most modern, vibrant artwork and appeal heavily to younger collectors. They may not carry the deepest nostalgia premium, but the art is genuinely strong and Sobble in particular has a devoted following.

As always with a fresh release, treat any early prices as a moving snapshot. Release-week values tend to peak during the initial hype and then settle, often back toward more reasonable levels within a few weeks. If you want to track where things land, our card price trends piece covers how to read those curves.

Is It Worth Buying?

The honest answer depends on what kind of buyer you are, so here is the breakdown.

For the Art Collector: Yes

If you collect Illustration Rares for their artwork, this product is a slam dunk. Every box guarantees three of them at a $14.99 price point, which is one of the most efficient ways to acquire this art style. There is no gambling and no bad outcome. You know you are getting three beautiful cards every time.

For the Nostalgia Buyer: Yes

If Johto, Unova, or Galar was your generation, this is a gift to your younger self. The starters you picked as a kid, rendered in premium art, with a guaranteed pull. That emotional value is real and it is the entire point of an anniversary product.

For the Gift Buyer: Strong Yes

At $14.99 with guaranteed nice cards, this is an excellent low-cost gift. It avoids the heartbreak of a kid opening packs and pulling nothing, because there is always something worth keeping inside. For more gift-oriented options across price points, our ETB guide is a useful companion.

For the Pure Investor: Be Cautious

This is where we temper expectations. These are guaranteed-pull anniversary promos, which means supply is healthy and the cards are not scarce by design. Anniversary products generally hold value steadily rather than spiking, and the Series 1 precedent backs that up. Do not buy cases expecting a flip. If you want sealed product with stronger appreciation potential, our analysis of sealed product as an investment points toward better candidates.

How It Compares to Series 1

Series 2 is structurally identical to Series 1, just with new regions. Same $14.99 price, same format, same guaranteed three-promo pack. The Series 1 secondary market has been stable rather than explosive, with values holding near reasonable levels because of the guaranteed-pull design. There is every reason to expect Series 2 to follow the same path. And it is a trilogy: Series 3, covering the remaining Hoenn, Kalos, and Paldea starters, is expected around September 2026. Collectors who care about completeness should budget for all three waves, twenty-seven promos in total.

A Few Buying Tips

• Buy at or near MSRP. At $14.99, this product is widely allocated. Avoid release-week scalper pricing, which historically settles back down within a few weeks.
• Decide your goal first. If you want the full nine-card set, plan for five to six boxes or factor in trades and singles. If you just want a few pretty cards, one box already delivers.
• The Pokemon Center is the safest source for retail pricing, with major retailers carrying standard allocations.

The Bottom Line

The First Partner Illustration Collection Series 2 is a feel-good product, and that is a compliment. The guaranteed three-promo structure removes the gambling that frustrates new and casual collectors, the Johto, Unova, and Galar starters tap directly into three generations of nostalgia, and the $14.99 price keeps it accessible as both a personal pickup and a gift. The Johto trio looks like the value leader on nostalgia alone, with Unova as the long-shot sleeper, but every card here is a keeper.

Just go in clear-eyed about the investment side. This is built for enjoyment and steady value, not for flipping. Buy it because you love the art and the Pokemon, plan for multiple boxes if you want the full set, and you will get exactly what you came for.